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.
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.
Tue Feb 16th, 1999
The Year in RPG's
Warzone has posted an article titled The Year in Role Playing, which examines the major RPG releases of the past year, including Return to Krondor.
Sun Feb 14th, 1999
The Next Book
Ray posted these two messages about the status of Krondor: The Assassins, the next book in the Riftwar Legacy:
No flames. I don't know. It was supposed to be handed in this month, but it's going to be late. I'd say look for it in the fall.
The next book is 'Krondor: The Assasins,' as 'Murder in Krondor' was likely to get the book racked in murder mysteries, among the less well informed vendors.
Sun Feb 14th, 1999
Vault Network Review
This is a bit late, but the Vault Network has posted a very comprehensive review of Return to Krondor. Here's the skinny:
Although the game was shorter than I was expecting, the story was engaging and well-written. Due in large part to the talents of Feist and the chapter structure of the game, the plot moved along quickly and kept me interested the whole time. The ending will certainly come as a bit of a surprise (although one could debate whether this was the original one envisioned for the game…), and sets things up nicely for a possible sequel.
Overall, it appears to me that Return to Krondor did not benefit from its long development cycle, and that the end product is not the ambitious game the team set out to make three years ago. I suspect that when Sierra bought the license back, their primary interest was to finish it as soon as possible and to get the team working on a new Krondor game. Rushing to get the game out the door might help explain the uneven pacing in the second half of the game.
Return to Krondor is not the game I think most fans were looking forward to. It seems more a polished 'work in progress' than anything else. However, I know the team that created the game is capable of bigger and better things. Here's hoping that the next Krondor game, due out in late 2000, with live up to the high standards fans expect.
Thu Feb 11th, 1999
PC Gameworld Review
PC Gameworld has posted their review of Return to Krondor, giving it a 78% rating:
I've only been hard on this game because I know the story in and out and I expected more. Complaints aside I really liked the game and I would recommend it. The fights are fun, and it has an option that if you don't feel like thinking you can just press the C button and the computer will fight for you (nice.) The graphics are great. Great models, and great lighting make for good fights. The environment graphics are really nice as well. Lots of thought went into detail. There is a good amount of things to see (although much of it is in chapter 3 just like in Btk where you get lost in the sewers.) Above all, if you're a fan of Raymond E. Feist get this game just for the coolness factor.
Wed Feb 10th, 1999
Midkemian Age Timeline Updated
Canaan Machida sent me this note about the Midkemian Age Timeline:
Just an update on my website. I've recently updated my Character Age's page to include Ray's latest book 'Krondor the Betrayal'. I'm also going throught the series again (my 10th time?) To refine my research and the page.
Wed Feb 10th, 1999
PC Gamer Publishes Review
It took 'em a while, but PC Gamer has finally published their review of Return to Krondor. They gave it an 80%. Here's the beef:
Highs: Exciting story line; lots of items, spells, weapons, potions; great combat system.
Lows: Too short; camera angles make it difficult to navigate; inventory management gets tedious.
Bottom Line: If you're looking for a fun, quick, RPG with a good story, this is one to get.
The review is inthe March 1999 issue, which hit newstands last week.
Wed Feb 3rd, 1999
Interface Woes
Computer Games Online has posted a new column by Andy Backer, which mentions several recent RPG's. Here's what he had to say about Return to Krondor:
Return to Krondor is also quite short for a CRPG (it only took me a week to play through) but Feist's story, characters and dialogue gleam with professional polish.
Krondor, however, has an interface that isn't very intuitive. Picking up objects, putting them in inventory, selecting spells, casting them and maneuvering around Krondor by using the map are tasks initially quite confusing to some players.
I called a friend who was just beginning to play Krondor and asked, 'How's it going?'
She sighed, 'I played an hour and quit.'
'Just an hour?'
'I don't like to play games that make me feel stupid.'
Mon Feb 1st, 1999
Adrenaline Vault Weighs In
The Adrenaline Vault has posted its review of RtK, which expresses some disappointment, giving it three of five stars:
I consider Betrayal at Krondor to be one of the ten best CRPGs ever made, and it was with great anticipation that I waited for the Return. In the end the question that remains is: Have gamers been betrayed? Well I guess that depends on how you look at it. In the literal sense my final analysis is a resounding yes; this game is in no way worthy of being called a sequel. And in the fundamental sense, unfortunately there is so little of Betrayal here that if it weren't for a few of the names I'd never have known I was in Krondor.
