Black Isle
Black Isle business and news from across the web.
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"If the player trusts you enough, they are not going to savescum": Why the makers of some of the best RPGs on PC want you to get used to failing
Several RPG developers discuss the concept of player failure in digital versus tabletop role-playing games. They explore how game design can encourage players to embrace failure as a narrative tool rather than something to be avoided through savescumming, emphasizing trust and agency.
Obsidian Has Cancelled Multiple Projects To Make New Fallout, Per Report
According to a report, Microsoft has canceled multiple projects at Obsidian Entertainment to have the studio develop a new Fallout game, with Josh Sawyer leading the design. This decision comes amidst significant layoffs at Microsoft and Obsidian, and the cancellation of a planned sequel to Avowed. The new Fallout title will be the first mainline entry in the series since Fallout 4 in 2015.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?
Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
Planescape: Torment 2 could've happened, Baldur's Gate 2 veteran says – but Wizards of the Coast didn't want to fund the RPG even though "they were really into what we were doing"
Beamdog CEO Trent Oster revealed that a sequel to the acclaimed RPG Planescape: Torment was discussed with Wizards of the Coast, but the company ultimately declined to fund external development. Despite initial interest, Wizards of the Coast cited a lack of funds for external projects, and the studio was unable to secure funding from other sources, leading to the cancellation of Planescape: Torment 2.
Planescape: Torment 2 was greenlit by Wizards of the Coast, 'they were really into what we were doing', but it refused to fund the sequel, and nobody else was interested
Beamdog and former BioWare writer David Gaider pitched a sequel to Planescape: Torment, titled Planescape: Unraveled, to Wizards of the Coast. While Wizards of the Coast was initially receptive to the concept, they declined to fund the project themselves, and no other investors were found. The sequel was ultimately shelved by the end of 2016.
BioWare's co-founder fought to make Baldur's Gate 3 for over a decade, then Larian did it instead: 'I…
BioWare co-founder Trent Oster discusses the long and difficult journey to get Baldur's Gate 3 made, with multiple studios like Black Isle, Obsidian, and Beamdog attempting and failing to secure funding over two decades. Beamdog, led by Oster, pitched a version to Wizards of the Coast but ultimately could not secure the necessary $20 million budget, leading them to pursue other projects. Oster reflects on Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3, acknowledging their greater capital and ability to execute their vision at a high scale.
Saturday Postmortems/Retrospectives
Fallout's original creator revealed that the game could have featured a character who hated snoring and believed in UFOs if Black Isle Studios had retained the original licensed role-playing system. This retrospective explores the potential design choices that were not implemented.
Fallout's creator reveals you could have played as a snoring cow hater who believes in UFOs, had Black Isle stuck with its original licensed roleplaying system
The original Fallout game was initially developed using the GURPS licensed roleplaying system before switching to SPECIAL in early 1997 due to concerns over violence. GURPS featured a simpler stat system but a complex array of advantages, disadvantages, and quirks, some of which included unique character traits like 'believes in UFOs' or 'hates cows'.
Baldur's Gate 2 almost had a 'time travel plot', letting you visit an alternate future where BG1's main villain rules the Sword Coast
Baldur's Gate 2 almost featured a time travel plot where players would visit an alternate future where Baldur's Gate 1's villain, Sarevok, ruled the Sword Coast. This ambitious idea was conceived by co-lead designer James Ohlen but ultimately cut from the final game. The article reflects on this lost concept and other unique quests present in the RPG.
Captain Obvious time: The Fallout TV series has massively increased game sales, even for the '90s originals
The Fallout TV series has significantly boosted sales and player counts across the entire Fallout franchise, including original titles from the 1990s. Data from G2A.com and SteamDB shows player numbers for games like Fallout 4 increasing tenfold following the show's premiere and subsequent seasons. This sustained interest indicates the series has successfully attracted a new, permanent audience to the games.
