From the AI chat thread:
I know it’s just a little chat from a developing A.I., but… I really feel like it’s misguessing the nature and context of the whole art style discussion. I get a sense that 99% or so of the people complaining about the art style (including me) are going to buy and love Return to Monkey Island regardless.
In terms of sales, I don’t expect the art style to have much impact on the bottom line. I expect the same niche adventure game buyers will show up as did for Thimbleweed Park. Maybe slightly more because of the MI brand reputation in adventure game communities… but also maybe slightly less, because this trailer slammed us with a slew of side characters that people unfamiliar with the MI franchise won’t recognize. It makes me think of Thimbleweed complaints about the in-jokes, from newcomers who hadn’t grown up on Lucas games.
If this game does a lot better than expected, or a lot worse than expected? Either way, I think it would be a mistake to pin it on the art style.