Ask the Dev Team (old one)

[fastluck]

This isn't really a question, so forgive me if I am posting in the wrong thread, but I after finishing The Witcher about 5 minutes ago, I just have to get this out somehow: This game was by far the most enjoyable, engrossing, athmospheric and satisfying RPG experience, or even gaming experience in general, that I had since the last 5 years or more. Really, it's THAT good. Like a movie or a book that you wish would never end, and this comes from someone who is usually pretty tired of fantasy stories, elves, dwarves and so on. I really want to thank the developers and everyone involved for giving me such a great time.If you ever plan on making a sequel (and boy do I hope so), you can already count me in on the list of people who will gladly spend their money for another, sure to be great game of yours.Thanks again! And sorry again if this doesn't belong here... I really needed a vent.

 

[dal.185]

Perhaps it more appropriate place for my old post, so I link it here: http://www.thewitcher.com/forum/index.php?topic=5783.0

 

[501105]

Just wanted to post this game is one of the best rpgs in years.

 

[WoRtH2die4]

Just wanted to post this game is one of the best rpgs in years.

HiI'm just @ Act V and must say : I

 

[Hiver.147]

Hello,I just recently joined this forum and its going to take me a while to read all of the questions posted in this thread so far so... for now, i will just congratulate you on making this wonderfull game i am currently enjoying very much and ask one thing.Who did the art, the drawings for conquest cards? I find them very beautifull, artistic and superbly done (which i can appreciate a little deeper since i draw sometimes too).Was it a group effort or one single person did those and are they the same who created all those wonderfull loading screens and cutscene art?

 

[WoRtH2die4]

That's right.I really thought the same thing quite some times when looking at the loading screensUnfortunately only about 4 or 5 of the ladylover-cards *g* meet my taste ^^But you have to look at them much less than at the loading screens so i think that's alright ^^ gg

 

[username_2067959]

I have a question for the developers. First off, I love the game, and the heart and passion put into it are VERY appreciated. But I do have some issues, particularly with character movement. I would like to know why Geralt is so restricted in his movement throughout the world. There are many invisible barriers in the world that take the player out of the immersion of the game. I'm only on Act 1 at the moment, but it really bothers me when I see a short distance to my destination on the map, but the game prevents me from taking the short route because a simple fence is in the way, forcing me to backtrack for no good reason. I can't seem to run up hills or jump off staircases if I choose, either. I just don't understand why these barriers were put in place. So many inferior games have completely free roaming ability for the character, so it's strange to me that such a fantastic game like the Witcher dropped the ball on this. Can you explain why these barriers are in place in the game world? Thanks.

 

[Hiver.147]

They save time and effort... which was important for this first release of theirs. And they are used to guide the player more precisly.However i completly agree with your post. i find such things are remnants of the past in geame developing and i sincerely hope they will remove those obstacles in the sequels or some new games. It really feels to unnatural if geralt simply cannot walk down even a simple step on some stairs or infront of the house but has to run around. Alvin cottage is one example (thought they did make a small cut in that fence) but really the game is full of such "forbidden areas".Fortunately Witcher is so good in other areas that this hindrance is somewhat easier to bear or to overlook with a little effort.

 

[fez6666]

Besides the auto-save removal and optimization of load times, what other stuff are you working on?

Many smaller issues, we are also thinking on improving sword sheathing during fights, as well as on some improvements in the inventory. We are also doing compatibility tests for some uncanny computer specs.

will 1.2 be compatible with current game status? Or is it recommended to start it from scratch?

Some changes in the next patch may take effect only after starting from scratch, I'm afraid.

can you add CG main menu option (view complete game movies/art(pictures after main game decisions, collected cards etc ) in next patch? i really want to see again some movies (good ending karmen and vincent story for example) at any time and to see overall progress (how many remain endings/cards/middle_endings, etc)

That's a nice idea, we will think about it .

