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Witcher Creator: I Don't Have Anything Against Games; I Was Stupid To Sell All The Rights to CDPR

The Witcher creator Andrzej Sapkowski clarified that he doesn't actually hate games.

He also blamed himself for not believing in CDPR at first, which resulted in him requesting a fixed sum instead of a share of the profits made by the games.

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wccftech.com
KaiPow3365d ago

I'm glad he's such a good sport with the purchase deal. Lesser writers could've just taken the money and been done with the universe they created.

Festano3365d ago

Well, he's biting his hands for taking the deal but at least he can leverage the increased popularity to sell more books, so it makes sense that he wants to write new ones

MVGeneral3365d ago (Edited 3365d ago )

The only reason the witcher got popular was because of cdpr. They made a helluva franchise. Now he's having regrets, because it gained huge success and a following. but he wouldn't have had this much exposure or recognition if it wasn't for the takented people at cdpr, so he shouldnt bite the hand that fed him.

Same thing with George Lucas. After selling star wars to disney and the force awakens gaining worldwide success (2.5 billion box office) he regretted it in an interview and was sulking.
And like the game of thrones series, George rr Martin's books (a song of ice and fire) wouldn't have had worldwide success and recognition without hbo's show that put him on the map. But unlike him, George fully embraced hbo's show.

3364d ago
game4funz3364d ago

@mvgeneral

Worldwide popularity yes but not Poland popularity as it is a Polish series and was already popular. Hence the games.

kitsune4513364d ago

@mvgeneral

He isn't regretting selling the rights, he's regretting not taking a percentage deal that they offered instead of taking the one-time lump sum. He didn't expect the game to be so successful and congratulates them for it. Everyone is being nice and polite, nothing to see here.

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joab7773364d ago (Edited 3364d ago )

Hindsight is always 20/20. At the time, he probably thought that The Witcher would be made, and it was. So, he made a good deal of money. What he couldn't foresee was the evolution to TW3 and the gloval success of CDPR. Now he wished he had struck a different deal.

Though at the time they offered x amount of the profit, but it wasn't smart to take it because odds are it wouldn't have become one of the greatest games ever made.

Shoulda reserved the right to at least write more books.

darksky3364d ago

If he can't write more books and CDPR have moved on from any more Witcher games then that's bad. Would have been nice for there to be more Witcher games or books.

3364d ago
generic-user-name3364d ago

Maybe he comes across as a good sport now, but it wasn't long ago he sounded extremely bitter about the games.

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Cybermario3365d ago

too bad, he probably thought this game wont be too big of a hit or the amazing franchise it is today.

Alexious3365d ago

I guess he didn't know anything about games and how big they can be in terms of revenue.

3364d ago
ccgr3365d ago

I'm sure his books got read read more from the games

RememberThe3573364d ago

And the games IMO are far better than the books.

Alexious3364d ago

So you don't recommend them? I was thinking of getting them. I need my Geralt fix

Movefasta19933364d ago (Edited 3364d ago )

Yes Alex buy them I currently reading the final book, they go over almost everything,how geralt and ciri first met to how he got titled as Geralt of Rivia, they are all amazing(except the first).Everyone I know who have read the books believe the story telling to be way better than the games. The tower of swallow,the second last book,it's story is way better ,and I mean way better than anything in the games.There's this man named Bonhart,he's slain witchers in the past,just reading through the events of him and ciri is worth it alone.Ahh man read them,btw I read the books after the games and I still think the majority of them far surpasses the books when it comes to story telling.
AND Just to let you know,the last wish is the first book,but imo it's nothing special, but i recommend you READ the last wish first and you'll most likely continue reading on from there.

dreamoner3364d ago

@Movefasta1993 Letho's design certainly took inspirations from Bonhart.

RememberThe3573364d ago

I've read the first three and don't really see a reason to keep reading them. The books are okay and serve to give you more back story into the characters in the games but as stand alone books they're just okay. The games on the other hand are standard setting.

starchild3364d ago

Hmm I love the books and the game. They strengthen and complement each other.

game4funz3364d ago

The books are amazing.
@Alexious
Go buy them. They're good.

