Author Topic: The Oddbox is coming  (Read 7425 times)

Offline idolminds

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The Oddbox is coming
« on: Wednesday, October 07, 2009, 08:41:57 PM »
OMGOMG
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TD: How big is the Oddworld universe in the grand scheme of things? Any chance of seeing another Oddworld game in the next five years?

LL: Oddworld is a creation that we’ll likely never sell or part with. It wasn’t created for that purpose. It was created with the intent of creating modern myths in pop culture mediums. Nurturing these myths and their casts [of characters] to actually mean something in an increasingly meaningless landscape of blatant consumerism.

So yes, we will be seeing more from Oddworld. Regarding the library, we are in the process of converting Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee and Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath to the PC, so that all four of the major Oddworld games will be re-releasing this winter in a package called "The Oddbox." This will be the Abe games, Munch, and Stranger as one package for Steam's digital distribution network, as well as a few other digital distribution outlets.

Offline gpw11

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday, October 07, 2009, 09:42:56 PM »
I remember getting a demo of Munch with something on my Xbox YEARS after it came out.  The demo sucked (I may even be mistaken and I could have been playing the full thing at someone's house or something), but I could see the full game being a lot better once you get into it.  Stranger's Wrath looked awesome and I watched an Lets Play! that covered a fair amount of it. I'm pumped about that more than anything else.

Offline K-man

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #2 on: Monday, March 01, 2010, 10:23:06 AM »
I went to a pretty nice used book/dvd/cd/game/et al store and actually found a sealed copy of Stranger's Wrath over the weekend.  8 months ago I still saw the game for sale in places like Best Buy, but it's become a tad hard to find.  Aside from having to boot up the old xbox to play it (which hell in a way is kinda nice in a throwback sorta sense), it's a pretty fun game.  Transitioning from 3d platforming to FPS is a breeze in the game and works very well. Very impressed with it so far, despite the fact it's a 5 year old game (how hard to believe is that?)

Offline gpw11

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #3 on: Monday, March 01, 2010, 01:02:55 PM »
I have heard nothing but good stuff about Stranger's Wrath.

Offline Pugnate

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #4 on: Monday, March 01, 2010, 01:18:21 PM »
wha?

Offline idolminds

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #5 on: Monday, December 06, 2010, 11:20:37 AM »
<Abe>Hewwo.</Abe>

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ODDWORLD INHABITANTS’ ODDBOXX FINALLY OPENS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, FOR PC OWNERS VIA STEAM.

LOS ANGELES, U.S.A – December 6th, 2010

Oddworld Inhabitants is pleased to announce that its critically-acclaimed, award-winning classics, Abe’s Oddysee, Abe’s Exoddus, Munch’s Oddysee and Stranger’s Wrath will be available for PC owners, through Steam in one generous downloadable package, this 2010 Holiday season.

Spanning thirteen years of one-of-a-kind gaming experiences, this package aims to give fans old and new an affordable and convenient way to enjoy these games once again, with a few new additions and enhancements, to be announced in the run-up to its release date.
Then theres a little blurb about each game, and then:
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More details and partners will be announced in the running up to the Oddboxx’s release. Stay tuned…
I'm hoping the "partners" will mean available at places other than Steam. Still, glad to see its coming. I wouldn't feel bad pirating it if its Steam only seeing as how I did buy all of them before and my Xbox died before I got around to playing Strangers Wrath. And hell I paid for a "license", right game publishers?

EDIT

Also a note: The PC version of Strangers Wrath is a straight Xbox port running at a higher res. The PS3 version will have higher poly count models and such. Might be worth a double dip. We'll see.
« Last Edit: Monday, December 06, 2010, 11:49:39 AM by idolminds »

Offline idolminds

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 01:28:26 PM »
YES!
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So all four games will be contained within the Oddboxx, that’s being released on Steam, GamersGate, Direct2Drive, Stardock, and even Amazon. All four together will cost £20 (€25, $25), although they’re being sold individually as well (£4, £4, £7 and £12 respectively).
Not Steam exclusive! $25 for the whole set! HAPPINESS!!!!

Offline Quemaqua

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 01:43:02 PM »
Woot!

天才的な閃きと平均以下のテクニックやな。 課長有野

Offline idolminds

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #8 on: Saturday, December 18, 2010, 11:30:18 AM »
For you folks buying on Steam, you might want to be ready for Dec 20th.
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The release of Oddboxx will also coincide with the first day of the Annual Steam Holiday Sale, meaning that during the first 24 hours of release, the game will be sold with 50% of its marked price discounted.

