Mirage Email Reply about TMNT SmashUP | Forums

[TMNTfanboy]

TMNTFanboy:

I have a great concern that the TMNT fan boys are not heard

MIRAGE:

Fan requests are taken into account, but we don't make all of the
business decisions in the licensing/game/film/TV business. Some
concessions must be made in the course of doing business and Peter
Laird, TMNT co-creator and owner, has his own ideas of how he wants
his characters presented in the present day (which aren't going to
coincide with every fan's personal desires). He's well aware this
makes many people unhappy, but the passion you have for the '80s
cartoon is the same type of passion that he has for the original comic
book and 2003 cartoon series and this is why he wants to focus on
those specific universes when he can.

TMNTfanboy:

I am afraid that TMNT will just fade away again until a new
cartoon reappears like it did in 2003.

MIRAGE:

That's unavoidable. Without a major presence such as a TV series or
movie (which we fortunately have in production), a cast of characters
aren't going to be on the general public's mind.

TMNTfanboy:

I have always been greatly concerned with the past TMNT games that
Ubisoft has published leading down a very narrow slope.

MIRAGE:

It's difficult for video game companies to invest/risk a lot of money
into a game that features characters that they do not own. Licensed
games are always on tight budgets and fast production schedules. That
is making excuses, but it's also a fact that can make a licensed game
more challenging to produce than a non-licensed game.

TMNTfanboy:

I will say that the TMNT Turtles in Time Reshelled remake of the
Arcade game was fantastic

MIRAGE:

We're very happy to hear that you enjoyed it.

TMNTfanboy:

I will not bore you with tons of details due to the fact I am sure
that this is not the first email, letter, & phone call complaint
that has been received

MIRAGE:

Actually, your e-mail is the first complaint we've received about the
game thus far.

TMNTfanboy:

Plenty of 80s cartoon icons from TMNT as well as Toys were missing
out of this game.

MIRAGE:

That's where we get back to budget and time constraints. Ubisoft
included as many characters as they felt they could based on the funds/
timeline they had to produce the game.

TMNTfanboy:

My case in point is being a huge fan of TMNT and to be insulted with
this game by Ubisoft (TMNT SmashUP) is a slap in the face.

MIRAGE:

We're sorry that you're insulted - that was no one's intention. We
think the game is fun and that's all it was meant to be.

TMNTfanboy:

This shows me that Mirage doesn't show much concern for their creation

MIRAGE:

You're entitled to your opinion - but we utterly disagree with that
assessment.

TMNTfanboy:

This is not the whole 25 years of TMNT.... and for their fans which
would be more than happy to buy a well done product representing the
history of TMNT.

MIRAGE:

As far as I know, Smash-Up was never intended to be an all-
encompassing 25th anniversary game that featured characters throughout
all incarnations of the TMNT universes. Did you see the game marketed
as such?

TMNTfanboy:

This concerns me even more for the new TMNT (real live action)
coming out and if it is really going to represent TMNT license as a
whole.

MIRAGE:

If your concerned with any secondary '80s cartoon characters (Krang,
Bebop, Rocksteady, Irma, Verne, etc) being featured in the new film,
they will not be. The plan at this time is to base the movie on the
first 12 TMNT comic books by Eastman and Laird, not the '80s cartoon
series.

TMNTfanboy:

So I ask the creators of TMNT Lore, will my love for TMNT be
rekindled in the coming years or should I just drop my love for TMNT
completely and move on?

MIRAGE:

That's a question that only you can answer. If your decision is based
entirely on the revival of '80s cartoon/toy characters, I'm afraid you
should move on, because Peter Laird wants to see his characters
portrayed as he and Kevin created them.

Thanks for writing!

Cheers!
Dan Berger
Mirage Studios' Official Web Dude
http://www.ninjaturtles.com

***This an email conversation I had with someone that works at Mirage Studios about the TMNT FailUP game and a few other things***



TMNTfanboy:

I do thank you for your very detailed reply and paying very close attention to the concerns I had.

Mirage:

You're most welcome.
I try to show that everyone at Mirage cares very much about the TMNT and their fans.
Thank you for stating your criticism in a civil manner - I really appreciate that.

