CSI: New York game impressions

[Dangerzone]

I had a chance to dig into CSI: New York, developed by legacy interactive today... Bottom line, it sucks.

It's full of low-res crappily drawn visuals, with no life to them. Random gameplay elements that would be more at home inside a "where's waldo" or "I spy" game... Complete removal of all the "processing" mini-games you guys had, replaced with various "complete the pattern" or "find 10 differences" games... It makes no sense.

Not to mention how friggin linear the game is... your hand is held the whole way through, and you are forced to operate in the order the game tells you to. No freedom is given to the player, at all.

Not to mention that they did not even finish the game... Apparently we have to check back in "early 2009" to download the fifth and final case. I'm all for online downloadable games, But there is a difference between doing it on purpose, and just not having the damn game finished.

Bottom line, I take back every complaint about the 2 CSI: games that you guys did... Legacy has no idea how to make a game for a franchise like this, they really did bite off more than they could chew, and they failed. Also, you guys gotta fight with Ubisoft for permission to make the next one... I can't go through another crappily made CSI: game like that again or my head will 'splode.

[Udvarnoky]

Asking Telltale to fight for the development rights to the next CSI game implies that the license was taken out of their hands against their will, which we can't assume to be the case. CSI was always an anomaly in Telltale's catalog in that it was the only series that they developed in a traditional way. The immense popularity of the CSI license is something Telltale had a lot more use for three years ago compared to now, when they're developing for popular and high quality licenses like Wallace and Gromit and Strong Bad, which they actually have the publishing rights to.

Of course, it is just as possible that Ubisoft just decided it was time to move the license into new hands, but I question whether Telltale is all that desperate to regain the development rights for CSI. I could be wrong, but I think it's served the purpose Telltale wanted of it.

[Dangerzone]

Actually, telltale still holds the CSI: Vegas rights, but not the rights for Miami or New York.

I am just saying that they make a better CSI: game, and it would be cool if they were able to make the next New York title... I also think New York is a better franchise to make a "proper" CSI game about, none of this "casual" bullshit.

Anyways, I'm just disappointed, thats all... I have wanted a CSI:NY game ever since the show started 5 years ago, and when I finally get one, it's botched by a company that had no clue to produce such a game!

I guess Ubisoft tried to take the cheap way out, and its going to cost them big time.

[Udvarnoky]

Originally Posted by Dangerzone

Actually, telltale still holds the CSI: Vegas rights, but not the rights for Miami or New York.

Do they? Interesting.

Originally Posted by Dangerzone

I guess Ubisoft tried to take the cheap way out, and its going to cost them big time.

This I doubt.

[Dangerzone]

Well, Ubisoft has the rights for all franchises, but telltale has the contract to make the vegas games... They don't actually own the rights.

Complicated legal BS... Basically they make the games, but they can't make a new one unless given permission.

[DABhand]

For the CSI series on the PC. After 3 Dimensions of Murder I was sure TTG would keep developing the CSI games for Ubisoft.

But Lo! A horrible beast called Legacy took it and made it into a horrible find and click on random objects that have no relevency to the case and you dont actually do any forensic work and beat the game in 4 hours.

I hope Ubisoft are ashamed at the moment, surely they seen an early beta of the game to stop it in its tracks. At least when TTG took over they knew what the fans wanted and didnt change the good flow of the game as like the previous CSI titles.

So im not going to ask of course what happened, but it seems Legacy have this knack at getting TV game deals and then well, ruining them.

They ruined the Law and Order games. And none has ever appeared since then.

They ruined what could have been fun, The Apprentice, but Donald Trump was willing to give them another shot even after seeing the game was a kids Diner Dash wannabe, and what happened they did another Diner Dash-a-like. And no more of that franchise will appear im sure.

And now CSI:NY, oh Ubisoft what could have been a great title and much anticipated since it was the only show not done on PC, is now going to be buried deep for no-one to see again.

And whats even more funny is the price! and its not even a complete game, they are allowing people to get the 5th and final case early next year via download. Lordy!

So my fellow CSI fans, do please say a few words as the beloved departed are thrown into the hells of PC games that just didnt make it right next to Big Rig Racing.

Amen.

P.S. if you didnt see the sarcasm, then in plain english DO NOT BUY THIS GAME! :P

[tabacco]

FYI, we did make another CSI game after 3 Dimensions of Murder

http://www.telltalegames.com/store/csi4

[DABhand]

Originally Posted by tabacco

FYI, we did make another CSI game after 3 Dimensions of Murder

http://www.telltalegames.com/store/csi4

EEep how could I forget that one >.< my bad.

