Reviving EA games

[Gabriel]

IGN recently did a retro article about which EA games need to be revived rather than just cranking out a new installment of Madden or Need For Speed. The surprising thing about the article was that I actually nodded along and agreed with a good number of the suggestions (a far cry from the "Worst 2600 Arcade Ports" list).

 

http://retro.ign.com/articles/861/861784p1.html

 

Archon definitely deserves to be on the list. It amazes me the style of game isn't an alternate game mode on every versus fighting game ever made. There's the semi-recent Chess Kombat mode on Mortal Kombat: Deception, and there's Wrath Unleashed, but that's about it. And it's a shame because adding some kind of strategic overarching element to fighters is something which could increase their play value immensely.

 

Mail Order Monsters is another one which is hard to believe no one has tried to capitalize upon, especially with the Godzilla games of the past few years. A very similar theme to MOM is found in fighting games where you can construct your own character out of pieces and parts. It's not that much further to add in purchasable special abilities. The only game I can think of which comes close is the ancient Deadly Arts (which was a poor implementation of the idea). This is another thing which would work will with reviving the Archon playstyle.

 

But the entry on the list which most surprised me was Legacy of the Ancients. It's not a RPG that gets mentioned much. I spent many an hour with that old game on a C64. However, I think the list maker vastly overrates it. The game itself was fairly pedestrian even in it's own day, being a sort of Ultima II clone/variant. The museum gimmick was neat, but even that wasn't all that interesting. There isn't really much point to reviving the game. The mechanics weren't any different from Ultima and its clones. The name isn't memorable, and it was really just a bland me-too RPG of it's day (although a good one). I really can't see anything which could be done with it.

[Rev. Rob]

IGN are retarded as usual, many of the games on that list are not, if not all of them, were not developed by EA at all, just ones that they published. Therefore, EA does not hold the rights to make sequels. Idiots!

 

Further, that list does not include "Mutant League" anything, so it's bullshit to begin with.

[Cybergoth]

How about reviving Project Firestart, that one had an amazing athmosphere

 

Regarding LotA, anyone knowing what happened to "Quest Inc."? After Legend of Blacksilver and Questron 2 they seem to have just disappeared from view.

[cimerians]

I really could care less about EA. I hope they die in my opinion. I've been playing games since the late 70's (including lots of great EA games in the mid 80's)and I've read a lot of stuff from a lot of ex-developers about those guys (EA) since the mid 90's and they could go to hell for all I care.....

 

Anyway, Legacy of the Ancients was written by the same guys who did Questron which was published by SSI. Chuck and John Dougherty who started out doing work for SSI. SSI wanted an RPG and those guys did Questron 1 which Origin Systems didn't take kindly to. They then formed Quest Software I beleive and only managed the LOTA games and thats about it. Not sure where they are today.

 

I never got the chance to try Legend of Blacksilver. I did the initial review for LOTA and some of the screenshots if I recall for Moby Games. I also did the review for "The Stading Stones" over at Lemon64.

Edited March 31, 2008 by cimerians

[liveinabin]

They've been making some better games lately. Still, it makes my teeth grind every time I see their stupid logo animations. EA-It's in the game! - bloody hell, that would have sounded sad on a mid 90's Sega commercial.

[PressureCooker2600]

I always liked the Sega commercials that had some psycho in the background scream "SEGA!!!!" at the end of the commercial.

[crunchysuperman]

Regarding LotA, anyone knowing what happened to "Quest Inc."? After Legend of Blacksilver and Questron 2 they seem to have just disappeared from view.

 

Quest Software folded not too long after Legend of Blacksilver came out.

 

I never got into Questron, but LoTA & Blacksilver were outstanding!

[Big Player]

I agree with the games on the list. But where is Murder on the Zinderneuf? It should be right up there with MULE and Archon.

[tyranthraxus]

Seven Cities of Gold had a good and very faithful VGA updating in the early 90s. Its ripe for another update. I'd also like to see another Star Flight game. Of course the problem is that EA published all these games and didn't actually develop them. God knows what the legal quagmire over the rights to any of the early EA (or EOA as I called them as a kid) classics are these days. Even the classic Wasteland can't get a proper sequel!

[Cybergoth]

Even the classic Wasteland can't get a proper sequel!

 

I thought inXile was working on it, but after their atrocious Bard's Tale revival I'm not sure wether that should make me happy.

[Ze_ro]

Further, that list does not include "Mutant League" anything, so it's bullshit to begin with.

I'm still amazed they haven't made any more Mutant League games. They spend hundreds of dollars a year tweaking the Madden engine, you'd think tossing some monsters in there and re-releasing would be an easy way to score some extra bucks... but then again, I feel the same way about making a CFL game...

 

Anyways, in the absence of Mutant League Football, you can at least look forward to the upcoming Blood Bowl game. Not the same thing, but should scratch the same itch.

 

--Zero

[redglass77]

Further, that list does not include "Mutant League" anything, so it's bullshit to begin with.

I'm still amazed they haven't made any more Mutant League games. They spend hundreds of dollars a year tweaking the Madden engine, you'd think tossing some monsters in there and re-releasing would be an easy way to score some extra bucks... but then again, I feel the same way about making a CFL game...

 

Anyways, in the absence of Mutant League Football, you can at least look forward to the upcoming Blood Bowl game. Not the same thing, but should scratch the same itch.

 

--Zero

 

 

I'm in the same boat with you guys on the Mutant League games, I was a huge fan of those and how many other ppl were too, it was a cult and I wonder are the ppl at EA just that oblivious ? Do they realize how many ppl on how many forums are calling for a new Mutant League series, and yet we hear nothing from them not even a peep, I've spent many a day and night dreaming of next gen Mutant, with a Mutant for Football, Hockey, Basketball, Baseball, Soccer (foootball)

 

BRING IT BACK WE DEMAND YOU EA

 

damn I wish Sega could snatch up that series, what a nice big "F%&K You" to EA that would be

 

I guess I'll take a look at this BloodBowl (hopefully comes out for PS3)

[Cybergoth]

Here's my Top 10 Electronic Arts titles to revive:

 

Mars Saga

Demon Stalkers

Project Firestart

Sentinel Worlds

Flood

The Immortal

PowerMonger

Centurion

Black Crypt

Risky Woods

[Atarifever]

Further, that list does not include "Mutant League" anything, so it's bullshit to begin with.

I'm still amazed they haven't made any more Mutant League games. They spend hundreds of dollars a year tweaking the Madden engine

Was that an intentional joke? I found it funny anyway. I'd guess about five is the number of hundreds it takes to make each "upgrade."

 

but then again, I feel the same way about making a CFL game...

Me too. I mean, make it a downloadable content package, or a gold edition game in Canada and it'd pay for itself. I'd actually consider buying a modern sports game for that.