LOL, Gregski. Thanks for the story on the photo.
But there is something more subtle than that in the image. Or maybe not so subtle. In any case, the developer team of that other game, when discussing the announced changes of the sequel, released some "pearls" as we call them here where I live. "The first game was too complex", "We want to go the way of the audience", "Suck it up, Princess!" are some I remember.
The way of the audience, I labeled since that day, the justin bieber audience, because what they were proposing and actually did to the game was to dumb it down so much that it barely resembles the first game of the series, a dark fantasy mature game, which is an epic and one of my all time favorites. Plus the second one would have "button=awesome" (you push a button, something awesome will happen) and none of the details and dedication shown on the first.
Even if CDPR denies it crossing their heart, I am sure that the April's fool joke they made was definitely inspired by the changes and press/marketing disaster those devs did for that other game.
While a game with this theme (link bellow) would be awesome, it is a joke and the description of the game really makes fun of that other game. (particularly the "autoplay feature on the easiest difficulty setting that will not burden you with anything gameplay-related") Even Tom Gop's interview is clearly an impersonation of that other game Lead Designer in on of those "pearl" interviews.
http://www.saviors-of-queens.com/index2.html
One of the main problems with that other game sequel, IMHO, was that the Lead Designer of the first one quit the company, also because of disagreements of the direction they were going with the sequel. And that direction was to expand their customers market by attracting gamer fans from other genres like CoD. Needless to say that the sequel sold less than half of the first game of the series.
So, in the OP I was just begging CDPR to not follow those steps, even with the departure of some members of the team, like Tom Gop himself. And yes, leave "the way of the audience" alone. Because the photo shows what that audience will do if they have the chance!
But there is something more subtle than that in the image. Or maybe not so subtle. In any case, the developer team of that other game, when discussing the announced changes of the sequel, released some "pearls" as we call them here where I live. "The first game was too complex", "We want to go the way of the audience", "Suck it up, Princess!" are some I remember.
The way of the audience, I labeled since that day, the justin bieber audience, because what they were proposing and actually did to the game was to dumb it down so much that it barely resembles the first game of the series, a dark fantasy mature game, which is an epic and one of my all time favorites. Plus the second one would have "button=awesome" (you push a button, something awesome will happen) and none of the details and dedication shown on the first.
Even if CDPR denies it crossing their heart, I am sure that the April's fool joke they made was definitely inspired by the changes and press/marketing disaster those devs did for that other game.
While a game with this theme (link bellow) would be awesome, it is a joke and the description of the game really makes fun of that other game. (particularly the "autoplay feature on the easiest difficulty setting that will not burden you with anything gameplay-related") Even Tom Gop's interview is clearly an impersonation of that other game Lead Designer in on of those "pearl" interviews.
http://www.saviors-of-queens.com/index2.html
One of the main problems with that other game sequel, IMHO, was that the Lead Designer of the first one quit the company, also because of disagreements of the direction they were going with the sequel. And that direction was to expand their customers market by attracting gamer fans from other genres like CoD. Needless to say that the sequel sold less than half of the first game of the series.
So, in the OP I was just begging CDPR to not follow those steps, even with the departure of some members of the team, like Tom Gop himself. And yes, leave "the way of the audience" alone. Because the photo shows what that audience will do if they have the chance!
I agree. I hope they don't steer from the course of making a true, mature RPG experience with ambigous choices. Look at how DA2 turned out to be, although I still enjoyed it, it is more of an action game, other than an RPG. They streamlined and simplified so much, they removed or dumbed down so many features from the first game, that what's left is really sad if you think about DA:O.
What I would *loathe* is them downgrading the story, to either make it less "boring" to some, or less "confusing".
If anything, I want them to make even more convoluted politics. I especially want to explore Nilfgaardian domestic politics.
If anything, I want them to make even more convoluted politics. I especially want to explore Nilfgaardian domestic politics.
That's part of the fun, no?Dona said:This, this, this. I love complexity, even though I'm having a hard time keeping up and then I spend hours reading people's summaries and explanations *ahem*Dumbing down any aspect of the games would kill the series for me.
And it would make my blogs useful. So win-win.
Yes, that! And may CDPR and The Witcher franchise never go "the way of the effing DRM."
The Witcher 2 is the only 2011 game I have played so far.
The Witcher 2 is the only 2011 game I have played so far.
I'd say they took the best of the old and new in RPGs. They definitely took ideas from today's games, but that does not make them "sellouts" or mainstream. Just because the battle system vaguely resembles that of Batman AA, does not make them "OMG AMERICANIZED CONSOLE KIDDY SELLOUTS SCUM!!!".
However, I will say the console audience is a different audience as a whole compared to PC so I'm scared of the feedback the console users will give to CDPR... don't get me wrong Ik there are adult gamers who game on console, I realize that, its just that as a whole I think if any "dumbing down" is going to happen in W3, its going to be due to the feedback from the 360 side. But then again I could be wrong as this game does take inspiration from Demon's souls,a very hardcore console only RPG.
However, I will say the console audience is a different audience as a whole compared to PC so I'm scared of the feedback the console users will give to CDPR... don't get me wrong Ik there are adult gamers who game on console, I realize that, its just that as a whole I think if any "dumbing down" is going to happen in W3, its going to be due to the feedback from the 360 side. But then again I could be wrong as this game does take inspiration from Demon's souls,a very hardcore console only RPG.
The real danger is in people insisting CDP create more 'proper' content, suitable for sensitive types, that they remove anything resembling fan-service, despite that being a highly subjective thing. Basically, people are like delicate flowers now and don't want to be offended, which is why so many gamers and journalists balk at the grimy adult world, replete with sex and drugs and violence. They want a kinder, gentler Witcher.
Let the 'kinder , gentler' Witcher be made by Disney and marketed for the Wii- These games are for those who know blood doesn't come out in the first rinse, rotten corpses stink to high heaven, if you leave blood on your blade - it rusts so don't expect it to be a Ginsu knife afterwords. Yes I do totally agree- even if I have to use several hours to get the darned thing- that is far better than making it 'accessible' . No , those of you who know me know I am at best a mediocre gamer so I have no illusions of grandeur about abilities i have or don't have. Yes I vote for more like TWEE and TW2 and far less like that game we are not naming or that other game that had the same instances over and over and over until you got all (what?) 200 of them- it was a wasted effort on both of those developers' and I would hate to see it happen around here. Carry on- climbing off my soap box.