After this and until January 3rd, a 25% discount will apply to the marked price.

The Steam Holiday Sale runs from the 20th of December, through to January 3rd, as do the discounts above, exclusively through Steam.

Thats from oddworld.com. They also to visit the site on the 20th for special treat. Found this on neogaf:
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Also, check Oddworld.com on the 20th. There's a 10 track soundtrack promo from three games (only Abe 1 and Stranger got OSTs) we're giving away to fans.
Fun!

Offline idolminds

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #9 on: Sunday, December 19, 2010, 08:52:43 PM »
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Truth be told the reason the PC version doesn't have the HD models is the PS3 version isn't done yet, and we wanted to get the Oddboxx out this Holiday Season.

It is HIGHLY likely we will be releasing an update for PC at a later date!

Stewart Gilray
Just Add Water ;)
They are going to make it even more better!

Offline gpw11

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #10 on: Sunday, December 19, 2010, 11:47:47 PM »
Daaaaaamn, I was only really interested in Stranger's Wrath, but if it's on the Holiday Sale (starts tomorrow?), I'll probably grab the whole thing.

Offline Quemaqua

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #11 on: Monday, December 20, 2010, 12:19:51 AM »
This all makes me happy to be alive.  No, really.

天才的な閃きと平均以下のテクニックやな。 課長有野

Offline idolminds

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #12 on: Monday, December 20, 2010, 06:33:23 PM »
According to "teh internet", the ports are kinda....not good.

Graphics configs are
Low Resolution = 800 x 600
Medium Resolution = 1024 x 768
High Resolution = 1280 x 960
Ultra Resolution = 1600 x 1200

Performance isn't good, no real ability to customize controls...damn. Dudes have been posting on neogaf that they will update and fix this, but why the hell release it in this state?

Offline Xessive

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #13 on: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 07:22:49 AM »
I got the Oddbox and so they all kinda feel like rudimentary ports, almost like they're running in a built-in emulator. Abe's Oddysee though is the exact same one that came out on PC so many years ago (except that it actually runs beyond Windows 98).

Offline idolminds

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #14 on: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 07:22:48 PM »
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With the GREATEST of respects, you say "has anyone here been able to run the game as intended".

There was no commitments to HD modes or 60fps BUT saying that we have played it on various machines at 40fps at 1280x900 etc. Whilst this MAY not be ideal for some of you, it's certainly a lot better than the original Xbox version at 640x480 locked at 30fps.

Now, going beyond that we have found issues with ATI cards that have "Catalyst A.I." enabled under Advanced settings in the ATI control panel.

Quite why it's doing this we don't know yet, but if you disable that mode corruption will go.

Guys, we are totally distraught by the reactions, please don't perform a Witch Hunt, we are trying to fix these issues as soon as we can, so in the meantime, please hang in there.

The MORE information you guys can provide us with the quicker we will get this fixed!

Please send all Stranger issues to us via info AT jawltd.com

Thanks everyone!

Stewart Gilray
CEO - Just Add Water (Developments) Ltd.
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Just to Clarify ...

I certainly wasn't attacking anyone with my last post, re: HD etc. I was just asking a question.

As a CONSOLE gamer myself, I'm used to games running at 1280x720 with an FPS of 20 to 40fps (GTA4, Assasins etc) and I am fine with that, I do NOT (personally) need to see the game running at 60+ fps to be made happy, the GAME is everything do me.

Where the problem lies is *I* didn't actually think PC gamers were ninjas at wanting the highest FPS NO MATTER WHAT!

So from my point of view, I'm sorry, my bad. FYI I'm the CEO of JAW not a programmer, I will now move to beat our programmers to make sure they fix the issue.

Saying that I do believe there is actually "glitch" causing the slow down, what I'm seeing is that machines with higher specs should be running quicker, but for some reason the speed is simply NOT coming through, THAT IS A PROBLEM, and is likely one that can be resolved.

So please bear with us! :D thanks

xx
Posts by the CEO on neogaf. Really? Even as a console gamer you're surprised people expect at least 60FPS in what are ports of Xbox 1 games?

Offline MysterD

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #15 on: Tuesday, December 21, 2010, 07:27:47 PM »
Over 30 frames is cool for me.

