There was one news post here about Wake and then the crapstorm Pod started over at Tigsource, but apart from that there hasn't been much talk of Tormishire/James on the forums since he quietly left. It seems strange since like a billion people marked Tormishire as one of their favourite games
Anyway, James doesn't post here anymore but I still sometimes check his site. The latest news is that things are coming to an end at Boss Baddie. The main reason appears to be piracy, which is a shame. I mean, it's a shame they're stopping because of that. What was once a hobby turned into a business, which was turned into a "worthless" business by piracy, and then the whole thing was ended. Another reason is that he's going back to uni, but you can read the news post for yourself!
Another interesting thing is Mr Pineapple's comment, where he says that he made 10 pounds in total from the sales of Wake and the Tormishire OST. Either James isn't giving his music guy a very good cut of the profits or that doesn't equate to very good sales.
http://satansam.co.uk/blog/?p=1118#comment-80808
They're working on one last game: Lunnye 2. So, it looks like anyone waiting for Tormishire or Satan Sam 2 are going to be let down. Discuss!
Just read that 'crapstorm', man, some people sure know how to waste their own time.
I've little knowledge of the various 'dramas' and even less interest in them, of course, but I think it's a shame to see anyone's entrance into the commercial indie world fail. I'm hoping we can keep this thread pleasant enough without the need for defamation similar to that on tigsource, subtle or otherwise.
With regards to the Tormishire OST - pure speculation on my part, but I can't imagine a developer could claim much of a cut from a musician's OST release. It seems very much that sales were low and piracy was rife. World Of Goo's piracy stats are staggering, if you take the time to look at them - fortunately for 2DBoy, they had a much larger exposure to their product, as well as console ventures, so inevitably more custom.
I love that 2DBoy were so open about the World of Goo piracy (almost 90%) and the shameful results of the "Pay What You Want" experiment. Fortunately, they still made a profit.
Anyway, I hope he still continues to work on his games even after Boss Baddie. Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of The New Satan Sam and Wake was too HWA-heavy for my tastes (and my computer), but Tormishire always seemed to represent where James had hit a happy middle ground between nice effects and interesting gameplay.
That's a real shame. I wonder if he talked to any publishers of indie games that have been cropping up lately? And Boss Baddie was such a cool name, too.
Best of luck to him in his studies and future career. And Mr. Pineapple too!
This is why I never bother trying to sell my games. Then again, I'm not the kind of person who makes games for money. The thought alone that hundreds/thousands of people are enjoying something I created is enough of an incentive to keep myself in the indie game business. That, and if I'm good enough, professional developers will come to me rather than the other way around. That's my dream, at least.
Anyway, it always kinda irks me when developers suddenly discontinue projects like this that they've been working on for years and years, especially if they develop a huge fan following in the process. It can be a pretty big letdown, to say the least, especially if they don't go ahead and release what's done as some sort of demo/Disc 1 dealy.
A crying shame. I never played any of Jimmi's games (and I don't really know why), but I knew the amount of work put into them was massive.
Seems today there are just some things that don't make money (or very rarely do). Indie games would be one of them, independent journalism would be another; society has devalued them so much despite their very obvious merits.
He's not exactly helping himself by making mini Tormishire-type games using the same engine with what I refer to as "lazy graphics" (See Knytt stories) then asking people to pay for them without initially providing any demos.
I'm wondering if he realises the majority of people don't give a hoot (to put it politely) about 360 controller support or "Digital Manuals"
James also has an issue with over-hyping his own work. With Tormishire, he's made so many blog entries, filled to the brim with impressive statistics (the map has over 300 rooms so it's going to be an amazing game), revamped graphics and soundtrack information on the epic wonder, yet recently he's just let it take a back seat for apparently less superior games, Pretty much digging his own hole.
He should take a leaf out of Konjak and Bernie's book and just release a game when it's done and stop rabbiting on about Xbox controller support.
Aah shut up Adam. This isn't about your personal digs at Jay, and his games. This is about piracy harming the profitability of a small independent game studio, forcing them to stop making games. If Jay wants to 'rabbit on about Xbox controller support' then it's his prerogative to do so, he's not making you read it. Maybe you should take a leaf out of everybody else on this thread and not be a wanker?...
This is the worst news I've heard all week. It's really too bad he's quitting on his hobbie just because of piracy... The New Satan Sam left such a huge impression on me, I had to play through it at least twice: I usually play klik games through just once. Also, Tormishire looked so awesome. I can't believe it's gonna be cancelled now.
Originally Posted by -Adam- Wow. mature. You can put it down to personal digs if you want, yet my points stand perfectly valid.
As for taking a leaf from this thread, perhaps you're not proof reading your own posts, Matthew.
Note: Interesting who you sided with back when James spoke about his home cinema and swimming pool that he later denied to have
You know, I do sometimes wonder why the content of your posts, like your original one in this thread, aren't shunned by more people. Things like stating the 'fact' that there is an issue ( in your opinion) with this James guy and that he's digging himself a hole (again, in your hopeful opinion). We're almost all adults here, it's a genuine wonder that you're not told off more for this kind of nonsense.
I know a fair few people here have fallen in and out of your favour and so are familiar with what it's like, but you seem to go through so many friends and foes in this community it's a wonder there's anyone left to swallow your exaggerated, slanderous rubbish. Actually, is there? Who of us are you trying to convince with these derogatory facts of yours, is something I often find myself wondering, as I sit down to read your latest overly strong opinion on a stranger from the internet. Man, such unnecessary hate.
Also loving the file name of that image from your personal collection of incriminating screen grabs of internet people. "Oh dear.png"?
Oh dear indeed.
And while I'm here, shame on you for wielding that same tired, old battle axe in a thread that's nothing to do with that and involves the hard work of at least one other person going down the pan (MrPineapple). I do accept it's quite possible you have plenty to tell us about him too, of course. And as for hyping a game, I dunno, is that really so bad? I just think it's a byproduct of enthusiasm most of the time. It's harmless and it's alright by me, and certainly nothing I read from you would change my mind on that. The day a TDC member like Jess Bowers starts speaking ill of people the way you do is the day I might start taking notice. But everyone knows that's not going to happen - and for a very good reason. I hope you think more on that last point than you do a smart reply that attempts to undermine and insult those who criticise you.
If only you extracted that journalistic quality and put the effort into working on games, Rule. We might actually see something from you in the meager couple of years you've hung around. You know... more than a handful of people might actually know who you are, or recognise your public fascia, at least.
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I wonder if he talked to any publishers of indie games that have been cropping up lately? And Boss Baddie was such a cool name, too.
That's my dream, at least.
Edited by Ski
