Jazz Jackrabbit's Biggest Chance To Return Since 2002

[Love & Thunder]

http://epicgames.com/community/2012/06/big-problems-need-huge-solutions/

Epic are hiring Big Huge Games, and they are going to work on an old IP*, and the only IPs I can think of are Jazz Jackrabbit, Epic Pinball and ZZT. If Jazz gets the Rayman Origins Treatment, this could be the best thing to happen to Jazz in a WHILE. Seriously, this is Jazz's biggest chance to come back since Jazz: Advanced(Which wasn't a bad game, but it wasn't quite Jazz). Now, I know this might not even be Jazz, but it's the only IP I can think of ATM apart from Epic Pinball and ZZT.
*IP = Intellectual Property

I wrote a RabbitJournal Article on this too (http://www.jazz2online.com/rabbitJournal/932/epic-games-hiring-big-huge-games-team-they-are-using-an-old-epic-ip/).

As I said in the article, fingers crossed! :)

EDIT: Please let me know about any mistakes/misinformation.

[Hare]

There is also Xargon and Jill of the Jungle. I think anything from their old IP would make for a great reboot. Its gotta be Jazz though.

Whether or not that is the IP they had in mind, it still has to be Jazz. :P

[Violet CLM]

Epic are hiring Big Huge Games, and they are going to work on an old IP
The word "old" does not appear in the article you linked to, nor any other language to that same effect.

[KRSplat]

I like creative direction of Jazz Jackrabbit in music and fur. I am curious how he would be equipped to fight other imagined monsters such as iguanas, donkeys, flying squirrels, squids, coral reefs and other varieties of turtles! I disagree with alterations to Jazz Jackrabbit physics engine unless not supported by an identical platform. I thought Jazz Jackrabbit for Gameboy Advance was easy, but needs to have its party mode levels ported to another platform such as Jazz Jackrabbit 2 because of the distancing restrictions imposed by Gameboy Advance interface connectivity. I shoot fake turtles! I play this game.

[Love & Thunder]

The word "old" does not appear in the article you linked to, nor any other language to that same effect.
I think it's kind of obvious that's what they mean(Or at least, that's how I interpreted it), because Epic haven't really worked on anything except for UT and GOW for a long time(And I doubt BHG would ask to work on GOW and UT). If it really bothers you that much, I could change it, but I can't think of many Epic IPs that deserve sequels. Also, keep in mind that most of this info is pieced together from what is made obvious from what little info there is on Epic's Site. And even if it isn't Jazz Jackrabbit, it's possible that they'll do more than one Epic IP. Feel free to correct any other mistakes I've made(In fact, I encourage it :)).

[Stijn]

The word "old" does not appear in the article you linked to, nor any other language to that same effect.
It does say "an Epic IP" though, which I take to mean an IP, owned by Epic, that already exists. This could still mean a large number of things, but a Jazz Jackrabbit game would not be out of question (of Epic's old IPs, it's arguably the most popular and the only one that really gets mentioned from time to time)

[Violet CLM]

Epic haven't really worked on anything except for UT and GOW for a long time(And I doubt BHG would ask to work on GOW and UT). If it really bothers you that much, I could change it, but I can't think of many Epic IPs that deserve sequels.
They're developing a game called "Fortnite" right now, plus also there's Infinity Blade and the Unreal Engine itself. Note that while the BHG people asked Epic if they could work on "an Epic IP," nothing in the article says that that's what they're going to do, or even concretely if Epic currently <em>knows</em> what they're going to do. All we know is that they'd "love to build even more successful projects with [their] growing team," and hey, on the matter of which Epic IP they asked about, last we heard, Epic <a href="http://www.jazz2online.com/news/906/jazz-not-up-for-licensing/">didn't want to license Jazz in the first place.</a> BHG has engine-building experience with their Big Huge engine, but they've never worked on anything remotely similar to a cartoonish platformer. Lastly, while CliffyB has certainly stated that making a new Jazz game would require Epic to have more employees to work on it, he's also mentioned the issue that probably not enough people would buy it to make the investment worthwhile, and hiring some of BHG does nothing for that issue.

It's not impossible. But you're extrapolating a lot from an article that doesn't really say much about the specifics of future plans or even whether there <em>are</em> any just yet.

[Love & Thunder]

True, very true. But this is still a great chance for Jazz to return. I guess all we can do is wait for more news, and hope that the IP in question is Jazz(And that Jazz gets either the Rayman Origins Treatment, or a HD Remake).

EDIT: Oh, and about what you said about Epic not wanting to license the Jazz IP: Epic said no to licensing an unofficial Windows Phone Port of the first game, which is a completely different thing from making an entirely new game, or an official HD Remake, or whatever is going to happen(Even if it isn't Jazz). But, despite all this, I do see your point. This might not even be Jazz coming back, but still, we should be excited.

[Nonomu198]

This might not even be Jazz coming back, but still, we should be excited.