TMNTfanboy:

I do not wish to sound like I was a fanyboy of just the 80s cartoon and really I wished the first cartoon series really represented the style & storyline of the comicbooks.

Mirage:

I read some of the comments on Ubisoft's forum, and that seemed to be the consensus complaint. I'm sorry for lumping you into that.

TMNTfanboy:

I am very eager about the new movie and the statement of the new movie based off of the first 12 comics in the TMNT series. This can be very promising and I will more than likely watch it.

Mirage:

We hope you'll enjoy it if you see it.

TMNTfanboy:

As far as the game goes (TMNT SmashUP) if you do watch the developer interviews about the game you will see various verbal promises to bring some of these characters and features to life.

Mirage:

I'm sorry to hear that and on behalf of Mirage, I sincerely apologize for any misleading information that was given. It is possible that Ubisoft truly intended to include some of the '80s characters in the game and just ran out of time/money. I did watch a few of their promo vids, but I didn't watch all of them (I'm a part-time employee, so my time here is short).

TMNTfanboy:

Also, the box art logo of the game shows the old cartoon logo but the character art on the front is based upon the later characters. This is obviously a way to reel old and new fans alike to buy it.


Mirage:

That is unfortunate.

TMNTfanboy:

Really the 2 big and HUGE complaints about the game is Ubisoft has the complete rights to all of those character material and none of it was included. The number 2 reason was they added 3 Rabbid characters in the game when more TMNT characters could of been added.

Mirage:

I haven't seen the finished game yet (or the box) - but I suspect the Rabbid models were faster to create and thus more financially feasible (particularly if they use the same pieces.)

TMNTfanboy:

The main delightful think I get out of that game is the way the story was told like the old comic book style in the arcade mode.


Mirage:

We're happy to hear you dug it. Jim Lawson and Eric Talbot really busted their butts to do all of that on deadline.

TMNTfanboy:

Well I do thank you once again for your time and the other question I had with the Turtles Action figures is "Where are they?"

Mirage:

Wal-Mart and Target have dropped the TMNT line, so about the only major chain to find them now is Toys R Us.

TMNTfanboy:

Any further plans for more figures aside from the 25th anniversary orginal released figures?

Mirage:

The Party Wagon is shipping now and available in some areas (via Toys R Us). Playmates Toys told me the final four figures will be shipping by mid-October. Without Wal-Mart and Target on board, they haven't announced any plans to do more (those two chains account for 40% or more of sales, so losing them was a real dagger in the line). Thanks for writing!


Cheers!Dan BergerMirage Studios' Official Web Dudehttp://www.ninjaturtles.com

<span class="ev_code_RED">EDIT - To include both emails in one thread avoiding further confusion </span>

[TMNTfanboy]

TMNTFanboy:

I have a great concern that the TMNT fan boys are not heard

MIRAGE:

Fan requests are taken into account, but we don't make all of the
business decisions in the licensing/game/film/TV business. Some
concessions must be made in the course of doing business and Peter
Laird, TMNT co-creator and owner, has his own ideas of how he wants
his characters presented in the present day (which aren't going to
coincide with every fan's personal desires). He's well aware this
makes many people unhappy, but the passion you have for the '80s
cartoon is the same type of passion that he has for the original comic
book and 2003 cartoon series and this is why he wants to focus on
those specific universes when he can.

TMNTfanboy:

I am afraid that TMNT will just fade away again until a new
cartoon reappears like it did in 2003.

MIRAGE:

That's unavoidable. Without a major presence such as a TV series or
movie (which we fortunately have in production), a cast of characters
aren't going to be on the general public's mind.

TMNTfanboy:

I have always been greatly concerned with the past TMNT games that
Ubisoft has published leading down a very narrow slope.

MIRAGE:

It's difficult for video game companies to invest/risk a lot of money
into a game that features characters that they do not own. Licensed
games are always on tight budgets and fast production schedules. That
is making excuses, but it's also a fact that can make a licensed game
more challenging to produce than a non-licensed game.