I haven't read all the posts in this thread, so I don't know if this has been asked before...Are there any plans to implement a "lock target" feature with the OTS Camera mode?I really like this camera mode when exploring the game world. But, it becomes a bit troublesome in combat, esp. when Geralt's fighting multiple opponents... Just an idea... Maybe the devs can make it so that the camera lock/focus on an enemy after the player clicked that enemy, and assign the B and N key to switch between targets?(u know... kinda like Zelda or Psychonauts or some other action games...)great news on the patch, btw...I've just started playing recently (still at the beginning of chapter 1). Love the game so far, but the loading time in Vizima is just too much for my pc (and myself)... :'(The 1.2 patch will make a nice early Christmas present for me

 

[dyrestraits]

If the patch breaks the game, I consider it a 'game killer'. I've spent way too many hours already to have to 'start from scratch' again.Disgusted describes my emotion right now.

 

[mils]

will 1.2 be compatible with current game status? Or is it recommended to start it from scratch?

Some changes in the next patch may take effect only after starting from scratch, I'm afraid.

Could we get clarification on what exactly will only be fixed by starting from scratch? I wrote the pool of radiance mod for nwn1 so I'm well versed in aurora toolset, I remember when you loaded a fresh module (different area) your pretty much able to retroactively update anything, but they had to load that module. I do remember save data won't change though...So in general I think quite a few people are concerned on what exactly will only be fixed by starting from scratch, I know personally playing on hard I'd not want to have to fight "the beast" ever again.Thanks

 

[guardian1982]

: Yeah, Beast is terrifying : Please, make all monsters easy to kill, otherwise all emo kids will cry... : Oh, wait, that's what they want - to cry of life's failures and cut their wrists (at least to tell stories about it)But yes - info about oncoming changes would be much appreciated, right now we're all kept in the dark and personally I'd like to know too if there is a point of awaiting it impatiently or wait till patch 3.0 to get higher difficulty, inventory and alchemy screens etc.I know, loading/saving issue, what else?

 

[vizionblind]

please let us know what WONT work in the patch if we DON'T restart

 

[targonis]

please let us know what WONT work in the patch if we DON'T restart

This is a guess, but if there are content changes, or more items added that we COULD buy, that might be the sort of thing that would not be changed. Or things like the effects of "weapon upgrades" from runes/ore. The way the system works, the "upgrades" are probably based on what effects are on the runes/ore, so when we have a choice about what weapon to select, it applies them at that time. If you have one of these "upgraded" weapons, I wouldn't expect any changes to apply to our existing equipment.Again, that is just a guess, but would make sense why some things would not apply to existing saves. There may be some things in the save data that apply to "the state of the world", so vendor inventories and such may not reflect certain changes in the new patch.Fixes in the overall game design that do not affect content(like memory usage, fixing crashes, interface changes) probably would apply to existing save games.If you are currently playing the game, I wouldn't worry too much since you may very well finish the game before the patch comes out, setting the stage for playing again with the patch. I have found the game to have a lot of replay value since you have some choices that have lasting effects throughout the rest of the game.

 

[Mothra]

Hi !I asked before and never got a definitive answer from anybody. I discussed this before the game release, got a nice: will aks/will see answerbut was never given any definitive anwers[glow=red,2,300]will it be LEGAL for registered game owners (who bought the game legally) to share/exchange their language files/keys ?[/glow]this would enable me to play the game in any language I want (voices, subtitles stay like I installed it).right now I am in the process of searching for a polish version to get a 2nd copy so I can do this on my own without any copyright violations.but if the devs/publisher would maybe do this THEMSELVES as part of theWitcher EXTRAS I would save some money and it would be AWESOME.please consider it. or just give me the: NO, YOU HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER COPY speechbut no answer would encourage the "get it in the wild" option.

 

[wisars]

Any new updates as to when the next patch will be ready for release?Thanks. ;D

 

[username_2066992]

^^Last I heard ... "before Christmas"Christmas 2007 was implied.

 

[MDarkbladeM]

At this point, development team has given 7.12.2007 as a deadline.

 

[socchi]

At this point, development team has given 7.12.2007 as a deadline.

NO !!, 7 th december is uncertain date. There is no statement from CDPR, that the patch will be released on 7th. On PGA (little games convention in Poznań) i asked one from devs about approximate date of release, and he told me 7th, BUT he told, that this is not deadline.

 

[thelostdunmer.651]

At this point, development team has given 7.12.2007 as a deadline.

Sweet! Well, they said its before christmas so it'll probably between the 1st though 24th, lol. ;D