Diffraction_Fos3364d ago

@Alexious - Read them. I read all 7 and they're generally good reads. The first couple of books definitely are great. The series dragged a bit during the 4th, 5th and 6th books, IMO. But overall its a very good series.

morganfell3364d ago

I recommend them all, including the first book. There is essential information in that book that actually applies to all 3 games. Sometimes it is in prominent ways and sometimes subtle, like the choice of names Geralt has in TW3 when he enters the Knight's Tourney.

The other thing about the books is their writing style is different from other western authors. Sapkowski grew up in cold war Eastern Europe and his perspectives are just different enough, his writing altered from others that the difference is noticeable and refreshing. This sleight difference makes it through the translation to English. One thing about the books that transferred into the games is the fact that in life there are often no right decisions merely our choices and the consequences we enjoy or suffer.

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Chris_Wray3365d ago

Would be nice if CD Projekt did something with him, to benefit him further, now that the series has been a runaway success. Possibly get him to pen for a future new IP?

Diffraction_Fos3364d ago

Doubt it. He didn't like the way they "progressed" from the end of his books. So he probably won't be too eager to accept them as canon to his world.

Chris_Wray3361d ago

Possibly not to work on Witcher but actually work on a brand new IP more than anything else.

GamePeace3364d ago (Edited 3364d ago )

For all putting the games above the books ... without the books the games wouldn't even exist and CPR wouldn't even been that famous (without leaning on the universe, characters and the stories of Andrzej Sapkowski).

zuul90183364d ago (Edited 3364d ago )

And without trees paper wouldnt exist so he couldnt have wrote on anything.
If ashton kutcher didnt make the movie butterfly effect you and i wouldnt have our account names. You might be Gamewar and i might be Zuul9019.

Whos to say cdpr wouldnt have made their own fantasy universe and it wouldve been successful? It doesnt matter if ones responsible for the others existence, they can still say its better than the original or vica versa.

GamePeace3364d ago (Edited 3364d ago )

No, I don't need Ashton Kutcher for chosing my account-names and you can talk like that, because they already have the success (thanks to Sapkowski too), you're just painting fantasy scenarios ("wouldn't have ... "), while the truth is that their games are heavily based on Sapkowski's work. You can't say that one is better than the other, you can only state your personal opinion by saying that you find the books better or the games, but that's only a subjective point of view and not a fact. Truth remains that they can partially thank Sapwoski for their success ... everything else would be just madness and sheer arrogance. If it would be for many of you, Sapkowski should thank CPR for making his books famous and that's partially true, but without Sapkowski Geralt wouldn't even exist, no Sapkowski, no Witcher games ... get me?

zuul90183364d ago (Edited 3364d ago )

Sir i feel like you think theres some weird argument that im not part of...
I dont care who has to thank who? (Should be mutual right? He made it, they helped bring popularity) i havent read the books and dont plan on it. Theyre probably good, so great? I just felt your argument was flawed so i responded to it.
How is my fantasy scenario different from yours, "cdpr wouldnt have been that famous" how do you know this? Would they have not made games? Your doing same thing in your argument sir.
As for saying which is better you absolutely can.... as you said, "by saying that you find the books better or the game" yea so.... they can say they like one better than the other then? Like they can with any thing that exists? Dogs are better than cats? Can i not say that? Do i have to state afterwards its my opinion for it to be passable, or should i be able to have the hope that the people reading this can understand that statements like that are opinions not facts.

GamePeace3363d ago (Edited 3363d ago )

To respond to your second comment, because I can't reply under it. Of course you can say whatever you please, but fact is, that the Witcher games exist because of Sapkowski's work, you don't need to read his books, but show at least a little bit of respect for this person (I feel that many on the comment section lack the respect for him, saying that CPR made his books popular and that the games are by far the better Witcher prodcuts, while they forget that Sapkowski is the real mind behind the universe, nearly every character and story of the Witcher). You can say that dogs are better than cats, but that's only your personal opinion and not the truth. Better would be if you would say:"In my opinion dogs are better than cats" (sounds much more respectful and humble in my opinion), instead of of blatantly saying: "dogs are better than cats" (that sounds really childlike, pretentious and boisterous, like you want to impose your statement on someone elses mind), you should express yourself more clearly next time, because not everyone is willing to take your arguments seriously if you just state something without making clear that's only your personal point of view. That's why phrases like 'in my opinion', 'I'm off the opinion', 'To my mind' ecc. exist, right?

