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===Development of Drawn to Life=== | ===Development of Drawn to Life=== | ||
| − | After publishing [[5th Cell|5th Cell's]] early mobile titles | + | After publishing [[5th Cell|5th Cell's]] early mobile titles, THQ was pitched an original title for the [[Nintendo DS]], one that allowed the player to draw items into the game world. THQ agreed to publish the title, and development on [[Drawn to Life]] began in early 2006. |
There were a number of issues both THQ and 5th Cell faced throughout development, ranging from development crunch time to the art conversion process proving difficult. One major issue in particular was in relation to the game's cartridge size; according to Jeremiah Slaczka, THQ opted to pay for a cheaper, smaller cartridge than what the final game had for the team to import it to, which resulted in drawings not being saved upon completion.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoxNnnrowm4&t=2897s The Drawn to Life Fanbase Interviews Jeremiah Slaczka, 1:00:54]</ref> A THQ executive would help the team oppose this, however, convincing THQ to allow for a bigger cartridge size to keep the drawing saving intact. | There were a number of issues both THQ and 5th Cell faced throughout development, ranging from development crunch time to the art conversion process proving difficult. One major issue in particular was in relation to the game's cartridge size; according to Jeremiah Slaczka, THQ opted to pay for a cheaper, smaller cartridge than what the final game had for the team to import it to, which resulted in drawings not being saved upon completion.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoxNnnrowm4&t=2897s The Drawn to Life Fanbase Interviews Jeremiah Slaczka, 1:00:54]</ref> A THQ executive would help the team oppose this, however, convincing THQ to allow for a bigger cartridge size to keep the drawing saving intact. | ||
| − | Drawn to Life took roughly 17 months to finish before it's release, with six of those months being spent in the homebrew stages. THQ would release the game on September 10th, 2007, with [[Agatsuma Entertainment]] reaching an agreement to localize the game in Japan the | + | Drawn to Life took roughly 17 months to finish before it's release, with six of those months being spent in the homebrew stages. THQ would release the game on September 10th, 2007, with [[Agatsuma Entertainment]] reaching an agreement to localize the game in Japan and South Korea the next year. |
===Development of Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition=== | ===Development of Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition=== | ||
After Drawn to Life proved to be a critical and commercial success, THQ was interested in continuing development of the franchise. Upon meeting with Nickelodeon, they got the idea to have 5th Cell develop a crossover title with [[:wikipedia:SpongeBob SquarePants|SpongeBob SquarePants]], as aspects of the season 2 episode "Frankendoodle" bears similarities to the game. 5th Cell refused to work on it, instead deciding to pitch and develop [[:wikipedia:Lock's Quest|Lock's Quest]]; as a result, THQ brought over the Japanese developer [[Altron]] to make the title, as they had seen success themselves with the previous SpongeBob DS title, [[:wikipedia:SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis|Atlantis SquarePantis]]. The game would see release on September 15th, 2008, going on to become the best-selling entry in the series. | After Drawn to Life proved to be a critical and commercial success, THQ was interested in continuing development of the franchise. Upon meeting with Nickelodeon, they got the idea to have 5th Cell develop a crossover title with [[:wikipedia:SpongeBob SquarePants|SpongeBob SquarePants]], as aspects of the season 2 episode "Frankendoodle" bears similarities to the game. 5th Cell refused to work on it, instead deciding to pitch and develop [[:wikipedia:Lock's Quest|Lock's Quest]]; as a result, THQ brought over the Japanese developer [[Altron]] to make the title, as they had seen success themselves with the previous SpongeBob DS title, [[:wikipedia:SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis|Atlantis SquarePantis]]. The game would see release on September 15th, 2008, going on to become the best-selling entry in the series. | ||