But you know what I mean

[DABhand]

Originally Posted by Dangerzone

Well, Ubisoft has the rights for all franchises, but telltale has the contract to make the vegas games... They don't actually own the rights.

Complicated legal BS... Basically they make the games, but they can't make a new one unless given permission.

Im not sure that is the case, or else a new Vegas title would have been done already.

Here is what I think happened.

UBI: Hello Ubisoft

LI: Hi im such and such from Legacy Interactive, the home of game titles that die of death, we are interested in doing a CSI:NY.

UBI: Well we already have a Developer in mind.

LI : But wait! We can do it for you at a lower price and less royalties, its bling bling baby.

UBI: Im a guy, your a guy, dont call me baby. And more money for us is good! I do hope you do not disappoint us and make a great title.

LI : Oh yes we will it will be an adventure like you never seen before.


(7 months later)

UBI: Ahh CSI:NY Gold master has arrived for duplication, lets have a peek. OMG!!! Its ... Its... Horrible, what is this kindergarten CSI. I am so fired from my Job just before Christmas too and that Loan is going to get my house taken by the bank for non payments. Curse you Legacy Interactive and your grip of death to all you develop.

[Dangerzone]

Yeah, I just posted here to tell everyone how much the game sucked.
You should also complain on the legacy games forum as well, they have a CSI: NY sub forum HERE

Its a pretty obscure neck of the site so it's just my post at the moment.

[DABhand]

I know I noticed, did you also notice they didnt use the proper intro music also.

I knew months ago that they would ruin the game as soon as it mentioned Legacy was doing it, wait for the flood of complaints to come in as people buy the game thinking they are getting an adventure game :P (Yep Ubisoft say its an adventure game on their own site)

[Emily]

Don't jump to conclusions about Ubisoft or Legacy's intentions when they made the decision to move to more casual gameplay. Ubisoft stays involved in the development of the CSI games and it's unlikely they received a gold master with no idea what they were getting.

Of course you're welcome to post your opinions of the game here, I just don't want to see the misconceptions about how game development works go out of control!

I know I noticed, did you also notice they didnt use the proper intro music also.

None of the CSI games have used the intro music from the TV show, for licensing reasons.

[DABhand]

Originally Posted by Emily

Don't jump to conclusions about Ubisoft or Legacy's intentions when they made the decision to move to more casual gameplay. Ubisoft stays involved in the development of the CSI games and it's unlikely they received a gold master with no idea what they were getting.

Of course you're welcome to post your opinions of the game here, I just don't want to see the misconceptions about how game development works go out of control!



None of the CSI games have used the intro music from the TV show, for licensing reasons.

Exactly, but we are allowed to speculate :P

Sure they got the gold master but probably nearer the time of release, by then Ubi has piled money into ad's, im sure they are now regretting it.

It makes no sense for Ubi to go from the much loved gameplay to "my 1 year old can play it" gameplay, I do believe they were in the dark much of the time and only received images etc rather than any beta or alpha's.

And to top it off asking people to pay a full price towards a game like this that can be fully played in 1 day is very very bad.

Either way, bad choice by Ubi to pick Legacy.

Kind of strange for the intro music not to be used, if the TV producers had rights im sure the people holding the rights to the songs would allow the use in software also. Weird :P

[Dangerzone]

I would hate to see the CSI: games go downhill. CSI: is the series that got me interested in telltale, so if they ever approach you to make another CSI: game (no matter which franchise) please jump on the opportunity!

[DABhand]

I have noticed legacy decided to remove your honest review from their forum. Still it was up for a while.

Not as long as those Chinese Bots and the ads for Viagra, but hey!

[RMJ1984]

That CSI New York game is a big pile of steaming ****, to say it nicely, its worse than what EA puts out sometime.

Worst game ive played in years :S lets hope TT's CSI dont go down that lane hehe, that would be very bad, so far the CSI games from TT have been very good.

[leon101]

I'm sure, that I will be bashed for saying that I like CSI:NY, but please. Let me explain first.

For starters, I love casual games, especially, Hidden Object games. CSI:NY was a hidden object game, and a CSI game, so I loved the combo of that. I thought the stories in the game were interesting, despite not having any real neat animations sadly.

That said, my favorite is still, "3 Dimensions of Murder". I would defiently rather see the next CSI game be by telltale, but I wouldn't be sad if it wasn't either.

[phaedon]

At least there is evidence that there is another TT CSI Game coming out !!!