Here you will find the latest news in the world of Raymond E. Feist. It maybe the title of the next book, a new release or even a new project, but it could also be an update on an existing project. What ever it is though, we hope to present it to you as soon as we are aware of it. If you know something we don't, that relates to Raymond E. Feist, and believe it should be here, then please contact us.
Tue Mar 16th, 1999
Don Maitz Site
Added a link to Don Maitz Official Webpage. Don is the artist of many Feist covers, including the Magician APE's. He is married to Empire Trilogy co-author Janny Wurts.
Tue Mar 16th, 1999
Shards Paperback
Ray said that the US edition of the Shards of a Broken Crown paperback started shipping last week, so you can expect to see it in the UK and other markets soon.
Mon Mar 15th, 1999
Congratulations!
List member Andre Mathieu posted this announcement to the list today:
I became a father on March 13 at 2:00 to a beautiful baby boy. 7lbs, 10oz and full of vigor!
Congrats, and best of luck Andre!
Sat Mar 6th, 1999
Ray Speaks
Here are a few posts from Ray that are of interest. The first regards an official statement on the future of the Krondor license:
I thought I might by the end of this week, but one of the people involved in this evolution is in the hospital right now and things are on hold until he's out and we can discuss some things.
Next, Ray speaks of the Atlas, and seems to hint that there will be more than one in the future:
This is not a game supplement. Think Atlas of Middle Earth and you have a better notion of what we're heading for, but on a more localize scale. This 1st one will be Krondor and the immediate area around the Bitter Sea, with some information on the rest of the world.
There are lots of really good artists, but we want a specific look, and we have to see who is available out there and what the budget will require. We will not be using anyone who has done a similar project before, to keep an original 'Midkemian' look.
Finally, here's Ray's plans for the next few novels:
SF book is currently on hold. Dark fantasy is currently on hold. Next two projects are Krondor: The Assasins and Krondor: Tear of the Gods. The Conclave of Shadows is not a Riftwar, per se, and I do not know how long a series it will turn into. It is currently imagined to be, roughly, three novels.
Wed Mar 3rd, 1999
Sinjin Speaks!
Sadly, though, there aren't too many answers Desslock's RPG News snagged an email from Sinjin, ex-manager of PyroTechnix, about all the happenings recently. I'll not repost all of it now, but here's the first little bit. Check Desslock's for the rest:
I think that Dave's comment speaks for itself. I have spoken with [Krondor author] Ray [Feist] and he's pretty committed to keeping the franchise growing and developing, whether it's with Sierra or another publisher. I am sure Ray and the management at Sierra will figure out what the best way to proceed is in the near future. I am also confident the final outcome will be communicated by Ray and Sierra when the decision has finally been made. Everyone has to give them time to make an intelligent decision on this.
Wed Mar 3rd, 1999
A New Home for the FAQ
Ray Chiang, the keeper of the FAQ, switched jobs and in the interim, the site is under Psihawk's control:
At least until Ray gets back.. I've 'taken over' the FAQ site...For now it's up... as it was with a few minor changes..... I need to go through it and do some updating here and there.....and when I get to that point I'll start all the big publicity of the url :) (btw john... I need to change the webring entry for the FAQ....)
I do know some of you have the FAQ memorized... so here's your chance to speak up..anything drastically wrong or out of date will
Wed Mar 3rd, 1999
Future of Krondor
Ray hasn't announced the future of the Krondor franchise, but IGN-PC has posted an interview with Dave Grenewetzki from Sierra, and this is what he said:
IGN-PC: With the closure of Pyrotechnix, is that the end of the Krondor games?
DG: At this time, we have no immediate plans for further games in the series.
Wed Feb 24th, 1999
Missing in Action
Once again, just as a major event occurs (the closing of PyroTechnix), I have to be out of town for the weekend. I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon, and will be back Sunday afternoon. When I return I'll post all the current news on this sad turn of events.
Wed Feb 24th, 1999
Digest Unavailable
Richard Williamson, who operates the FEISTFANS-L Digest Site, posted this message to the list today:
As I've just been volunteered to visit a partner's office in Nuernberg (Erlangen, actually), Germany for an extended visit, the daily Digest update is not going to happen for several (days? Weeks? Femtofortnights?).
Tue Feb 23rd, 1999
More Krondor News
Most of the major gaming news sites are reporting Sierra's consolidation. Among the cuts announced was the end to InterAction magazine, so all of us who were surprised to get a free subscription with the preview CD included in Krondor the Betrayal or through registering RtK, well... we're out of luck. In his usually cryptic fashion, Ray posted this to the list regarding all the turmoil:
I'll have an announcement in a couple of days.
My initial interpretation of that statement? I think the license will survive, being shipped off to another company. But that is only speculation, and we will all have to wait and hope that there will be future Krondor games.
Tue Feb 23rd, 1999
Krondor Games in Jeopardy?
Once again, it seems the curse of business instability has threatened CRPG's based in Midkemia. Desslock's RPG News and CNN are reporting that Sierra will undergo a major reorganization, with such divisions as PyroTechnix being consolidated. Here's what the CNN article says:
Pyrontechnix, a recent acquisition, produced the recent Return to Krondor, but Grenewetzki said, 'We're not looking for that series to go on.'
Hopefully we will soon hear from Ray some official word on all this. Until then, lets home that the license survives in one form or another.
Tue Feb 23rd, 1999
New Return to Krondor Review
GamesMania has posted its review of RtK, following the trend of mediocre reviews. It rated the game 6.5 out of 10. Here's the skinny:
They say the real fun is the journey, not the destination. This is very true of Return to Krondor. You will probably enjoy it as you play, but be stunned as that ending comes out of almost nowhere, leaving you with an inventory of wondrous goodies that don't seem to count. Up until this ending it is a good game, though weak in comparison to fare such as Baldur's Gate (which owes a little inspiration to Betrayal at Krondor) or even Sierra's own King's Quest: Mask of Eternity.
It is better than the annoying wannabe Betrayal in Antara, but not up to the new standards of Baldur's Gate. Perhaps my expectations were just a little too high. After all, we did wait for it for a long time. Or perhaps this is yet another title rushed out before its full potential was realized.
Tue Feb 23rd, 1999
Feist Interview
I was sent this note by Raechel Henderson:
[I] thought I'd let you know that a new interview with Raymond Feist is in The Goblin Market. He talks about the DandD influence in his books and the nature of his characters. A snippet of it is online at <http://www.eggplant-productions.com/goblin/>
Sun Feb 21st, 1999
Poll Results
The results of the poll are in. 62% of you thought the Riftwar Saga had the best characters, 22% preferred the Serpentwar Saga's, and 16% thought Mara and company were the most interesting. The new poll is 'Which Feist game is better?'
Sun Feb 21st, 1999
System Requirements for Next Game
Ray posted this bit about the next PC game:
As for the valatility of the console market vs. PC's, the problem stems from PC's being a 'fixed' platform. We already know what the likely minimum for the next Krondor game are going to be: 266 Mhtz PII or Celeron _with_ hardware acceleration. By the time the game ships, people at the top of the curve will be using 450-500 mhtz machines with 64 or 128 bit acclerators, etc. But it's going to be Windows, and the development tools are well known.
