After playing Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, or indeed watching extended footage online, we suspect many will be rather drawn to its charms. Yet when detailed art leaked before E3 (some information had done the rounds long before the LA event), the project was at the mercy of early opinions and the cruelty of social media. Even those still polite and patient about the game likely still felt some uncertainty around it, conceptually and because the Rabbids themselves can be a tad divisive.
In any case, opinions are certainly coming around, as project contributors like Grant Kirkhope always thought they would. Yet it's interesting to see how these leaks can impact teams; Kirkhope spoke a little about this with us, and now Eurogamer has posted a video with the composer and the game's increasingly popular creative director Davide Soliani. It gives some insight into the emotions felt within the development team when it leaked, especially as pre-E3 social media responses were sometimes rather cruel.
In any case, the tide is turning for the late August release, and for our part we thoroughly enjoyed a recent preview session with the Switch title.
Are you looking forward to this one's arrival in a few weeks?
[source youtube.com]
Comments 36
Sometimes the internet just kind of sucks
They have my apologies. I'm still frustrated with how much I want a game with Rabbids in it.
The leaks almost definitely came from Ubisoft's side.
I think the leaks ultimately benefited the game. Got all of the knee jerk reactions out of people's systems.
i haven't played the game yet. i have no idea about it at all. i still predict it will be behind only starcraft in the esports strategy scene within a year. leaks suck, but i get the feeling that they helped more than hurt them. the cruelty of the commentary is part of the nintendo diet as when they finally reveal, they usually exceed expectation. that's a philosophy alien to ubi, i think.
2 plumbers in your game and you still couldn't stop the leaks.
Yup, I know it's a bad joke.
It's very rare to see such passion, love and dedication to characters from an IP that doesn't even belong to your company (talking about the Mario characters) , but you nevertheless always dreamt of working with and when you finally get the chance, it clearly shows. I hope people won't judge a game so harshly like they did with what appears to be a fantastic game coming. Kudos to Davide Soliani and his team, and I'm sure the end result will reward them for their creativity
What really bugged me about the leaks was that none of them went "It's like X-com" but no instead it was so poorly described it sounds like some terrible cash in
@MrGawain No that was a good one lol.
I don't get the hate other them most didn't want Mario tainted by the Rabbids. I thought from the first screen shots it looked interesting to say the least.
I plan on picking this game up day 1.
@Fuz I usually don't follow online reactions to things too much until I've had a chance to experience it myself. Of course, the internet influences me but not to the extent as many others.
"deer davide,
we r sory we were meen and rong about ur cool lookin tatical RGP shootin game
luv
the internet"
now we jus need to all sign the card an evrythin wil b ok
I watched that with a clear conscience. So many didn't give it a chance due to being prejudice against intellectual property. Crazy
Never
judge
a
bookgameby
its
cover!leaked artwork!Hahaha...
This is the true of Beauty & the Beast in video games.
@IceClimbers I do think it allowed people to get used to the idea first, and to be pleasantly surprised by what we saw at E3.
Still, they had their perfect little E3 surprise ruined by leakers. And that is more than a little annoying.
I didn't have faith in the project, but I've come around. The game sounds awesome.
Some of the reactions were pretty over the top, though.
I was one of the people saying "not so good things" about the concept. I've never been so wrong.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE nah, the leaks are usually from advertising firms who makes the promotional art.
@Ralizah Image how great it would have been to watch the Ubisoft press conference knowing nothing about the game.
@countzero It would have been a huge surprise, and people would have still come around to it upon seeing it in a proper, controlled context. But that'll never happen now, because narcissistic "journalists" online decided posting leaked images and information for the public to peruse at their whim was a good idea.
To be fair, if you're making a Rabbids game, you kinda have to expect online negativity regardless of how good the game ends up being.
I still believe that the leaks were ultimately good for the game, as the initial reaction at E3 would've been seriously clouded by the negative reaction to a Rabbids game. The leaks turned the E3 reaction from "what? Mario + Rabbids? It kinda looks fun, but why oh why does it have to be Rabbids?" to "Oh wow! That Mario + Rabbids crossover is actually good! It's so much better than anyone could've expected!"
The internet is sometimes not a fun place.
Scaramucci's new job is going to be at Ubisoft trying to fix them leaks!
My most anticipated game of August. I hope it offers a decent challenge which I'm sure it will
I have to admit, when word of this game first leaked, I was put off by the concept, but seeing how it was presented at E3 made a big difference. If E3 had been the first I had seen of the game, I'm sure I wouldn't have been so initially down on it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still approaching this one with some reservation, but it's not anywhere near as repulsive as I initially expected.
While many of us (myself included) were quick to bash the game before learning anything about it, the hate made sense. Rabbids is a pretty loathed IP and most figured this game would be a garbage mini game mashup with maybe some Mario party flavor mixed in to lamely show off features of the Switch. Having said that, I've never been more excited to eat crow as I literally pre ordered it as soon as it became available on amazon. Lol
I'm still not sold on it but developers need a thicker skin than that, not saying it's okay for people to be so harsh but there will always be people like that, it comes with the territory. Still hoping for a demo because I doubt I'll buy this without getting to try it out first. I'm not a fan of rabbids and the trailers have shown me it's the same sort of silly slapstick (somewhat crass) humor. But hey, it's good that there's games coming on Switch for other demographics.
Honestly I like this game. Yeah I was a little skeptical in the beginning but this game is a labor of love from the devs. I plan to get this.
Outside of Odyssey this is my most anticipated Switch game this year. Was pleasantly surprised by all the e3 info and with all the new stuff and the coop game play footage from the last couple days in super sold on this.
I hope it's a success story .... this will be my first Switch game!
It's MARIO, no leak could ruin the goodwill that would eventually show forth for the franchise once all was appropriately revealed
Ya this is probably right up there with Mario Odyssey and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Pokemon Switch and Fire Emblem Switch. Definitely tops Pokken Tournament and Fire Emblem Warriors, but isn't quite on the level of Monster Hunter XX or Metroid Prime 4. Which, is totally fine. Those are two of the best games I'll likely set my hands on in the coming years, so
I think the leak benefited the game more than hindered because it prepared us for the idea. The game at E3 would have been a hit either way because of all the love that went into it.
Day 1 for me. Can't wait!
Considering they had the big brass balls to think that their generally mediocre and unrespected Rabbids IP was worthy of a crossover with Mario, I'm surprised anything would upset them (and in case they get upset with that, it was partially a compliment).
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...