| − | Not much is known about the game's development beyond this; much like Drawn to Life, there were a number of unused assets, | + | Not much is known about the game's development beyond this; although much like Drawn to Life, there were a number of unused assets, such as portraits and music for the game's Versus Mode, suggesting a character selection screen was considered at one point. The game would also reuse multiple assets from Atlantis SquarePantis, which would also carry over to assets from both games being reused in the next SpongeBob DS title, [[:wikipedia:SpongeBob's Truth or Square (video game)|Truth or Square]]. The Spanish version of Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition would also reuse the DS Menu icon from that game and have a variant of the in-game logo using the 2009 Nickelodeon logo, suggesting that version released later than the others. |
===Development of Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter=== | ===Development of Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter=== | ||
| − | Development for [[Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter]] began in 2008, shortly after the release | + | Development for [[Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter]] began in 2008, shortly after the release Lock's Quest. 5th Cell aimed to be more ambitious with this title, improving almost every aspect of the original game. THQ was more open to their ideas this time round, resulting in a change in gameplay direction and tone compared to the first game. It's development cycle was not free of issues, however; it was also affected by crunch time, resulting in a portion of the game being rushed and a fair amount of content being left out of the final release, including an entire section of [[Lavasteam]] and an additional wind-based village. Being developed in tandem with another 5th Cell title, [[:wikipedia:Scribblenauts (video game)|Scribblenauts]], as well as a separate Wii entry in the ''Drawn to Life'' series, further complicated development. |
===Development of Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter (Wii)=== | ===Development of Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter (Wii)=== | ||
| − | Said Wii version was also rejected by 5th Cell, as Jeremiah Slaczka thought the system wouldn't allow for | + | Said Wii version was also rejected by 5th Cell, as Jeremiah Slaczka thought the system wouldn't allow for the scope they envisioned. After this meeting, THQ contracted [[Planet Moon Studios]] to develop the title, and the developer would split production to their B-team while working on another game, the cancelled title My Amazing Story. Due to the smaller size of the team and production times being brutal, however, this game would suffer the most crunch out of all the Drawn to Life games published by THQ. |
{{Quote|text=DTL was supposed to be a simple "safety" production that allowed other studio creative leads to focus on a big 1st-party project for Microsoft Game Studio. When the MGS project wound down and we put eyes back on DTL, we saw that the product was a shockingly scattered mess, barely playable/ parts on the floor, nowhere near being able to produce the expected alpha/ beta/ gold dates - it became an all-hands-on-deck emergency...My senior Art Lead and UI Art Director came into it with me, sleeves rolled up, to focus on lining up each area of the game (characters/ props/ cinematics, levels, user interface/ drawing tool). It was only as we were in the midst of alpha that I was able to offer visual feedback to help pull it all together with polish (TBH most of the individual assets developed by the team looked great, really cute and clean).|character=Ken Capelli}} | {{Quote|text=DTL was supposed to be a simple "safety" production that allowed other studio creative leads to focus on a big 1st-party project for Microsoft Game Studio. When the MGS project wound down and we put eyes back on DTL, we saw that the product was a shockingly scattered mess, barely playable/ parts on the floor, nowhere near being able to produce the expected alpha/ beta/ gold dates - it became an all-hands-on-deck emergency...My senior Art Lead and UI Art Director came into it with me, sleeves rolled up, to focus on lining up each area of the game (characters/ props/ cinematics, levels, user interface/ drawing tool). It was only as we were in the midst of alpha that I was able to offer visual feedback to help pull it all together with polish (TBH most of the individual assets developed by the team looked great, really cute and clean).|character=Ken Capelli}} | ||