Offline gpw11

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #16 on: Thursday, December 23, 2010, 01:05:13 AM »
Goddamn, Abe's Oddyse is tough.  Like trial and error, repeatedly go back three screens tough.  I really want to give it and the other side scrolling one a chance, as they run great on my notebook,  but I'm having difficulty....especially given my huge backlog of games.

Offline Xessive

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #17 on: Thursday, December 23, 2010, 10:40:12 AM »
Abe's Oddysee and Exoddus are a lot like the original Prince of Persia, Blackthorne, and Flashback. They're all really centred around the trial and error style.

The Oddworld games do have a special kind of charm about them :)

Offline gpw11

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #18 on: Saturday, December 25, 2010, 06:44:49 PM »
True, but to be honest I remember finding Blackthorne, Flashback, and Prince of Persia slightly less frustrating (at least). I just tried again, and as much as I'd like to enjoy the first two games, I simply can't.  The characters and world seem awesome, but the gameplay, something which was probably outdated in the mid-90's, just doesn't fly with me anymore; if it ever did.

For me, purchasing The Oddbox may have been a mistake;  the first two games don't do it for me and I don't have all that much interest in Munch....although I'll try it out and might be surprised.  I probably would have been better off saving $7 and just buying Stanger's Wrath.

Offline idolminds

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #19 on: Saturday, December 25, 2010, 09:44:12 PM »
I enjoyed the original Oddworld games. They were more puzzle games than any kind of platformer.

Offline gpw11

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #20 on: Sunday, December 26, 2010, 12:35:58 AM »
I can see that to an extent, but puzzle games are usually more logic based where you can see a problem, assess what you've been given, and then need to find a solution using the resources at hand.  This does have that, but in the first two levels there have been multiple screens where I've walked into them and died right away without any indication that this would happen or any human error involved.  The only way you could possibly avoid this is to know before hand that when I jump down from this ledge, something is going to charge me from offscreen.  Wouldn't be so much of a bitch if it didn't send me back a couple of (easier) screens first.   That, to me, differentiates itself from a puzzle game enough to make it less of an exercise in logic and one more in frustration.

But I do like them to an extent and, if I had more patience for this sort of thing in this day and age, I think I'd be equally in awe of the games. Environment and aesthetics are top notch and a lot of the gameplay is great, it's just the parts I mentioned really kill it for me.

Offline idolminds

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #21 on: Sunday, December 26, 2010, 08:52:45 AM »
Ah, yeah...its been so long since I played I sorta forgot about those moments.

Offline Xessive

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #22 on: Sunday, December 26, 2010, 09:54:49 AM »
Yeah that was one of the common memory-mechanics from all games in the genre, Another World and Flashback were notorious for it too!

haha, this Robot Chicken sketch sums it up!

Offline MysterD

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #23 on: Sunday, December 26, 2010, 11:00:42 AM »
Yeah that was one of the common memory-mechanics from all games in the genre, Another World and Flashback were notorious for it too!

haha, this Robot Chicken sketch sums it up!

Man, I loved Out Of This World (AKA Another World) and Flashback, back in their days...

Offline idolminds

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #24 on: Sunday, December 26, 2010, 11:07:35 AM »
I didnt play them back in the day, but I did play Another World and Flashback. While I loved Oddworld, I HATED Another World for that trial and error crap. Probably because Oddworld only throws it at you every once in a while, where AW...thats basically the entire game.

Offline Xessive

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #25 on: Sunday, December 26, 2010, 12:18:45 PM »
I didnt play them back in the day, but I did play Another World and Flashback. While I loved Oddworld, I HATED Another World for that trial and error crap. Probably because Oddworld only throws it at you every once in a while, where AW...thats basically the entire game.
Yeah, when I played Another World: Anniversary Edition last year I was so excited! The excitement died down really quickly when the bad memories kicked in. God, the frustration!

I did like how PoP: The Sands of Time played on the idea of knowing (or not knowing) what's ahead by having you experience it then letting you rewind time.

Offline gpw11

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #26 on: Monday, January 03, 2011, 09:24:52 PM »
Okay, Strangers Wrath is pretty sloppy.  I'd stay away.

Offline idolminds

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #27 on: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 07:46:59 PM »
Stuff

Finally going to be released on other DD services on March 7th. Also mentions fixes to Munch and Stranger, not sure if those fixes are already available or if they will be available on this new launch or what. They also confirm that Stranger will be getting further updates based on the upcoming PSN HD remake.

