More evidence TSW is ending development?

bauhau5

Just a few days ago TSW's comic book artist let everyone know it would be his last day. It would appear Mr. Legros has been with TSW since launch. On Mr. Legros' twitter page it mentions he is a freelance illustrator. Does this mean he knows something we don't about the future of TSW? Did he leave TSW because he knows he will be out of a job soon? Is issue 12 the last issue ever to be produced? What do you guys think.

https://twitter.com/JBLegros/status/632186428328439808

PottedPlant22

bauhau5 said:

Just a few days ago TSW's comic book artist let everyone know it would be his last day. It would appear Mr. Legros has been with TSW since launch. On Mr. Legros' twitter page it mentions he is a freelance illustrator. Does this mean he knows something we don't about the future of TSW? Did he leave TSW because he knows he will be out of a job soon? Is issue 12 the last issue ever to be produced? What do you guys think.

https://twitter.com/JBLegros/status/632186428328439808

If he's a freelance illustrator, it's probably per job.  So yeah he probably isn't making any more covers for them so his work with them is done.

Talonsin

Could also be they are cutting out extras to reduce costs and be more attractive to a potential buyer.  I don't think this alone signals any end to development in the game

bauhau5

Talonsin said:

Could also be they are cutting out extras to reduce costs and be more attractive to a potential buyer.  I don't think this alone signals any end to development in the game

I thought of this at first too but wouldn't they just keep him in the loop? Why would he say that it was his last day if he wasn't for certain he wouldn't be doing any more work for them. He's a freelancer, it's not like he is on a salary and is obligated to any company. Plus his concept work is so synonymous to TSW that losing him is a big blow to keeping future things consistent. 

TheOctagon

Maybe they found a cheaper illustrator. Saving a few bucks is saving a few bucks after all...

moonbound

Omg I literally just bought this game not to long ago im going to be so ticked being ripped off if they pull the plug I want my money back.

Dakeru

moonbound said:

Omg I literally just bought this game not to long ago im going to be so ticked being ripped off if they pull the plug I want my money back.

They are just cutting additional costs - the game can run in maintenance mode forever.
Also the next expansion has already been announced.

User836

bauhau5 said:

Talonsin said:

Could also be they are cutting out extras to reduce costs and be more attractive to a potential buyer.  I don't think this alone signals any end to development in the game

I thought of this at first too but wouldn't they just keep him in the loop? Why would he say that it was his last day if he wasn't for certain he wouldn't be doing any more work for them. He's a freelancer, it's not like he is on a salary and is obligated to any company. Plus his concept work is so synonymous to TSW that losing him is a big blow to keeping future things consistent. 

It would be even stranger to give him inside information about the company's plans and then fire him so that he could go spill the beans on Twitter?

Sovrath

There is a difference between "ending development" and cutting out costs that the company thinks are required to "run in the black".

We know Funcom is having financial difficulties. Why wouldn't they find ways to cut costs?

User836

Or maybe, since Tokyo was the end of season 1 (or am I mistaken?), they are just planning to do things a bit differently for season 2 - new format, new style - maybe quit the "issues" thing for something new?

bauhau5

DMKano said:

Came here thinking there's actual evidence.

All I found was pure conjecture. 

Internetz.

To be fair I used a question mark. The tabloids don't care to use those. 

bauhau5

Sovrath said:

There is a difference between "ending development" and cutting out costs that the company thinks are required to "run in the black".

We know Funcom is having financial difficulties. Why wouldn't they find ways to cut costs?

Just speculation. 

Wizardry

Talonsin said:

Could also be they are cutting out extras to reduce costs and be more attractive to a potential buyer.  I don't think this alone signals any end to development in the game

Ok then how about triple a development?My gut says this game is dead,if by some miracle they can hold on for another 6 months or so they might "saying might is a long stretch" toss something real cheap together.

I have seen cheap updates content many times over with even successful games,rehashing old content,statistical changes you know small stuff that takes no team or effort.

bauhau5

Wizardry said:

Talonsin said:

Could also be they are cutting out extras to reduce costs and be more attractive to a potential buyer.  I don't think this alone signals any end to development in the game

Ok then how about triple a development?My gut says this game is dead,if by some miracle they can hold on for another 6 months or so they might "saying might is a long stretch" toss something real cheap together.

I have seen cheap updates content many times over with even successful games,rehashing old content,statistical changes you know small stuff that takes no team or effort.

I totally agree. I mean, the artist had been with TSW since launch. His illustrations are so synonymous with the release of content. TSW has always stuck to what they know and created a strong cohesion with it. Because their illustrious illustrator left (it's sad to see him go) I felt like this was a good indication that the development has suspended until further notice. 

moonbound

http://forums.mmorpg.com/discussion/234764/it-takes-a-village-idiot-the-jerks-of-online-forums
Wrong post.

Ehllfhire

I could point to other reasons why the game is folding soon, lack of real content released ( uh half an issue, really?), the nickel and diming for content when they release an expac with little content (having to pay extra to have things to do in Tokyo after buying Tokyo?). Yeah I hope funcom folds soon so someone can actually develop the game.

GR3NDEL

And in the nine months since this post was made, Funcom is *still* operating, and development of TSW is *still* ongoing (Issue 14 anyone?).  Sorry to disappoint... well no, not really.  

Solar_Prophet

GR3NDEL said:

And in the nine months since this post was made, Funcom is *still* operating, and development of TSW is *still* ongoing (Issue 14 anyone?).  Sorry to disappoint... well no, not really.  

And the combat and skill system *still* sucks. And Funcom *still* doesn't realize that fixing those two things would make the game a lot more popular. A shame, because the story and setting are *still* freaking awesome. 

rojoArcueid

Necromancy is a forbidden art.

EDIT: in before the lock

Nanfoodle

They also could have found an new artist. Cheaper or better.

JeroKane

Solar_Prophet said:

GR3NDEL said:

And in the nine months since this post was made, Funcom is *still* operating, and development of TSW is *still* ongoing (Issue 14 anyone?).  Sorry to disappoint... well no, not really.  

And the combat and skill system *still* sucks. And Funcom *still* doesn't realize that fixing those two things would make the game a lot more popular. A shame, because the story and setting are *still* freaking awesome. 

The Developers with that kind of competence are long gone. Either fired way back or left themselves.

They were planning some combat revamps/optimizations 2-3 years back or so, but then another lay off round happened and after that we never heard about it anymore.

tawess

could be as simple as he was hired to do X spreads of his art and they choose to not extend,

That is pretty common. 

SpottyGekko

Damned Necromancers !  

But seeing as I'm here, I think the TSW combat and animations will be redone right after the AO engine is completely rebuilt. Any day now...

Thillian

I love the combat and the mechanics. Its the most fast-paced and fluid combat out there, no animation lag, no casting slowdown, everything is instant, and with the right build, the fights are very fast - but deadly. 
Perfect for this game, the overly exaggarated critique of combat comes from people who played it for a few hours and refused to learn the system.

FlyByKnight

I played it for quite a long time. The skill build system was fun to figure out. The combat animations and animations in general were pretty weak.

So there goes that "few hours" theory.

Thillian

FlyByKnight said:

I played it for quite a long time. The skill build system was fun to figure out. The combat animations and animations in general were pretty weak.

So there goes that "few hours" theory.

Since when animations define the quality of combat? It's not even a minor aspect of it.
Combat is solely fluidity and mechanics. The criticism above in this thread was aimed at the combat -- not animations -- which, by the way, I agree are the weakest element of the game, nevertheless, the combat itself ranks among the best -- in my opinion.