SSI reincarnated!

[Kiwi the Tortoise]

A group of old SSI veterans founded a new indie-studio.
Tactical Simulations Interactive (TSI)

David Shelley, Producer/Lead Designer, TSI said:
“Tactical Simulations Interactive is a return to providing the player full control of their party, with a focus on creating immersive and unforgettable story experiences, exciting exploration, meaningful social/political choices, and robust tactical combat.”

Sounds good so far.


Source: http://www.develop-online.net/press-rel ... ve/0196301
Website (as of now just an announcement countdown) http://tsi-games.com/

[Kong Wen]

I could not be more excited about an impending announcement. The potential revival of SSI design sensibilities is even more exciting to me than the Unsung Story Kickstarter with Yasumi Matsuno and his whole posse involved. Nothing has been able to fill the Gold Box-shaped hole in the market since the early '90s.

[Kong Wen]

There was a countdown on their site that was supposed to end in a reveal today, but when the clock struck 0, a new 15-day countdown began!

TSI just posted this explanation on their Facebook page:

The entire team at TSI is tremendously excited about the work we're doing. So excited that in fact, we put a date on the calendar and launched a countdown for when more details could be expected. Unfortunately, we're not going to do that reveal tonight... for business reasons. We want to be clear about this so you understand the key considerations. There's been a lot of cool announcements lately (the return of the Sierra brand, Obsidian working with the Pathfinder license, etc...) and we want to make sure that our message gets heard.

Our project isn't behind. We haven't underestimated the work involved or hit any snags. The simple truth is that we're revamping our website with greater information so that when we provide details to the press and the public, we will have things like message boards ready to allow closer communication with the community. We feel this type of approach allows us to generate awareness and be in a better position to create the type of games you want us to make. Although it wasn't an easy decision to make, we feel it is ultimately the right one.

[Kong Wen]

The TSI site has re-added the Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ buttons, and also has a title and a logo for something called "Seven Dragon Saga". They haven't posted anything on social media explaining what this is yet as far as I can find.

[Starmancer]

Interesting. Guess I'll keep an eye out and see how this goes. I always wanted to play a Gold Box game, but the graphics...

[Kong Wen]

Interesting. Guess I'll keep an eye out and see how this goes. I always wanted to play a Gold Box game, but the graphics...

The graphics!? You only need to know how to read.

I played Pool of Radiance when it first came out in '88-'89, and it laid the foundation for my appreciation of strategy ever after. These large-scale tactical battles were so intense.

[Starmancer]

Reading's for squares, damnit!

Also...what am I supposed to be looking at. :/

[Kiwi the Tortoise]

You are looking at adventure!

[Kong Wen]

TSI just posted a huge preview on their Facebook page, even though the main website hasn't updated yet:

Tactical Simulations Interactive (TSI) is excited to officially announce Seven Dragon Saga – an original RPG for PC, Mac, and Linux, based upon an original pen and paper role-playing system designed by former Strategic Simulations Interactive (SSI) alumni Keith Brors and David Shelley.

Seven Dragon Saga takes place in a high-powered fantasy universe, revolving around the Empire of the Seven Dragons. Eschewing traditional RPG tropes, Seven Dragon Saga provides the player with effective heroes right from the start, with TSI aiming to provide the next step in meaningful player experiences in the same way that SSI's ‘Gold Box’ titles did during the 1980s and 1990s.

This is not a tale of farmers or aspiring novices learning how to swing a sword; Seven Dragon Saga is a tale about the use of power. Players will need to assemble a brave troupe of adventurers “touched by the winds of the chaos”. Known as the Touched, these brave adventurers will face the unknown, and embark on a quest to discover hidden truths and determine the fate of the Empire.

Seven Dragon Saga sets a new standard for intricate turn-based combat that can be adapted to your party's strengths. Explore a new high fantasy realm, recruit powerful NPCs, and craft useful items during your party's quest to discover lost secrets and transform the world. Key features include:

• Classic RPG / Modern Gameplay: Create a full party under your total control right from the start. Venture forth to uncover lost secrets in an original fantasy setting.

• Strategic Combat: Face challenges in turn-based tactical combat, updated with modern design philosophies. Carefully maneuver your party taking advantage of terrain and destructible environments.

• Weigh Your Decisions: One group’s ally is another faction’s enemy. Make meaningful social/political choices that directly impact the world around you. Will you pursue duty and honor or choose riches and adventure with little concern for the consequences?

• Proven Technology: Seven Dragon Saga is built using the Unity3D engine (Shadowrun Returns, Wasteland 2, Shroud of the Avatar).

[Kiwi the Tortoise]

I am in the mood to nitpick a bit here

Seven Dragon Saga sets a new standard for intricate turn-based combat that can be adapted to your party's strengths.

Marketing hogwash! It is not for them to decide, time will tell.

• Proven Technology: Seven Dragon Saga is built using the Unity3D engine (Shadowrun Returns, Wasteland 2, Shroud of the Avatar).

Why is this bit considered important enough to mention, outside of bringing up contemporary crowdfunded RPGs? Not that I have anything against Unity, but it is pretty irrelevant to mention here.
In fact, it kinda scares me a bit, since art-direction was a strength of the old Gold Box stuff and isn't particulary strong in those 3 Unity games.