SSI Vets form TSI

Tactical Simulations Interactive (TSI) is a new developer formed by veterans of Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI), which is today's second invocation of a classic computer gaming brand. And they are taking their roots seriously, saying they are looking to provide a new generation with the classic "gold box" RPG experience that made SSI famous. A TSI Games website is online, but this is currently just teasing us with a countdown that will hit zero on August 18th at midnight EDT. Here's what they have to say for themselves for now:
Tactical Simulations Interactive (TSI), a new independent video games studio with old school RPG sensibilities, has been established by Strategic Simulations Inc. veterans Paul Murray and David Shelley, and company President David Klein.

Drawing on their experience at SSI, the team at TSI aims to provide the next step in meaningful player experiences in the same way that SSI's ‘Gold Box’ titles did during the 1980s and 1990s.

David Shelley takes on the role of Producer/Lead Designer, while Paul Murray serves as Technical Designer at TSI. The team was integral to the international success of Strategic Simulations Inc.’s genre-defining RPGs, such as Curse of the Azure Bonds, Pool of Radiance, and Wizard's Crown.

David Shelley, Producer/Lead Designer, TSI said:
“Tactical Simulations Interactive is a return to providing the player full control of their party, with a focus on creating immersive and unforgettable story experiences, exciting exploration, meaningful social/political choices, and robust tactical combat.”
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37.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 10, 2014, 23:29
Ant
 
37.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 10, 2014, 23:29
Aug 10, 2014, 23:29
 Ant
 
I was addicted to Gemstone Warrior game on my Apple //c when I was a callow ant.
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36.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 22:09
36.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 22:09
Aug 9, 2014, 22:09
 
I played Pools of Darkness and it was pretty merciless. Beholders would wipe an entire party - like they ought to be able to.

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35.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 19:18
35.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 19:18
Aug 9, 2014, 19:18
 
Burrito of Peace wrote on Aug 9, 2014, 16:01:
Axis wrote on Aug 9, 2014, 11:19:
How did you read that as dismissal?

This statement sounded very dismissive to me: "Dungeon master, Eye of the Beholder, Bards Tale, etc but they were "first person" dungeon crawlers and the SSI games were top down tactical."

To me, it came across that you were dismissing the very stellar Eye of the Beholder series by claiming that the only SSI games were top down tactical.

If you didn't mean it that way, then I apologize.

Ahh I see how you could have read it that way, no worries mate text sucks for conversations.
Yours truly,

Axis
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34.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 16:58
34.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 16:58
Aug 9, 2014, 16:58
 
Wow, I remember spending countless hours with those old gold box games. However, I did not enjoy reading the story out of the manual. Let's hope that primitive form of copy protection does not return!

Besides the gold box series, other SSI rpgs that I fondly remember are: Menzoberranzan, Dark Sun, Eye of the Beholder series, Phantasie series, and The Summoning.

The Summoning was a great rpg and was unusual in that it used hand gestures for spell casting. I bought a few from a bargain bin about 15 years ago and forgot about them...
I wonder if those still shrink-wrapped games are worth anything now?
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33.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 16:17
33.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 16:17
Aug 9, 2014, 16:17
 
Fletch wrote on Aug 9, 2014, 02:42:
They only published it, but one of my favorites was Dark Legions. Loved that game.

Haha, I wasn't the only one to play and love Dark Legions!

I miss that game, although I suspect its gameplay wouldn't go over well for today's audiences without some substantial updates. At the very least a better method of equipping items on troops, etc.
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32.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 16:01
32.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 16:01
Aug 9, 2014, 16:01
 
Axis wrote on Aug 9, 2014, 11:19:
How did you read that as dismissal?

This statement sounded very dismissive to me: "Dungeon master, Eye of the Beholder, Bards Tale, etc but they were "first person" dungeon crawlers and the SSI games were top down tactical."

To me, it came across that you were dismissing the very stellar Eye of the Beholder series by claiming that the only SSI games were top down tactical.

If you didn't mean it that way, then I apologize.
"Just take a look around you, what do you see? Pain, suffering, and misery." -Black Sabbath, Killing Yourself to Live.

“Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains” -Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Avatar 21247
31.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 14:04
RaZ0r!
 
31.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 14:04
Aug 9, 2014, 14:04
 RaZ0r!
 
harlock wrote on Aug 9, 2014, 11:12:
d20 (pathfinder) is really the only option

An official Pathfinder title from this studio would be sick!
I pwnz j00!
Avatar 8127
30.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 13:35
30.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 13:35
Aug 9, 2014, 13:35
 
My first SSI game was Knights of the Desert, followed by Geopolitique 1990. Those were truly awesome. Figuring out how to handle Tobruk as the panzers went on a rampage was really tough for my young mind. Then came North Atlantic '85.
Everything else after that was just icing on the cake.
29.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 13:29
29.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 13:29
Aug 9, 2014, 13:29
 
harlock wrote on Aug 9, 2014, 11:12:
Axis wrote on Aug 9, 2014, 08:37:
I won't be near as excited if they don't use DnD (or at a minimum D20) as the core again.

DnD 5e doesnt really lend itself very well to video games.. 4e practically was a video game in pnp format, but it was also super bloated and just insanely massive, but also goofy and not really dnd at all

d20 (pathfinder) is really the only option

Bullshit hackmaster is old school AD&D with a new paint job. Literally.

