Topic: Eternal Darkness Spiritual Successor Slated for Wii U Release

[NWR_Neal]

The proposed episodic series, called Shadow of the Eternals, is looking for crowdfunding. And yes, Dyack is involved.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/34099

UPDATE: IGN confirmed most of the information we reported earlier, though some of the finer points have been shifted. Precursor Games is looking for $1.5 million, and Denis Dyack is in the position of chief creative officer. The episodic plan, Wii U release, and plot description were all confirmed to be totally legit. The original story follows below:

Shadow of the Eternals, a spiritual successor to the GameCube classic Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, is slated to come to Wii U (and PC) in Q3 2014 as long as the crowdfunding campaign succeeds, according to an anonymous source. IGN recently revealed in a teaser trailer that the campaign will officially be announced on Monday, and that Denis Dyack is involved.

From Precursor Games, a company formed from the ashes of Silicon Knights, it will be episodic, with the current goal to make a season of 12 playable episodes that each focus on at one playable character and are slated to contain about two-to-four hours of gameplay. Shadow of the Eternals will bring back the combat, magick, and sanity event mechanics from Eternal Darkness.

Their crowdfunding won't be done on Kickstarter because they are a Canadian company, and their goal is $1.1 million. Those who donate become a member of the “Order of the Unseen” and will get access to the development forums and have the chance to interact with the team. Other rewards include copies of episodes of the game, posters, Skype calls with a developer, and creating your own sanity effect.

We also received information about the game's story, which follows detective Paul Becker as he investigates a brutal massacre in Louisiana that left two cults decimated. Becker falls down the rabbit hole and learns of the Eternals. Shadow of the Eternals will follows a similar path as Eternal Darkness as players will jump between different characters across 2,500 years of history in varied regions ranging from the United States and England to Egypt and Hungary.

[Jonnyboy117]

For.

But this is probably a very poor candidate for crowd funding. We've all seen how SK handled other people's money over the last several years.

[ejamer]

Although excited about the idea, I have doubts that it will amount to anything based on previous results from Dyack/Silicon Knights. There are also some legal questions that seemed to be in dispute the last time this type of project was discussed - although maybe those have been resolved? Still not keen on funding this project before an actual product is available.
 

[Adrock]

This Silicon Knights cover band plans to have the first episode ready by Q3 2014? Right.

I kind of wish Nintendo would fund this themselves, BUT only have Dyack and co handle the story and core concepts while another company handles the actual development, similar to how Mistwalker does things. I'd have more faith in this game keeping a schedule and development NOT descending into chaos.

[S-U-P-E-R]

I was in the second paragraph when I was thinking to myself, "who gave them money?"

Then I got to crowdfunding and was like, "oh, nobody."

So will they go with indiegogo or something? Not like I'd give them money, unless [redacted][anime]

[KisakiProject]

Dyack means this will be a hilarious train wreck...

[ShyGuy]

What if Nintendo is planning ED2 since they renewed the copyright recently? Its Crysis vs Far Cry 2 again. MAY THE RATS EAT YOUR EYES!

[Stogi]

Well this is pleasant surprise. Unlike you all, I actually hope it gets made.

[Adrock]

Oh, I hope it gets made because anything related or spiritually related to Eternal Darkness intrigues me. I'm just skeptical of Denis Dyack's ability to manage and lead a team. Still, I would rather this actually be Eternal Darkness 2.

[broodwars]

If you contribute to this kickstarter, you are actively contributing to making the gaming industry a worse place by giving Scam Artist and industry blowhard Dennis Dyack money.

That said, there's something poetic about a game from a scam artist being slated for the Wii U.

[Adrock]

I just watched the trailer. Spiritual successor, my ass. That is Eternal Darkness as it lacks any and all subtlety. They really just need to call that "Eternal Darkness 2: Shadow of the Ancients."

[TJ Spyke]

I just watched the trailer. Spiritual successor, my ass. That is Eternal Darkness as it lacks any and all subtlety. They really just need to call that "Eternal Darkness 2: Shadow of the Ancients."

I haven't seen the trailer, but if that is true then they can expect a possible lawsuit from Nintendo since they own the Eternal Darkness IP.

[Adrock]

Honestly, I hope this gets Nintendo's attention and that they don't sue. Where Nintendo can set Wii U apart is the eshop by offering Indie developers a place to really shine. They've been doing a lot of good on that space so far by easing up on their asinine rules and limitations. I don't think Nintendo should throw millions at Precursor Games, but picking up Shadow of the Eternals, having them cancel the PC version and rework it as a sequel to Eternal Darkness as an eshop exclusive (which is probably what Dyack and Precursor Games would prefer anyway) could be mutually beneficial.

[ejamer]

Well this is pleasant surprise. Unlike you all, I actually hope it gets made.

