#The magic circle gold edition series#

The level designers and art directors also get into it with each other, leaving evidence of spates about the game’s artistic value and whether it’s more important than the ability to easily traverse the world. There’s also not much in the way of explanation as to how this world ended up inhabiting the same one as The Magic Circle, which is a disappointing oversight.Īlthough it’s hard to explain why audio files and transcripts of conversations between the three developers are found throughout the game, they do give a good idea of how frustrating it can be to have too many powerful minds working on a project that needs a singular vision. There are also sections of the aforementioned PS1 era canceled game that can be explored throughout the world, although these sections tend to harshly yank you out of focus with their pixelated space stations. Shimmering landmarks are scattered throughout that represent deleted sections of the game that can be brought back to life by the protagonist, introducing ideas that maybe weren’t bad enough to be completely erased by the fictional developers. The environment clearly illustrates a work in progress, with sketches and uncolored landscapes serving as placeholders rather than a finished product. Between them and their storm of ideas, nothing can be decided, leaving the protagonist with no weapon or powers, a colorless, unformed world to be explored and a previously canceled game that’s already worn on public goodwill.

#The magic circle gold edition series#

The creator of the fictional series is your typical egomaniac (a la John Romero or Peter Molyneux) while the two women he works closest with are a cynical pro-gamer turned developer and a massive fan of the previous series entry, both of whom have their own goals for the finished project.

The protagonist, just as unfinished as the world they inhabit, is granted the powers to finish putting the pieces together right under the developers’ noses, despite meddling on their part.Īs an exploration of development hell from the view of the developers, real world creators Question certainly craft a fascinating look at the inner workings and turmoil a studio might face. Languishing in development for 20 years, The Magic Circle is a game within the game that serves as a highly anticipated sequel to a classic text-based adventure involving an epic battle against the Starfather. The protagonist of The Magic Circle: Gold Edition refuses to see his world left to stagnate, though, and sets off on a quest to save his unfinished lands from their greatest enemies: the developers. Some would argue it’s easier to know that a project has been canceled rather than spend years building up hype that can never be reached. Development hell is a special sort of delay that manages to not only keep a much-desired product from reaching its fans but also keeps those fans on their toes for years.