zuul90183363d ago

I guess yea, thats why phrases like that exist. However at 27 and having been in the navy so ive traveled, im gonna say nobody really talks like that. Its not disrespectful to cats if i say dogs are better than cats. Same if i say the games better than the book.
I seriously highly doubt you put "in my opinion" or "im of the opinion" before every one of your opinions. I mean only a crazy person would do that. Yes occassionally youll use them but can you honestly say you use them all the time? I think ive used something to state an opinion is an opinion on about 10% of my opinions. Because if the person needs me to state what type of comment i make before i make it talking is going to become a massive chore.
I think childlike would be "dogs are better than cats and cat people are idiots" or heres a great one "ps4 is better than xbox unless youre an xbot". Or if they dont allow for the opposition to have an argument. "Dogs are better than cats end of story". But to say not claiming an opinion is an opinion beforehand is childlike is absurd.

Your skin is a bit too thin if simple opinions feel pretentious and boisterous.

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60°

Take-Two CEO Once Again Side Steps Grand Theft Auto 6 Price Point

Strauss Zelnick says price of GTA 6 is being carefully considered and that Rockstar is focused on "making the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth."

Kuma43d ago

If GTA 6 abandons everything that made GTA 5 great, it will crash and burn right out of the gate. GTA 5 was funny and not at all PC. My worry is that they will cave to the PC crowd and ruin the vibes.

Eonjay42d ago

They got freaking BBLs twerking on the top of trucks for the gram, the freaking Flordia joker, and dude running down the stree in their undies and you are worried about it being 'too PC'? The internet has runied gamers. It doesn't matter how non-PC they make the game, you will all listen to the grifters telling you not to believe your lying eyes lol.

gigoran842d ago

"Rockstar Games’ co-founder and former VP of Development Jamie King said he envisions GTA 6 as a game that’s “maybe not quite as edgy or quite as funny” as its satirical predecessors."

oh yeah, totally internet grifters spreading rumors...

blacktiger42d ago

That's part of the plan, they destroyed you but they need to destroy the shareholders? Only 1 shre holder is the true elite that don't care

1nsomniac43d ago (Edited 43d ago )

Meh.., if it’s above £55 I ain’t buying it.

Rockstar are genuinely not half the company they used to be. I was a die hard GTA fan I’ve purchased every game and expansion and spin off day 1.

My opinion of GTA6 is that I can take it or leave it. Not bothered. They burnt too many bridges.

DaReapa42d ago (Edited 42d ago )

So they're actually leaving the door open for an L.A. Noire sequel? Nice!

VaNdAl42d ago (Edited 42d ago )

He should just come out and say it already it's getting stupid it's going to be a 100 bucks $200 for the special edition🤡🤡; 29315;🤣♿

Storm2342d ago

I won't be getting this game until I can get it for $70. SHoot, I could wait for it to be even lower. I don't need the game that badly as my backlog is still huge and I am enjoying playing other things.

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40°

Talking Aliens: The Video Games With Author Mike Diver

Skewed and Reviewed have posted an interview with Author Mike Diver about his pending book on Aliens video games.

70°

Xbox boss: Memory crisis could impact next-gen hardware pricing

Xbox boss Asha Sharma has discussed how component shortages will impact the company's plans for Project Helix.

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gamedeveloper.com
Eonjay44d ago

When does this end? Its killing everyone. Consoles and PC. And for what? AI? The benefits of AI are completely outweighed by the negatives. And the government should have never allowed one company to buy up all the RAM.

Lexreborn244d ago

This kind of proves this is an after thought product, most products like this are in r&d 5 years before they start mass producing. So they typically have the cost of components and things worked out long before assembly starts.

This is an assumption still, but I wouldn’t be surprised if project helix is similar to Scalebound,perfect dark and sod3. They had an idea but no actual execution other than concept stage. Being impacted by the ram shortage likely would also put this device 3-4 years out.

I’m not even sure MS has that endurance with Xbox yet

Fishy Fingers44d ago (Edited 44d ago )

I mean.... what?

