Give us an official one, you cowards
So we’ve been talking a lot about a potential Simpsons Hit and Run remaster this year. Despite the fact that the rights would apparently be a nightmare, multiple developers have spoken up recently about wanting it to go forward. In the meantime, there’s this fan made remaster from designer reubs.
So with this open world project, they started with the Simpsons Hit and Run remaster map. As reubs notes, he would need “100 people” to create the map, but since they only have “three friends” (one of which is their mom), they had to find a tool; which ended up being Lucas’ Pure 3D Editor, exporting “all 14 pieces of the map” into the remaster project. But even more work was to be done!
They then had to work on animations/lip sync, as well as object interaction/trigger boxes, and ripping the original sounds/music in. The below video is only 12 minutes long, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re remotely into game design.
Also! Evidently the lead designer of the original (Joe McGinn) stopped by in the YouTube comments for the Simpsons Hit and Run remaster video, stating:
“Hi, I’m the lead designer on the original game. Amazing what you accomplished! Really gives a taste of what a full modern remaster could be. Impressive work!”
Even if we never actually get an official remaster, given how much affection reubs has for the game in the video, it looks like a dream come true for them. Of course, I hope this is a wakeup call for whatever studios/lawyers need to get involved to make this happen.
