Prodos Games: Space Crusade

[Daeothar]

I'm thinking a significant part of the furore is influenced by this being a Prodos project -- in other words, no matter what they did it would be bad.

Not really; their products generally leave me cold. I'm not offended by nudity, or gratuitous use of monsters completely made up out of female naughty bits; I usually just roll my eyes...

What severely puts me off with this product though, is that fact that they took one of the fondest gaming memories I have and changed it so completely that, bar the title, it has nothing at all in common with the original.

I would have jumped at a lovingly re-imagined version of the original, just like Hero Quest got. Granted; there was a whole legal mess about that one, and the crowdfunding did not work out without issues I believe, but it was apparent that those involved had a real passion for the game and wanted to do the classic version all the justice it deserved.

Too bad that this title was basically squandered by GW (and MB?), with the opposite happening; now, there's no legal fuss, but the end result has nothing at all to do with the original.

Makes me suspect that GW is just dumping forgotten titles and IP's left and right, collecting the funds they're so sorely lacking, to make up for their hidden losses perhaps?

If that's true, then we're bound to see a lot more of those secundary game IP's being sold, like maybe Battle Masters, Kerrunch, Man O'War or Space Fleet.

Here's to hoping that whoever buys up those titles will be more true to the source... 

[YPU]

Aye, that and the "standard" one would expect from their other licences. These guys make good looking AvP miniatures, now there were more enough problems with that, but the sculpts in general were top notch. Then they decide to get a beloved licence of yore and quite literally use it as an excuse to fabricate space marine themed strippers.

I would like to ask a question here tough, trying to keep it civil. I find I'm far less "offended" by the demons. Even tough they display even more nudity and impractical armor. Am I the only one feeling this way? I guess that with the demons they are supposed to be otherworldly illogical seductive forces of destruction. While the crusaders are supposed to be bad ass warriors. Titillation makes a lot more sense for the former rather then the later.
Also note the male models are all a lot more practically armored, no beefcake to be seen. I mean if your galls look like red sonya then at least make the guys look like Conan for equality.

[rob_the_robgoblin]

Once upon a time, I'd have to come and argue the case here.

I'm really glad I don't have to.

I was nothing to do with this project.

But yeah, not my cup of tea. Could use stronger words, but everyone else has it covered.

[beefcake]

I honestly can't see many 14 year olds picking this up unless they have their parents, and their arenas wallets, wrapped around their little finger. I can't imagine many parents looking at this and thinking, " little Billy would love this game. Nearly nude girls and lots of guns. Our darling boy is growing up after all"
Nicely sculpted but sooooo  disappointed with what this is compared to what it could have been.

[Morgan]

Also note the male models are all a lot more practically armored, no beefcake to be seen. I mean if your galls look like red sonya then at least make the guys look like Conan for equality.

This point gets towards the issue of why (in my opinion) this range of models is indeed offensive and sexist. Every single female model in that Facebook posting has got her boobs out. All of them - human, demon, whatever. I'm not offended by nudity and positively welcome the presence of titillating miniatures but if every female model that you produce for a range is clearly designed as masturbation material then, yup, (in my opinion) you're being offensive and sexist. If they were to produce an equal number of female models that are dressed sensibly or if they produced an equal number of naked or near-naked male miniatures, I would cease to be offended. As my wife said about this range: "Where are all the armoured penises then?"

[Tactalvanic]

Have not and probably never will read the rules, do they have force-field generators to protect the exposed parts maybe?

Have they managed to gather a complete design team of "That guys"? and they produced "That game" they always wanted?

No doubt someone will re-purpose them as "Special Marines" - they got the wrong  hormones/gene-seed or whatever?

Maybe someone will explain it was just a mistake, their armour shrunk in the wash.?

The men are ok as they only wash their armour in  "The blood of our enemies".....?

[Cherno]

Also this gem: "Warhammer - Age of Titmar" 

[CptJake]

My issues is with the silliness.   They could be guys and not gals, and going into battle with your critical areas (torso and head) unarmored would still be silly.

Some of the designs are just stupid.  Look at the bikes, you really think belts of ammo flapping around like that make any damned sense?  Even discarding the fact the riders are gonna burn the heck out of their legs on the exposed exhaust pipes, the design of the bikes/weapons are just dumb.   Infinity seems to manage futuristic yet realistic bikes.   These are Orange County Choppers with Big Gunz (carrying only about 10 rounds each...)  Silly.   

I very much have issues with Prodos as a company (they are dishonest and that is a major pet peeve of mine) but I would be critical of these sculpts regardless of who was putting them out.   

[The Mystic Spiral]

I usually make it a principle to never comment on anyone else's models, I assume they have made them the way they wanted them and that's fine by me.

This however, is utterly fascinating to me. The response to it is almost universally negative. If you look at their facebook comments there is (last time I looked) about one positive comment. And the other forums seem universally disparaging.

How did a company with the profile of Prodos get it this wrong? They seem to have offended all quarters of gaming, all at the same time. Amazing.

Is it some kind of practical joke or social experiment?

Sad thing is that some of those figures would be great with a little bit more armour. About 10p worth of Greenstuff would have sorted it.

J

Ps. What does offend me most is the photoshop "painted" figures.

[DELTADOG]

This however, is utterly fascinating to me. The response to it is almost universally negative. If you look at their facebook comments there is (last time I looked) about one positive comment. And the other forums seem universally disparaging.

