Apparently (and when we talk about Gwenael Godde we should always use that adverb), Paprium will reach the public before November.
On October 8th, Watermelon sent a message to its backers, and updated the site magicalgamefactory.com as well as its Facebook.
The news is that there will be a launch party, on October 27th, to celebrate 30 years of SEGA Genesis/MD, and unveil the game Paprium.
This is the WM mail:
To English Readers:
On the 27th of October 2018, we are having a party in Paris, France. Let’s celebrate SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive’s 30th anniversary and the release of PAPRIUM. We understand this is a long trip but if by any chance you are around at that time, you’re of course very welcome. Please contact us at 1988@watermelon-games.com for booking and details. The party starts at 19PM for some talk with WM and some 16-bit fun and then turn into electro music feast from 23PM until 6AM. The event is free but booking is required in advance.
PS: We are working hard to ensure you to receive your games around that time but we can’t guarantee it at the moment. You will receive another email shortly to confirm your shipping address.
For the few people still awaiting for their refunds on Paypal, we are still looking for a solution at the moment, thanks for the extra patience.
So the idea is that people get the game at home by the end of the month. To achieve that Fonzie must collect the addresses of all his customers and make the shipments in record time. His ex-partner and co-founder has raised doubts about it.
I don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade, but for receiving games this month, I’m skeptical.
Collecting shipping addresses is a process that takes weeks, based on my experience with the MGF. Many people miss the emails, get sent to spam boxes, get them “lost”, or simply don’t have access their to email addresses of 6 years ago anymore. Granted, I think the MGF has a method for manual filling the mailing address but still it’s a process that takes weeks to complete, unless Fonzie is planning to do a first come first served approach to shipping stuff as the address arrive, which has never been done at WM.Additionally, by saying:
«We are working hard to ensure you to receive your games around that time but we can’t guarantee it at the moment.»It’s almost as saying “We can guarantee you won’t receive your games around that time even though we’re working hard to ensure it at the moment“. It’s a typical calming the masses strategy just to say later “we tried, but this and that reason prevented us from doing it”.
Fonzie is unlikely to be able to meet the Halloween date, but he will probably be able do it by the end of the year. For people who have been waiting since 2013, that’s good news.
Now, about the party.
The message has a part in French, which details what awaits those who go to the Paris evening.
MCMLXXXXVIII-2018: 30 years!!!! It’s 1564 weeks, 10,950 days, 262,800 hours (good and loyal service); so we thought it was worth a little tribute.
And for the occasion you can (FINALLY) feel PAPRIUM, our Beat Them All! Ultra-violent, Brutal and Cyber Punk.
Drop your joysticks and let your cathode ray tube cool down, now is the time! You don’t have to bring your Curlys and your COCA back. DJ set chiptune in the ears, drink and eat in the throat, hairdresser available to cut you a mullet haircut AS IN THE GAME!!!!
SATURDAY 27 OCTOBER 2018, PARIS (75019), FRANCE:
Program:
7pm-11pm: Small oven mode
– Meeting with WM, Fonzie and his henchmen
– Entertainment, hairdresser and make-up
– Cocktails and buffet
– Gameplay
– DJ set chiptune
23h-06h : Trashy party mode ON
– Leather, Latex and Bodybuilders Bodies AS IN THE GAME!
– DJ set electro – it’s going to be a hit!If you too want to be one of the survivors and join the megapolis PAPRIUM, book your place by sending an email to 1988@watermelon-games.com.
PS: We are working to ensure that you receive the game before the 27th but it is not possible to guarantee it at the moment. You will receive an email very soon to confirm your delivery address.
Some more or less important points:
– Your registration is required to attend the early evening as we must plan the stewardship accordingly.
Registration is free, without obligation, of course. If you arrive after 11pm and without reservation, admission will be charged (Prices communicated at the entrance and subject to space reservation).– Dress code (if you dare): Cyberpunk, leather, muscular, sprinkled with a few touches of fluo, pink or gold.
PS: Avoid mario, atari or pokemon tshirts, for the mental health of segasex (and Fonzie).– Guests who come with:
1. Black briefs (reminder: we have a cabin to change and a locker).
2. Costplay Mega Drive (very committed).
3. “TUG” mullet haircut (possibility to make it on site).
Drinks at will throughout the evening (subject to validation by the WM team).– We will set up a deposit system that will allow you to store your consoles / games and coats in a warm place during the evening.
If you want to help:
- You are part of a jazz group, we are looking for a group for the early evening to cover some of the most important MD tracks.
- You have rare megadrive equipment (Aiwa, Mega LD, MegaModem, Karaoke Mega CD, WonderMega VA1, etc…) and wish to exhibit it, please contact us. We want to put as many consoles as possible on display for our early evening. Everything will be stored and sheltered around 11pm.
- You have emblematic megadrive games, ideally in boxes (Bare Knukle, Sonic, Golden Axe, etc.) to exhibit. Everything will be stored and sheltered around 11pm.
- We are also looking for smaller PVMs, such as 8 or 12 inches for the consoles that will be playable.
- We want to build a cathodic screen wall but it is quite complicated to rent.