You misunderstand. I totally hope this happens - it's really exciting news!


However, throwing "Dyack" and "crowdfunding" into the same paragraph makes me strongly question whether this is real or just another pipe dream.  He has a bad reputation at the moment for saying one thing and doing something else... and the only way to really get around that is to release a quality product before asking me for money.

[Pixelated Pixies]

Well, out goes my hope of Retro doing an Eternal Darkness game. I guess Nintendo didn't own the IP after all.
 
I'm worried you guys. I really hope it's good.    
 
*In the trailer, did anyone else see the blonde woman towards the end? Might that be a more detailed character model for Alex?


 

[alegoicoe]

I am actually quite happy to hear this news, it caught me totally off guard. I would gladly contribute to the project when more details arrive, although it would be sweet for Nintendo to fund it and make it a Wii U exclusive.

[TJ Spyke]

Well, out goes my hope of Retro doing an Eternal Darkness game. I guess Nintendo didn't own the IP after all.

Nintendo DOES own the IP, it's why this is a "spiritual sequel" since they can't make an actual sequel. It's like how BioShock is a spiritual sequel to System Shock since Electronic Arts owns the System Shock IP.

[Pixelated Pixies]

Well, out goes my hope of Retro doing an Eternal Darkness game. I guess Nintendo didn't own the IP after all.

Nintendo DOES own the IP, it's why this is a "spiritual sequel" since they can't make an actual sequel. It's like how BioShock is a spiritual sequel to System Shock since Electronic Arts owns the System Shock IP.

Ahh. In my excitement I didn't see 'spiritual'. Might as well scratch my question about the above image then also.
 
What if Nintendo did secretly have Eternal Darkness 2 in development? That would be pretty hilarious if two games were to compete over people's affection for the original Eternal Darkness.

[ThePerm]

I believe this will be Never Say Never vs Octopussy. From what I heard fro mthe rumor scouts months ago. Nintendo had been funding an Eternal Darkness game, but had passed on whatever Silicon knights was making. This could be that project.

So the constant question is What is Retro working on?

and even so if they arent working on their own version who still thinks this is awesome?

This game my have some Pseudonyms. The music was probably litigious, but Why not have a Alejandra Salvador, Eduardo Salvador, or a Pio Augustino?

[Ian Sane]

I find it interesting that spiritual successor's don't get sued when they make a big stink about being a spiritual successor.  I mean BioShock has "shock" in the name just like System Shock.  Isn't that enough for EA to claim a deliberate attempt to trick customers into thinking it's the same series?  I know Nintendo sued over Tear Ring Saga which was originally announced with name "Emblem Saga".

Eternal Darkness was practically Lovecraft pastiche so this is like Lovecraft pastiche pastiche.  Looking at the real Silicon Knights track record outside of Nintendo, I think ED turned out good because Nintendo was involved.  I liked how SK had a style that was not typical Nintendo Mario fare but Nintendo has always been fantastic at gameplay and QA.  Without Nintendo overseeing ED would probably have turned out like Too Human.  ED combined a company that really knows gameplay, but not so much story, with a company that prioritizes story, which is a design philosophy that often leads to poor playing games.  Their strengths and weaknesses complimented each other.  There will be no such thing here.  I'm not even mentioning Dyack's legal troubles which just completely killed any trust I have in the guy (I remember when he was with Nintendo and seemed like a cool guy who even posted here once in a while; boy did my image of him change).

[Caterkiller]

Well I'm interested. I'd never help fund it though with Dyack at the helm.

[ThePerm]

I don't like the idea of them kickstarting it outside an established kickstarting channel. Their excuse is because they are a canadian company, but if you are dealing with millions of dollars than you might as well make a shell company in buffalo new york across the border.

[TJ Spyke]

They can use Indiegogo, which would let them raise money (they even offer the option to collect money if you don't reach your goal, although they take a 9% fee if you don't reach your goal vs. 4% fee if you do reach your goal).

[Shaymin]

I am trying to find a way to express what's going on here without using profanity... and it's quite difficult.

Suffice it to say, this project is going to get sued out of existence either by Activision, Epic Games, or Nintendo. There's a very good chance that Dyack's going to take the money and run. People quit Silicon Knights because they believed Dyack was either incapable or uninterested in making quality games. (Source.)

And it's an episodic game, which means more opportunities for Dyack to cut and run. As a Canadian taxpayer, I've been burned by this chucklef**k before. If you give him money, you're an idiot.

AGAINST.

[rlse9]

Reading this news is the most interested I've been in the Wii U since it was announced basically.  Eternal Darkness was probably my favorite game on the Gamecube (either that or Skies Of Arcadia: Legends) and if they could manage to make an unofficial sequel that managed to build upon all that was great about the original, that would be amazing.  Not holding my breath but it would be awesome if the game actually does happen and turns out to be great.