KQIX Project shuts down

[awesomeasapossum]

KQIX FOREVER!!!!!!

[dark-daventry]

KQIX FOREVER!!!!!!

DIDDO!!!!!

[Grade-M]

It is VERY sad to see this project being shut down. I have always been a KQ fan, especially the KQ6, which had the best story, beautiful graphics and very nice music. I palyed KQ for many years and I am very thankful to those who have created it.

I was happy to find this fan site couple years ago, I realized that I was not the only one who loved this game and who had missed it so much. KQ 8 does not count, as that is so much not like all the previous versions that had ADVENTURE with great plot, no massacar, no monsters, but rather beautiful stories, places and songs.

[koko_99_2001]

Thanks, everyone, for supporting the team Just to remind ya'll, by going to SaveKQIX, you can see how to contact Vivendi through emails and letter-writing.

[Say]

I was happy to find this fan site couple years ago, I realized that I was not the only one who loved this game and who had missed it so much. KQ 8 does not count, as that is so much not like all the previous versions that had ADVENTURE with great plot, no massacar, no monsters, but rather beautiful stories, places and songs.

These games inspired me to become a graphic designer, and now I am a director of a graphic design firm. More and more each day I start thinking that I should do what I always wanted to do - to create a beatiful adventure game NOT like any other. I had plans and ideas, I wrote scripts and drew scenes, but never got to develop it (like probably many other artists). I am ready to start now, after I have read here that KQs have no more future neither with VU nor with KQ9.org.

It's certainly beautiful that it inspired you to take a life path, in fact, it's great you feel the same passion as many others do, so, all I can say about this is, don't give up just yet, we still can't say what's going to happen and we look forward for the best outcome of this, there's still hope

I have examined every single sketch and screenshot on this web site during these few past years. I even participated at one time. I see GREAT potential in many of the works. With all my heart I wish that you guys can continue, but if not, please let me know and I will be happy to work with the most talented and dedicated people on our new project. Our project has a fresh new idea not like any other.

Thanks for the support, it really means a lot right now

[Optimustoe]

KQIX FOREVER!!!!!!

DIDDO!!!!!

I second the motion.........All in favor?

[Grade-M]

But, one thing DOES NOT EXCLUDE another, and once again I say: With all my heart I wish that VU change their mind and let this project continue. It would be wonderful for us (fans that love these games) to create something on our own and be proud of it. I will play this game if it is ever released with great pleasure. I already like the drawings and renderings.

My dream always was to create a unique game based on what I wrote when I was a kid. I have seen that people are dedicated to this project. By visiting this forum every couple of months for the past few years, I constantly had a feeling that there are many people like me out there, that I am not alone, but rather there is a whole virtual community of KQ fans!

I truly hope you guys can continue with the KQ 9 project. BEST of luck.

OR if VU does not want you to continue but rather have their own, they should hire you (those who participated in the fan project) - this way they are guaranteed the sales, you are guaranteed not to get shut down + money for your hard work.

[Grade-M]

Say, was that you that had a very nice picture of a swan in this forum a couple of years ago?? I remember reading those posts a lot, just curious.

[Biotic101]

It is really a sad thing to see how much $ nowadays affects the gaming business. I have worked several years for a non-us dependence of a major publisher which I dont want to name here. I hope I can share some of my experiences and help the community somewhat ( if not somebody else did post the same already since I have just read 10 of 62 pages ).


First issue is what gamers expect a publisher to be and what he really is:

The main problem of communication between fans and developers or publishers is that gaming is the hobby of the fans while the people working for a developer or publisher do it for living. At a developer studio you will usually meet a lot of people who are interested in games, at a publisher you might not. Especially at the level of decisions there are often people who dont care selling games or other goods. Its just "units" sold...

Developing games requires a lot of ressources and if done for a living a lot of money. Thats resulting in people who dont care for games but just for business can put a lot of pressure on developers when it comes to release dates and patches (if its not even a "free-lance"-type hire and fire project where its even worse) and such. To understand whats going on you have to look at the gaming business like at every other business - its $ that rules it all.


Second issue is what a publisher really cares about:

The games business is a somewhat different ballgame compared to other businesses when it comes to the consumer relations. The reason why major publishers act like they actually do is that they know very well that we gamers are all addicts. Most of the people crying out loud that they wont ever ever buy a game of publisher X are the first in the stores to buy their new blockbuster. Thats why such mails do not help at all, especially because they dont even reach the people who are responsible for strategic decisions. And like in any bigger company the company cares just about what the "deciders" know. The employees at a publisher have their area they are working in and usually there are very hirarchic structures. A emplyee in contact with the customers has usually no chance to communicate with a developer or the deciders, it is usually forbidden. If he would do so he would be pretty sure to loose his job.

But how do you reach the deciders? In fact there are only few effective ways to do so...

- You happen to know the people personally or the major investors or someone in a leading position at a major gameselling company who could talk to a VUG Sales-Director.

- The community raises enough funds (forms a company) to buy the rights from VUG.

- You generate enough publicity (and I am talking of a good amount of publicity which requires a lot of presswork) which reaches the deciders either directly or via communication between the press department and game mag editors. If a known newspaper or TV station or a very known game mag would request an interview, now that could really help.

- Ken and Roberta Williams might still have any influence or contact (even if I doubt it).

