Carson Alvarez’s Reviews > Blood, Sweat, and Pixels > Status Update

Dragon Age chapter was a bit sad to read bc I have the knowledge that their next game went through just as much development hell as Inquisition. As someone who beat Mina the Hollower not that long ago I loved this Shovel Knight chapter. So nice to see how so much of their dreams have come to fruition. I hope they have continued success!

Amazing that Halo Wars is as fun and complete as it is, considering all that went on during development. Kind of ironic reading this part of the chapter that talks about Microsoft closing down the studio right after it released the game when they’re doing the same shit this very day. Infact, they just increased Xbox prices today!

Gotta say, I probably expected but never for sure knew that Halo Wars was made by someone that wasn’t Bungie. The history about the game is super intriguing though. Age of Empire devs and they didn’t even want it to be a Halo game originally..
Is slightly annoying because I get why Bungie didn’t want just anyone messing with their IP, but also, makes their situation now, kinda funny to me

On the one hand, as a reader I feel glad that the Blizzard devs were able to salvage a bad situation and use player feedback to make some much needed changes. These people spent so much time on the game that they should be able to enjoy their rest. On the other hand though, this perhaps unintentionally showed other developers and studios that you can release unfinished work, make $$, and fix later. Very conflicting.

Didn’t want to go too far into the Diablo 4 chapter so we’ll pick up on that likely tomorrow. I already like the direction of the chapter since this is shaping up to be a game that may not have as happy an ending as the first chapters. Also, I can’t begin to imagine what it’d be like for your life to completely change like Eric’s did. It’s nice to see that at least in the book he’s still grounded.

Sometimes it’s lost on me how hellish being a one person developer can be. Eric Barone what would we do without you though. Need to finally try Stardew Valley soon.

Holy smokes, after reading that chapter you have to wonder how a game like Uncharted 4 came out. Much less in the state it is in. Game developers are hero’s! Stardew Valley next.

What a first chapter! I remember hearing great things about Pillars of Eternity, however, to hear all that it took for it to be made…just incredible. Next chapter is Uncharted 4.. and I think I know where it’s headed.

This is gonna be the general theme of the book, but as a gamer you really take for granted how difficult it is for any game to be made. That said I’m REALLY enjoying the background and history for the games being covered, in this case: Pillars of Eternity