More on SiN: Episodes

I pray this comes out soon.

As you can see with several music download services becoming popular you would think the same distribution model will happen to the PC game industry in the future. I am most certainly looking forward to the massive digital distribution age of games. Hopefully more and more devs will start to see how profitable it is for them to skip retail and bring in a new level of convenience to the end user.

Everyone's jumping in on the bandwagon. It's the best way to deliver to the hardcore demographic and bring in casual gamers who might not play games. PC games need this edge to be convenient, unique and stay competitive with the console market. If you wanted a printed manual or shwag just order it and they should ship it out.

Myself being a fan of the first Sin, I just can't wait to play these when they are released. Ritual is probably working closely with Valve to complete these episodes, so they could take the world of Sin and create a great game out of it.

I'm not a fanboy of Steam or Ritual, I just know that they have a big hit on their hands with this one. With broadband going mainstream I definitely see that this is the direction we are heading. Going to download my copy on day 1.

With broadband going mainstream I definitely see that this is the direction we are heading. I have collected some good interviews with developers talking about the Distribution Revolution:
http://www.gamecloud.com/article.php?article_id=479
http://www.gamecloud.com/article.php?article_id=557
http://www.gamecloud.com/article.php?article_id=483
http://www.gamecloud.com/article.php?article_id=495
http://www.gamecloud.com/article.php?article_id=553
http://www.gamecloud.com/article.php?article_id=506
http://www.gamecloud.com/article.php?article_id=561

Electronic Arts decided to kill off Game X in favor of making another dozen expansion packs to the SIMS

SHACK RESPONSE "Man this is BS! Down with EA! Screw publishers! Big fat cats don't know what they're doing! Challenge Nothing!"

Ritual has decided to publish SiN 2 via Valve's Steam service, eschewing publishers and instead keeping more of the profits

SHACK RESPONSE: "Man this is BS! Why not cut us a huge discount since you're saving so much money! I want a CD and a box and everything! This digital distribution crap is just a way to erode our rights further! Screw Steam!"

Yeah, I know it's not the same people doing both. And I'm one of the ones who decided to buy HL2 on a DVD from a store instead of doing it over Steam. But still, it is funny that people bitch about X and then when Y comes across to try and help things, they bitch about that too.

I think I'll buy these when they come out, and I like helping the developer more than the publisher. Sure, this is a situation where it would work out (established developer making sequel to known property - a group of nobodies making a game I've never heard of wouldn't work as well) but I hope everyone comes to my way of thinking - this is better for developers and better for gamers.

Besides, SiN II has already been basically shot down by publishers - isn't this better than nothing? Ritual is the one that had to lay off people when publishers shot down all their ideas. I hope it works out well and I'll be among the first to buy it. Wouldn't the industry be better off if this works?

what I enjoy :

Developers doing something creativly different akin to a good tv show. Like the story never really ends until it's ready to end (like 4 or 5 years.) This allows the flexibility to just keep on moving forward and tell the story as it happens without worrying about constantly updating models and content as a true publisher driven sequel needs to.

what i dislike :

It's being tested on a game that isn't necissarily known for its strong characters and story. John Blade? Seriously. What's the story we're all dying to see in the SiN universe?

Does anyone see this as kinda ironic? I mean, what was the game that totally overshadowed SiN when it came out (aside from the bugs and such)? Yup, Half-Life. So now Ritual is teaming up with the people responsible to make the sequal(s). Heh.

thank GOD, they are going to have multiplayer! might not be such a loss after all.

only bad thing is its gonna be in around 'one calandar year', but better late than never, i guess

Pretty cool that another developer is using the Steam platform rather than making their own clever content deliver client.

I hope they release a demo tho as the Source engine is kinda wanky imo.

I almost want to buy this game even if I have no intention of installing steam to play it just because of all the "OMFG 20 DOLLYS ARE 2 MULCH MONIE$$$$$"

Here is the most interesting part of the Eurogamer article

But perhaps the most interesting implication of Ritual's decision to go for broke on the Episodic Gaming front is that fans themselves will be able to influence the progression of forthcoming episodes. Apparently players will occasionally be forced into making choices, and depending on how the community reacts as a whole, certain things will change in the next. For example, if you choose to save a key character their appearance may well be different in the next episode than if you had chosen to leave them to fend for themselves.

With Ritual able to track exactly what players choose to do, the way is clear for the community to have a direct influence on how the eventual plot plays out - with the potential for players to replay sections to influence the direction. Interesting indeed. Ritual's creative director Robert Atkins seems unsure to what extent it will have an influence, though, admitting in the PC Gamer interview "Right now it's a concept we're going to implement, but we don't know to what level yet. We figure the fans are going to help us out." But to be clear, there is not going to be any obligation for solo players to contribute, with an 'opt out' option provided.

Screens?!?!?!?!

Glad to hear we may see a retail release. I like the idea of online distribution, but valve needs to do a lot of work on their customer support before steam is ready to be a primary means of distribution.

I cannot fuckin wait....best news in a long time. Lets bring on some SCREENS!!

Yep, I am definately *hot* for this. Fuck the clueless haters

In my opinion, this is the most exciting thing happening this year. Here's hoping you kick some ass, Valve/Ritual!

Pics + DiVX, plz.

THis has been a long time coming...meaning, it really is about time. Yeah the games initial launch was pretty buggy, and alot of people strayed away due to this, which is really unfortunate as for the time, this game not only had a great story, but a high levelof interactivity, great gameplay and a sound track that kicked ass.

It's a bout time we revisited one of the coolest games to come ouf of the Quake Engine era.

omg im so happy this sin sequel is coming i could just die