Working Designs

[Medic_wheat]

I thought I'd post a thread regarding one of my favorit (and sadly no longer existing) video game publishers.  I have noticed that there are a few who collect their games and seem to enjoy the level of product Working Designs became known for.

Feel free to post you current games or collectables, want list, holy grail type stuff or musings related to their games. 

I will post a picture later of my Working Desins games during the weekend as I have it spread out and recently got one of the Saturn games to add. 

TurboGrafx-16 & Turbo CD
 Cadash (Got the PC Engine verson..will need to correct that one day)
 Cosmic Fantasy 2 (have)
 Exile
 Exile: Wicked Phenomenon (I have only seen one listing so far and it seemed to go for crazy money)
 Parasol Stars
 Vasteel (have)
 
Sega CD (Complete collection)
When I stumbled on  a very complete Sega CD collection of games these became my prize). 
 Lunar: The Silver Star
 Lunar: Eternal Blue
 Popful Mail
 Vay
 
Sega Saturn
 Albert Odyssey: Legend of Eldean
 Dragon Force
 Iron Storm
 Magic Knight Rayearth (just picked up and so excited!)
 Sega Ages
 Shining Wisdom
 
PlayStation
 Alundra
 Arc the Lad Collection (Had...it sort of disapeared......I hate it when that happens)
 Elemental Gearbolt (Have and man is it fun) pew pew
 Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
 Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete (Have)
 RayStorm
 RayCrisis
 Silhouette Mirage
 Thunder Force V
 Vanguard Bandits
 
PlayStation 2
 Growlanser Generations (originally had the CE) but it simply disapeared.  I recnetly picked up the noramle edition.
 Gungriffon Blaze
 Silpheed: The Lost Planet


I want to say I am missing one or two games...a Sega Saturn game that was JP only and another...but I am sure someone will correct me soon enough....

[mitsuman]

I saw the title of the post and got a little excited!
I used to have Vasteel, Parasol Stars, and Cosmic Fantasy 2. They are all great games.

[KingDrool]

Man, I used to adore these guys. They were the first Third Party I ever took notice of. And it all started with Parasol Stars and Cosmic Fantasy 2. CF2 was the first traditional RPG I really got into; at the time I thought it was a masterpiece. The years haven't been kind to it, but I still go back to it every now and again.

Off the top of my head, this is what I have:

TurboGrafx-16 & Turbo CD
Cadash
 Exile
 Exile: Wicked Phenomenon
 Parasol Stars
 Vasteel
 
Sega CD
Lunar: Eternal Blue
Popful Mail
Vay
 
PlayStation
Alundra
Arc the Lad Collection
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete
RayStorm
 
PlayStation 2
Growlanser Generations
Silpheed: The Lost Planet


Victor Ireland is now here:
http://www.gaijinworks.com/

It's not quite up to the Working Designs legacy (yet?), but still doing some good stuff.

[Black Tiger]

It's not quite up to the Working Designs legacy (yet?), but still doing some good stuff.

No new games yet with an npc telling you how they just pooped their pants and how it's nice and squishy?

[munchiaz]

working designs was one of the companies that got me into JRPGs. I love them for that, and for bringing over one of my favorite games of all time, Vanguard bandits.

[xelement5x]

I'm a big Working Designs fan too. 

I have all of their games complete, and within that all the individual variants of each game that have been documented.  I'm currently in the process of trying to get more of their promo stuff, but a lot of the random bits they sold are out of my budget now.  Even worse is the Assassin's Case, unless I win the lottery or something I'll probably never own one.

I'm a regular over on the Gaijinworks forum actually, and Vic talks about lots of random WD stuff over there when you ask about it.  He's definitely still engaged with the fans, though a lot of the talk goes towards other CEs that are coming out frequently.

[HailingTheThings]

More like Working Behinds, j/k they're alright, I have a few, maybe I'll go trough my stuffs or something and then tell things about things.

[Necromancer]

I have all the Turbob releases and Class of Heroes 2 for the PSP, and I'm not holding my breath, but I hope Vic brings out some more goodies for the PSP.  He's been promising info. on their next game for over a year, but the contract is perpetually "almost finalized"; so if it ever does happen, it'll likely be download only.  I give no f*cks for downloads.

[TR0N]

WD for a time when they were the only publisher that gave jrpgs a damn.Still i wouldn't say they were perfect.Taking liberties with translation and tweaking a game,when it wasn't all ways a must.Still what i have by them.

Sega Saturn
Albert Odyssey
Dragon Force
Shining Wisdom
Sega Ages
Magic Knight Ray Earth

Turbografx 16
Cadash
Exile
Exile Wicked Phenomenon
Cosmic Fantasy 2
Vasteel
Parasole Stars

PS1
Lunar The Silver Star Story Complete
Lunar Eternal Blue Complete
Thunder Force V
Arc of the Lad Collection
Alundra

PS2
Growlanser Generations Deluxe

Sega CD
Lunar The Silver Star Story
Lunar The Eternal Blue
Popful Mail

I'll say one thing,it wasn't cheap buying the games by wd again for the sega-cd.I still need a copy of vay and that's it.

