Oddworld: The Hand of Odd: Difference between revisions

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Production first began at [[Oddworld Inhabitants]] as early as 1998, and the game was announced at E3 1999 but was quietly shelved as focus shifted to ''[[Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee]]''. The revival of the title was announced by [[Stewart Gilray]] at [[GameCity|GameCityNights]] in April 2011, with production estimated to resume in July or August.
Production first began at [[Oddworld Inhabitants]] as early as 1998, and the game was announced at E3 1999 but was quietly shelved as focus shifted to ''[[Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee]]''. The revival of the title was announced by [[Stewart Gilray]] at [[GameCity|GameCityNights]] in April 2011, with production estimated to resume in July or August.


Stewart Gilray keeps on his desk a four-inch thick design document put together by [[Lorne Lanning]] in 1998, which Gilray describes as the most intense design document he’s seen in 22 years in the videogame industry. It contains concept art, gameplay mechanics and sample code.<ref name="GameCityNights"/>
== Production ==
Production on ''Hand of Odd'' began alongside ''Munch’s Oddysee''<ref name="Ivan1"/>{{rp|11}} in late 1998<ref name="Ivan1"/>{{rp|1}} with the plan of using the [[A.L.I.V.E. 2]] engine to power both games. Thus, ''Hand of Odd'' would take the world simulation of ''Munch’s Oddysee'' (including character lifecycles and social interaction) and add support for multiplayer.<ref name="TwentyQs"/>{{rp|1, 18}}. A four-inch thick design document containing concept art, gameplay mechanics and sample code was put together in 1998, described by Stewart Gilray as the most intese design document he’d seen in 22 years in the videogame industry.<ref name="GameCityNights"/>


== Production ==
''Oddworld: The Hand of Odd'' was announced at E3 in May 1999,<ref name="e3pamphlet"/><ref name="e3directory"/> with news quickly being posted on the [[Oddworld Inhabitants website]]<ref name="HoOwebAnnounce"/> and <cite>Next-Generation Online</cite>.<ref name="ngo"/> Its release was expected to be six to nine months after that of ''Munch'',<ref name="Ivan1"/>{{rp|11}} which was then hoped to launch simultaneously with the PlayStation 2 in the US and Europe.<ref name="TwentyQs"/>{{rp|19}}
Production on ''Hand of Odd'' began alongside ''Munch’s Oddysee''<ref name="Ivan1"/>{{rp|11}} in late 1998<ref name="Ivan1"/>{{rp|11}} with the plan of using the [[A.L.I.V.E. 2]] engine to power both games. It was announced at E3 in May 1999,<ref name="e3pamphlet"/><ref name="e3directory"/> with news quickly being posted on the [[Oddworld Inhabitants website]]<ref name="HoOwebAnnounce"/> and <cite>Next-Generation Online</cite>.<ref name="ngo"/> Its release was expected to be six to nine months after that of ''Munch'', which was then hoped to launch simultaneously with the PlayStation 2<ref name="Ivan1"/>{{rp|1}} (already announced by Sony as March 2000 for Japan)<ref name="PS2launch"/>.


By the end of 2000, when Oddworld Inhabitants were being very outspoken about their issues with the PlayStation 2, [[Lorne Lanning]] had decided that, because so few details had been revealed about the emerging consoles’ online infrastructures, ''Hand of Odd'' would remain in pre-production while the studio focused on ''Munch’s Oddysee'' and its immediate sequel, ''[[Oddworld: Munch’s Exoddus]]''.
By the end of 2000, when Oddworld Inhabitants were being very outspoken about their issues with the PlayStation 2, [[Lorne Lanning]] had decided that, because a solid infrastructure for online console gaming had yet to emerge, ''Hand of Odd'' would remain in pre-production while the studio focused on ''Munch’s Oddysee'' and its immediate sequel, ''[[Oddworld: Munch’s Exoddus]]''.<ref name="Ivan2"/>{{rp|9}}


== References ==
== References ==
<references>
<references>
<ref name="noFacebook">Just Add Water (29 April 2011). ‘<a href="https://twitter.com/jawltd/status/63877835412082689">@w_e_sayers no, we did not mention Facebook.</a>’. Twitter.</ref>
<ref name="noFacebook">Just Add Water (29 April 2011). ‘[https://twitter.com/jawltd/status/63877835412082689 @w_e_sayers no, we did not mention Facebook.]’. Twitter.</ref>