D20/3.x/pathfinder has always had issues with the jump to video games, and if you want to play 4th edition, go boot up WoW because that's what they really wanted to be (plus, what point of 4th's errata? End of life 4th was kind of a disaster because the writers gave up, and there are entire gaming systems that were proposed, "refined" and then abandoned during the tides of errata that came and went), and 5th edition has some stunning logic bombs in it that just don't make sense.
28.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 11:19
28.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 11:19
Aug 9, 2014, 11:19
 
Burrito of Peace wrote on Aug 9, 2014, 08:49:
Axis wrote on Aug 9, 2014, 08:37:
I loved them all, but they are not the same type of games. Dungeon master, Eye of the Beholder, Bards Tale, etc but they were "first person" dungeon crawlers and the SSI games were top down tactical.

Eye of the Beholder I, II and III were SSI games. EoB I and II were published by SSI while EoB III was directly developed by SSI.

I don't think it's fair to dismiss them out of hand when they were a very strong part of SSI's total portfolio.

How did you read that as dismissal? I said I *loved them all* but they were different styles - the fist person vs the tactical. The article was specific about their gold box roots and that's the ones I hope they re-do since only KOTC was the only recent throwback.

As for DnD, the best version was the old ADnD which is still one of the most popular among PnP. I just prefer any DnD system overall, but ya pathfinder would work too even though it's not my personal 'roots'.
Yours truly,

Axis
Avatar 57462
27.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 11:12
27.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 11:12
Aug 9, 2014, 11:12
 
Axis wrote on Aug 9, 2014, 08:37:
I won't be near as excited if they don't use DnD (or at a minimum D20) as the core again.

DnD 5e doesnt really lend itself very well to video games.. 4e practically was a video game in pnp format, but it was also super bloated and just insanely massive, but also goofy and not really dnd at all

d20 (pathfinder) is really the only option
26.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 08:49
26.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 08:49
Aug 9, 2014, 08:49
 
Axis wrote on Aug 9, 2014, 08:37:
I loved them all, but they are not the same type of games. Dungeon master, Eye of the Beholder, Bards Tale, etc but they were "first person" dungeon crawlers and the SSI games were top down tactical.

Eye of the Beholder I, II and III were SSI games. EoB I and II were published by SSI while EoB III was directly developed by SSI.

I don't think it's fair to dismiss them out of hand when they were a very strong part of SSI's total portfolio.
"Just take a look around you, what do you see? Pain, suffering, and misery." -Black Sabbath, Killing Yourself to Live.

“Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains” -Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Avatar 21247
25.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 08:37
25.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 08:37
Aug 9, 2014, 08:37
 
Burrito of Peace wrote on Aug 9, 2014, 08:10:
I, too, fondly remember Pool of Radiance (or Poolrad which is what the default directory was called in DOS). However, for me, none of the gold box games hold a candle to the RPG that finally equalled the greatness of Dungeon Master on my old Atari ST. That game was Eye of the Beholder

I'd absolutely love to see a new Eye of the Beholder game. Legends of Grimrock is a great modern day game, and has a lot of the same vibe, but it isn't a Forgotten Realms game.

I loved them all, but they are not the same type of games. Dungeon master, Eye of the Beholder, Bards Tale, etc but they were "first person" dungeon crawlers and the SSI games were top down tactical.

For me it was more about the DnD ip being the core of all those SSI games. I lived and breathed DnD and couldn't get enough of it. And while I'm totally pumped the original SSI veterans are in charge, I won't be near as excited if they don't use DnD (or at a minimum D20) as the core again.
Yours truly,

Axis
Avatar 57462
24.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 08:10
24.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 08:10
Aug 9, 2014, 08:10
 
I, too, fondly remember Pool of Radiance (or Poolrad which is what the default directory was called in DOS). However, for me, none of the gold box games hold a candle to the RPG that finally equalled the greatness of Dungeon Master on my old Atari ST. That game was Eye of the Beholder

I'd absolutely love to see a new Eye of the Beholder game. Legends of Grimrock is a great modern day game, and has a lot of the same vibe, but it isn't a Forgotten Realms game.
"Just take a look around you, what do you see? Pain, suffering, and misery." -Black Sabbath, Killing Yourself to Live.

“Man was born free, and he is everywhere in chains” -Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Avatar 21247
23.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 06:05
23.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 06:05
Aug 9, 2014, 06:05
 
Eternal Dagger (Wizard's Crown II) had an improved UI over the first. Try playing that now that you have played Wizard's Crown and you'll quickly see the differences.
22.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 04:04
22.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 04:04
Aug 9, 2014, 04:04
 
wow
21.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 9, 2014, 02:42
21.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 9, 2014, 02:42
Aug 9, 2014, 02:42
 
They only published it, but one of my favorites was Dark Legions. Loved that game.
Avatar 10520
20.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 8, 2014, 22:15
20.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 8, 2014, 22:15
Aug 8, 2014, 22:15
 
Sold sight unseen! I finished every single DnD SSI Gold Box game.

Only game in recent memory that came close with Knights of the Chalice.
Yours truly,

Axis
Avatar 57462
19.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 8, 2014, 22:04
19.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 8, 2014, 22:04
Aug 8, 2014, 22:04
 
I loved the gold gold box series. Pools of radiance -> Curse of the Azure Bonds -> Secrets of the Silver Blades.
My PC games started with an Amstrad 1512. CGA graphics, 512k ram. I remember crying when I realized the reason I coudln't get Ultima 6 to run was because I could never get above 600k base ram (the pac was limited to 512k),regardless of what I put in the autoexec.bat or config.sys......
PMB / Shodan
http://futilez.com
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18.
 
Re: SSI Vets form TSI
Aug 8, 2014, 20:52
18.
Re: SSI Vets form TSI Aug 8, 2014, 20:52
Aug 8, 2014, 20:52
 
yeah, Hold Person was basically instakill. I used to have my cleric cast that and then my halfling would use his hoopak to bring them right down. lol.
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