It don't mean a thing if it aint got Jazz. :mad:

[Love & Thunder]

Ah, but if they succeed with one old IP that isn't Jazz, maybe they'll try another IP, like Jazz. Or, maybe they'll do Jazz first. Either way, we get a new Jazz game. :)

[Seren]

Alright, let's try logic. BHG is a good studio that had been running out of money so Epic decided to hire some of them. We should assume Epic expects it to pay off in one way or another. Well, in fact it already does, by improving the company's public image, but it doesn't mean they don't want to gain money on it as well and so far hiring new people will only mean paying more people. And BHG will probably want to come in useful, at least at the beginning. So you expect them to what, work on a Jazz Jackrabbit game? Our community might agree or disagree on whether it's really impossible to make money on a new JJ title but Cliffy stated his opinion rather directly last time I checked. I could have doubts if BHG had any experience on creating platformers but their only games so far are some RTS's, a board game and an RPG. I have to admit, if you take Reckoning and in your mind replace the main character with a green rabbit and his weaponry with LFG-2000 it gets close to acceptable (and somewhat ridiculous), nevertheless, if it's not a platformer, why use Jazz? It's not like the game is known for its great storyline and many ways of developing the character, it's certainly not the first video game hero you think of when you want to create an RPG.

I might be overly negative about it so don't get me wrong, just like everyone here I'd love to see an official continuation of JJ series, I just don't believe that this particular event might have anything to do with creation of one. I'm just trying to be realistic here, nothing suggests we should take this news as a good sign and really, the more hope you have now, the more you will be disappointed in case I'm right.

[Love & Thunder]

Good point. Although I doubt they'd turn Jazz into an RPG, an RTS, or a Board Game. And if they tried, I HIGHLY doubt CliffyB would allow it.

And one thing I'd like to specifically mention is this:
I might be overly negative about it so don't get me wrong, just like everyone here I'd love to see an official continuation of JJ series, I just don't believe that this particular event might have anything to do with creation of one. I'm just trying to be realistic here, nothing suggests we should take this news as a good sign and really, the more hope you have now, the more you will be disappointed in case I'm right.

It is indeed highly possible(And quite probable) that this won't be Jazz. But even if it isn't Jazz, I will still support it.

[Jgke]

If Jazz gets the Rayman Origins Treatment, this could be the best thing to happen to Jazz in a WHILE.

Please, no.

[Love & Thunder]

Why not?

[Nonomu198]

I assume it's because Rayman Origins is not a good game.

[Sun Fun Dude]

Rayman Origins has universal acclaim. It is literally a better game than any Jazz Jackrabbit game. So, um?

[PT32]

As long as it's true to Jazz Jackrabbit, as long as it's good, and as long as it's not super-inappropriate, I don't really care what they do with a new JJ game.

If that's even what they're making.

I'm kind of with everybody else that says, "I hope you're right, but I'm not gonna get my hopes up until I see concrete evidence." Hoping is beginning to hurt for me.

Good sleuth work, though! :)

[Love & Thunder]

That pretty much sums up my feelings too. :)

[Violet CLM]

I played the Rayman Origins demo. It had a frustrating engine and unengaging level design and I was happy to uninstall it immediately afterwards. Just saying, not everyone need agree on something.

[cooba]

Man, the things I'd do if I could make a new Jazz Jackrabbit game...

[Nonomu198]

Man, the things I'd do if I could make a new Jazz Jackrabbit game...

Like, say, make a new Jazz Jackrabbit game? 8D

[KRSplat]

I would install jj2 on my xbox were it legal

[ThunderPX]

Rayman Origins has universal acclaim. It is literally a better game than any Jazz Jackrabbit game. So, um?

So what you're saying is, if a majority of people has an opinion, that opinion becomes fact. good to know

[Obi1mcd]

Rayman Origins is a pretty good game. The art is quite nice, particularly the animations and the jungle stages, but I'd agree that the gameplay gets boring rather quickly. What kept me interested was the co-op. It's quite fun if you have a friend/relative to beat up as you're playing.

[Love & Thunder]

By "If Jazz gets the Rayman Origins Treatment", I was talking about the fact that Rayman Origins is a 2D game that looks amazing, runs at 60FPS, 1080p, and stays:
A) True to the original(Sure, Rayman Origins changed a couple of things, but it still fits in with the timeline of the other 3 games),
and B) Really fun throughout.
But, Jazz needs something else: A Level Editor. Let's face it, without the custom levels, this website probably wouldn't even exist, so if the next Jazz comes with a Level Editor, Jazz's comeback could be awesome(Assuming that Jazz is coming back, that is).

[Jgke]

Rayman Origins
Really fun throughout.
Are we talking about the same game?

[Stijn]

This discussion has no use whatsoever. Either you like Rayman Origine or you don't, and both opinions are equally valid. Fact is that a lot of people - a majority, judging by reviews - liked it. What Robo4900 obviously meant (and explained, so I don't know why you keep going on about it) is that if Jazz Jackrabbit would get revitalized like Rayman did, with good production values while staying true to its platform roots, that'd be pretty cool. Arguing whether you like Rayman: Origins or not is beside the point and tiring. Please stop it or if you have a really strong!!!! opinion on it, open a new thread or something.

[shaney]

if jazz jack rabbit will return i want it to work via game pad

[!Tman!]

Nothing is better then jill of the jungle. I mean come on guys, she .. uhhh been awhile since I played it. What did she do? Anyway she wore a sweet outfit. I can totally picture that on the front of a game cover.