<ref name="PSNation">Gilray, Stewart (28 April 2011). Interview by Glenn Percival, Joel Sherfinski and Josh Langford. ‘<a href="http://www.psnation.org/2011/04/28/episode-213-the-end-is-odd/">The End Is… Odd?</a>’. Episode 213 of ''PSNation Podcast''. PSNation Podcast.</ref>
<ref name="PSNation">Gilray, Stewart (28 April 2011). Interview by Glenn Percival, Joel Sherfinski and Josh Langford. ‘[http://www.psnation.org/2011/04/28/episode-213-the-end-is-odd/ The End Is… Odd?]’. Episode 213 of ''PSNation Podcast''. PSNation Podcast.</ref>


<ref name="eurogamer">Yin-Poole, Wesley (29 April 2011). ‘<a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-04-29-jaw-revives-oddword-hand-of-odd">JAW revives Oddworld: Hand of Odd</a>’. ''Eurogamer''.</ref>
<ref name="eurogamer">Yin-Poole, Wesley (29 April 2011). ‘[http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-04-29-jaw-revives-oddword-hand-of-odd JAW revives Oddworld: Hand of Odd]’. ''Eurogamer''.</ref>


<ref name="Ivan1">Lanning, Lorne (1 October 1999). ‘<a href="http://www.mastergamer.com/featuresinterviewodd.html">An Interview With Oddworld Inhabitants</a>’ by Ivan Trembow. ''Master Gamer''.</ref>
<ref name="Ivan1">Lanning, Lorne (1 October 1999). ‘[http://www.mastergamer.com/featuresinterviewodd.html An Interview With Oddworld Inhabitants]’ by Ivan Trembow. ''Master Gamer''.</ref>
 
<ref name="Ivan2">Lanning, Lorne (11 October 2000). ‘[http://www.mastergamer.com/featuresinterviewodd2.html Interview With Oddworld Inhabitants]’ by Ivan Trembow. ''Master Gamer''.</ref>


<ref name="GameCityNights">Gilray, Stewart (28 April 2011). Presentation. GameCityNights Season 2, Episode 4. Nottingham, UK.</ref>
<ref name="GameCityNights">Gilray, Stewart (28 April 2011). Presentation. GameCityNights Season 2, Episode 4. Nottingham, UK.</ref>


<ref name="PS2launch">Perry, Douglass C. (10 September 1999). ‘<a href="http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/072/072921p1.html">Call It PlayStation 2</a>’. ''IGN''.</ref>
<ref name="e3pamphlet">Oddworld Inhabitants (13 May 1999). Pamphlet distributed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 1999. Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California.</ref>


<ref name="e3pamphlet">Oddworld Inhabitants (13 May 1999). Pamphlet distributed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 1999. Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California.</ref>
<ref name="e3directory">Electronic Entertainment Expo (12 May 1999). E3 1999 Directory. [http://www.giantbomb.com/e3-1999/92-3421/all-images/52-342882/directory/51-1069931/ Scan] by Marino (2 July 1999). Giant Bomb.</ref>


<ref name="e3directory">Electronic Entertainment Expo (12 May 1999). E3 1999 Directory. <a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/e3-1999/92-3421/all-images/52-342882/directory/51-1069931/">Scan</a> by Marino (2 July 1999). Giant Bomb.</ref>
<ref name="HoOwebAnnounce">Oddworld Inhabitants (May 1999?). ‘Hand of Odd’. Oddworld Inhabitants website. Archived by the [http://replay.web.archive.org/20000305235719fw_/http://www.oddworld.com/handofodd/handofodd.html Wayback Machine] (5 March 2000) and [http://oddworldlibrary.net/archives/scriptures/website/INsOMNIOUS/Hand_of_Odd.php Oddworld Scriptures] (17 August 2008).</ref>


<ref name="HoOwebAnnounce">Oddworld Inhabitants (May 1999?). ‘Hand of Odd’. Oddworld Inhabitants website. Archived by the <a href="http://replay.web.archive.org/20000305235719fw_/http://www.oddworld.com/handofodd/handofodd.html">Wayback Machine</a> (5 March 2000) and <a href="http://oddworldlibrary.net/archives/scriptures/website/INsOMNIOUS/Hand_of_Odd.php">Oddworld Scriptures</a> (17 August 2008).</ref>
<ref name="ngo">Next-Generation Online (14 May 1999). ‘[http://classic-web.archive.org/web/19991113222956/http://www.next-generation.com/jsmid/news/6634.html Oddworld Inhabitants Talks PlayStation 2]’. ''Next-Generation Online''. Imagine Publishing: Brisbane, California. Archived by the Wayback Machine (13 November 1999).</ref>


