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View Full Version : Sea Dogs 2 - Doesn't look good



Master Gracey
03-29-2003, 02:41 PM
It's starting to appear more likely that Sea Dogs 2 may be gone for good... so did Bethesda and Disney buy the nearly-complete game off of Akella so they could finish it as Pirates of the Caribbean? Who knows. But initial reports are that that's what happened.

The good news is that everything that was going to be in Sea Dogs 2 will be in Pirates of the Caribbean, but will be more polished, and more free-form than SD2 was promising to be. Hopefully, if this is the case, you'll actually be able to create your own character instead of starting with one of two pre-made characters (which is how SD2 was set up).

Check this out... you can no longer read anything about SD2 from the developer's site:

http://www.akella.com/newslast-en.shtml


EDIT - also, just noticed, the official Sea Dogs 2 forum (which has been around for four years and had tons of members) is gone. See for yourselves: http://seadogs2.bethsoft.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php

Kraft
03-29-2003, 02:50 PM
how funny would that be? Disney sees a game and goes "arrrgh! Tis be a pirate!" and immediately buys out the company to stick their label on it.

Knight
03-29-2003, 03:03 PM
If Pirates of the Caribbean is better then SD2 isn't it win-win for us gamers!? Like you sayed it will have even thing SD2 has & more. So what if the Mickey Mouse Co. payed them off, it's going to be a better game.

Kraft
03-29-2003, 03:09 PM
Of course... a pirates game with disney behind it kinda rules out a gory nasty pirate game with slash-em-up action...

Master Gracey
03-29-2003, 03:17 PM
Originally posted by Knight
If Pirates of the Caribbean is better then SD2 isn't it win-win for us gamers!? Like you sayed it will have even thing SD2 has & more. So what if the Mickey Mouse Co. payed them off, it's going to be a better game.

My thoughts exactly... but I think Bethesda had just as big a role to play in this as Disney. After all, Bethesda was merely the distributor for SD2, but is actually a developer for Pirates of the Caribbean. Why would Bethesda distribute a game from one company that will be a huge competitor for it's own game being released just a month later?

I've got a feeling that Disney and Bethesda bought Akella's unfinished game coz it already had a huge following... both from people who loved the first Sea Dogs game, and those who have loved what they heard about the upcoming one. Also, with the game nearly finished, all they have to do is make it better before it's June release. Imagine that... the first game based on a movie (based on a ride :D) where the game was technically in development for three years longer than the movie itself. If consumers are going to get more for their money, I have no problem with a company buying out an upcoming product, the fanbase that comes with it, and improving on it before it's release.

As much as I was looking forward to SD2, Akella doesn't exactly have a sparkling history. They tend to promise the world, then go back on 50% of it a week before their games are released. Bethesda lived up to everything they said about Morrowind (except werewolves, which are coming out on the next expansion), and I'm sure they'll do the same here.

Master Gracey
03-29-2003, 03:24 PM
Originally posted by Kraft-XBA
Of course... a pirates game with disney behind it kinda rules out a gory nasty pirate game with slash-em-up action...

You'd be surprised... lately, Disney has been changing their tune when it comes to sensitive matters.

Case in point is the Disney Treasures DVDs that have been coming out the past few years. It was said that both Disney and Warner Brothers were going to put every cartoon in their vaults onto DVD. Both said that they were unsure as to whether they'd put out their non-PC cartoons, but Disney decided to go ahead with them. Instead of censorship, they give a historical background about the non-PC segments and what they meant in their day (such things as seeing the slogan "Beat the Jap with scrap" in a WW2-era Goofy cartoon). This might also force Warner into doing the same thing with the Bugs Bunny cartoons they plan to release.

Eisner is on his way out... people who love Disney have been very unhappy with the job he's done lately and the direction the company has been taking. I think Disney is now willing to take some more chances.

Knight
03-29-2003, 05:47 PM
Originally posted by Master Gracey
You'd be surprised... lately, Disney has been changing their tune when it comes to sensitive matters.

Case in point is the Disney Treasures DVDs that have been coming out the past few years. It was said that both Disney and Warner Brothers were going to put every cartoon in their vaults onto DVD. Both said that they were unsure as to whether they'd put out their non-PC cartoons, but Disney decided to go ahead with them. Instead of censorship, they give a historical background about the non-PC segments and what they meant in their day (such things as seeing the slogan "Beat the Jap with scrap" in a WW2-era Goofy cartoon). This might also force Warner into doing the same thing with the Bugs Bunny cartoons they plan to release.

Eisner is on his way out... people who love Disney have been very unhappy with the job he's done lately and the direction the company has been taking. I think Disney is now willing to take some more chances.

But Disney is still playing there lame games with the Videos, where they only let you buy it for a limed time.

Knight
03-29-2003, 06:02 PM
And Disney needs to milk MM more then they have. Time they start making more cartoon with him. And a Movie would help make them loads of more money. Eveyone likes the Mouse.

MerimacHamwich
03-29-2003, 06:16 PM
As long as they don't throw in Mickey mouse or any other disney character I am sure the game will most likely be great.

Hitman101
03-29-2003, 06:19 PM
Stupid Disney !!! They should go back to hiding porn in there movies.

Master Gracey
03-29-2003, 06:25 PM
Originally posted by Knight
And Disney needs to milk MM more then they have. Time they start making more cartoon with him. And a Movie would help make them loads of more money. Eveyone likes the Mouse.

Agreed on both the points you make! The thing with them constantly putting their movies in print and out of print royally sucks, but some have been alright. I have both the original Peter Pan DVD from '98 and last year's rerelease. The rerelease has a whole bunch of special features not on the first one, and both the picture and audio had been vastly improved (audio went from stereo on the first, to 5.1 on the second).

And the point you brought up about using Mickey more is one of the biggest reasons Eisner is on his way out. He's almost completely out of step with everything that's attractive about Disney. Granted, the parks have ballooned in size (and number) since he took over, but it's just not enough. Most of what they've produced since The Little Mermaid and Aladdin have had no heart or spirit. Pixar is the only thing saving their butt from getting crushed by Dreamworks when it comes to animation.

Master Gracey
03-29-2003, 06:34 PM
Originally posted by MerimacHamwich
As long as they don't throw in Mickey mouse or any other disney character I am sure the game will most likely be great.

I highly doubt this will happen... POTC is like a sacred cow to Disney enthusiasts. The only other time it's been used in a video game was a kart racer done a few years ago (the only kart racer I ever liked coz you got to race through the rides at Disney World, which were all authentically recreated :D). Mickey and other characters were the racers, but they remained true to the rides themselves.

The appeal of the ride is that it takes you out of our time, even out of the Disney park atmosphere, and into another world. If the game achieves that same level of detail, surrealism, and escapism, while maintaining the free-form RPG elements they're bragging about, then it'll be a success with the ride's die-hard fans, and with gamers alike. So don't expect to see an anachronism like Mickey Mouse anywhere. :D

Knight
03-29-2003, 09:03 PM
When did Eisner take over Disney? Who's going to be the new CEO and when does he take over?

Master Gracey
03-29-2003, 09:26 PM
Originally posted by Knight
When did Eisner take over Disney? Who's going to be the new CEO and when does he take over?

Eisner took over in the mid-'80s sometime... as for when he'll go and who'll replace him, there's no word. In fact, Eisner may not go anywhere, but reliable sources are saying that he'll be booted out soon since the stock is tanking. I literally think we're going to wake up one day and he'll be out.