Ideally we need 16 PVM monitors of similar size (20 inches) and connect them with a 4×4 cutting box. If anyone has a tip or would like to help on this point, welcome help. By working together we can make it happen!- We would like to buy 3 PVM-20 (20 inch), 50/60hz monitors and prepare them (BNC connection) for connection to Mega Drive. If you have in stock or would like to help on this, please contact us.
All those who wish to help with early afternoon installation and/or service, please let us know.
Any help is welcome, please declare yourself.Amateur of photography and/or video, we are looking for talents to immortalize the evening.
Thank you in advance and see you soon, we hope!
WATERMELON TEAM
The game may be done, but the party organization is far from perfect. Aside from chiptune music (I imagine Fonzie playing Youtube videos on his 1999 Gateway desktop PC – because he’s old school) and drinks, guests have to contribute everything else. But hey! if there’s free alcohol it might work.
I think this time the release of the game can be real. I mean, if the party turned out to be a diverting strategy, things would get very ugly for Mr. GG.
And yet, I must remind you that there has already been a Paprium event in Paris. Did you know that Fonzie invited people to try Paprium’s alpha in December 2013?
Good morning, everyone!
Sorry if I use French to express myself in this post but it will probably be more convenient since it is a question of discussing the presence of some of us during the alpha of which Fonzie speaks in today’s newsletter.
Personally I am Parisian and I am more than willing to participate in this alpha so I look forward to receiving news about it from our national Fonzie!
Is there more information on where or when this alpha will take place?
In short, I propose that we essentially discuss this alpha in this subject.EDIT: I will update the list of pre-selection participants for alpha first post:
Donni
OriginalFei
Totor78
Arvester
Cedricbionic
Matteus
Luitoine
Ganon551
Blizzard
Loempiavreter
Tokay
Antilosa
Gaurox
Ryaku
Core drillingPS: I’m afraid that once I get my hands on the game for the first time I suddenly decide to buy 2 more collector editions I have to tell my banker:)
Tokay: “I did not receive this newsletter! :’-( “
Carotterie: “I sent you my email address via the site so that you can send me yours and I can forward you the Newsletter if you wish:)
I’m copying you the passage on the Alpha that would take place in Paris:
“For the ProjectY, if you are near Paris, there should be an event very soon with the alpha of the game. If you want to participate and give your opinion of gaming on the game, you will have to come forward because places are limited, feel free to let us know on our forum and we will advise.”Fonzie: Hello! If you don’t receive a newsletter, please check your spam box. Normally everyone should have received it!
For now, mystery! Yes, it will be in Paris and behind closed doors!
++
Fonzie
Fonzie: Friday, December 13th, 7pm. Paris (10th arrondissement).
Yay!??Donni: Dibs!!!!! I’ll be there!
But which place? The 10th district is large ^^^
Fonzie one day before the event (15:02):
Hi! I sent the invitations to the people on my list! If you have not received anything, please send a message on the support!
🙂 See you tomorrow!Fonzie one day before the event (18:16):
Hello, everyone.
I’ve been emailing everyone, but to say the party’s been postponed. Difficult decision, and late, still sorry to all those who had booked their Friday evening.
I’ll keep you informed about the new date (with more time in advance, this time).
In January, 2014
Fonzie:
Hi. Hi,
Happy New Year to all of you.
Note: I would be tomorrow (Wednesday) with JB and Armen at GemuOtaku / Games Heaven, 53 avenue de la république, Paris.
18h.No special evening or freeplay game (my dev cartridge hasn’t come back to me yet).
On the other hand, for the most impatient, to discuss a few minutes / see some screenshots / code / game design / packaging.Anyway, if you’re in the area, don’t hesitate.
PS: I’m looking to take the dimensions of a JAP dreamcast console box (the standard size box) so if someone can bring one, that would be great.
++
So Fonzie (who 15 days earlier had said «I’ll keep you informed about the new date -with more time in advance, this time-»), announces his attendance at the event, only 24 hours before.
Also, notice how he clarifies that there will be no gameplay, how he slips that the most “impatient” will be able to talk about the game “a few minutes” (really?), and how he already uses the “dev cartridge” defense.
Jagunco: Please photos and videos of the meeting and ProjectY! We, people from outside Paris, also deserve to see what is new!
Carotterie: Well, I did meet the man named Fonzie last night in his lair. I didn’t see the game running though, but I could see some artworks and images.
I couldn’t take any pictures but I can tell you my one and only reaction: “Woooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaah”!!!
I’m waiting for Fonzie’s return before I can tell you a little more about it, but I can already tell you that the whole team has worked like crazy to bring you the best!
This one doesn’t need translation because Fonzie wrote it in English. He replies to a guy who asked to be added to the guest list for the event, in June!! (guy read an old email and thought the invitation still stood). Fonzie’s response shows that the January 8 event was also “cancelled”, but even so those who were there (somehow), got “information” about the game.
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20161125042539/http://magicalgamefactory.com/en/boards/projecty-about_8/Alpha-in-Paris_12440/?from=0
Paprium is and will be vaporware until it reaches the last customer who paid for it. Whether that happens in three weeks, three months or never. Yes, it seems harder for Gwenaël ‘Fonzie’ Godde to lie about the launch party, because that would be a very stupid thing to do.
We’ll see what happens in the next few days. Stay tuned!
Paprium Fiasco 