MID Discussion, Release Date, Unity Etc

[historical]

huge moves

I just don't know that a new CEO would come in and throw the whole business away on a huge move like that.

That appears to me to be exactly what they're doing. New boss comes in,
some people get terminated...including the voice actress of the beloved main character.
Now they're throwing out the platform too. If that isn't throwing the whole business away...? Seriously, what have they overlooked?

My guess of the release date for MID is "never." It feels like a novel about a cutthroat business takeover, a Trojan horse strategem; because this is how a company that wants to buy the rights to the ND brand would go about it. Get into the company that refuses to sell their winning formula, destroy that company from within and then buy the rights cheap.

Not saying that's what's happening here. Just that it makes more sense than the meager explanations we've been given for the changes we've seen.

[AutumnMemories]

It feels like a novel about a cutthroat business takeover, a Trojan horse strategem; because this is how a company that wants to buy the rights to the ND brand would go about it. Get into the company that refuses to sell their winning formula, destroy that company from within and then buy the rights cheap.

Not saying that's what's happening here. Just that it makes more sense than the meager explanations we've been given for the changes we've seen.

I don't think they're trying to ruin the company; I think it's been doing poorly for a while now and they're trying to save it. Whether their methods will work -- well, that remains to be seen but right now I'm not optimistic.

You know the new CEO has been a board member (I'm p sure those are the people who own the company) since like 2002, right?

Random note but it's interesting that Her has only lasted 2 years after Megan Gaiser left :/ could be a coincidence but imo the games changed pretty dramatically for the worse once she left. If the games had continued in the same vein as they were before she left, I wonder if Her would still be doing so badly.

[paperstreet]

Random note but it's interesting that Her has only lasted 2 years after Megan Gaiser left :/ could be a coincidence but imo the games changed pretty dramatically for the worse once she left. If the games had continued in the same vein as they were before she left, I wonder if Her would still be doing so badly.

That could be the case, as is so often in companies which are built on the passion of one visionary person. Also the games were much better when she was CEO, even before she left totally. Steve Jobs started Apple and then was forced out of the company and apple went down, then they asked him back and he made them innovative and successful again, but now that he is gone the company has again lost "that certain something" and is just like any other company.

With the recent firings they got rid of the remaining people that were there from the beginning, so no one is left who really has that emotional attachment and passion of building the company from scratch.

[historical]

clarifying

You know the new CEO has been a board member (I'm p sure those are the people who own the company) since like 2002, right?

I have no idea who owns how much of HI, and I don't wish to be misunderstood. I was trying to make the point that the dramatic and fantastical possibility makes more sense at this point than the answers the fans have gotten from the source -- answers ranging from lame and vague to nonsensical. I have NO reason to believe that any board member or executive turned on the company, or came in to sabotage it. In fact, in the case of HI, it's hard to see why they wouldn't just sell the rights, if an offer came.
That said, I would point out that among businesses more robust than HI, it is not unknown for a predator to purchase the loyalty of a board member, so being a 12-year board member is no guarantee of anything.

But again, this is not something I have any reason to believe is happening at HI. It could just as well be abysmal incompetence -- firing Minella, picking Digital River for shipping, cutting staff, and now this new example of fixing what's not broken.

The only thing I'm willing to bet on is that "never" is the answer to the thread title. I do sincerely think HI is out of gas.

[Tedbear2]

I would like to know (and googling hasn't provided any answers) whether Cathy Roiter, the game designer, is still with the company or was one of the employees who has left. She was a hugely important person in the making of the games.

But I am jumping ahead here - we first need to wait and see if Midnight in Salem is ever released. I can't think of any reason why the company would just string us along, though, if they have no intention of releasing the game. How would that be of any advantage to anyone?

[DPL_93]

I don't think they're trying to ruin the company; I think it's been doing poorly for a while now and they're trying to save it. Whether their methods will work -- well, that remains to be seen but right now I'm not optimistic.

You know the new CEO has been a board member (I'm p sure those are the people who own the company) since like 2002, right?

Random note but it's interesting that Her has only lasted 2 years after Megan Gaiser left :/ could be a coincidence but imo the games changed pretty dramatically for the worse once she left. If the games had continued in the same vein as they were before she left, I wonder if Her would still be doing so badly.

