GoofsterStud
Member
Easy, it is standard practices when you hire out.
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Microsoft: Killer Instinct to continue; will announce "new development partner" soon
- Thread starter shinobi602
- Start date
Easy, it is standard practices when you hire out.
Miles Quaritch
Member
Huh, I had no idea. I figured MS would have everything related to K.I locked down tight.
Will be interesting to see how this impacts their future partnerships with third parties working on first party IP...
Phire Phox
Banned
I imagine he'll be still working on the game. He works at Microsoft Game Studios.
Ken Lobb, creative director, works for Microsoft and Mick Gordon, composer, doesn't work for Double Helix. Probably still on board?
BLACK AMERICAN PSYCHO
Junior Member
lmfao
GoofsterStud
Member
Hopefully invest in their own first party.
It's MS.
And Double Helix.
there is 0% chance Double Helix being acquired means MS can go fuck themselves.
You can bet your ass that in order to have a 3rd party work on a MS IP, the contracts were pretty thorough.
If not, then 0$ for a Jago fighting game was pretty sweet nonetheless. no hard feelings whatever the future of KI holds.
And Double Helix.
there is 0% chance Double Helix being acquired means MS can go fuck themselves.
You can bet your ass that in order to have a 3rd party work on a MS IP, the contracts were pretty thorough.
If not, then 0$ for a Jago fighting game was pretty sweet nonetheless. no hard feelings whatever the future of KI holds.
Miles Quaritch
Member
who is in charge of the art
if they can guarantee consistency on general and character art direction and still have some people that where actually developing this game, preferably theu people with FG experience and whoever did the netcode then changing to another developer will be more palatable
oconnomiyaki
Member
My bet is that they pull the plug on Season 2 and just start development on a Killer Instinct 2.
GoofsterStud
Member
That would be the most logical choice.
Sounds like it's going to another 3rd party. Good thing the game is already released (well season 2 and the story mode are not out yet) as I'd be worried the quality might go down (I was also worried when I heard Double Helix was working on it but they turned out a really fun game).
My random guess is a studio like Robomodo will take it on (just a random pick for a studio).
However I'd like it if they took some ex-Double Helix devs and made them into a satellite studio of Rare.
The main Rare could do the heavy lifting (engine and tech) and the game could be designed/maintained by the satellite studio.
My random guess is a studio like Robomodo will take it on (just a random pick for a studio).
However I'd like it if they took some ex-Double Helix devs and made them into a satellite studio of Rare.
The main Rare could do the heavy lifting (engine and tech) and the game could be designed/maintained by the satellite studio.
Chobel
Member
But that means almost no chance of Killer Instinct 2 coming this year. They have to develop the game from scratch because I assume MS will use another game engine.
SlickShoesRUCrazy
Member
2nd team at rare focused on core rare franchises please.
I would love this.
Make a Retro Rare team that deals with old RARE ip.
MS must have known about this sale for ages, so have they been putting things into planning stage for a while?
LeMaximilian
Alligator F*ck House
Beau Anderson is the lead artist for KI. He works at DH. http://twitter.com/mbeauanderson
David Donatucci was the art director, also works at DH. http://twitter.com/DavidRDonatucci
Jean-Edouard Miclot did the sound design, which is probably the best in any fighting game ever, I think he works at DH too. https://twitter.com/jedsound
they are still gonna finish season 1 of KI
TheFLYINGManga_Ka
Member
On a related topic, isn't Killer Instinct originally Nintendo's IP? Or was it Rare's IP?
Anyway, maybe MS will contract Next level Games? They're animation skills are top notch.
Anyway, maybe MS will contract Next level Games? They're animation skills are top notch.
It was the other way around, Microsoft searched for developers to work on the KI IP.
This behind the scenes video explains it pretty well, with key players, such as Microsoft's creative director Adam Isgreen.
then thats worrying news wouldnt you say Max, especially if they cant get these guys and some of the developers
Castef
Banned
Also, I don't think it would be a problem for Microsoft to license that engine if they still want to use it for the game.
Maybe in some ways they already blinded this in the contract?
That is probably unlikely given all DH employees under the acquisition will likely have been given options which only vest after a period of time.
Microsoft would have to match that in order to tempt people out which isn't likely to be cheap.
GoofsterStud
Member
Buying the rights to the engine from amazon is one thing, the later is about as likely as me winning the lotto. I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft buys the rights to the engine for KI with a no poaching clause.
soundscream
Member
Believe
whats wrong with that? create a new studio with key members of DH and wherever else to continue work on KI is better than taking over a studio and canning whatever they were working on.
You're making assumtions about the nature of microsoft's licencing agreement for the engine, when in truth you don't really have a clue what it consists of. They may have full rights for use already or have purchased them since. The truth is you don't know.
Your making some mighty big assumptions, we also don't know how long Amazon's offer has been on the table. We also don't know if Double Helix has been using Microsoft stuff - who knows the engine may of belonged to MS first.
Coulomb_Barrier
Member
Just realised what all the fuss is about after actually reading the news on this!
So this is another example where the development team behind a MS exclusive is gone and the i.p is kept like a shell. Halo, Gears, Killer Instinct. Someone should tap them on the shoulder and politely say: 'that's not how you do it'.
So this is another example where the development team behind a MS exclusive is gone and the i.p is kept like a shell. Halo, Gears, Killer Instinct. Someone should tap them on the shoulder and politely say: 'that's not how you do it'.
GoofsterStud
Member
They are safe assumptions based on standard business procedures. Anything is possible.
You do realize Microsoft has funded many games without owning the rights to the engines?
I think it may have been a custom engine built specifcally for KI, which means the odds are that since MS funded it, they also own it already, along with all Assets created for the game.
They're pretty big assumptions, based on no knowlege of this specific contract. i also find it hard to believe that you are in a position to state these are common business practices, when the nature of the contracts would envariably be different depending on the combination of developer and publisher.
IdreamofHIME
Member
Amazing how they're not just letting Rare do it, that studio really is a wasteland now. What a waste of money.
Kinda different though seen as it was Rare IP that was sitting on a shelf.
It's Double Helix' engine (HEXengine). Amazon owns it now.
What we don't know is if MS can add content to KI 2013 or not. They might not own the engine, but they own that specific game. That's got to count for something.
polyh3dron
Banned
Worst case scenario people paid full price for a fighting game with 8 characters..
Which is pretty sickening to be honest,
In Australia i paid like 57 bucks for the Ultra edition, granted ill get what i paid for but what i wasn't expecting is a game that may not be supported and dropped
Which is pretty sickening to be honest,
In Australia i paid like 57 bucks for the Ultra edition, granted ill get what i paid for but what i wasn't expecting is a game that may not be supported and dropped
Ban Puncher
Member
Get Iron Galaxy on the horn!
Coulomb_Barrier
Member
Yep although I am talking about the development teams behind these IPs.
This is a fighting game for Christ Sake, I would imagine it would be very difficult for a new dev to come in, take over and continue the series as is. I mean is there any precedent for this kind of thing before?
Also, I am aware that apparently the 'killer instinct team' is still at MS, but in what capacity? The whole dev team or just a few game designers? Who knows.
I paid $20, that aint full price, what are you talking about?
TheUnsunghero26
Member
Microsoft has owned the IP for over 10 years now...
Huw_Dawson
Member
In a shocking twist, KI is continued by Lab Zero.
(I actually wouldn't be surprised if Mike Z got involved in Season 2, he worked on KI for a while).
(I actually wouldn't be surprised if Mike Z got involved in Season 2, he worked on KI for a while).