TMNTfanboy:

I will say that the TMNT Turtles in Time Reshelled remake of the
Arcade game was fantastic

MIRAGE:

We're very happy to hear that you enjoyed it.

TMNTfanboy:

I will not bore you with tons of details due to the fact I am sure
that this is not the first email, letter, & phone call complaint
that has been received

MIRAGE:

Actually, your e-mail is the first complaint we've received about the
game thus far.

TMNTfanboy:

Plenty of 80s cartoon icons from TMNT as well as Toys were missing
out of this game.

MIRAGE:

That's where we get back to budget and time constraints. Ubisoft
included as many characters as they felt they could based on the funds/
timeline they had to produce the game.

TMNTfanboy:

My case in point is being a huge fan of TMNT and to be insulted with
this game by Ubisoft (TMNT SmashUP) is a slap in the face.

MIRAGE:

We're sorry that you're insulted - that was no one's intention. We
think the game is fun and that's all it was meant to be.

TMNTfanboy:

This shows me that Mirage doesn't show much concern for their creation

MIRAGE:

You're entitled to your opinion - but we utterly disagree with that
assessment.

TMNTfanboy:

This is not the whole 25 years of TMNT.... and for their fans which
would be more than happy to buy a well done product representing the
history of TMNT.

MIRAGE:

As far as I know, Smash-Up was never intended to be an all-
encompassing 25th anniversary game that featured characters throughout
all incarnations of the TMNT universes. Did you see the game marketed
as such?

TMNTfanboy:

This concerns me even more for the new TMNT (real live action)
coming out and if it is really going to represent TMNT license as a
whole.

MIRAGE:

If your concerned with any secondary '80s cartoon characters (Krang,
Bebop, Rocksteady, Irma, Verne, etc) being featured in the new film,
they will not be. The plan at this time is to base the movie on the
first 12 TMNT comic books by Eastman and Laird, not the '80s cartoon
series.

TMNTfanboy:

So I ask the creators of TMNT Lore, will my love for TMNT be
rekindled in the coming years or should I just drop my love for TMNT
completely and move on?

MIRAGE:

That's a question that only you can answer. If your decision is based
entirely on the revival of '80s cartoon/toy characters, I'm afraid you
should move on, because Peter Laird wants to see his characters
portrayed as he and Kevin created them.

Thanks for writing!

Cheers!
Dan Berger
Mirage Studios' Official Web Dude
http://www.ninjaturtles.com

***This an email conversation I had with someone that works at Mirage Studios about the TMNT FailUP game and a few other things***



TMNTfanboy:

I do thank you for your very detailed reply and paying very close attention to the concerns I had.

Mirage:

You're most welcome.
I try to show that everyone at Mirage cares very much about the TMNT and their fans.
Thank you for stating your criticism in a civil manner - I really appreciate that.

TMNTfanboy:

I do not wish to sound like I was a fanyboy of just the 80s cartoon and really I wished the first cartoon series really represented the style & storyline of the comicbooks.

Mirage:

I read some of the comments on Ubisoft's forum, and that seemed to be the consensus complaint. I'm sorry for lumping you into that.

TMNTfanboy:

I am very eager about the new movie and the statement of the new movie based off of the first 12 comics in the TMNT series. This can be very promising and I will more than likely watch it.

Mirage:

We hope you'll enjoy it if you see it.

TMNTfanboy:

As far as the game goes (TMNT SmashUP) if you do watch the developer interviews about the game you will see various verbal promises to bring some of these characters and features to life.

Mirage:

I'm sorry to hear that and on behalf of Mirage, I sincerely apologize for any misleading information that was given. It is possible that Ubisoft truly intended to include some of the '80s characters in the game and just ran out of time/money. I did watch a few of their promo vids, but I didn't watch all of them (I'm a part-time employee, so my time here is short).

TMNTfanboy:

Also, the box art logo of the game shows the old cartoon logo but the character art on the front is based upon the later characters. This is obviously a way to reel old and new fans alike to buy it.


Mirage:

That is unfortunate.

TMNTfanboy:

Really the 2 big and HUGE complaints about the game is Ubisoft has the complete rights to all of those character material and none of it was included. The number 2 reason was they added 3 Rabbid characters in the game when more TMNT characters could of been added.