We're at a point that Samsung wont even provide their own phone department ram because they can sell it at higher prices to 3rd parties (AI). Its more profitable to sell the ram than make their own devices with it.

You think because R&D starts 5 years ago the 3rd party component manufacturers will honour that price? They'll sell it to whomever is paying the most today, not some gentlemens agreement they made years ago. AI farms will buy more volume at higher prices than any console manufacturer will. It'll be the same for Playstation.

Lexreborn244d ago

Contractual agreements are not the same as “gentlemen” agreements. If you think that they work with their distributors a month before production then their entire business model is trash. They work with companies like nvidia constantly for building the graphics cards they need. They work with companies that build motherboards years in advance. This is what proper business planning does.

They are not buying components on a whim like a consumer. So again, considering the ram isn’t a singular module and is integrated into the motherboard I highly doubt they wouldn’t have a final schematic that they are supposed to be building around.

If they are delaying production another 3 years then it’s obvious again this is an after though project and is just trying to be responsive to their bad execution they had the last 14 years.

It also isn’t far fetched to use their failure to produce first party titles the last 7 years including the highly anticipated games I mentioned all being cancelled. That they would continue to you know… lie

Sitdown44d ago

You don't really know how this works huh?

Profchaos44d ago (Edited 44d ago )

Helix is going to be stupidly expensive

Instead of leaning into smarter upscaling techniques they're brute forcing hardware that will cost them dearly and it remains to be seen if it's genuinely going to provide a meaningful differential

I know in the oc.doace people like to brag about not using frame gen or dlss to get to high on a game but for the majority of players they happily use those technologies without a second thought

That's going to be ps6 vs Helix

Eonjay44d ago

Yeah with FSR 5 they should be able to offer a much cheaper version of Helix.

Eonjay44d ago

While this does seem to be the case, I am encouraged by the statement from Microsoft about wanting to provide affordable options. If this means a Series S style Helix, at least there will be something affordable being offered.

XBManiac43d ago

Series S is what has killed Xbox Series so... Will they dare?

blacktiger44d ago

It's called systematic inflationary. Yes we get it Microsoft, keep raising in the name ofall kinds of stuffs

pwnmaster300044d ago

Honestly if there was thing I learned from this generation is that new consoles arnt day one anymore.
I can wait 1-3 years.

DarXyde44d ago

Another important lesson from this generation: while Nintendo showed us that prices don't necessarily need to ever drop, we've now learned that waiting 1-3 years does carry some risk that prices increase. This generation is just bizarre in all the wrong ways.

LucasRuinedChildhood44d ago (Edited 44d ago )

The factors are largely external. Covid and Russia-Ukraine war causing inflation led to the first price increase in 2022.

Then we get Trump's tariffs increasing hardware prices, AI boom causing a RAM crisis, war on Iran causing a worldwide fuel crisis which impacts the cost of everything.

Gaming doesn't exist in a vacuum. The last few years have been a shitshow and lot of it was definitely avoidable.

DarXyde44d ago

LucasRuinedChildhood,

For sure. No disagreement on the external factors doing a lot of this. Where I have to gently push back however is on two fronts:

1. The pandemic definitely caused some issues: asynchronous development was a big issue and really complicated timelines and affected game quality. At the same time, when it comes to price hikes, it's really difficult to know what was genuine necessity and what was taking consumers for a ride. The pandemic brought about "stag-flation" which was increasing prices and stagnant wages, which was a problem caused by supply chain constraints. There was also "Greed-flation", where companies that were slightly affected or had no issues took advantage of the situation and squeezed everyone citing supply chain issues when there were none.

2. It's definitely true that the tariffs, AI boom, and RAM crisis were all things enabled by tech broligarchs throwing money at this caricature of a world leader, one of them being Satya Nadella. I don't think Sony and Nintendo have contributed much to this problem if at all, but Microsoft's Nadella I feel was instrumental in causing every one of those issues. Microsoft as a company contributed to both candidates (though they gave Harris 4x as much if I recall), but Nadella was all in on letting AI run wild. He paid for unregulated AI, and got a war that's not a war (even though Trump called it that at least five times on television) that screwed up helium access. So for me, I feel that one of the players in the gaming industry is a key architect of these issues, and for that reason I struggle a bit to think of it as "external".

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