Sam and Max 2 is cancelled, fanboys plot their revenge

[Ed Oscuro]

Basically, some kidz got together to discuss the latest hot topic enflaming the sinuses of fanboys everywhere: the Cancellation of Sam and Max 2 (http://www.forumplanet.com/gamespy/topic.asp?fid=1422&tid=1308861).

In order to stick it to the man and convince LucasArts that they're firmly behind their petition (http://www.petitiononline.com/sammax2/petition.html), members of this grassroots movement want to send a message of their loyalty to LucasArts by boycotting all LucasArts products until Sam and Max 2's development hits the road once again. The combined purchasing power of their weekly allowances diverted elsewhere is likely to have a serious impact on LucasArts.

LucasArts strangely enough has failed to make any official announcement concerning the imminent loss of profits as they were depending on this money to fund the purchase coffee stirrers which would tide them through until October this year, and if trends fail to reverse they'll be further set back by the loss of revenues from this demographic which were expected to increase dramatically in the upcoming year as lawn mowing season (and perhaps even summer jobs) were to add to the purchasing power of this dedicated group of LucasArts fans. If they lose this purchasing power, so inside sources have informed me, they'll have to take up a donation or seek tax relief in order to keep paper cups stocked by the water cooler. Clearly, LucasArts is being put in a sleep hold here and only through courageous action will they escape continuing irritation or even notice these protesters.

My (somewhat more serious and almost devestatingly coherent) thoughts on the topic as posted in the first link are as follows:


I never have played a Sam and Max game, and while I'm sure the loss of this current title will provoke unremittant attacks from legions fanboys who would gladly kamikaze bomb LucasArts headquarters if it meant the attainment of their objective, I'm not one of them.

LucasArts makes plenty of Other Good Games, games that I want to try out such as their recent coliseum pit fighter.

But yeah, there's some real news in here: Sam and Max 2 is dead, which is possibly a shame. Maybe it'll get started again (on the right path) sometime in the future. Here's to hoping, eh?

[buttasuperb]

that sucks

[WiseSalesman]

Ah, fuck. I was really, really looking forward to that game.

[Garry Silljo]

I'm a little dissapointed, but that story you put together was TOO funny. I was pretty sure that was going to be canceld though. Too many omens in the air. The biggest of all, the word Star Wars was nowhere in the title.

[Ed Oscuro]

The biggest of all, the word Star Wars was nowhere in the title.

No kidding!

So, anyhow, I had a little something else to say about this, I'll let you decide whether or not I'm really sympathetic to the Sam and Max crowd:


LucasArts is sending you the message that they don't need your money.

I'm not arguing against that. No company is into making games for the love. NOT ONE. You look at a big company like LucasArts and when profits are a bigger concern than they might be for a company like Nintendo who wants to make the best game for their platform (and thus force people to buy their system to enjoy the game) or a smaller company that can afford to have slightly fuzzy feelings about things, and those two reasons just can't fit in with the culture.

So folks, if you want to do this, that's fine, but obviously you haven't been making LucasArts enough money for them to really care. Will they notice this happening? Maybe, but who're they to care about a few dollars wafting their way?

I personally have a lot of hopes for the imaginative/fringe games out there (Painkiller certainly seems like one of them) in clearing the arteries of the gaming industry, but there's a point where I just can't be bothered to care. If LucasArts makes a good enough game, I'll buy it. Sam and Max may've been interesting, but when you get down to it I'm an action gamer, and so are lots of other people. I think what this comes down to is the film/artsy types have come up against the hardcore FPS/RTS group and the casual gamers are seen as bringing everything down. Again, I don't care, because there's always a few good games out there.

Here's a thought: boycott all known bad games. I don't care if it's an adventure title (Syberia 2) or not, you're not helping yourself by buying it to prove that Sam and Max had a market because the targeted demographic for that one was different and a few people trying to change something isn't gonna work.

There you have it. If this is the wrong move for LucasArts to make, they'll figure it out.

[Ed Oscuro]

Grand Admiral Thrawn kicks it up a notch!


Mixnmojo has located and provided a reasonable alternative to online petitions Lucas Arts may or may not see.

Want to give Lucas Arts your thoughts on Sam n Max 2's cancellation? Email the pr department:

pr@lucasarts.com

The least of which we'll be able to shut down that email address. That's right I'm advocating a little nonviolent resistance here. If the mods don't like it they can lock the topic, but I'm sure many will agree with me here.

Again, my response:


Oh my, the benevolent Sam and Max crowd have decided to fly their very own paper airplane into LucasArts Headquarters! Of course they'll notice that you stuck some gum and dog shit in the fold, though, and will be none too pleased about it.

