Oddworld Inhabitants
Encyclopedia
Oddworld Inhabitants Inc. is an American
video game developer
founded in 1994
by special-effects and computer-animation veterans Sherry McKenna and Lorne Lanning
. The company is primarily known for the Oddworld Quintology
, a series of award-winning video games about the fictional planet of Oddworld and its native creatures. The series debuted with Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
in 1997
and continued through Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
in 2005
, which is currently the last new Oddworld title to be released.
Oddworld Inhabitants took a break from game development for a time following the release of Stranger's Wrath, even though it had already begun preliminary work on its next Oddworld title, "The Brutal Ballad of Fangus Klot". However, it remained an active, operating company during this period primarily through the development of a movie called Citizen Siege, but it was never released.
Currently, the company has returned to the video game business, though so far its role has mostly been in guiding other developers in resurrecting the Oddworld franchise through both remastering and re-releasing existing titles and developing new ones. On 16 July 2010, game developer "Just Add Water" announced that "multiple projects" for Oddworld were in progress across "several platforms". In the March 2011 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly
, Lorne Lanning confirmed that an HD remake of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
is one of the games currently being developed by Just Add Water.
revealed a character named Fangus, a type of shepherd on Oddworld
located in a region called Fangustan, watching over a flock of particularly demonic-looking sheep. Curiously, Oddworld Inhabitants did not confirm the existence of a new game, leading many to suspect it as an April Fool's joke). Still, the article briefly outlined the plot: Fangus is a shepherd who dutifully wards off predators, until one day, invaders arrive. Fangus is then forced to rise to the occasion, assuming the role of savior of all Oddworldian nations. Meanwhile, rabies slowly begins to turn him mad, and he must make haste in thwarting the invaders' plans before his mind is completely lost. A Mature rating (by the ESRB) was expected due to dark tones and themes throughout the game, and Majesco was expected to publish the game for the Xbox.
In the June 2009 issue of Game Informer, Lorne Lanning did officially speak about the game and revealed more concept art and story details. He also spoke about the possibility of distributing the game digitally, though there has yet to be any further news on the game or its potential release.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
video game developer
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
founded in 1994
1994 in video gaming
-Events:*Nintendo calls this year "1994: The Year of the Cartridge".*Nintendo Australia Pty. Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd is established and opened by Hiroshi Yamauchi and effectively ends Mattel Australia's distribution of Nintendo's products throughout Australia.*"Project...
by special-effects and computer-animation veterans Sherry McKenna and Lorne Lanning
Lorne Lanning
Lorne Lanning is an American game designer, writer and voice actor. He is also co-founder and president of the video game developer, Oddworld Inhabitants...
. The company is primarily known for the Oddworld Quintology
Oddworld
Oddworld is a comprehensive fictional universe presented in video game form, created by game developers Oddworld Inhabitants under the direction of Lorne Lanning. Throughout games set in the Oddworld universe, Oddworld's peaceful nature is in danger of being consumed by the industrial ambition of...
, a series of award-winning video games about the fictional planet of Oddworld and its native creatures. The series debuted with Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee is a multi-award–winning platform video game developed by Oddworld Inhabitants and published by GT Interactive. It was released in 1997 for the PlayStation video game console, DOS and Microsoft Windows in North America, Australia and Europe...
in 1997
1997 in video gaming
-Events:*October 4 — Gunpei Yokoi dies after a double car accident.*November – Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association launched.*3rd annual E3...
and continued through Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath is an action-adventure game developed by Oddworld Inhabitants and published by Electronic Arts for the Microsoft Xbox. Music for the game was written by composer Michael Bross. It was released on January 25, 2005. A version for the PlayStation 2 was planned, but...
in 2005
2005 in video gaming
-Events:*March 6 — The television show 60 Minutes tackles issues within video game controversy. This segment of 60 Minutes has been criticized by video game players for encouraging video game censorship....
, which is currently the last new Oddworld title to be released.
Oddworld Inhabitants took a break from game development for a time following the release of Stranger's Wrath, even though it had already begun preliminary work on its next Oddworld title, "The Brutal Ballad of Fangus Klot". However, it remained an active, operating company during this period primarily through the development of a movie called Citizen Siege, but it was never released.
Currently, the company has returned to the video game business, though so far its role has mostly been in guiding other developers in resurrecting the Oddworld franchise through both remastering and re-releasing existing titles and developing new ones. On 16 July 2010, game developer "Just Add Water" announced that "multiple projects" for Oddworld were in progress across "several platforms". In the March 2011 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
, Lorne Lanning confirmed that an HD remake of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee
Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee is a multi-award–winning platform video game developed by Oddworld Inhabitants and published by GT Interactive. It was released in 1997 for the PlayStation video game console, DOS and Microsoft Windows in North America, Australia and Europe...
is one of the games currently being developed by Just Add Water.
"The Brutal Ballad of Fangus Klot"
An April 2005 issue of Game InformerGame Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
revealed a character named Fangus, a type of shepherd on Oddworld
Oddworld
Oddworld is a comprehensive fictional universe presented in video game form, created by game developers Oddworld Inhabitants under the direction of Lorne Lanning. Throughout games set in the Oddworld universe, Oddworld's peaceful nature is in danger of being consumed by the industrial ambition of...
located in a region called Fangustan, watching over a flock of particularly demonic-looking sheep. Curiously, Oddworld Inhabitants did not confirm the existence of a new game, leading many to suspect it as an April Fool's joke). Still, the article briefly outlined the plot: Fangus is a shepherd who dutifully wards off predators, until one day, invaders arrive. Fangus is then forced to rise to the occasion, assuming the role of savior of all Oddworldian nations. Meanwhile, rabies slowly begins to turn him mad, and he must make haste in thwarting the invaders' plans before his mind is completely lost. A Mature rating (by the ESRB) was expected due to dark tones and themes throughout the game, and Majesco was expected to publish the game for the Xbox.
In the June 2009 issue of Game Informer, Lorne Lanning did officially speak about the game and revealed more concept art and story details. He also spoke about the possibility of distributing the game digitally, though there has yet to be any further news on the game or its potential release.