Tim Cain speaks again, at Troika Chronicles

Troika Chronicles, that other Troika fan-site that for some reason keeps the link to <a href=http://www.cykus.de/tb/>Tarantiner Bote</a> above the link to our page even though half of their links actually lead to sites hosted by us, has managed to speak to Tim Cain, thus ending his long silence.
<br>
<br>The interview is pretty boring, because the master has decided to start working on MMORPG's and is only talking about them, when he's not letting some Jeremy guy answer the questions or remembers his glorious past as a part of Troika and Interplay. This is actually pretty much all he says:
<br><blockquote><b>6 - For some time now almost everyone is talking about “casual games”, “casual players” and that modern games are much too bloated and complicated. On the other hand especially MMORPGs tend to be pretty complex especially when PvP play or high level content is considered. What are your thoughts on that subject?</b>
<br>
<br><i>Tim:</i> I think MMORPGs are actually pretty casual, especially at the lower levels. Their high degree of social interaction actually encourages new and casual players to join, and as long as many of their complex systems are optional, most of those casual players can enjoy these games as much as the hard core players.</blockquote>
<br><a href=http://troikachronicles.wordpress.com/2007/10/23/carbine-studios-interview/#more-39>Head over there and read it!</a>
<br>
<br><b>Thanks to Michael Wolf.</b>

 

Sorry guys, I can't sort the links. It's an restriction of the blog engine I am using. And thanks for posting that news. It helps getting some traffic to the site.

 

Based on this interview and some googled articles on Troika/Interplay, it seems to me like no one has asked Tim (all that directly) about his past projects or his thoughts on a future Arcanum.

I one article he says there might be a future for Arcanum/Troika... but that is kind of a vague answer and the interviewer/editors decided to chop out any emotional remarks on the subject.

Perhaps it would be impolite to ask Tim Cain about his other jobs or Arcanum (esp, if he is taking the time to answer interview questions).

However, I will say this-- Tim Cain lectures at UCI... I go to UCSC. If he ever lectures here I'll be sure to be as polite as possible in asking him about Mystary! Arcanum 2, and everything else...

 

According to Wikipedia, there were.

 

You didn't read the talk about Journey to the Centre of Arcanum?

 

Is he working on Fallout Online mmorpg?
For the love of all that's pure in gaming I hope so. I'm feeling very emo over the farse of a Fallout title Bethesda is cranking out.

 

I think I read journey to the center of Arcanum, but a long time ago.

One question I have, regardless of weather Arcanum ever had a sequel or not, and maybe this could be asked:

"in Arcanum we are presented with some juicy quests/storylines all of which imply a degree of lore to Arcanum that never really gets completely fleshed out. There are some very interesting clues about to how/why depressing places like Cumbria are... and of course, these things are resolved at the end of the game. But did you ever feel that there were more storylines that you wanted to explore and more lore to develop? Did you ever think of publishing an extensive history of lore? One thing that always intrigued me: the whale submarine off of the Isle of Despair. But also the maze, the altars, these other places of intrigue and how they came to be. So much has been left unsaid about Arcanum even though at the end of the game the world is restored to a place of 'wonder.' Do you feel like there was anything more that could be said? or do you like Arcanum the way it is and the way that it concludes?"

 

I'm sure they're completely done with Arcanum. It's not like they were thinking about making a game named Journey to the Centre of Arcanum or anything using the source engine before they decided to make Bloodlines.

 

Good point. For me, I can never get enough Arcanum lore. Do any of you guys work on/contribute to the Troikapedia?

 

DE, can you clarify again what vanilla arcanum is please?

 

A virgin one.

 

did you guys ever think that the stillwater giant was a result of some kinds of mutations? fallout was definately on my mind when i heard about that rumor over in tarant

 

oh those are obvious . forgot about the water crystal quest!

you know DE, i never read the arcanum manual when i first played the game. i should probably go back and do that

 

So very true. The manual is usually one of my favorite parts of a game. I liked it better when game makers could package their games in larger packages and include bigger and better stuff!

Classic manuals:
FO 1&2
Arcanum
BG 1&2