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THQ was insistent on both versions of The Next Chapter releasing alongside each other, and so Planet Moon Studios put all their focus on the game. They would eventually finish the game in time, despite all the development issues. Both versions would be announced on the same day - May 26th, 2009 - and release October 8th, 2009. While the Wii game became the second best-selling entry in the series, the DS version was better received by critics. The ending of the DS version, however, would draw ire from parents and the [[:wikipedia:ESRB|ESRB]]. | THQ was insistent on both versions of The Next Chapter releasing alongside each other, and so Planet Moon Studios put all their focus on the game. They would eventually finish the game in time, despite all the development issues. Both versions would be announced on the same day - May 26th, 2009 - and release October 8th, 2009. While the Wii game became the second best-selling entry in the series, the DS version was better received by critics. The ending of the DS version, however, would draw ire from parents and the [[:wikipedia:ESRB|ESRB]]. | ||
| − | A promotional flash game, titled [[Action Draw Jumper]], would release for the Australian website | + | A promotional flash game, titled [[Action Draw Jumper]], would release for the Australian website around the time of the game's release. |
===Development of Drawn to Life Collection=== | ===Development of Drawn to Life Collection=== | ||
| − | A number of parents complained to the ESRB about the nature of Drawn to Life: the Next Chapter's canon ending - depicting [[Mike]] waking up from a coma he was under and he, [[Heather]] and their parents getting into a car crash - demanding they re-rate the game with a higher age rating. The ESRB informed THQ about this, and the latter took action at once. A collection of the DS Drawn to Life entries was made, with the main change being the ending of The Next Chapter, which now depicts Mike falling from a tree. 5th Cell would not be involved with developing this collection, meaning it was entirely developed internally by THQ. The collection would see release on November 3rd, 2010 | + | A number of parents complained to the ESRB about the nature of Drawn to Life: the Next Chapter's canon ending - depicting [[Mike]] waking up from a coma he was under and he, [[Heather]] and their parents getting into a car crash - demanding they re-rate the game with a higher age rating. The ESRB informed THQ about this, and the latter took action at once. A collection of the DS Drawn to Life entries was made, with the main change being the ending of The Next Chapter, which now depicts Mike falling from a tree. 5th Cell would not be involved with developing this collection, meaning it was entirely developed internally by THQ. The collection would see release on November 3rd, 2010 in the US and Australia, and the altered ending would make it's way into later prints of the game in the US. This ending has since been declared non-canon. |
===Development and failure of the uDraw GameTablet=== | ===Development and failure of the uDraw GameTablet=== | ||
| − | + | After the mixed reception towards [[Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter (Wii)]], THQ noticed a large point of criticism was towards it's Draw Mode controls, which used the Wiimote's IR pointer instead of a stylus like the DS games. After some pitches for failed licensed Drawn to Life games in the vein of the SpongeBob SquarePants Edition fell through, the idea came to develop a drawing tablet accessory to mitigate the control issue for potential future entries in the series, named the Drawn to Life Pal.<ref>[https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6777678150928359424/ Scott Rogers, Linkedin]</ref> Eventually, however, the Drawn to Life branding was abandoned in favor of making the tablet it's own entity, now named the uDraw. | |
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| − | After the mixed reception towards [[Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter (Wii)]], THQ noticed a large point of criticism was towards it's Draw Mode controls, which used the Wiimote's IR pointer instead of a stylus like the DS games. After some pitches for failed licensed Drawn to Life games in the vein of the SpongeBob SquarePants Edition fell through | ||
The tablet released for the Wii on November 14th, 2010, and became a surprise commercial success. THQ wasn't doing as well at the time, so this success inspired them to go all out on development for uDraw games. A considerable amount of titles were developed for it, including an original title, [[:wikipedia:Dood's Big Adventure|Dood's Big Adventure]], and a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed [[:wikipedia:WarioWare|WarioWare]] clone, SpongeBob SquigglePants. THQ became overconfident over the success, however, as they would then release it for the [[:wikipedia:PlayStation 3|PlayStation 3]] and [[:wikipedia:Xbox 360|Xbox 360]] consoles in 2011, as well as an upgraded version of the Wii's tablet. This proved to be a fatal error, as this release resulted in 1.4 million unsold units and a $100 million total loss.<ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/thq-details-full-extent-of-udraw-disaster THQ's uDraw Disaster, Eurogamer]</ref> | The tablet released for the Wii on November 14th, 2010, and became a surprise commercial success. THQ wasn't doing as well at the time, so this success inspired them to go all out on development for uDraw games. A considerable amount of titles were developed for it, including an original title, [[:wikipedia:Dood's Big Adventure|Dood's Big Adventure]], and a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed [[:wikipedia:WarioWare|WarioWare]] clone, SpongeBob SquigglePants. THQ became overconfident over the success, however, as they would then release it for the [[:wikipedia:PlayStation 3|PlayStation 3]] and [[:wikipedia:Xbox 360|Xbox 360]] consoles in 2011, as well as an upgraded version of the Wii's tablet. This proved to be a fatal error, as this release resulted in 1.4 million unsold units and a $100 million total loss.<ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/thq-details-full-extent-of-udraw-disaster THQ's uDraw Disaster, Eurogamer]</ref> | ||
===THQ's Closure and Auctions=== | ===THQ's Closure and Auctions=== | ||
| − | In 2012, due to declining sales, various game cancellations and the failure of the uDraw, THQ declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They held two auctions to sell off their remaining assets, | + | In 2012, due to declining sales, various game cancellations and the failure of the uDraw, THQ declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They held two auctions to sell off their remaining assets, including subsidiaries, intellectual properties, and games yet to be published such as [[:wikipedia:South Park: The Stick of Truth|South Park: The Stick of Truth]]. The Drawn to Life Series was sold to [[505 Games]] during the second auction in April 2013 for $301,000, which included all rights to the series.<ref>[https://www.polygon.com/2013/4/22/4254116/drawn-to-life-series-acquired-by-505-games-second-thq-auction/ Drawn to Life series acquired bt 505 Games, Polygon]</ref> Almost all their remaining IPs have been acquired by the Austrian studio Nordic Games, who later acquired the THQ name itself and renamed themselves to THQ Nordic. While THQ Nordic was able to revive some of THQ's old series and even acquire more of them, the Drawn to Life series was not among them, as 505 Games still owns the rights. |
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| − | The Drawn to Life Series was sold to [[505 Games]] during the second auction in April 2013 for $301,000, which included all rights to the series | ||
=={{Icon|Button}} Notable Games== | =={{Icon|Button}} Notable Games== | ||
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* [[:wikipedia:Saints Row (2006 video game)|Saints Row]] (2006) | * [[:wikipedia:Saints Row (2006 video game)|Saints Row]] (2006) | ||
* [[Drawn to Life]] (2007) | * [[Drawn to Life]] (2007) | ||
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* [[:wikipedia:SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis (video game)|SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis]] (2007) | * [[:wikipedia:SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis (video game)|SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis]] (2007) | ||
* [[Drawn to Life: Spongebob Squarepants Edition]] (2008) | * [[Drawn to Life: Spongebob Squarepants Edition]] (2008) | ||
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|-|Misc= | |-|Misc= | ||
<gallery widths="310" captionsize="medium" captiontextcolor="#8e8e8e" bordersize="none" bordercolor="transparent" captionalign="center" spacing="small" position="center"> | <gallery widths="310" captionsize="medium" captiontextcolor="#8e8e8e" bordersize="none" bordercolor="transparent" captionalign="center" spacing="small" position="center"> | ||
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DTLPAL.jpg|Initial concept art of the [[:wikipedia:uDraw GameTablet|uDraw GameTablet]] by Daniel McGuffey, titled ''Drawn to Life Pal'' during development. | DTLPAL.jpg|Initial concept art of the [[:wikipedia:uDraw GameTablet|uDraw GameTablet]] by Daniel McGuffey, titled ''Drawn to Life Pal'' during development. | ||
DTLPAL2.jpg|Updated mockup of the Drawn to Life Pal, with a closer resemblence to the final uDraw GameTablet design. | DTLPAL2.jpg|Updated mockup of the Drawn to Life Pal, with a closer resemblence to the final uDraw GameTablet design. | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
</tabber> | </tabber> | ||
