Idea for Cyberpunk 2: Release Character Creator Early

[Cyberdude]

DISCLAIMER: I can't post in GENERAL forum for some reason, otherwise I would post this there.

Anyway, I had this idea given how popular character fashion, photomode etc are for CP2077. Thinking it will be hard for CP2 to catch up by the time it releases, so I thought what if CDPR release the CP2 character creator/photomode first, so modders can get to work. I would expect the main game to take years longer to complete after character creation is done, And the character creator can just be updated on steam as its own app continuously. Mark it early access and CDPR can just change it as they continue to build CP2. This will get community involved early and be a HUGE unique difference from other AAA games.

 

[LeKill3rFou]

I wonder, what do you think would happen if for some reason, close to the game release, CDPR have to redo/rework/rewrite/completely change the character creator and photomode. Which would mean that everything people/modders would have achieved until now won't work anymore.

Just a guess, but I bet modders/people would be really upset... So in my opinion, it would be a bad idea, really

 

[tavellone]

I wonder, what do you think would happen if for some reason, close to the game release, CDPR have to redo/rework/rewrite/completely change the character creator and photomode. Which would mean that everything people/modders would have achieved until now won't work anymore.

Just a guess, but I bet modders/people would be really upset... So in my opinion, it would be a bad idea, really

I can't imagine that a character creator would require such an extensive rework that it would completely wipe out something someone made if it were released relatively close to the game's release. The Sims 3 did this and people liked it.

Personally I don't think an early release character creator would really matter too much or satiate anyone's desire to play the game, especially if it is years prior like the OP is stating, seems a bit pointless really. On top of that Cyberpunk 2077's character creator was frankly a little underwhelming, you couldn't really edit the character's face to a degree I was hoping for like you can I'm Bethesda games or the Sims. It's a bunch of presets really.

If it was released a few months before and was a seriously in depth character creator like the Sims or TES/Fallout then it might be cool, otherwise I don't see much point. I don't think I'd sit around with some random character creator on my desktop for years waiting for a game with an unknown release date years in advance and I don't think CDPR would release such a thing so far in advance either for the reasons LeKill3rFou said, it could potentially change so much or encounter issues that need changing that you would have to recreate a character multiple times over the years and what would the point in that be? In fact, what would the point in creating a character years in advance be anyway? Half the time I hate how my dumbass character looks in games a few hours after creating them and playing them, nevermind YEARS earlier.

 

[GrimReaper801]

Years before is definitely not happening.

Releasing the character creation prior to the actual game's release isn't unheard of. Just recently there was the Saint's Row reboot, Dragon's Dogma 2 and, if I recall correctly, the first early access build of BG3 was exactly that.

It's definitely not happening years prior though for the reason @LeKill3rFou mentioned. There is a very real chance that the end product would be very different. Keeping it updated throughout development is just extra work with no tangible benefit and photo mode without an actual game isn't going to drive much community engagement.

Releasing the character creation just a few weeks/days prior to the game's launch would have the same effect and require less work on top on being the final product.

 

[LeKill3rFou]

I can't imagine that a character creator would require such an extensive rework that it would completely wipe out something someone made if it were released relatively close to the game's release. The Sims 3 did this and people liked it.

Personally I don't think an early release character creator would really matter too much or satiate anyone's desire to play the game, especially if it is years prior like the OP is stating, seems a bit pointless really. On top of that Cyberpunk 2077's character creator was frankly a little underwhelming, you couldn't really edit the character's face to a degree I was hoping for like you can I'm Bethesda games or the Sims. It's a bunch of presets really.

If it was released a few months before and was a seriously in depth character creator like the Sims or TES/Fallout then it might be cool, otherwise I don't see much point. I don't think I'd sit around with some random character creator on my desktop for years waiting for a game with an unknown release date years in advance and I don't think CDPR would release such a thing so far in advance either for the reasons LeKill3rFou said, it could potentially change so much or encounter issues that need changing that you would have to recreate a character multiple times over the years and what would the point in that be? In fact, what would the point in creating a character years in advance be anyway? Half the time I hate how my dumbass character looks in games a few hours after creating them and playing them, nevermind YEARS earlier.

I only speak if it's released months/years before the game release and, to let modders working on it in advance. It would be such a bad idea if you ask me. And knowing how it turn out for Cyberpunk at release, I doubt they will give us anything substential before release (I really don't expect "gameplay video" like they did for Cyberpunk years before release^^).

On side note, Capcom released the character creator just before Dragon Dogma 2 release. But it was close to release (if I remember), so the game itself was pretty much "done" and in my opinion, it was only to show how great it is (and it is, honeslty). Beside, their character creator is great, sure, but a bit tedious if you start to dive in a bit. So it let people time to create their character and pawns before the release, so they can "jump" into the game right away.

 

[jeancastex]

I would expect the main game to take years longer to complete after character creation is done

Actually, i would be surprised if the character creator is made "years" before the release,
i don't think it's the most important and challenging part for them.