How did a company with the profile of Prodos get it this wrong? They seem to have offended all quarters of gaming, all at the same time. Amazing.

Is it some kind of practical joke or social experiment?

Well I would guess only the content of this Thread here would be enough Reasons to "dislike" the company at all. They have a behavior that I would call less serious.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=59007.0

Another reason I would guess why many people are not a fan of them is their handling of the "good old memories".
For me they have messed up anything I would like to see in a new version of Space Crusade. What they´ve posted there has absolutly NOTHING in common with the Game I´ve played uncountable times in my childhood. GW has shown the way a new Version of a Classic Game can look like with the revival of SpaceHulk. Nice modern design, just a littlebit more of everything.
That Space Crusade thing there is a Tittitwister in a paperbox. No nice Gamingarea with rooms and corridors, with a littlebit of 3D like the original. No modular Gamingtiles, No "Commandcenters" to track your weapons, Commanderlifepoints etc. No really  wide spreaded portfolio of different Enemytypes and Races.

Then I´ve seen what they actually do a crime on my second warmhearted Childhood/studentdays Gamingmemories..... Mutant Chronicles....
The games / gaminguniverse was so well illustrated by the outstanding Paul Bonner. The Artworks where pure cool stuff. Ok the Miniatures looked like Crapcake in the sun, but the generic ID of the Games world was already there and sooo good. Prodos take this and transform it into somethng I cannot indentify with.

I would guess THAT is the keypoint in all this Prodos bashing. They took our good old gamememories and transform them into design nightmares! Reanimation of strong old brands is a ride on knifes edge and prodos has a safe and repeatingly strong tendency to hit the wrong side of this again and again!

[The Mystic Spiral]

Well I would guess only the content of this Thread here would be enough Reasons to "dislike" the company at all. They have a behavior that I would call less serious.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=59007.0

Another reason I would guess why many people are not a fan of them is their handling of the "good old memories".
For me they have messed up anything I would like to see in a new version of Space Crusade. What they´ve posted there has absolutly NOTHING in common with the Game I´ve played uncountable times in my childhood. GW has shown the way a new Version of a Classic Game can look like with the revival of SpaceHulk. Nice modern design, just a littlebit more of everything.
That Space Crusade thing there is a Tittitwister in a paperbox. No nice Gamingarea with rooms and corridors, with a littlebit of 3D like the original. No modular Gamingtiles, No "Commandcenters" to track your weapons, Commanderlifepoints etc. No really  wide spreaded portfolio of different Enemytypes and Races.

Then I´ve seen what they actually do a crime on my second warmhearted Childhood/studentdays Gamingmemories..... Mutant Chronicles....
The games / gaminguniverse was so well illustrated by the outstanding Paul Bonner. The Artworks where pure cool stuff. Ok the Miniatures looked like Crapcake in the sun, but the generic ID of the Games world was already there and sooo good. Prodos take this and transform it into somethng I cannot indentify with.

I would guess THAT is the keypoint in all this Prodos bashing. They took our good old gamememories and transform them into design nightmares! Reanimation of strong old brands is a ride on knifes edge and prodos has a safe and repeatingly strong tendency to hit the wrong side of this again and again!

Fair enough, the AvP kickstarter backers have plenty of reason to hate the company, just it seems that the majority of hatred towards Space Rusade is based purely on its own merits(or lack of) and from people who weren't stung by the KS.

Personally I also felt somewhat angry about Warzone, I bought a disappointing Bauhaus starter only for a new, better version to be released the following week.

I think you needn't worry too much about happy Space Crusade memories being ruined. I assume GW and MB legal ninja are on route as we type. It will never see the light of day.

J

[Tactalvanic]

I think you needn't worry too much about happy Space Crusade memories being ruined. I assume GW and MB legal ninja are on route as we type. It will never see the light of day.

J

Sadly unlikely as apparently the licensing was sorted 

Although I am happy to be wrong about that!

Maybe we need a Prodos thread to go along with the GW one?

[The Mystic Spiral]

Sadly unlikely as apparently the licensing was sorted 

Although I am happy to be wrong about that!

Fingers crossed you're wrong then. 

J

[Conquistador]

Honestly have not looked at the miniatures (when this many people go on like that on LAF I don't need to go there (especially at work) to be disappointed,) but the vibe I am getting here is what I would expect when when you wish for something and some one "answers" your wish with a  nightmare rendition of it. 

Wasn't it the story/film "Monkey Paw" that made the quip, "Be careful what you wish for," synonymous with the Law of Unintended Consequences? Too bad you can't unwish this apparent sad situation.

[Tactalvanic]

  Life is cruel to us sometimes 

https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmcase/Results/1/UK00003032573

https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmcase/Results/1/UK00003141378

whoever this is

https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmcase/Results/4/EU012845947

and dead Hasbro ----

https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmcase/Results/1/UK00001408060

This of course is only  UK, I don't have time to look everywhere, but thats enough sads for one night

Honestly have not looked at the miniatures (when this many people go on like that on LAF I don't need to go there (especially at work) to be disappointed,) but the vibe I am getting here is what I would expect when when you wish for something and some one "answers" your wish with a  nightmare rendition of it. 

Wasn't it the story/film "Monkey Paw" that made the quip, "Be careful what you wish for," synonymous with the Law of Unintended Consequences? Too bad you can't unwish this apparent sad situation.

  Don't its a once seen cannot be unseen situation