A discussion between two game developers about Tales of the Shire and how it misuses the Tolkein IP. Was SBI, Sweet Baby Inc the cause of the issues? A broader discussion of game development leadership and gaming discourse about IP misuse in the gaming industry.<br /><br />Special Guest: @OujirouYT <br /><br />Notes:<br />• Game received extremely low reviews (e.g., 4/10 from IGN)<br />• Developed by Wētā Workshop, better known for movie props than games<br />• Game lacked core design elements like a mini-map and gameplay loop<br />• Leadership failures and mismanagement throughout production<br />• Studio had little experience with game development<br />• Major layoffs and low morale affected production quality<br />• Narrative and lore elements break Tolkien canon early in-game<br />• “Cozy” genre poorly defined; game felt directionless<br />• Button economy system and other features were cut<br />• Studio’s next project is a roguelike using same IP<br />• IP misuse may turn newcomers away from Tolkien’s world<br />• Game shipped, but future of studio is uncertain<br />• Poor market timing and pandemic-era greenlighting contributed to failure<br />• Lack of charismatic leadership hurt team morale<br />• Crunch, mismanagement, and minimal gameplay innovation<br />• Broken waypoint system and disjointed feature implementation<br />• Broader issue in industry: leadership vs talent disconnect<br />• Transmedia IP misuse risks damaging entire franchise<br />• Game shipped, but staff likely to leave due to burnout<br />• Cautionary tale of investing in IP without a clear game plan<br /><br /><br />🛣️ Welcome to Sabr Path - AAA industry insider insights and indie game developer!<br /><br />As a former AAA game industry professional turned solo indie developer, I bring you:<br />• Industry insider perspectives on gaming news and trends<br />• Character and narrative analysis with professional experience<br />• Behind-the-scenes insights from AAA development<br />• Real talk about the gaming industry from someone who's been inside<br /><br />⏰ Timestamps:<br />00:00 - Introduction & Hosts<br />00:38 - Game reception & IGN review<br />01:27 - What is a "cozy" game?<br />02:54 - Weta Workshop background<br />04:04 - Game's technical and design issues<br />05:06 - Development problems from The Verge article<br />07:05 - Lore breaks and writing problems<br />09:01 - Studio leadership and hiring issues<br />15:00 - The importance of leadership in game development<br />26:44 - Future predictions<br /><br />🔗 Connect & Support:<br />🌐 Website: <a href="https://sabrpath.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://sabrpath.com</a><br />🎮 My Indie Games on Steam:<br /> • Beware Tomorrow: <a href="https://bit.ly/bewaretomorrow" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://bit.ly/bewaretomorrow</a><br /> • Nexus Defenders: <a href="https://bit.ly/nexusdefenders" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://bit.ly/nexusdefenders</a><br />🐤 Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/SabrPath" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/SabrPath</a><br />☕ Support the Channel: <a href="https://ko-fi.com/sabrpath" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://ko-fi.com/sabrpath</a><br /><br />📽️ Playlists:<br />• Gaming Industry Insights: <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_5NqFsjxtgOr08-GVu9bTMy1XUMTzTSR" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_5NqFsjxtgOr08-GVu9bTMy1XUMTzTSR</a><br />• Game Design Breakdowns: <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_5NqFsjxtgOObh2WkY51Gxj_Vq_D3766" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_5NqFsjxtgOObh2WkY51Gxj_Vq_D3766</a><br /><br />📚 Recommended Resources:<br />• Level Yourself Up (Motivation & Fitness): <a href="https://amzn.to/4jGqrId" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/4jGqrId</a><br />• Amazon Affiliate: <a href="https://amzn.to/42FZGgX" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://amzn.to/42FZGgX</a><br /><br />Subscribe for insider gaming perspectives:  ⁨@SabrPath   <br />Motivational Content:  ⁨@RealCoachMustafa   <br /><br />#SweetBabyInc #GamingControversy #TalesOfTheShire #DEI #gaming<br />...<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCZ_Jry5wk8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCZ_Jry5wk8</a>