Rime: Microsoft rejected Tequila Works

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Grand Master

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VG Leaks has posted documents that appear to have come from Microsoft?s XBLA submission process. The game was initially called Echoes of Siren and was pitched as an Xbox 360, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 7 release. Tequila Works stated that it needed $3 million in partial funding to bring the game to Xbox Live alone, then a further $40,000 for Windows 8.
 
The game was listed on the document as ?fully exclusive? on Xbox formats, and at the time only needed 24 more months before completion. In its pitching form; Tequila Works describes Rime as a, third-person isometric RPG with a ?great deal of exploration, crafting, survival and hero defence.? The studio also compared it to Orcs Must Die!
 
The elevator pitch reads, ?Gauntlet meets Minecraft meets Jason and the Argonauts,? and continues, ?As the darkest legends go, there is a far-off island where evil spirits inhabit and they are able to terrify the most determined and brave heart. It is now as Ecos; the damned island.
 
?Not always it was this. At another time a great civilization was developed in it. Their inhabitants bloomed until becoming a lighthouse in the dark. History became legend. Legend became myth. Many looked for the island and its secrets. Now, their bones and empty fortresses remain as a reminder of their imprudence.?
 
The game features daytime crafting and resource gathering, while nightfall brings with it horde defence and battles. You?ll find a detailed gameplay overview here and here.
 
Microsoft clearly rejected the pitch and the game is now a PS4 exclusive. Hit up the VG Leaks link above to see more of the document.
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=V-JunUax8xg

 

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2014/02/19/rime-microsoft-rejected-tequila-works-game-before-it-became-ps4-exclusive-rumour/

Grand Master

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Apparently confirmed

 

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This was already confirmed by the Tequila Works CEO in this interview:

 

 

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[...]Then the Xbox One plans were announced and everything changed. The people at Microsoft say that the game doesn't fit in the strategy of the new console, that they are looking for "connected experiences" and the social factor. Rime didn't fit because it was a single-player game, a very traditional game experience. [...]

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compl3x

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[...]Then the Xbox One plans were announced and everything changed. The people at Microsoft say that the game doesn't fit in the strategy of the new console, that they are looking for "connected experiences" and the social factor. Rime didn't fit because it was a single-player game, a very traditional game experience. [...]

 

 

SO I suppose these types of games are going to be more common on the PS4 than the X1 if this is MS's view.

Grand Master

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  On 19/02/2014 at 15:23, compl3x said:

SO I suppose these types of games are going to be more common on the PS4 than the X1 if this is MS's view.

 

Even if it were/still is, they'll swing back on that. The indie bubble isn't going to burst any time soon, especially with the riot of AAA development that's continuing to go on with inflated budgets/studio closures.

 

There's a reason developers love Steam, and Sony and MS will only do themselves favours in mimicking parts of it's environment. We've already seen self-publishing and free patching appearing for one.

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jerzdawg

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  On 19/02/2014 at 15:54, aviator189 said:

why on earth would they reject this game??!

ugh, whatever. 

my guess.. money.  games like this dont bring in millions of dollars.  kids dont have their parents run out to pick up Rime...  AB said it perfectly though, MS needs to jump on the indie bandwagon.  Were #s ever released for similar indie games... like Journey?  Its a shame games like this usually get overlooked by the majority because they usually end up being gems.

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Luc2k

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  On 19/02/2014 at 15:28, Audioboxer said:

There's a reason developers love Steam, and Sony and MS will only do themselves favours in mimicking parts of it's environment.

Lack of quality control and the ability to sell any game in an unfinished state for full price? I'll give you the fact that Steam can generate boatloads of money for indies since most PC gamers use it for convenience or don't know any better.

 

As for the game at hand, MS made a mistake judging by its looks, although the premise sounds kind of generic.

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Lord Method Man

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The people at Microsoft say that the game doesn't fit in the strategy of the new console, that they are looking for "connected experiences" and the social factor. Rime didn't fit because it was a single-player game, a very traditional game experience.

 

So they don't want games that aren't OMFG ONLINE MULTIPLAYER COMBAT XBOX LIVE HEADSET MOUNTAIN DEW DORITOS EXTREME I take it.

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Grand Master

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  On 19/02/2014 at 16:05, Luc2k said:

Lack of quality control and the ability to sell any game in an unfinished state for full price? I'll give you the fact that Steam can generate boatloads of money for indies since most PC gamers use it for convenience or don't know any better.

 

As for the game at hand, MS made a mistake judging by its looks, although the premise sounds kind of generic.

 

What do you mean "don't know any better"?

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trooper11

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Too bad MS passed this game up. Looks like a very interesting one and I'll certainly pick it up as part of ps+ at some point.

Thankfully there is the indie program on the X1 that bypasses any interest MS may or may not have, but it sounds like these guys really needed funding from a publisher to finish their work.

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Luc2k

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  On 19/02/2014 at 16:33, Andrew G. said:

What do you mean "don't know any better"?

They don't know of sites like GoG, Humble Store, GMG and loads others. For example, GoG almost always has better asking price/deals outside US when it comes to indies because the price is in $ for anyone.

Grand Master

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  On 19/02/2014 at 17:06, Luc2k said:

They don't know of sites like GoG, Humble Store, GMG and loads others. For example, GoG almost always has better asking price/deals outside US when it comes to indies because the price is in $ for anyone.

 

Ah ok, I thought you meant they didn't know any better about Early Access.

 

A little OT: as for GMG/HiB pricing, they've added local currency, or in the case of EU switched them to the ?, so they've lost their advantages. Now everyone is $=? (N)

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Shadrack

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  On 19/02/2014 at 16:03, jerzdawg said:

my guess.. money.  games like this dont bring in millions of dollars.  kids dont have their parents run out to pick up Rime...  AB said it perfectly though, MS needs to jump on the indie bandwagon.  Were #s ever released for similar indie games... like Journey?  Its a shame games like this usually get overlooked by the majority because they usually end up being gems.

 

I'm not sure I understand the "bizz" that well, but how does an underselling game hurt MS?  Don't they get their licensing fees from sells regardless?

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trooper11

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  On 19/02/2014 at 17:21, Shadrack said:

I'm not sure I understand the "bizz" that well, but how does an underselling game hurt MS?  Don't they get their licensing fees from sells regardless?

 

 

The situation here was regarding MS publishing the title, which meant giving the developer the funds to make the game. MS apparently felt it didnt fit in with games they want to directly fund.

 

This would not have barred the developer from using the ID@Xbox program to self publish their game, but they couldnt afford to do that.

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  On 19/02/2014 at 17:31, trooper11 said:

The situation here was regarding MS publishing the title, which meant giving the developer the funds to make the game. MS apparently felt it didnt fit in with games they want to directly fund.

 

This would not have barred the developer from using the ID@Xbox program to self publish their game, but they couldnt afford to do that.

 

Oh, I see.  Thanks for the explanation.

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