Lo-Fi Games and SunCreature Studios - A Match made in Heaven

[Richard Von Wolffe]

I must preface this by saying that I am absolutely loving Kenshi, it's setting and ideas, and the overall effort that Chris is making developing the game on his own.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/186 ... -alethrion

I was first introduced to this amazing animated short film by Chris' Twitter page voicing his support for their (now successful) Kickstarter page. I am sure I am not the only one who noticed major compatibility between Kenshi and the world depicted in The Reward. Now that the Kickstarter has succeeded, an animated series starring the journey of the heroes Wilhelm and Vito is in the works along with comic books, websites, and eventually a pen and paper d20 setting.

The reason I bring all of this up is that it would seem like Kenshi and The Reward setting are a match made in heaven, and if they were to join forces it would no doubt make for a richer world and a major boost to both in attention and brand potential.

Frankly I have found myself losing more and more faith in the mainstream mass produced videogames established companies are handing out, with little more than graphical upgrades and worse stories. I support Kenshi as a brilliant game on it's own, but I also believe that Kenshi deserves more attention and success. Lo-Fi Games joining forces with SunCreature Studios would involve neither side giving up control of the worlds that they obviously love, but would allow each to grow on the strength of the other.

As a squad based RPG and as with many RTS like games, I am finding that the individuals which we the players are controlling lack any degree of personality aside from the outfits they wear, the job they do, or the battles they fight. The Reward team have no ambitions toward making a videogame likely because they lack anyone with the skills necessary to make it a reality, but their animation and characters have personality in spades.

While my proposal is pretty light on details, ultimately what I am hoping for is for the Lo-Fi Games and SunCreature staff to open up a dialogue and ideally 'advance on all fronts' with a simultaneous game, animated series, comics, and more as their settings are already sympatico.

I very much hope that the Developer himself sees this, but I also know that Kenshi will remain a satisfying game whether or not this does happen.

[skynet464]

Kenshi is Kenshi and Reward is Reward. Let's do everyone a favor and keep it that way.

[Richard Von Wolffe]

Fair enough, I have no doubt that Chris will only improve on the game that we are already enjoying and Kenshi can and will stand on it's own. My suggestion is based on the future of Lo-Fi Games and pointing out that beyond the aesthetic there is a a setting which would benefit from the Kenshi engine of personal exploration, trading, settling and essentially exploring an interesting and organic world. Essentially Wilhelm and Vito are in my mind a pair of adventurers whose story could be told in the blended Kenshi-Reward universe (not player controlled), whereas the bandit trio had a very different story the player could enjoy the Roguelike game in whatever capacity they chose.

In my mind, a partnership with SunCreature studios would imply that Chris suddenly has a team of animators, a comic book series, detailed character designers, and a team of writers working on the RPG elements of the world all augmenting his setting which he does not have to pay for as they are already funded and interdependently building in the same world. As an Indie developer Chris' main hindrances are a lack of exposure (and thus funding), and the fact that he is one guy trying to build an empire on his own.

Maybe Kenshi's not the game to do it with (though it is the perfect time for both studios), but Chris can hardly build a Triple A gaming studio with only himself working there. And what happens after Kenshi for his next game? Are we expecting him to keep supplying updates and such to this one game for 3+ years without income? I would much prefer that he partner with other Indie developers who would augment one another's success than have him be cannibalized by some company like EA or fade into obscurity.

[Tolwrath]

To put it one way, it would be silly to create a crossover work before the thing you're making a crossover with is even done.

[UndefinedM]

Kenshi is Kenshi and Reward is Reward. Let's do everyone a favor and keep it that way.

[Blxz]

Dear god no. That art style....in *MY* kenshi?

[Ishaye]

What is that art design i don't even... Looks like some hipster garbage.

[Richard Von Wolffe]

Of course it is! It's Indie stuff!

I'll enjoy both Kenshi and SunCreature Studios all the same. It would seem that I'm on my own on this one.

[orly1861]

The brilliance of a game like KENSHI is the fact that it remains, even with Chris' long haul that has all of us cheering on his efforts, a thing of his own. I have seen what ''collboration'' has done before to both games and persons. When it works, [Harley and Davidson, Bogie/Bacall, Grant/Sherman ] it can produce a great product, more often than not, it doesnt. I recall the small German company that launched the original ''GOTHIC''. [ who else who played can forget ''Mud'' and the gritty, primitive and violently basic world KENSHI evokes here]?
By the time it got to number four and was taken over by an American team, it was a hacked-up crappy disneyland of bad voiceover, bad storyline, bad everything that I would not have played even for free, and didn't after the first hour. With Chris manning this helm, and with getting the input of all of us, a great thing in gaming will happen that all of us will have some little part of. Not just planking down bread at the GAMESTOP and hoping that you did not just waste 50 bucks on a piece of crap.

[toaster Assassin]

I loved the Gothic series (up till three).
It had its own medieval element that I liked greatly. Above Gothic III, all went to S#!^ (Gothic III itself was rushed).

Risen I was just like Gothic, Risen II GARBAGE.

Richard Von Wolffe said: Of course it is! It's Indie stuff!

I'll enjoy both Kenshi and SunCreature Studios all the same. It would seem that I'm on my own on this one.

Good show of support for indie games!
As for a joint effort, Chris stated that he would prefer to dev the project alone. (with some contractor aid). In my opinion, by Chris working alone he can create the game he wanted (so far I would say his ideas are great) and not be influenced by devs with a different vision.

The game you compared to Kenshi "The Reward - Tales of Alethrion", seems to conflict with Kenshi's style. TRTOA's three conflicting elements I noticed was its bright colors,cartoon-ish look and its not really dark atmosphere. TRTOA looks like an interesting game, but combining the two would most likely ruin the best of both.

[Ripin3]

Kenshi is Kenshi and Reward is Reward. Let's do everyone a favor and keep it that way.