I want to go on record and say that I'm never happy to see when so many people face losing their jobs. I do wish the best for the former employees of Junction Point, of course. However, I don't want to ignore reality, either. Warren Spector, as an individual, as a marketer, as the direct of the Epic Mickey titles really painted a deceitful picture of the games in question. His catchphrase for the games and for the studio as a whole was "Playstyle Matters," but in playing Disney Epic Mickey and its sequel, it was clear that the motto was all fluff.
A quote from the Junction Point Studios mission statement: "Junction Point games offer strong, player-driven narratives, opportunities for problem-solving over puzzles and choices with significant consequences. The studio's goal is to tell stories with players, not to them, allowing them to craft their own, unique experiences."
As this was Junction Point's goal, it's clear that their leadership fell well short of achieving said goal. In Disney Epic Mickey, aside from flat, dull gameplay and fetch-based puzzle mechanics, there were no consequences. No matter how one chose to play the game, the story would be told the same way each and every time. The only instance in which there would be a difference is shown in quick scenes right at the end of the game, most of which reflected how one defeated the few bosses. Epic Mickey 2 showed no substantive signs of improvements, and suffered from more technical and gameplay issues than the first.
I'm not sure why these games wound up as awful as they did. I'm aware some people have enjoyed them quite a bit, but I can only imagine how magnificent the original concept could have become, and shake my head in despair over the final product. For me, though, I place the blame squarely on the head of the person who mislead, misdirected, and mismanaged in so many ways, Warren Spector. I know many people look up to him as a game designer, especially for his work with Thief and Deus Ex. I can only say that I hope he does a better job one whatever his next project(s) is/are, and I hope he manages to create a more stable and prosperous work environment than the rubble that is now Junction Point.
Comments