Offline gpw11

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #28 on: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 08:11:04 PM »
Yeah, they did manage to update it quite a bit since release.  Originally, it was extremely broken (for lack of a better word).  Poorly optimized, few configuration options, bugs.  Since then, however, they've hammered most of those out.  I haven't really put any time into it, but it certainly seems playable now. 

Offline gpw11

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #29 on: Thursday, December 15, 2011, 12:20:17 AM »
HD Update for Stranger's Wrath coming to pc (free update, I belive) in 2-3 months.  If you don't get the PS3 re-release and it's in the Steam Xmas sale, probably the time to get it if you don't mind having it sitting in your account for a couple months before the upgrade.

Offline gpw11

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #30 on: Thursday, September 27, 2012, 01:42:34 AM »
So, the HD update just hit STEAM.  Sweet, free update. Game looks good.  Sadly, it's even more broken than it was before.   Really?  Like, I don't know if the bugs are quite as bad because I can't get more than two min into it before the frame rate seems like it drops down into the single digits (that might be an exaggeration, but low enough that you actually can't play the game because you can't aim at shit and it actually stutters and freezes).  I don't know if everyone is having this problem, but I'm certainly not alone.  It could be an AMD thing, but even then....

Offline Xessive

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #31 on: Thursday, September 27, 2012, 04:18:07 AM »
So, the HD update just hit STEAM.  Sweet, free update. Game looks good.  Sadly, it's even more broken than it was before.   Really?  Like, I don't know if the bugs are quite as bad because I can't get more than two min into it before the frame rate seems like it drops down into the single digits (that might be an exaggeration, but low enough that you actually can't play the game because you can't aim at shit and it actually stutters and freezes).  I don't know if everyone is having this problem, but I'm certainly not alone.  It could be an AMD thing, but even then....
Damn, that sounds bad. I'm gonna reinstall it and let you know how it turns out.

UPDATE:
Just ran through the tutorial without a hitch. The controls are still kinda wonky and now it doesn't have proper onscreen button prompts for X360 controller; I could have sworn the Oddworld Box version did. Now it just says "Push JOY1" and "Press ZAXISR+ or ZAXISR-" instead of A or Right Trigger. It also doesn't render the UI and certain 2D elements correctly on any resolution higher than 1270x720. Other than that performance is smooth, no issues there.
« Last Edit: Thursday, September 27, 2012, 06:01:02 AM by Xessive »

Offline PyroMenace

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #32 on: Thursday, September 27, 2012, 08:29:13 AM »
Which Oddworld game are we talking here?

Offline idolminds

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #33 on: Thursday, September 27, 2012, 08:47:51 AM »
Strangers Wrath.

Offline gpw11

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #34 on: Thursday, September 27, 2012, 10:17:14 AM »
Damn, that sounds bad. I'm gonna reinstall it and let you know how it turns out.

UPDATE:
Just ran through the tutorial without a hitch. The controls are still kinda wonky and now it doesn't have proper onscreen button prompts for X360 controller; I could have sworn the Oddworld Box version did. Now it just says "Push JOY1" and "Press ZAXISR+ or ZAXISR-" instead of A or Right Trigger. It also doesn't render the UI and certain 2D elements correctly on any resolution higher than 1270x720. Other than that performance is smooth, no issues there.

Yeah, it used to have the xbox 360 prompts, but people complained because it showed up no matter what you were using (I think even keyboard + mouse).  Now the keyboard/mouse controls do show up as intended, but no Xbox prompts.  Weird.

And what card are you using?  I really don't think I should be having these issues.

Offline Xessive

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #35 on: Thursday, September 27, 2012, 01:08:40 PM »
Yeah, it used to have the xbox 360 prompts, but people complained because it showed up no matter what you were using (I think even keyboard + mouse).  Now the keyboard/mouse controls do show up as intended, but no Xbox prompts.  Weird.

And what card are you using?  I really don't think I should be having these issues.
I've got a GeForce 560M. I'm gonna test it on my other system which has a Radeon 5970M.

Btw, which video driver do you have installed?

Offline gpw11

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Re: The Oddbox is coming
« Reply #36 on: Thursday, September 27, 2012, 01:13:41 PM »
I don't know, I was actually just forced to reformat (fuck you rootkit trojan) and downloaded whatever the latest Catalyst drivers were as of two days ago. I'm rocking a 5770 which you think would be more than enough.