Mon Feb 1st, 1999
The Next Game
Ray posted this confusing bit about the future RPG's:
About 2 companies ago, that was the idea, but a lot of stuff got lost in the transition to Sierra. So there will not be a 'Book 2,' as originally planned.
Sat Jan 30th, 1999
IGN PC Review
IGN PC has posted their review of Return to Krondor , giving it a 7.4. Note that the critic apparently hated BaK, but was more pleased with its older sibling:
While I don't think I'm going to rush right out and give Betrayal at Krondor another chance, Return to Krondor really delivers. I can forgive its shortcomings-the lack of any practical variety in the magic system or the characters-for the sake of its strengths-a satisfying, intelligent story and a really superb fighting system. Gameplay is frustrating at times but you'll get the hang of the interfaces soon enough. Although the story might not be any fun to read, it's a heck of a lot of fun if you're actually playing it. For those of you who might be turned off because of the poor magic system, I should say that the game offers three playing options that affect the balance between the game's emphasis on combat and magic. I was playing on the balanced level, which supposedly offers an even taste of each. You can always weight the game more or less heavily to the use of magic as you preference dictates.
Sat Jan 30th, 1999
Return to Krondor Strategy Guide
Much to my surprise, WON has posted a very complete walkthrough of RtK, complete with many pictures, that is apparently straight from the official Prima strategy guide.
Sat Jan 30th, 1999
A Hastily Written Editorial
Eysteinn Bjornsson, the webmaster of the excellent Betrayal at Krondor Help Web, wrote me a note asking me to delete the now broken links to The Betayal at Krondor Zone. Apparently, this site was a cut-and-paste copy of Eysteinn's. For those of you who are new to the internet, let me offer this advice: never, ever, copy parts of someone else's site for your own. It is incredibly bad style. Show some creativity and make your own content. If you wish something from another site was part of your own, then link to it. If you want to use a small bit of another site, ask permission from the site's webmaster to copy his work. Otherwise, respect people's intellectual property.
Mon Jan 25th, 1999
Contest Reminder
This is just a reminder to those interested that Ray's contest will end in a few days. Here's his original post about it. Check the news archive for more information.
OK, you've been asking for it, and now you're getting it.
1) here's the deal:
We're starting preliminary discussions on a new game. So,
your mission, should you undertake it, is to create a sub-quest.
The subquest should be something that's clearly related to the larger issues of the game period, be interesting, and have a payoff beyond the obvious, I.E. get the really good sword, earn money, etc.
Is that tough enough for you?
Here's some even more perplexing limits. You can't use ANY characters that I've created in the books. The characters of the game, obviously, are who they are (as yet unnamed), so any NPC' you create must be new and original to you. Also, you can't 'follow up' on old story lines and themes from either the books or the games, so no 'get the other great sword in Elvandar (from BaK),' or 'find the other gobblin camp in the mountains,' (from RtK), or 'return to the Mac Mordain Cadal and see if Rhuarge left some treasure the dwarves missed (fat chance).'
2) here's the prize:
There's more than 1.
First prize will get a galley (I have to go digging to see which one's I have laying around. I think I've got a Merchant Prince, but I'll have to go check).
Second prize will get an autographed book, either Krondor (if you already don't have it or you want it with an autograph) or the next one.
Third prizes (yes, plural) will get an autographed map of Midkemia created as a premium for RtK by Serra. There will be at least 3 of those, if not more. (I'm feeling generious, but not too much--I've got to buy a price mailing tube to send those out. <g>).
OK, you have until January 31st to e-mail me your entry. Do not post to the list until I say it's OK.
Here's what you have to stick at the bottom of the entry:
I hearby grant to Raymond E. Feist, Sierra Studio, it's heirs and assigns, the right to use the above material in any way they see fit, without further compensation or condition. All character names, place names, and distinctive likenesses thereof are the exclusive property of Raymond E. Feist, The Bitter Sea Company, Midkemia Press, and/or Pyrotechnix, Inc., and/ or Sierra/Studio.
OK, there you go. Knock yourself out.
. Remember, though, that you should only send your contest entry to that address, not fan mail (keep it on the mailing list).
