two-worlds-ii posts

Fledgling game publisher Southpeak Interactive announced their financial results for their full fiscal year that ended on June 30. Things were mixes compared to their last fiscal year. While their revenues totaled $47.4 million compared to $40.2 million for the same period a year ago, the company experienced a net loss of $12.1 million for their last fiscal year compared to a profit of $1.5 million for the same period a year ago.

Southpeak says some of those losses came from one time charges including their acquisition of GameCock Media Group. However the company says it has high hopes for its current fiscal year thanks to upcoming game releases such as Two Worlds II, the sequel to their hit fantasy RPG game.

Last Friday, developer Reality Pump announced Two Worlds II, the sequel to their 2007 fantasy RPG. However, Reality Pump already had a sequel announced for the game, Two Worlds: The Temptation, that began life as an expansion pack. Now our sister site Joystiq has posted world from the developer that Two Worlds II is a totally new game and that Two Worlds: The Temptation is actually canceled.

What happened? Accoridng to Dirk Hassinger, who runs the US part of the company, Topware, after work began on Two Worlds: The Temptation, " . . . we found the technology outdated and started a new engine generation from the scratch. Now it is a real Two Worlds II with state-of-the-art technology." He admits that some ideas and story elements from Two Worlds: The Temptation might find its way into Two Worlds II but that ultimately the game is "a different title and not a simple rename."

Reality Pump Studios knows how to confuse us big time. Their 2007 fantasy RPG Two Worlds was supposed to be followed by an expansion pack called Two Worlds: The Temptation. However those plans changed and in 2008 Two Worlds: The Temptation turned into a full fledged stand alone sequel.

That game was supposed to be released late in 2008 but obviously that didn't happen. Now it appears Reality Pump is going old school by renaming their sequel. It's now simply called Two Worlds II with Reality Pump now promising it will be out sometime this winter. The game itself takes place two years after the original and the developer promises to show us not only new locations in the fantasy world of Eastern Antaloor but graphic engine and AI improvements . . . at least until their next title change.