[munchiaz]

WD for a time when they were the only publisher that gave jrpgs a damn.Still i wouldn't say they were perfect.Taking liberties with translation and tweaking a game,when it wasn't all ways a must.Still what i have by them.

Sega Saturn
Albert Odyssey
Dragon Force
Shining Wisdom
Sega Ages
Magic Knight Ray Earth

Turbografx 16
Cadash
Exile
Exile Wicked Phenomenon
Cosmic Fantasy 2
Vasteel
Parasole Stars

PS1
Lunar The Silver Star Story Complete
Lunar Eternal Blue Complete
Thunder Force V
Arc of the Lad Collection

PS2
Growlanser Generations Deluxe

Sega CD
Lunar The Silver Star Story
Lunar The Eternal Blue
Popful Mail

I'll say one thing,it wasn't cheap buying the games by wd again for the sega-cd.I still need a copy of vay and that's it.

I'll trade you my copy of Vay for your copy of popfulmail 

[TR0N]

WD for a time when they were the only publisher that gave jrpgs a damn.Still i wouldn't say they were perfect.Taking liberties with translation and tweaking a game,when it wasn't all ways a must.Still what i have by them.

Sega Saturn
Albert Odyssey
Dragon Force
Shining Wisdom
Sega Ages
Magic Knight Ray Earth

Turbografx 16
Cadash
Exile
Exile Wicked Phenomenon
Cosmic Fantasy 2
Vasteel
Parasole Stars

PS1
Lunar The Silver Star Story Complete
Lunar Eternal Blue Complete
Thunder Force V
Arc of the Lad Collection
Alundra

PS2
Growlanser Generations Deluxe

Sega CD
Lunar The Silver Star Story
Lunar The Eternal Blue
Popful Mail

I'll say one thing,it wasn't cheap buying the games by wd again for the sega-cd.I still need a copy of vay and that's it.

I'll trade you my copy of Vay for your copy of popfulmail 

Oh no popful mail is one of my most favorite game for the sega-cd 

[SamIAm]

Oh Popful Mail.

Given the tone of the original, the translation that Working Designs did was just excellent. Natural, funny, memorable - I mean, maybe you didn't laugh at the odd pop-culture joke, but they kept that to a minimum. I think it's an example of a great translation.

But damn did they screw up the gameplay. The design of the original is such that you're supposed to be able to withstand many successive hits. You can usually take anywhere from 10 to 20 total before you die. The invincible/recovery time is short, and some attacks are almost unavoidable, but that's all right because you can take it.

In the US version, you'll die in anywhere from 3 to 5 hits. The Japanese version is admittedly a little too easy, but the US version is just infuriating at times because of how quickly enemies can kill you. And the very first big boss, the wood golem, is probably the hardest boss in the US version because he takes 40 HP (out of 100) every time he hits you. In the JP version, he takes 5.

It's actually one of my favorite games of all time, but I wish I could play it in English without the odd rage-inducing cheap deaths.

[TR0N]

Oh Popful Mail.

Given the tone of the original, the translation that Working Designs did was just excellent. Natural, funny, memorable - I mean, maybe you didn't laugh at the odd pop-culture joke, but they kept that to a minimum. I think it's an example of a great translation.

But damn did they screw up the gameplay. The design of the original is such that you're supposed to be able to withstand many successive hits. You can usually take anywhere from 10 to 20 total before you die. The invincible/recovery time is short, and some attacks are almost unavoidable, but that's all right because you can take it.

In the US version, you'll die in anywhere from 3 to 5 hits. The Japanese version is admittedly a little too easy, but the US version is just infuriating at times because of how quickly enemies can kill you. And the very first big boss, the wood golem, is probably the hardest boss in the US version because he takes 40 HP (out of 100) every time he hits you. In the JP version, he takes 5.

It's actually one of my favorite games of all time, but I wish I could play it in English without the odd rage-inducing cheap deaths.

An example where WD tweaked a game when it wasn't needed.Ive heard how much they ruined,silhouette mirage for the PS1 with it's difficulty change.Which is why i never bother with it and i stuck to the saturn version instead.Far as upping popful mail difficulty i don't think it was necessary but it doesn't make the game impossible to complete.

[SamIAm]

Yeah, I've beaten the US version, but it was terribly full of those "DAMMIT, THIS IS JUST STUPID" moments, while the Japanese version is pretty much a stress-less clear.

[wildfruit]

I have alundra and parasol stars.
Although alundra wasn't published by WD in PAL lands I guess its probably their translation still