June PC Gamer exclusive?

[X-Vector]

Eclipse summed it up succinctly over at Planetduke:

Having now had the chance to read the short article on DNF in June's PC Gamer, I would have to say that there isn't any information contained within the text that has not been released by 3D Realms previously.

There's also a reference to this quote from George Broussard:

You guys should not get too excited. The game is still when it's done. We don't have any control over what people write, after looking at it. I really did not tell PCG anything more than I've told you here.

So please control expectations

The point of the article is Prey.

The "world exclusive announcement" part clearly relates to Prey, which makes the "return of one of the biggest franchises in PC gaming" a fraud (Prey isn't a franchise and DNF didn't 'return').
PCG US are lying bastard hype monkeys like most gaming mags.

[FireFly]

X-Vector said:
Eclipse summed it up succinctly over at Planetduke:

We didn't know how far along they were content-wise. We didn't know whether a lot of the gameplay had fallen into place. I mean George said that their levels in 2001 were just basic shells, so it's nice to know that this time the gameplay is actually fleshed out.

[Tedski]

It could well be that their definition of 'franchise' differs considerably from yours. 'Franchise' is as likely to refer to £DR themselves as opposed to the game. Semantics - possibly, but also highly probable. ergo, probably no need to go slagging off PCGamer because of it. (I better point out here that I've not looked at a PCGamer in at least 6 months, but I may be making an exception soon )

[Eclipse]

X-Vector said:
Eclipse summed it up succinctly over at Planetduke:

[Kristian Joensen]

Prey is indeed a franchise.

[X-Vector]

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=franchise

http://www.investorwords.com/2078/franchise.html

None of the definitions listed in the pages apply to Prey, as far as I can tell.

Regardless, in this case it's not the literal definition, but the common conception of the term that is important (which is something like "successful gaming series or developer or publisher of such").
The common conception rules out Prey as "one of the biggest franchises in PC gaming".
The Sims, Tomb Raider or DooM would apply, but not Human Head's latest.

That leaves 3DR as most likely candidate for the title, but in that instance it would also be a questionable choice of words, because:

a. Prey is a third-party title, like Max Payne, Manhattan Project and the numerous console Duke games.
b. The triumphant return of 3DR would suggest substantial coverage of DNF to virtually everyone.

PCG is a journalistic entity, its editors know the power of the word, which requires some responsibility on their part.
Creating a bit of mystery to 'stir the pot' is OK, purposely misleading or at best confusing the audience is not.

[Kristian Joensen]

I know the dictionary definition of franchise but to me the word franchise in gaming terms has come to mean IP/brand.

[Lengis]

By the way, buttocks now means an intelligent person.

[Kristian Joensen]

No, it doesn't. Franchise however often is used with that meaning wich I refered too.

[Gryph]

Kristian Joensen said:
No, it doesn't. Franchise however often is used with that meaning wich I refered too.

That doesn't make it right, that just makes it a misnomer. I said a long time ago that franchise means "the right or license granted to an individual or group to market a company's goods or services in a particular territory; also : a business granted such a right or license" which is EXACTLY what Prey is. PC Gamer used the word franchise as what it's supposed to mean because they are journalists and writers, not some common conception held by gamers.

Just check this for all possible definitions of franchise:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...amp;btnG=Search
Just because one of them has "already has a successful product or service" doesn't negate all the other definitions.

Just drop the Prey isn't a franchise line because it's pointless. It is a "an agreement enabling a third party to sell or provide products or services owned by a manufacturer or supplier. The franchise is regulated by a franchise contract, or franchise agreement, that specifies the terms and conditions of the franchise."

3DRealms has granted Human Head Studios with the right to create a game based on an IP (which can considered as the goods or service) created by them and sell it in which HH will probably have pay 3DR money (either a flat fee or royalty based, I don't know).

But then I think, does this even matter? No.

[X-Vector]

That's all fine and dandy, except for the fact that HH is developing Prey rather than marketing, distributing or selling the game.

Anyway, as stated earlier, even if the description "franchise" would apply, "one of the biggest franchises in PC gaming" definitely wouldn't.
One of the most important aspects of journalistic writing is clarity, which PCG certainly failed in - intentionally or not.

[Gryph]

X-Vector said:
That's all fine and dandy, except for the fact that HH is developing Prey rather than marketing, distributing or selling the game.

Anyway, as stated earlier, even if the description "franchise" would apply, "one of the biggest franchises in PC gaming" definitely wouldn't.
One of the most important aspects of journalistic writing is clarity, which PCG certainly failed in - intentionally or not.

Well marketing, distributing, and selling is basically the role of the publisher. I will admit that the video game industry isn't similar to say, the hamburger business where franchises do all of that and pay the corporate offices.

But I do agree that better wording on PC Gamer's part would have been good but their job is to hype. No arguement there.

X-Vector said:
PCG US are lying bastard hype monkeys like most gaming mags.

Do they still have the Coconut Monkey?

[Haravikk]

Damien_Azreal said:
True a Serious Sam 2 preview would kick ass, but I'm kindof hoping for more.

Couldn't you just go out and buy it? Serious Sam: The Next Encounter (ie Serious Sam 2) has been out for quite some time now.

[Kristian Joensen]

Serious Sam: The Second Encounter and Serious Sam 2 are two different games, Serious Sam 2 is the real sequel and it hasn't been released yet.

[Parkar]

Kristian Joensen said:
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter and Serious Sam 2 are two different games, Serious Sam 2 is the real sequel and it hasn't been released yet.

And from what I have seen of it it looks very nice.

[Ivan]

Kristian Joensen said:
Serious Sam: The Second Encounter and Serious Sam 2 are two different games, Serious Sam 2 is the real sequel and it hasn't been released yet.

Indeed, Serious Sam: The Second Encounter is like a SS 1 1/2.

[Steve]

eh, can't be stuffed.

[Marty]

I finally saw the article... dang, now Im all excited and stuff

[lonestar]

tommy looks like the vocalist from nin.

[Marty]

heh i thought he looked a bit like Wamplet

[lonestar]

so, wamplet is no pokemon?!

[Nessus]

In the gaming world a franchise is a game that is popular enough to have sequels. All the other definitions dont really matter, only what gamers take the word to mean counts to me. PC gamer was dishonest.