Lost: Oddworld Inhabitants’ Hand Of Odd and Citizen Siege

[Xavier]

As reported on OddBlog by Zukan:

Edge published an article in their new series “Lost” covering the inception and ultimate halt of two Oddworld Inhabitants projects that never made it into production: Hand of Odd and Citizen Siege.

“The Hand of Odd was aiming to have an industrial class that followed the prevailing RTS paradigm, but while competing against an opposition indigenous class that harnessed its power not from the depletion of the environment, but from nurturing its growth, then harnessing its life force as a means to power an offense/defense system. Metaphorically speaking, a classic war zone that allows a Rupert Sheldrake vs Richard Dawkins war of ideologies.”

“Citizen Siege was based in a near future where the policies of recent White House administrations continued onward unabated; ultimately landing us in a dark totalitarian landscape where people have been reduced to pure commodity. In this world, your healthy tissue is used as collateral against financial debt, and if you sink low enough, you can be ‘re-possessed’ piece by piece.”

Read the full article and look at some new never-before seen concept art for both properties at Edge-Online.

[MeechMunchie]

Always nice to see new stuff.

[Jordan]

Wooow that made me a whole lot warmer to Citizen Siege. It's a shame it won't see the light of day...

[STM]

Man, that's some really great new information and the pictures are too die for, especially that in-game HoO mock up.

[Varrok]

Would you really die for those HoO screenshots?

[STM]

No but I'd kill others...

[Vyrien]

Oh god it just makes me want it more.

[AlexFili]

I always wanted Hand of Odd and Sligstorm... Fingers crossed for the future

[Auriel]

I feel simultaneously enthralled by the concept art and sad because these two projects went the way of so many of Lorne's past endeavors.
Meh, we can still hope can we not?

[Scrabaniac]

Sligstorm's concept makes the perfect bundle for Abe's Oddysee and Abe's Exoddus, which I think it was intended to be like that. The concept has that same dark feel, I don't know why they thought the main character was too ugly not enough character etc but I think it would be great to see a bit of history of the most famous enemy in the Oddworld series. Bring on Sligstorm!

[Auriel]

I'm fairly certain Sligstorm has been announced for the near future a few months ago.
Whether it will bear any resemblance to its original concept or not is up for questioning but if it still serves roughly the same role in the series I'd guess it would be another blend of 2D gameplay and 3D graphics.

[Slog Bait]

I don't recall that ever happening. Mind refreshing my memory?

[Auriel]

Hm...I was certain I recalled seeing something along those lines from an interview circa spring, but now that I try searching for it, all I could get is this article of questionable veracity all the way from 2011.
Perhaps someone with better web scouring skills than me could care to find it?

[Wil]

We've mentioned that we're considering it quite strongly at the moment, what with having the engine for a 2D game and all.

It's worth mentioning that the idea for SligStorm has evolved a whole bunch since 1999. The idea of an albino Slig has stayed the same, but quite what he's doing and how you control him have changed to suit the gaming trends and whatever engine OWI was using at the time.

[Auriel]

We've mentioned that we're considering it quite strongly at the moment, what with having the engine for a 2D game and all.

It's worth mentioning that the idea for SligStorm has evolved a whole bunch since 1999. The idea of an albino Slig has stayed the same, but quite what he's doing and how you control him have changed to suit the gaming trends and whatever engine OWI was using at the time.

Could it then be safely assumed that the current concept then involves an adult slig as opposed to the original idea of a grub at least for the major part?
I can see how that would fit in to a FPS-dominant market.

[MeechMunchie]

An FPS where you play as a maggot has already been done, I'm afraid.

That said, side-scrolling shooters like Rochard, Cargo Commander and ARES seem as popular as ever.

[Wil]

Could it then be safely assumed that the current concept then involves an adult slig as opposed to the original idea of a grub at least for the major part?
I can see how that would fit in to a FPS-dominant market.

There isn't a 'current' concept, but yes, in more designs than not he was an adult.

[STM]

Oh man, I'm psyched for Sligstorm, that'd be a fantastic NnT DLC. The slig barracks was a great level, it'd be interesting to explore its under belly, all those pipes and shit. Maaan.

[Bullet Magnet]

And his only friend was a pet slurg named Slogbait.

[Vyrien]

Oh man, I'm psyched for Sligstorm, that'd be a fantastic NnT DLC. The slig barracks was a great level, it'd be interesting to explore its under belly, all those pipes and shit. Maaan.

I know right? Gotta love pipes.

teehee

[Scrabaniac]

I can imagine all kinds of gross things that the slig would have to encounter down in the sewers. FYI I'm not talking about turds, but about creatures :L

[Slog Bait]

And his only friend was a pet slurg named Slogbait.

Ohoho