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Oni: Difference between revisions
still not happy with this page at all, and it took way too long to edit, but at least I fixed some inaccuracies
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:''This is about the game. For the Japanese demon, see [[Oni (demon)]]. For the [[Halo]] entity, see [http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/ONI ONI]'' | :''This is about the game. For the Japanese demon, see [[Oni (demon)]]. For the [[Halo]] entity, see [http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/ONI ONI]'' | ||
::'' | ::''Even though the final logo is a stylized "O<small>N</small>i", the name of the game is generally spelled "Oni". | ||
The game "Oni" was developed by [[Bungie West]], a division of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungie_Studios Bungie Studios], and released in January 2001. It was Bungie West's first and only game, as it was disbanded after Oni's release: some Oni developers went on to work on the Halo series, while others ended up at independent game studios ( | The game "Oni" was developed by [[Bungie West]], a division of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bungie_Studios Bungie Studios], and released in January 2001. It was Bungie West's first and only game, as it was disbanded after Oni's release: some Oni developers went on to work on the Halo series<sup>2</sup>, while others ended up at independent game studios: [http://www.wideload.com/ Wideload] (Seropian), [http://www.giantbite.com/ Giant Bite] (Chu, Evans), [http://www.tyrantstudios.com/ Tyrant Studios] (LeBel), [http://www.certainaffinity.com/ Certain Affinity] (Hoberman). | ||
[[Image:Oni_logo.png|right|180px]] | [[Image:Oni_logo.png|right|180px]] | ||
=Influences= | =Influences= | ||
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=Hype= | =Hype= | ||
The online hype was deeply rooted in the existing Bungie community, notably Marathon fans<sup>1</sup>. As the Oni project gained popularity, a dedicated online community emerged in the form of Oni Central and its forum. | The online hype was deeply rooted in the existing Bungie community, notably Marathon fans<sup>1</sup>. As the Oni project gained popularity, a dedicated online community emerged in the form of {{Oni Central}} and its forum. | ||
Despite or maybe because of the game's late release and a number of canceled features, there were a number of promotional actions around and after the release: artwork by [[Lorraine Reyes McLees]], 4-volume [[Dark_Horse_comics|comic]] published by Dark Horse. | Despite or maybe because of the game's late release and a number of canceled features, there were a number of promotional actions around and after the release: artwork by [[Lorraine Reyes McLees]], 4-volume [[Dark_Horse_comics|comic]] published by Dark Horse. | ||
Two trailers and some of the reaction to them are represented here: | Two trailers and some of the reaction to them are represented here: | ||
*[[1998#Trailer|E3 1998]] | *[[1998#Trailer|E3 1998]] (authored in Max by Abeyta and Hughes, directed by Okita) | ||
*[[1999#Trailer|E3 1999]] | *[[1999#Trailer|E3 1999]] (in-game action only this time, but still pre-beta) | ||
Trailers and screenshots were analyzed eagerly for evidence of Oni's ground-breaking features. Ultimately, the game would look quite different in some parts from what was seen in the trailers. Characters were altered in appearance (not always for the better), and levels were redesigned and re-textured. The [[pre-beta content]] overview provides many before-after comparisons. | Trailers and screenshots were analyzed eagerly for evidence of Oni's ground-breaking features. Ultimately, the game would look quite different in some parts from what was seen in the trailers. Characters were altered in appearance (not always for the better), and levels were redesigned and re-textured. The [[pre-beta content]] overview provides many before-after comparisons. | ||
=Reception= | =Reception= | ||
The general reaction to the game was inconsistent; Oni did receive some high praise, most notably the E3 1999 Game Critics Award for "Best Action/Adventure Game". | The general reaction to the game was inconsistent; Oni did receive some high praise, most notably the E3 1999 Game Critics Award for "Best Action/Adventure Game" (even though the game was still only entering beta stage at that point). | ||
Upon Oni's release, many felt cheated because the game did not deliver on all of its promises (a [http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/10/01/1651219&tid=211 other commonplace issue] in game development. The most notable shortcoming was the absence of LAN [[multiplayer]], revealed at the E3, then removed at beta stage on account of latency issues. | |||
Some of the previously announced features were missing, such as smart gunfire dodging and alarm behaviour on the part of the AI. On {{OCF}}, [[Credits|Hardy LeBel]] blamed this on [http://www.quinndunki.com/ Quinn Sandra Dunki], saying "She made a lot of boastful claims about what the AI would end up being able to do that she couldn't deliver on". (Actually, these features mostly ''are'' in Oni's engine, either implemented by Dunki or by her followers; however, the game content and level mission scripts don't take advantage of those features. So it would look like LeBel&Co underdelivered at least as much as Dunki in the end ^_^.) | |||
Some of the game content was cut as well. This included the [[BGI]] level and the highly anticipated [[Iron Demon]] (large mech shown in the 1999 trailer in a gameplay situation). Also, the gaps in the numbering of the [[GameDataFolder|game files]] seemed to indicate that at least five chapters were cut from the story (actually, with the exception of [[BGI]], the missing levels may have corresponded to test environments, multiplayer arenas, or obsolete mission parts, which were scrapped regardless of the deadline). | |||
=The | [[Reviews]] diverge over Oni's gameplay and storyline. Fans may object to Oni's dystopian architecture, or to the vastly understated plot punctuated by more or less digest/relevant [[console|data terminals]], but they are essentially conquered by the hand-to-hand combat. Professional critics, however, tend to dislike the ambitious melee element, easily blaming the counter-intuitive or unresponsive controls (if they found the game too hard), or the redundantly rich array of combos (if they found the game too easy). Also, by lack of modding tools and multiplayer, Oni's replay value is not obvious. The overall consensus of the reviews was that the game was good, but not great: many 6s and 7s out of 10. | ||
When Bungie was bought by Microsoft in 2000, they sold [ | |||
=The future of the property= | |||
When Bungie was bought by Microsoft in 2000, they sold [[Myth]] and Oni to [http://www.take2games.com/ Take-Two Interactive] (that was before T2 got a reputation of hogging franchises such as Max Payne). In the case of Myth, Take-Two had a sequel done by MumboJumbo, and granted NDAs after the source code for all Myths was leaked. As for Oni, Take-Two intended to make an Oni 2 (for PS2) in the wake of Bungie's Oni; the game was [http://sttnw.blogspot.com/2007/10/18-canceled-games-you-never-knew.html canceled] at an early stage of development, possibly because Oni itself sold poorly and didn't gather a sufficient fanbase. | |||
Take-Two has been selling off some dead franchises to motivated developers, although there is no evidence that Oni is one of them. With the recent "separation" of Bungie and Microsoft (MS still having much leverage as a publisher), there has been fervent speculation about new games based on Bungie's old properties (since, after all, Bungie could buy back an IP from Take-Two if they desired). In an [http://nikon.bungie.org/misc/trans/4players_hr_sk_interview.html interview], Bungie's CEO, Harold Ryan, was asked specifically about Oni: | |||
:;4Players | :;4Players | ||