I agree with your first statement, seems a bit absurd to say that Penny Milliken could be trying to ruin HeR if that were true she would be ruining her own reputation because if HeR were to cease to exist she would get the most criticism as she is the one in charge as CEO.


I think the series has really declined since Megan Gaiser left as CEO, which was May 2011, Think she might have stayed a little bit longer in another role? But since ASH I think the series has been going downhill, haven't really enjoyed the series as much since then it could be a coincidence though.

[Royal Payne]

That appears to me to be exactly what they're doing. New boss comes in,
some people get terminated...including the voice actress of the beloved main character.
Now they're throwing out the platform too. If that isn't throwing the whole business away...? Seriously, what have they overlooked?

I agree here. (Whether the CEO realizes it or not, that does seem to be what she is doing.) The only other thing they can do at this point to make it worse is make the games no longer mystery-oriented. And at this point... I wouldn't doubt they'd do that too.

[DPL_93]

I agree here. (Whether the CEO realizes it or not, that does seem to be what she is doing.) The only other thing they can do at this point to make it worse is make the games no longer mystery-oriented. And at this point... I wouldn't doubt they'd do that too.

I'd argue they probably have gone done that path already the games started out as Mystery Detective games IMO a lot of sleuthing, question suspects, and slowly have moved towards more and Adventure treasure hunters style of games like trying to find hidden treasures, less detective work more puzzles ect. Think I read an article where HeR said the newer games were going to have a myth theme or something.

[AutumnMemories]

I would like to know (and googling hasn't provided any answers) whether Cathy Roiter, the game designer, is still with the company or was one of the employees who has left. She was a hugely important person in the making of the games.

But I am jumping ahead here - we first need to wait and see if Midnight in Salem is ever released. I can't think of any reason why the company would just string us along, though, if they have no intention of releasing the game. How would that be of any advantage to anyone?

I was wondering the same thing about Cathy Roiter & I also couldn't find anything. I did find an interview with her and Jeanne Roiter where they mentioned not liking social media or the internet or something, so I guess they're intentionally offline :P I also wonder about Rob Klee, who I think was on the board of directors, couldn't find if he's still there either.

I don't think Her is totally stringing us along, I think they're hoping they can release MID, but I also think the company isn't doing well and they might be unable to actually finish making it, especially when there are no new products coming out anytime soon.

Think I read an article where HeR said the newer games were going to have a myth theme or something.

Huh, do you remember what the article was about? I'd be interested in reading it :D

[nancycluedrew]

Guessing DPL_93 is referring to this blog post - Hope it's alright to post since it's apart of HER's website -http://www.herinteractive.com/2014/05/returning-past/

Little Jacklope mentions "To mix up the different styles of the games, we are shifting from an adventure-style game over to a myth-style game."

[Royal Payne]

I'd argue they probably have gone done that path already the games started out as Mystery Detective games IMO a lot of sleuthing, question suspects, and slowly have moved towards more and Adventure treasure hunters style of games like trying to find hidden treasures, less detective work more puzzles ect. Think I read an article where HeR said the newer games were going to have a myth theme or something.

Good point. The last few games were so puzzle-heavy with hardly any snooping, sleuthing or investigating that I usually forgot the mystery half-way through.
I do not mind if games have a myth in it. But HeR saying the games will be myth-themed is a bit alarming...

I don't think Her is totally stringing us along, I think they're hoping they can release MID, but I also think the company isn't doing well and they might be unable to actually finish making it, especially when there are no new products coming out anytime soon.

I agree with this, somewhat. But their actions lately are making the fans anxious, confused and angry. Especially firing Lani. I've seen a thread (and participated in the thread) a while back that talked about boycotting HeR. Making the fans feel this way isn't going to help the company... it will hurt them in the long run. At this point, I do not plan to buy MID, when or if its released. And I've pre-ordered every game since TOT.

Guessing DPL_93 is referring to this blog post - Hope it's alright to post since it's apart of HER's website -http://www.herinteractive.com/2014/05/returning-past/

Little Jacklope mentions "To mix up the different styles of the games, we are shifting from an adventure-style game over to a myth-style game."

Thank you for the link. I have not kept up with the blog in months. This is a bit alarming to me. I did not realize they planned to take the games down a myth-oriented path. They really have not overlooked anything when it comes to saying goodbye to the company and the games in general...

[AutumnMemories]

Okay, about the myth thing...p sure that's not what that was about. They weren't saying all the games are going to be about myths or that they're "going in a myth direction." They were saying LIE was about myths.