In other words:

Your side's credibility goes down with that statement, and LucasArts management gains the higher moral ground for standing by "the right decision."

You also have some serious issues if you think this fool's crusade will shut down that email address.

If anybody wants to email them, do so in a respectful manner.

[WiseSalesman]

Didn't I see you getting pissed when it was doubtful whether Metal Slug 3 was going to come over or not? Just because the game isn't of a genre you like, it doesn't mean that people aren't justified in being disappointed over its cancellation, and it doesn't mean it wouldn't have been a good game. I do think it's kind of fucked up for LA to do this to their fans, anyway. The original Sam and Max sold magnificently, and lots of die hard fans have waited a long time for a sequel. I'm not part of their effort, but if they want to e-mail, boycott, speak out, whatever I say go for it. They've nothing to lose, and a chance to gain.

[Ed Oscuro]

Didn't I see you getting pissed when it was doubtful whether Metal Slug 3 was going to come over or not?

Nope, that wasn't me.


Just because the game isn't of a genre you like, it doesn't mean that people aren't justified in being disappointed over its cancellation, and it doesn't mean it wouldn't have been a good game.

You don't say! If you'd reread my comments you'll see that I'm basically trying to explain the reasons for this happening, and to try to dispell some of the vengeful fanboy bullshit out there.


I do think it's kind of fucked up for LA to do this to their fans, anyway. The original Sam and Max sold magnificently, and lots of die hard fans have waited a long time for a sequel. I'm not part of their effort, but if they want to e-mail, boycott, speak out, whatever I say go for it. They've nothing to lose, and a chance to gain.

Unless one of your stated aims is to bring down their email address, that is, you don't stand to lose anything. He's since changed it and has gone back on his opinion to agree with me that all emails must be respectful, so I have no more problem with it.

[WiseSalesman]

You don't say! If you'd reread my comments you'll see that I'm basically trying to explain the reasons for this happening, and to try to dispell some of the vengeful fanboy bullshit out there.


That might have been clearer had you left out what you wrote about "fans of this genre" vs. "fans of that genre". As it was, it looked completely different to me than what you state here.



Nope, that wasn't me.


In that case, my apologies.

[Ed Oscuro]

I caught myself the other day wanting to flame somebody really bad the other day for saying that Goldeneye was garbage and had bad multiplayer (somebody who should know better) but that Duke Nukem 3D for the N64 was an awesome game. I just came to realize that the world won't be a better place if I tell him that he's just factually wrong, or that he should go replay Goldeneye...if people want to make comments like these in isolation, that's just the way it's got to be, because that's how these people apparently feel.

On the other hand, there really isn't much use for folks threatening to (as I say) do violent things because economics aren't in favor of their favorite franchise getting new releases, and that's worth writing about. Anybody who's been over to the Castlevania Dungeon Forums within the last few months has likely seen the Igarashi flame wars over his conduct -- again, you can say he's a godlike figure or a punk, and when it comes right down to it we're communicating how we feel about stuff. There's no economics behind his many outbursts, just bad sense. The same holds true for ol' whatsisname dissing the old Ninja Gaiden games and saying he's including them on the new XBox game so people can see "how much better his game is." One can think these things, but don't expect love for that.

Economics, on the other hand...well, if you can make a better analysis of the current market for a Sam and Max game then you must have a lot of foresight they don't, but getting worked into a huff along with all one's buddies on the 'net and sending ultimatums isn't a good way to get things done. Thrawn just noticed that's what he was doing, and I applaud him for making the correct changes.

[Garry Silljo]

Why don't they just call it Star Wars Episode 7: Sam and Max Hit the Road, and then not change any of the gameplay. That would sell! Get Mark Hamil to do a voice and it keeps all credibility.

Apologies if I misspelled his name, I don't care enough to look it up.

[calthaer]

LucasArts was a better company before it became a Star Wars whore. I don't see anything wrong with boycotting a company if you disagree with their philosophy on game design. Didn't you just say in the Tron: Killer App thread, Oscuro, that "there are so many other games out there?" Certainly enough to sate one should they choose to eschew one particular brand.

Let people do what they want. It's a free market, for the most part.

And I thought Goldeneye for the 64 sucked, but that was largely because I simply can't stand playing FPS games with a controller. I need my WSAD.

[pango]

argh! the bastards!

[kainemaxwell]

Talk about ways another company can shoot itself in the foot... :angry:

[WiseSalesman]

I hated Goldeneye as well, actually. Economic perspectives are all well and good, but these days they often have little to do with whether the game was worth a damn. Case in point: Bloodrayne sold like a motherfucker.

[maxlords]

Damn. I was planning on buying Sam and Max 2 as soon as it came out. Would have been well worth my money. Bah.