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Deus Ex Clan Wars Takes Series Toward Action?
Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to an Eidos Interactive financial presentation, originally from late 2003, but only noticed recently, mentioning the development of Deus Ex: Clan Wars, a previously unhighlighted title that continues the popular stealth action series. The game is mentioned in context of an "Example WIP [Work In Progress]", and a newer financial presentation on the Eidos UK site indicates Clan Wars may only be a working title, since it lists 'Deus Ex 'Action' game' on release schedules for the next financial year. Online rumors suggest Clan Wars may be a PlayStation 2/Xbox title that's in development at Eidos-owned Crystal Dynamics, who is also developing the new Tomb Raider title, and elsewhere, the recent Eidos financial presentation lists other unheralded forthcoming titles, including "Commandos 'Tactical Shooter'", presumably an extension of the Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines franchise, and new IPs called "Crash N' Burn" and "25 To Life".
The first Deus Ex was utterly groundbreaking and beautifully crafted. The second was an enjoyable, if failed, experiment; average compared to its peers, dire compared to the original. The third sounds like an outsourced game in the dated Tomb Raider mould (the two games even share the same developer).
Unfortunately it seems that creative games simply aren't as reliable moneymakers as unintelligent sequels.
It's too early to make a pure comparison between Spector and Lucas, but it seems like Spector is moving in that direction. And this is coming from someone who loved Warren Spector so much that I would've had a "re-orientation" if Spector and I met in a bar. And he'd been gay, if he isn't already. Or something.
Now, I'm not so sure. I'm quite certain I would reject any advances, no matter how drunk either of us was. He sounded way too much like Lucas in his post-mortem defense of DE:IW, not at all unlike Lucas in his defense of the prequelogy; oblivious to the fans, tinged with arrogance, and with a sense of justification that what he did was right while everyone else knows it wasn't. It sounds like Spector has surrounded himself with yes people, a Denton Ranch if you will. I used to think Molyneux was like that, but at least Molyneux had the gonads to admit that Black and White wasn't the shiznit everyone thought it would be. Spector, I get the impression he thinks that it was us who was off base, not him.
I remember hearing the president of Lucasarts defend the abomination that was Force Commander with something along the lines of, "This is the future, but the gaming universe just wasn't ready for it." Which sounds a little like Spector now. For shame, for shame.
It's what you've been waiting for, the ultimate in conspiracy 3d fighting games! Over 160 motion captured combos! Pit your favorite heroes in the Deus Ex universe with your favorite villians . . . or heroes! Use J.C. Denton's flashlight biomod, or the greasels' jumping action! Combine moves! 13 different fully rendered environments, including Paul's Apartment, UNATCO HQ, and inside a black helicopter! Avoid blistering enemy attacks by jumping into vents!
Warren Spector, producer, says, "I think we'll see some very emergent gameplay result out of this very open-ended format. Players will constantly be confronted with choices: do you punch low, or kick high? This is the kind of gameplay that exemplifies the future."
Coming out for Xbox and PC!
(PC version requires Xbox controller. And Xbox. And TV.)
(since I've already posted, I sure hope someone with mod status tags the parent as flamebait or troll)
Um, you do realize that I was the Lead Programmer on DX:IW, right?
As far as reviews go, DX:IW ended up with marginally worse reviews than its predecessor, see:
GameRankings or
MetaCritic
Note that the vast majority of reviews are in the 80-100% range. And then read a few of the ones that aren't to get a gauge on their quality.
Anyway, sorry that you didn't like the game. I hope that our future endeavors are more to your liking.