Eternity's Child Creator Done With WiiWare
It is a sad truth that the video game industry is a harsh mistress. Lets face it, a lot of us are quick to judge, blast people for minor faults and just be general ass-hats when it comes to software. I'm no exception to the rule and I'm not going to pretend I am. Barely a budding designer, Luc Bernard has decided to pull out of the video game industry.
I thought the videogame industry was different, but no it's actually harder and worse than any other one, I still wonder why people hate Dennis Dylack for no reason and Uwe Boll, I don't think if people realize the psychological things it can do to people. People love to hate for no reason, and well I've got enough problems in my personal life to do another game after Eternity's Child.
On his blog he stated that he will be continuing to work on the final chapters of Eternity's Child, and once they are released he will move on to working with the graphic novel medium exclusively.
While I can't really say I agree with his decision, I understand it. This could all just be a huge misunderstanding, or a spur of the moment decision that he will later retract (fingers crossed). I would hate to see such a talented designer throw away an industry because of some internet trolls.
Won't Be Continuing [Luc Bernard's Blog]
[via Kotaku]
Asterick
Posted to Video Games on 11 August 2008
· Comments (7)
Other stuff like this: alcoholism, eternity's child, luc bernard, nintendo wii, wiiware
Poor thing.
People are notoriously cruel online, it's really such a shame. We should all try and watch what we say.
While I can understand where he's coming from, he's being a bit naive and overly sensitive there.
And done with Wiiware? I think he was done with it as soon as he found whatever it was he found with Steam that made him gimp the Wiiware version.
Who can blame the guy, he's basically been buried completely by the audience he's aimed for, though that's usually how Nintendo trolls work, shame they don't turn on Miyamotos decade long inferiority complex.
His game is interesting, and well worth the tiny cost, and to use Steam to distribute is genius, Steam is stable, secure and ever improving. I wish al developers would distribute the games this way, would save me trips into the games store with the embarassing "Alternative kids".
The title of this article is slightly misleading. He's done with WiiWare, Steam *and* game development as a whole.
Now before I say something mean-ish, I'm going to say that I wish this guy well and hope that he finds all the creative and financial success in the world. I haven't played Eternity's Child, but I have been on the receiving end of poor/misunderstood reviews. It's tough, but it's the nature of the beast and you either roll with it or find something more satisfying to do with your life.
With that said... if this guy seriously thinks that the world of indie comics will be more creatively nonjudgmental or financially stable, he's out of his mind. If he can make it work for him, more power to him, but I think his view of an entire industry based off of one project that came to ahead over one single review (I love you Destructoid, never change!) is naive.
As is nearly tradition, I think game-boi is right on. I might propose that anything really *worth* doing will be an uphill climb one way or another, but a man's entitled to pick his mountains.
On a personal note, I have sympathy for anyone who's been dragged to the great gray mirror that is comparing thyself to Uwe Boll.
I loved the game, and it's quite a shame. Don't be completely convinced though, he drunk blogs a bit and later retracts it usually. Like once he said he was done with Eternity's Child because he was tired of being "Just the artist guy" but then deleted that post later.
It's really a shame people gave him so much **** for $5.00. He and the game don't deserve that.
I'm sorry, but how does he compare to Uwe Boll? Is there some post out there that can explain this?
From what I hear this game is delightful. The screens and animations all look lovely and I hear the gameplay is fun and addicting.
How is that in any way like an Uwe Boll film? Steaming piles of cinematic dung thrown willy nilly, done with no talent, direction, or even a basic knowledge of how to make cinema worth the film it is printed on? I don't know. If he really wants to pick a name out of the media who was "just a misunderstood artist/genius/visionary" I would choose someone who actually IS misunderstood. Uwe, sadly, is all too understandable. A cinematic hack whose sole purpose is to leech off a loophole in his country's laws for creative content by producing flop after steaming flop.
I don't hate the man, I hate his movies. And I don't like the fact that he continues to try- and fail. Every time. Three strikes man. Those three were used up LONG AGO.
But this guy? Maybe he just has a case of Wishful Thinking Artist Syndrome. As an illustrator myself I have been surrounded by industry professionals that will all tell you that it takes YEARS for you to make it with your art. You will be taken advantage of, work for piddling amounts of money for work older artists get ten times for. And you will never- EVER- escape a battery of criticism from people who don't agree with your visual style/sensibilities. You either get a thick skin and carry on, or you stop doing art.
The videogame industry is a tough one for artists, but no harder than any other creative outlet for an illustrator. I sit here at my job, drawing and doing work for a third of what my brother (who is a game programmer) makes. We are both new to the gaming industry and yet he gets benefits and a salary three times larger than mine. That's just the nature of the beast.
But like someone has already said- if this guy thinks that indie graphic novels will shelter him from the crappy pay, the harsh criticism, or the flaming trolls who mock him for no reason then he has a rather unpleasant wake-up call coming soon. There couldn't have been a harder industry to get into than graphic novels. At least in terms of actually making a living off it. He'd have better luck back in the videogame industry!
But yes, best of luck to him, regardless of whether he has a realistic view of the art community.