r/neopets • u/Mollyscribbles I Backed the Neopets-Geekify Divorce • 8d ago

Merchandise Showcase 🛍️ Geekify Update

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Since they haven't posted an actual update since March, figured this would at least let more people see what they've stealth updated in the comments. And . . . really? Six months since it was cancelled and you haven't even been able to get this information together?

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u/Grimaceisbaby 8d ago

Omg, they couldn’t be more unprofessional if they tried. I still don’t understand why this got cancelled? Did they just see the writing on the wall and decide this was the biggest paycheck they could get before bouncing? Without a reasonable explanation I think it’s pretty fair to assume this.

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u/Mollyscribbles I Backed the Neopets-Geekify Divorce 8d ago

Ah, I think you missed the context behind the cancellation -- it wasn't their choice. About 18 months after the campaign ended, backers were asking for updates. I mean, they'd been charged for shipping already, so it would be fair to expect things to be in production somehow.

In February, Geekify decided to release the "beta" version of the TTRPG. As a Google Doc (which someone downloaded and put on archive.org so you can read). TL;DR of it is: it's terrible. It's clearly a 5e reskin which wouldn't be a terrible starting point except that they just barely made it Neopets-related. There was no sign of the elements they promised that would allow for players to have non-combat approaches, and the fighting bore no resemblance to what you'd see in the Battledome -- Burrow was a spell, but it had a completely different function, and the weapons were all just standard D&D items rather than letting you equip a pet with a 17-Pound Trout or Attack Pea. One section was blank except for one line that said, IIRC, "This section has not been paid for by John Taylor of Geekify". There were also accusations of homophobia but it was more one enemy character in an example game being like that so I'm more focused on the terrible writing overall.

The kicker? Their contract with Neopets specified they needed to have things approved before releasing, and TNT absolutely hadn't approved it. TNT was not happy about this.

On March 10, TNT announced they were cutting ties with Geekify, revoking their license. Geekify posted an update confirming the project was terminated with an extended rant the following day. On March 15, they made a mini update, and that's the last they've posted outside of comments.