The last few games, LJ has been categorizing on the AS blog. She described MED as an "adventure" game, along with RAN and TOT, which I guess is supposed to be a positive way of saying they're lighter on the mystery. She also sorted other games into several other categories, although I forget what they were lol. I'm guessing the categorizing was in response to people complaining about some games not having much of a mystery, so marketing started saying that they try to make all different kinds of games, and that some are more adventurous, and some are more mystery-oriented.

I think the particular "myth" blog entry was in a similar vein, and was also in esponse to Christian backlash after the LIE trailer was released where some fans complained that it would focus too much on myths. So LJ was responding to that by saying they make all different kinds of games; some are myth-related, some are not, and that they try to diversify game content from game to game because different players like different things.

I actually disagree with Her trying to pass off bad games as "oh well that was part of the adventure category so it didn't need a mystery!" But all LJ was saying there was that LIE in particular would focus on myths. So fear not :P

(Hope that rambly explanation made sense haha)

[historical]

[COLOR="#aa46f0"] But their actions lately are making the fans anxious, confused and angry. Especially firing Lani. I've seen a thread (and participated in the thread) a while back that talked about boycotting HeR. Making the fans feel this way isn't going to help the company... it will hurt them in the long run. At this point, I do not plan to buy MID, when or if its released. And I've pre-ordered every game since TOT.

There's an old expression about, "throwing the baby out with the bathwater." They did that when they let go of Lani, and now they are tossing out the indoor plumbing too. I feel the fans got lip service but no real consideration; perhaps the management thinks the fans will remain loyal to the Drew brand no matter what, but there have been many incarnations of ND and not all were gloriously successful. The games had their niche. If the company now wants to leave the lake for the ocean, where the competition is ferocious, and at the same time expand their product line or diversify their theme (myth/adventure/mystery), they must hope that a good number of loyal fans will go along saying we've-got-your-back! I'm not one of them, since what I perceived as the shabby treatment of Minella and the indifference to the fans who opposed the move. They had one less purchaser for SEA, I just borrowed a friend's copy. I've bought every other.

HI is a small company. Unless it's acquired by a much bigger one, with a budget that allows for experimentation and risk-taking, I see no way for it to endure. After years of solid perfomance, two games a year, they're saying "hopefully 2016." Does that sound hopeful? To me it sounds like they're breaking it to us gently.

[xXxStarxDustxXx]

My Two Cents

From what I understood, HeR has been planning to switch platforms for a while. I don't think that they would be starting over on MID, just wrapping it up. I do believe it will be released sometime in 2016 *like September-December*. They may toss their old schedule and create a new one till they get the hang of this new unity system. Another thing I understood was that they don't want to say a confirmed date in case their are any delays since this is the first game on the new system, and they're bound to happen.

We've been blessed with 2 games a year. Generally speaking, most companies take 3-6 years to release one game. I don't think we can complain too much if it takes 20months (or so) to release this new game *BUT that being said, that's a personal opinion*.

I don't know much about the employees or who is all left, but if the boss is starting the company again from the bottom-up it's probably because it would take too much time and resources too train all the employees on the new system.

[paperstreet]

Guessing DPL_93 is referring to this blog post - Hope it's alright to post since it's apart of HER's website -http://www.herinteractive.com/2014/05/returning-past/

Little Jacklope mentions "To mix up the different styles of the games, we are shifting from an adventure-style game over to a myth-style game."

I think they were referring to the next game (at that time), LIE, which is Greek myth based, i dont think it means a transition to fanstasy games

ALso, I think when they release MID will depend largely on the success of the app. It seems they have put the adventure games completely on hold so they can focus all their resources on the app. that is a high gamble! If the app is successful, they may want to keep pouring resources in to make sure it keeps traction, if it is unsuccessful, they may spend time and energy to retool it, as they have sunk much into it so far.

Also just because someone is a board member doesnt mean much in terms of passion or creativity, lots of times board members are people who have invested money so they get a voting seat on the board and then they review the direction of the company and can vote on decisions, but they dont come up with the visionary ideas.

The first CEOs were really good at quality and story, the last CEO was kind of good at tech and science but not so good at story, but this CEO seems really money-oriented and kind of corporate , and not having the "heart" the company is known for. I wish they could get someone as CEO who was good at business and creative development.