People here need to be aware that even if it sounds totally illogical to scrap all the hard work it still might be done even if there would be no sequel. Ever. It would sound logical to keep the development team working and cooperate with them, but from a publishers point of view its for sure more practical to have a "hire n fire"-team. In the years I have been working for a publisher there have been so many decisions which not even I could understand because they made no sense at all so its always better to expect the worst. But with the right publicity and the right strategy (use the hype about the game as argument to get it released asap and VUG could gain a positive image cooperating with fans instead of a negative by being destructive) I see a good chance you could achieve a cooperation.

Btw. kudos to Kalous for such an extreme step, maybe it helps some. And from chatting with people who work at VUG I know that even there are emplyees who are deeply sad about the step because there are fans of KQ. Unfortunately the people at VUG I know are either in a position not high enough to actually change or influence something or would not care about what i have to say, but I hope the informations I posted will help some.

Key is to get to the right people. They will listen if the press is supporting you.

[Skeptikal]

More than "the high people" I think the Press is much more important. I KQIX could be heard by some magazines, POS would really have a big hit...

I do beleive you should ask for an interview in some or someother gaminers' magazine...

I'd rather not speak to much since I don't know what's going on between POS and VU/G they might have an agreement already so who knows...

-Best of luck.

[Biotic101]

I'd rather not speak to much since I don't know what's going on between POS and VU/G they might have an agreement already so who knows...

Yes, would be helpful to know the latest status.

[Say]

Skeptical, Biotic101;
The current status will be revealed once we truly know what's it going to be, and will be alright to freely speak so, don't worry about that just yet, it shall come.

Skeptikal;

I do beleive you should ask for an interview in some or someother gaminers' magazine...

Not much of what I could say right now, but soon enough you shall hear some stuff coming along

Grade-M;
No, I had an angel as an avatar long ago

[icarus]

Not much of what I could say right now, but soon enough you shall hear some stuff coming along

What do you call soon? A week a month or just a few days?

[Drunken Chinchilla]

Soon is soon.

If there was a definate date then I'm sure Say would of said

[Skeptikal]

Skeptical, Biotic101;
The current status will be revealed once we truly know what's it going to be, and will be alright to freely speak so, don't worry about that just yet, it shall come.

Skeptikal;

I do beleive you should ask for an interview in some or someother gamers' magazine...

Not much of what I could say right now, but soon enough you shall hear some stuff coming along

I am very glad to hear that from you ! Thanks for this kind of update... If you're up to what I could imagine, I truely wish you the best of luck... I'll be waiting to hear "some stuff"


.... And so, POS began a long and happy life ....

[dark-daventry]

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but, maybe the shutting down of KQIX was a good thing to a certain degree. I'm not trying to say that tghe team did a horrible job and deserved what they got, but it let's us, the fans, show our true power, not what we usually do, which is buy the games, play them, and priase the maker. It's let a voice be heard. We right now, I think, are on a new generation of Adventure Games, a generation where they will be accepted as a genre once more. We are at a time where Adventure games are on the dawn of revival, and I believe POS has had a HUGE part to contribute to this happening. I think VU has done something they didn't intend on doing, which was releasing the wrath of the Adventure Genre. I give my full hearted good wishes to the team for everything they do in the future. They've done enormous things for us, and I think it's time to return the favor by helping them bring their baby that they've nurtured since day one to fruition. Who's with me on what I say? 

[Say]

*raises hands*


I'm not so sure of the whole outcome of this situation right now, because to be honest everything is still uncertain at so many levels, but regardless, I do believe everything has been with a positive intention in such a bad moment. The support of the fans AND the community has been amazing, they say it might be pointless or simple dull, well, I can tell you it is not and you've been certainly noticed, and whatever comes I just hope it will be for the best to POS. Every time you fall is just an oportunity to stand up again and do better.

[greenman]

I came upon the KQIX site by accident last year & had been anticipating the release of the game. I too was extremely disappointed with the decision of VU to shut down KQIX. I hope that you are able to resurrect KQIX & go on to develop other Adventure games as well. I am sick of games that involve only shooting, killing, mayhem & destruction. Maybe with the attention that the closure of KQIX is attracting, game developers will see that there still is a place in the market for Adventure games.

[dark-daventry]

*raises hands*


I'm not so sure of the whole outcome of this situation right now, because to be honest everything is still uncertain at so many levels, but regardless, I do believe everything has been with a positive intention in such a bad moment. The support of the fans AND the community has been amazing, they say it might be pointless or simple dull, well, I can tell you it is not and you've been certainly noticed, and whatever comes I just hope it will be for the best to POS. Every time you fall is just an oportunity to stand up again and do better.

I couldn't say it better myself, Say! You are deffinetly right!  Everytime we fall, it's always a chance to get back up, as you said!

Tonight, when I get back from my job, I'm lighting a bonfire to promote the team! I'll even video tape it! I'll just be singing songs dedicated to POS and the entire team for doing something great that VU never got to doing! YOU ROCK, POS!!! ESPECIALLY YOU, SAY!

[DRB]

Soon is soon.

If there was a definate date then I'm sure Say would of said

soon is soon??? 

No need to be sarcastic.  That takes me back to my childhood days. my parents were famous for answers like "soon" and "we'll see".

I’m sure nobody expects definite dates.  Something like “in a couple of weeks” or “by the end of the year” would have been helpful.  Like you said, if Say had information, he would have said so.  But he doesn’t, so he says soon.

Soon does not mean soon.  It means I don’t have a clue and I’m tired of being asked the question.