And if they'd had a connection to Microsoft, the game would've sold off the shelves when first released, and would be given away free to increase the size of the community, as AoEIII is these days.
It's a very tough business, and alliances with publishers are key.
Ricky Goodman & Co. were porked by the big corporate world. Their work was ultimately not accepted as top shelf by the software and publishing Gods. And money rules this business as much as any other: perhaps more so.
Plenty of wonderful movies and other productions have met with skepticism, yet become enormously successful. While it doesn't appear likely that RaF will rebound, I don't worry that it wasn't universally approved. That's just part of the gaming industry.
Say, any news on what Rick Goodman might be up to these days? He seemed to have dropped off the face of the planet.
I spoke to a former ES staff to know if maybe Tony Goodman (his brother) has shared any information about him, but he says he knows nothing, and doesn't get involved in family matters.
It would be wonderful if Tony Goodman would just "re-hook" up with ES, and become a lead designer for separate franchises from ES/MS. Imagine ES/MS able to put out multiple games at once, all under the same ES/MS banner!
I think Tony Goodman should invite him back. ES would probably be the best platform for Rick Goodman to launch his games in my opinion.
~Lysimachus - Former HG Angel for Rise & Fall Heaven || Was RaFH Game Info Admin || Proud Member of HG since 1998
GoSailing EEH Seraph
posted 08-31-07 06:22 PM
EDT (US)
4 / 17
It would be wonderful if Tony Goodman would just "re-hook" up with ES, and become a lead designer for separate franchises from ES/MS. Imagine ES/MS able to put out multiple games at once, all under the same ES/MS banner!
That would fix the main problem with RaF. It was innovative, but made by an unknown company. It was never given a chance so it got poor reviews. The reviews drove off people so Midway didn't have the money/desire to support it.
If it was made under a different name, however, everything would be different. If Tony could get Rick a job and work together on a new game, things would be awesome. Rick understood a few things really well that made successful games. Most important of those is having a powerful editor like EE, Empires and RaF. He also knew not to carbon copy other games and branch out a bit, which is the only way to get really well known.
"It seems to me the humour of Sails is so dry you could strike a match on it and it would be the humour that caught fire." - Friend of Old
Wok Conscript
posted 09-01-07 12:56 PM
EDT (US)
5 / 17
That would fix the main problem with RaF. It was innovative, but made by an unknown company.
I disagree. SSSi had a good reputation and Empire Earth was a popular and successful game. Rick Goodman himself has a bigger reputation as the creator of Age of Empires. I'd say Rise and Fall's biggest problems were the politics surrounding the Starforce issue, as well as the rather consequential collapse of SSSi and Midway's decision to release an unfinished game. Conceptually, the game was sound, which makes it harder to take because I think Rise and Fall could have been very close to success in different circumstances.
Wok?
GoSailing EEH Seraph
posted 09-01-07 01:37 PM
EDT (US)
6 / 17
Valid points. The end amounts to the same, though.
Conceptually, the game was sound, which makes it harder to take because I think Rise and Fall could have been very close to success in different circumstances.
Whatever may have caused it, a great game that could have sold millions is now being sold at $3.99.
"It seems to me the humour of Sails is so dry you could strike a match on it and it would be the humour that caught fire." - Friend of Old
Athen Conscript
posted 09-02-07 00:52 AM
EDT (US)
7 / 17
That would fix the main problem with RaF. It was innovative, but made by an unknown company.
I disagree. SSSi had a good reputation and Empire Earth was a popular and successful game. Rick Goodman himself has a bigger reputation as the creator of Age of Empires. I'd say Rise and Fall's biggest problems were the politics surrounding the Starforce issue, as well as the rather consequential collapse of SSSi and Midway's decision to release an unfinished game. Conceptually, the game was sound, which makes it harder to take because I think Rise and Fall could have been very close to success in different circumstances.
I agree, the Starforce issue totally threw the game off, surprisingly. The game developers thought they could get a quick profit by putting starforce without taking any risk, instead the game sold poorly and barely reached the margin of profits. An oxymoron I'd say!
The other reason it failed was the service the game producers provided. No patches, no updates, not even any active game producers come by here anymore. RAF was also slightly incomplete, there was much more that was supposed to be provided such as a longer campaign or a random map generator.
Anyway, it's over. I don't see why the developers just give it out for free and let people hack into it and totally change the game. Heck, they might accept $1000 to purchase rights over RAF or something.
"Macs are the computing equivalent of a dumb blond. " - Silk
Formally known as Acamas, Acamas_Samaca and Hero_Acamas
If you are interested in the [RoR] clan visit our website
Chonaman Conscript
posted 09-02-07 01:36 PM
EDT (US)
8 / 17
Hey Lysimachus,
Hope all's well with you. This is all I know about Rick Goodman's activities
Sounds like he's just enjoying the life of a gamer and not stressing about computer game development. Maybe he's planning to go that route for his next design, or maybe he's going to do something turn-based on PC?
I really hope he'll work on games again as he he is one of the best and most underrated (also Steve Barcia).
Lysimachus Conscript
posted 09-04-07 10:20 AM
EDT (US)
10 / 17
Whoah, he put his email there.
Guys, please promise me you won't flood him with emails. Especially members. Just leave it to Staff and former Staff members, if anything at all. If everyone emails him, chances that he'll respond to even one of us would probably be extremely slim.
~Lysimachus - Former HG Angel for Rise & Fall Heaven || Was RaFH Game Info Admin || Proud Member of HG since 1998
emperor77 Conscript
posted 09-04-07 10:46 AM
EDT (US)
11 / 17
Why do you want to e-mail him?
Lysimachus Conscript
posted 09-04-07 01:37 PM
EDT (US)
12 / 17
Never said anyone did. Just warning everyone not to flood him.
Why wouldn't people naturally want to email him? After all, they want to know "what's up", and if he has any future plans for the gaming industry.
~Lysimachus - Former HG Angel for Rise & Fall Heaven || Was RaFH Game Info Admin || Proud Member of HG since 1998
Introduction: "Avid Board Gamer. Computer Game Designer. Designer of the following PC strategy games: "Age of Empires", "Empires: Dawn of the Modern World", and "Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War" Hope to design a board game, myself, some day. "
What puzzels me, is Rick doesn't claim any assosiasion with EE, as it was maybe the most popular of SSSI's games. This makes me think he was 'only' the developer, not the idea maker.
[This message has been edited by electrifying (edited 09-05-2007 @ 10:46 PM).]
_o0XxX0o_ Conscript
posted 09-05-07 02:22 PM
EDT (US)
16 / 17
Bad link. Take the "/" off the end of the address, and it connects to the page.
The fact that Rick doesn't list EE as a credit is odd, but it may have something to do with the fact that the rights were sold before EE2 was made. It is probably a legal thing. Anyway, all of us who played EE know who he is and what he did - both before and after EE.