General Discussion

Texas based developer KingsIsle Entertainment has revealed its existence, and announced that they have been working on two secret MMO projects for the past 3 years time.

Austin, Texas - April 25, 2008 - Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. today uncloaked after three years of lock down secrecy. The company has had a team of more than 100 Austin and Dallas based employees, including top creative talent, working on multiple massively multiplayer online (MMO) projects under a cone of silence.

Formed in early 2005 by veterans from both gaming and technology, KingsIsle is led by chairman and chief executive officer Elie Akilian, and President David Nichols. Heading up development are Todd Coleman, a key creative mind behind the MMO Shadowbane and creative director Tom Hall, co-founder of well known game companies id Software and ION Storm. The first project is headed by Todd and is expected to enter beta this spring. Another release headed by Tom will be announced at a later date.

“We founded KingsIsle with an approach that fosters ingenuity,” said Elie Akilian. “Our focus is in the online environment and will continue to be so in the future. We’ve pulled together some of the most creative minds around and given them room to push boundaries and create superlative entertainment experiences. We’ll continue to build on that base of originality.”

Read more here.

So, uh, guesses at what the hell they're making? Anyone?

Should be interesing to see what's happening...

Good luck to them!

Whatever the projects are, they will be built without community feedback.

Secret Project = We're making a game that we know is best and without your input.

Originally posted by Dracus

Whatever the projects are, they will be built without community feedback.

Secret Project = We're making a game that we know is best and without your input.

How would you know what kind of research they've done? Does Honda or Ford come knocking at your door when they create new engines? Get real, dude. Life doesn't revolve around you.

Actually, it does. MMO developers have to convince us to play their games. We are the ones doing them the favour (giving them our money). The only way to do that is to give the players what they want. Sure, it could work, but usually the word "secret" means that the developers are set on what they've decided and aren't willing to let their future players have a say in the final product. Honda and Ford are well-established companies...these guys aren't. I just don't see these guys being able to create the perfect MMOs without any prior experience in the market if they're not willing to be flexible...

Anyone who honestly thinks that their input and the input of the rest of their teenage gaming friends is required for a game to succeed... needs to get their head out of their ass.  It's like saying that a first time parent needs the input of their child.  They need feedback, not input.  And the game needs feedback for bugs and problems with the content that they bring out.  Although they might appreciate your subscription, you're not doing them any favors by subscribing because it's a 50/50 relationship.

I think this company looks fantastic.  The idea of keeping this secret until recently shows that they are not pushing for high publicity and pure profit.   The developers they have put together have some great experience as well as some ideas that were ahead of their times.  This group has the capability to make that next step everyone has been looking for in MMO.  That said we have yet to see anything from their work, potential is simply potential.   There were alot of problems with Shadowbane, but the ideas in it were great, I would like to see those ideas mixed with current technology and engines.  Either way, this company has started off in the right direction and should be interesting to follow.