-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Microsoft: Killer Instinct to continue; will announce "new development partner" soon
- Thread starter shinobi602
- Start date
I have no idea of how big MS' internal KI team is, so I can't really argue against you there (one of them was a lead designer on KI, though). They can't do it by themselves.
That being said... most of the groundwork has already been done (graphics engine, gameplay systems). I think that the new studio is going to do okay as long as MS' KI guys stays involved with the project.
Since it's a custom engine built by DH, all the documentation for how it works would be in english.
I would imagine this would cause problems for any Japanese developer.
But I'm talking out of my ass, and only kind understand how video games work.
Which is what Sony has been doing last generation: Own studios, & work on a ton of 1st/2nd party games instead of spending a lot of money acquiring a 3rd party game.
GoofsterStud
Member
Your missing the big picture. Amazon now owns the game's engine.
Bjoern the Smexy
Member
Would be surprised if it's WB Games/Netherrealm Studios.
I actually can't think of ANYONE who'd be willing and/or capable of delivering a fighting game experience exvlusively for XBone.
theyre probably working full schedule on mk10, so no.
nephilimdj
Member
I think the answer is already in the game, rareware icon 
Robin Beanland and his buddies still work over in UK
Kinect sports launches next month, so will be free
Robin Beanland and his buddies still work over in UK
Kinect sports launches next month, so will be free
Unless Amazon has forbidden MS from adding content to KI 2013, I'm not sure what your point is?
PetriP-TNT
Member
Already called it in the other topic, it's Black Tusk and KI is one of their new 4 IP's
GoofsterStud
Member
Amazon isn't a charity. The Xbox brand is also competition to their future console endeavors.
What do you expect?
Great news for whoever owned Dh. Shit news for those of us who are loving KI. Guess its now just wait and see who ms get to continue on with the Dev. I assume ms own all the assets (including documentation) so now its either find another team, or my preferred solution, build your own smaller team ( making sure to headhunt mick gordon) and have them work on it.
That depends on the nature of MS' contract with Double Helix, I guess.
Hurt and Scared
Member
Came to say the same thing my money is in a EA devlopment team taking over KI duties
ShogunDarius
Member
Tbh I'm worried for killer instinct now, it and dead rising 3 are the best games for xbox one
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
I wonder why amazon buying them means they won't work on the game anymore. Is it on Microsoft's end or amazon's end?
GoofsterStud
Member
It would be extremely unlikely for a developer to allow the publisher to use their engine. This is the standard as it secures future work if the title is successful. That's job security. They also have leverage to charge more for a sequel or dlc development as it would be more expensive to start from scratch with no guarantee in results.
It's highly possible that MS has the right to use the engine speficifally for KI 2013. An actual sequel would probably have to be made with a different engine.
Edit: Edited my post to reflect your edited post.
GoofsterStud
Member
If Amazon is willing to sell, sure.
supernormal
Member
Out of all the things MS gets hated on for this gen this the one that actually has me upset. You got a chance to secure this well received franchise brought back to life in against all odds by a studio no one believed in. Like many have said, their history would make them a cheap buy, so I wonder how that isn't the FIRST thing you do when they go out and make what is probably the most desirable exclusive on your new platform (Titanfall is on 360 and PC).
Hopefully they can still deliver somehow.
Hopefully they can still deliver somehow.
As I said. It depends on the nature of MS' contract with Double Helix.
Amazon might not have a say in it.
GoofsterStud
Member
They don't. In the one in a million chance they made a foolish business mistake, that would be the first thing Microsoft would have announced.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Capcom ?
Dreams-Visions
Member
my thoughts exactly. I'm not happy at all.
AltogetherAndrews
Member
So what exactly does Rare do these days?
GoofsterStud
Member
Capcom could make a lot more off of Street Fighter on all consoles and have a huge vault that could be more profitable. If I were a gambling man I would guess EA or Warner.
Team Kinect.
It's true. DH finally made a good game and they get bought out.
Kinect Sports
Dictator93
Member
This is horrifying. IF they do not pick up the guys from double helix for this... then microsoft just fucked over a lot of people who purchased KI... and the chance of that IP having any success.
GoofsterStud
Member
They would be better off buying rights to the engine and finding another developer. As soon as they start poaching talent from Amazon any contract for the engine would null and void. Amazon is no joke to the businesses/legal world.
REMEMBER CITADEL
Banned
How about we wait and see before making such grandiose statements? People were saying similar things when Double Helix was first revealed as the studio behind the reboot.
going by the other thread, this is the KI team, James Goddard, Adam Isgreen and Daniel Fornace
how does that bode for the future of the game
Absoludacrous
Member
I wouldn't be surprised if the story mode and season 2 updates get shelved at this point and rolled into a full on sequel from whoever their next developer is. Fulgore will probably be the last piece of content for this game as it currently stands.
They don't have a say in it? Ok.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
I wouldn't read too much into MS' lack of announcements, though. Season 1 isn't even done yet.
Did you even read my post? I've already said that they can't do it by themselves. They need an external partner, but it sure as hell doesn't hurt to have Ken Lobb and the rest of the KI guys to oversee the project.
As for the KI team size: I assume that you're referring to the post I wrote in the other thread? It's not an official list of the team members. Keep that in mind.
Bjoern the Smexy
Member
They better! Seriously wanted the next MK like last year already.
GoofsterStud
Member
They don't have a say in it? Ok.
I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
I wouldn't read too much into MS' lack of announcements, though. Season 1 isn't even done yet.
This might also be a good thing for the series. The engine and framework combined with NetherRealm Studios would be amazing.
this is the worst thing that could happen, changing to another complelety different developer, where will ken lobb be, where will the developers that made the game, artists, the music team be, the future of this game is bleak to say the least
BLACK AMERICAN PSYCHO
Junior Member
Please God No
Miles Quaritch
Member
Wait, DH own engine, etc for Killer Instinct? How on earth did MS allow that to happen?
Absoludacrous
Member
There's no way WB would let Netherrealm take on KI instead of working on their own internal project.
The opportunity cost would be insane.
The opportunity cost would be insane.
Yup, it might be dreadful. Hopefully a few key members of the team will be hired by MS and put in control of the franchise.
If KI goes to say Spark Unlimited, we're fucked.