<ref name="ngo">Next-Generation Online (14 May 1999). ‘<a href="http://classic-web.archive.org/web/19991113222956/http://www.next-generation.com/jsmid/news/6634.html">Oddworld Inhabitants Talks PlayStation 2</a>’. ''Next-Generation Online''. Imagine Publishing: Brisbane, California. Archived by the Wayback Machine (13 November 1999).</ref>
<ref name="TwentyQs">Lannning, Lorne (25 October 1999). ‘[http://classic-web.archive.org/web/20000425025504/www.gamefan.com/hotinfo.asp?s=3314 Twenty Q’s with Munch’s Oddysee Producer]’. ''GameFan''. Archived by the Wayback Machine (25 April 2000).</ref>
</references>
</references>
[[Category:Unreleased Oddworld videogames]]
[[Category:Unreleased Oddworld videogames]]

Revision as of 08:53, 16 May 2011

Oddworld: The Hand of Odd is an upcoming Oddworld videogame due for release in 2012.[1] It will be developed by Just Add Water, who is considering iPad, Android tablets, Facebook, PC and Mac as platforms,[2] although JAW claims they never mentioned Facebook.[3]

Production first began at Oddworld Inhabitants as early as 1998, and the game was announced at E3 1999 but was quietly shelved as focus shifted to Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee. The revival of the title was announced by Stewart Gilray at GameCityNights in April 2011, with production estimated to resume in July or August.

Production

Production on Hand of Odd began alongside Munch’s Oddysee[4]:11 in late 1998[4]:1 with the plan of using the A.L.I.V.E. 2 engine to power both games. Thus, Hand of Odd would take the world simulation of Munch’s Oddysee (including character lifecycles and social interaction) and add support for multiplayer.[5]:1, 18. A four-inch thick design document containing concept art, gameplay mechanics and sample code was put together in 1998, described by Stewart Gilray as the most intese design document he’d seen in 22 years in the videogame industry.[6]

Oddworld: The Hand of Odd was announced at E3 in May 1999,[7][8] with news quickly being posted on the Oddworld Inhabitants website[9] and Next-Generation Online.[10] Its release was expected to be six to nine months after that of Munch,[4]:11 which was then hoped to launch simultaneously with the PlayStation 2 in the US and Europe.[5]:19

By the end of 2000, when Oddworld Inhabitants were being very outspoken about their issues with the PlayStation 2, Lorne Lanning had decided that, because a solid infrastructure for online console gaming had yet to emerge, Hand of Odd would remain in pre-production while the studio focused on Munch’s Oddysee and its immediate sequel, Oddworld: Munch’s Exoddus.[11]:9

References

  1. Gilray, Stewart (28 April 2011). Interview by Glenn Percival, Joel Sherfinski and Josh Langford. ‘The End Is… Odd?’. Episode 213 of PSNation Podcast. PSNation Podcast.
  2. Yin-Poole, Wesley (29 April 2011). ‘JAW revives Oddworld: Hand of Odd’. Eurogamer.
  3. Just Add Water (29 April 2011). ‘@w_e_sayers no, we did not mention Facebook.’. Twitter.
  4. a b c Lanning, Lorne (1 October 1999). ‘An Interview With Oddworld Inhabitants’ by Ivan Trembow. Master Gamer.
  5. a b Lannning, Lorne (25 October 1999). ‘Twenty Q’s with Munch’s Oddysee Producer’. GameFan. Archived by the Wayback Machine (25 April 2000).
  6. Gilray, Stewart (28 April 2011). Presentation. GameCityNights Season 2, Episode 4. Nottingham, UK.
  7. Oddworld Inhabitants (13 May 1999). Pamphlet distributed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 1999. Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California.
  8. Electronic Entertainment Expo (12 May 1999). E3 1999 Directory. Scan by Marino (2 July 1999). Giant Bomb.
  9. Oddworld Inhabitants (May 1999?). ‘Hand of Odd’. Oddworld Inhabitants website. Archived by the Wayback Machine (5 March 2000) and Oddworld Scriptures (17 August 2008).
  10. Next-Generation Online (14 May 1999). ‘Oddworld Inhabitants Talks PlayStation 2’. Next-Generation Online. Imagine Publishing: Brisbane, California. Archived by the Wayback Machine (13 November 1999).
  11. Lanning, Lorne (11 October 2000). ‘Interview With Oddworld Inhabitants’ by Ivan Trembow. Master Gamer.