Mirage:

I haven't seen the finished game yet (or the box) - but I suspect the Rabbid models were faster to create and thus more financially feasible (particularly if they use the same pieces.)

TMNTfanboy:

The main delightful think I get out of that game is the way the story was told like the old comic book style in the arcade mode.


Mirage:

We're happy to hear you dug it. Jim Lawson and Eric Talbot really busted their butts to do all of that on deadline.

TMNTfanboy:

Well I do thank you once again for your time and the other question I had with the Turtles Action figures is "Where are they?"

Mirage:

Wal-Mart and Target have dropped the TMNT line, so about the only major chain to find them now is Toys R Us.

TMNTfanboy:

Any further plans for more figures aside from the 25th anniversary orginal released figures?

Mirage:

The Party Wagon is shipping now and available in some areas (via Toys R Us). Playmates Toys told me the final four figures will be shipping by mid-October. Without Wal-Mart and Target on board, they haven't announced any plans to do more (those two chains account for 40% or more of sales, so losing them was a real dagger in the line). Thanks for writing!


Cheers!Dan BergerMirage Studios' Official Web Dudehttp://www.ninjaturtles.com

<span class="ev_code_RED">EDIT - To include both emails in one thread avoiding further confusion </span>

[TMNTfanboy]

Sorry Guys this was part 2 of my email. I am posting the Part 1 email right now

[Unknown_number]

So it indeed was a money issue like I have been told by my source.

By the way- You should have brought up the fact that Ubisoft and/or their hired graphic designer left four extra character squares on the website that won't be fulfilled. I wonder how Ubisoft will fix that mistake? I bet the graphic designer got fired and the squares will be removed from the website.

[shinigamihedge]

So what I can understand is:

Mirage comics specified which characters should DEFINITELY get in.

But Ubisoft, having rights and permission to add more characters, decided to do it the CHEAP way, and added three rabbids.

Am I correct?

I don't blame Mirage for being rude regarding the 80's cartoon... (Ok hell no, I do blame them, the series got them on the MAP of pop-culture... but whatever) but everything still points at Ubisoft from every angle.

Think about it, it was IMPOSSIBLE for them to make a good game out of this in less than a year. Still that's no reason to lie to us.

[draven_defay]

I really don't understand why Laird would create Bebop and Rocksteady for the cartoon and then go on to hate them so much that he can't bring himself to include them for the sake of HIS fans. What a gigantic ***, if it weren't for the 80's toon his **** wouldn't even be on the map.

(Edit)
I just don't see how he can be such a narrow-minded ******* that he can't reimagine those two as darker, grittier versions and make EVERYONE happy. Like I said, without the 80's toon he'd just be some loser working at McDonald's.

[Gamey]

Maybe they dislike them for how they were portrayed, being bumbling, incompetent, Saturday morning cartoon villains. Maybe that's why Re-Shelled wasn't based on the SNES. That game is darker compared to it's source material, but I digress. The 2nd movie, while a bit silly, was still a bit dark, that's why they wanted Tokka & Rahzar, because they could represent the true dark nature of the franchise.

[smashupsux]

So can Bebop and Rocksteady. Don't forget that they started out as very violent and sadistic characters.

[draven_defay]

I understand not making them bungling morons, but I really don't understand why they can't be reinvisioned. I can see them as Punisher type badasses with guns, that would be awesome. I don't even want them as recurring villains or anything, just a little fan service to us fans, the majority of us being from the 80's cartoon, and making them available for future iterations of this game.

[Unknown_number]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by draven_defay:
I really don't understand why Laird would create Bebop and Rocksteady for the cartoon and then go on to hate them so much that he can't bring himself to include them for the sake of HIS fans. What a gigantic ***, if it weren't for the 80's toon his **** wouldn't even be on the map.

(Edit)
I just don't see how he can be such a narrow-minded ******* that he can't reimagine those two as darker, grittier versions and make EVERYONE happy. Like I said, without the 80's toon he'd just be some loser working at McDonald's. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>QUOTED FOR TRUTH! The head of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fan Club should mention this very same thing right to Laird's face.