Former Developer Rants About Highguard’s Rough Reveal: “From Hero to Zero!”
Lights, Camera, ‘Oops!’
So there it was—the moment we’d all been waiting for! Picture this: the glitz, the glam, and the excitement level at an all-time high as Highguard was set to make its big debut at the 2025 Game Awards. Josh Sobel, the lead technical artist, was riding the thrilling highs of a development journey that spanned over two and a half years. Talk about anticipation!
But hold on to your hats, folks, because when the trailer finally dropped, that optimistic vibe took a nosedive faster than a gamer rage-quitting a hard level. Sobel recalls how the day leading to the reveal was among the most exciting times of his career. Alas, when the trailer hit the screen, it didn’t unfold quite as they had imagined. Instead of high-fives and cheers, it was like someone popped the proverbial balloon!
From High Expectations to Low Ratings
Apparently, the internal vibe before the reveal was all sparkles and sunshine. Everyone thought Highguard was going to be the next big thing. But once that trailer was aired, the tides turned as quickly as a headshot in a first-person shooter. Sobel expressed, “But then the trailer came out, and it was all downhill from there…” Ouch! That pretty much sums up the mood.
As soon as the trailer went live, the critics came charging in. The characters were called as lively as a space heater, and let’s just say, the internet had a field day! Sobel shared that he felt like a deer caught in the headlights, with many gamers turning their keyboards into weapons of critique aimed right at him. Some even went so far as to tell him to consider flipping burgers, using his disability as fodder for mockery. I guess some folks took ‘feedback’ a bit too far!
What added fuel to the fire was the avalanche of review bombs right before the game even launched. Users who barely spent an hour, let alone finished a tutorial, were quick to smash that downvote button as if their lives depended on it. Talk about unfair treatment! Sobel described how they were turned into a meme factory, and it felt like all hope had been dashed amid accusations of a so-called million-dollar ad strategy. He lamented, “Within minutes, it was decided: this game was dead on arrival.” Oof! Rip the dream.
Despite the whirlwind of chaos, Sobel underscored the cheerful feedback they received leading up to the reveal. It’s a hard pill to swallow when praises turn to roasts! Sure, it’s nice to dream big, but sometimes it seems like a more critical approach during development might’ve saved the day. Highguard had its fair share of players and Twitch viewers at launch, but many decided to skedaddle before giving it a fair shot.
As we wrap it up, let’s remember, the gaming world is tough, and not every reveal will go smoothly. Here’s hoping Sobel and the crew at Wildlight keep pushing forward and give those characters a personality upgrade before the next round. Cheers to the rollercoaster that is game development!