The General Videogame Thread

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

TW 1 & 2 were great - But WH just encompasses so much good that I forgive it's shortcomings it's probably the most ambitious and risky RPG I've played, it's definitely not perfect but I love almost everything about it and it's quirks are pretty forgivable in my opinion.

We had an interesting discussion recently (around this post and further), that over ambitious goals of CDPR caused them not to release TW3 for Linux. Not for technical reasons, but rather for managerial. So ironically, for me it's not an advantage of TW3 in comparison with other games, but rather a deficiency.

I.e. to summarize - smaller studios (I'm talking talking about studios that make RPGs in particular) with smaller budgets successfully managed to release their games for Linux, and CDPR despite their huge budgets and massive studio didn't manage to do it, despite even advertising it in the past. The reason as we discussed in that thread is their priority on one sided form of "ambitious" approach, rather than on one that allows reaching more people.

---------- Post merged on 22-06-2016 at 12:48 AM ----------

MURICAH' BRO!

Heh, creators of Broforce had really fun time making parodies on various action film heroes I'm slowly unlocking them, and they are hilarious. Very good platformer!

The game has an interesting history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broforce

 

[TootyNooty]

studios that make RPGs in particular) with smaller budgets successfully managed to release their games for Linux, and CDPR despite their huge budgets and massive studio didn't manage to do it, despite even advertising it in the past.

Hmm, Never thought about this, I was talking more about the game itself rather than it's platforms and distribution.
I used to use Ubuntu but I never really got into using Linux properly, nor do I know many people who use it for games, but that is a shame regardless.

 

[volsung]

I do quite a bit of animation and was subconsciously noticing a lot of the things that he points out, but to have the say of a professional really let it sink in.
To be fair I am still unable to look at another RPG in the same way - Mass Effect, with which I've been obsessed with since 2008, I had completed 5 times 1-3 but upon finishing the Witcher games I cannot look at ME, Dragon Age, the Elder Scrolls etc, etc the same. I launch Skyrim, get in a fight, sigh and close the game watch two ridged Bioware characters talk and just close the game.. I dunno it's just that the Witcher as a package puts all I loved in those other games and just blows them out of the water.

TW 1 & 2 were great - But WH just encompasses so much good that I forgive it's shortcomings it's probably the most ambitious and risky RPG I've played, it's definitely not perfect but I love almost everything about it and it's quirks are pretty forgivable in my opinion.

Obviously the old classics like Balder's Gate and Planescape along with Pillar's of Eternity that has been fun and Mount & Blade is my favourite game pretty much ever, every other RPG I look at feels inferior.

I do agree with you, especially after watching that video I can appreciate all the work they put into animation even more than before. Most of TW3 does feel natural and entertaining, unlike many other games (RPG or not). TW3 really is an amazing experience and it did raise the bar for all the "cinematic" video games out there.

But as far as role-playing goes... even the "modest" Pillars of Eternity has more to offer, despite a humbler presentation For example in terms of RPG systems, advancing the talent trees in TW3 could open up new conversation opportunities, as Geralt expands his knowledge of magic, swordsmanship or alchemy. These new conversations could provide new quests and even solve other quests with non violent approaches. But instead, all talents are only useful for combat, except the one isolated Axii upgrade which isn't available often. In TW3 we normally get two or at most three options at a time (aside from the information gathering dialogue choices), and most of the time they do not represent what I (or even a smarter Geralt) would say.

Either way we can all agree it is a great video game, with a very cool mix of exploration, dialogue, action, detective work, etc. Some time ago I said most modern games (2008+) are some sort of third-person perspective action-adventure with RP elements, and TW3 is probably the one game that ties it all together flawlessly.

 

[TootyNooty]

But as far as role-playing goes... even the "modest" Pillars of Eternity has more to offer, despite a humbler presentation For example in terms of RPG systems, advancing the talent trees in TW3 could open up new conversation opportunities, as Geralt expands his knowledge of magic, swordsmanship or alchemy. These new conversations could provide new quests and even solve other quests with non violent approaches. But instead, all talents are only useful for combat, except the one isolated Axii upgrade which isn't available often. In TW3 we normally get two or at most three options at a time (aside from the information gathering dialogue choices), and most of the time they do not represent what I (or even a smarter Geralt) would say.

It's a complex matter when it comes to The Witcher - Geralt's supposed to be a century year old swordmaster so the idea of him having to develop over and over with every new title would be odd but obviously development in mechanics is a norm' so the development of stats doesn't work in the context of him.

I play a lot of P&P so I am not opposed to specialising and making a character for a purpose then developing them, but the character you RP in this game is already of a static vocation and with a past and aspirations that may not be in line with the player, it's an odd situation that happens very little in RPG's.
Rather than the player specifying how their character would go about solving an issue he already has a set skillset which lends to the supporting characters chipping in with whichever skills they might have.

Stats, numbers and customisation are cool and all, but they're not everything, the role you're playing is pre-determined, for better or worse.

 

[volsung]

It's a complex matter when it comes to The Witcher - Geralt's supposed to be a century year old swordmaster so the idea of him having to develop over and over with every new title would be odd but obviously development in mechanics is a norm' so the development of stats doesn't work in the context of him.

I play a lot of P&P so I am not opposed to specialising and making a character for a purpose then developing them, but the character you RP in this game is already of a static vocation and with a past and aspirations that may not be in line with the player, it's an odd situation that happens very little in RPG's.
Rather than the player specifying how their character would go about solving an issue he already has a set skillset which lends to the supporting characters chipping in with whichever skills they might have.

Stats, numbers and customisation are cool and all, but they're not everything, the role you're playing is pre-determined, for better or worse.

Correct. Geralt is old and wise, not to mention skilled, and yet he always finds drowners/mercenaries/you-name-it stronger than him "Stats" are there as a vehicle to provide character customization and development, and since they make no sense for Geralt we can only assume they only slightly modify his current (campaign wise) interests or focus. That is, even though he is a legendary witcher, lately he has been working extra hard on his swordsmanship/magic/alchemy and therefore it would be natural for it to reflect in his world view and interactions. Imagine if you want to buy a phone/video card/car, then you read everything there is to know and for a few days/weeks/months you're the local expert. Then both you and the market move on.

The biggest problem with assuming that because Geralt is already who he is, "the role we play is pre-determined" and therefore very little choice in dialogue and interactions is OK, is that it makes such an "RPG" almost indistinguishable from an action/adventure. In the end we always "play roles" in video games, like Batman, Duke Nukem, race car driver, invisible tetromino mover, etc.

My complaint is not about having Geralt become a mage or a thief, but rather how rarely we get to use Geralt's known sense of humor, sarcasm and wit to find alternative approaches to problem solving. With or without "stats", I find it hard to believe book Geralt could only think of two things to say in serious situations. With more options like these, the entire game could almost be approached without "talent trees".

Edit + PS: Anyway, I simply disagree with the idea TW3 is the future of computer RPG's. The future of video games in general? Yeah, I hope so! It's really ambitious and it does everything *well*. It's outstanding and will be remembered and played for a long time. But some of its most remarkable features are not unique or particularly essential to cRPG's

 

[Alan989]

This is starting to look really promising.

 

[Saheer]

This is starting to look really promising.

Agreed. I've been following eagerly The Technomancer and it really looks very interesting. It's been too long since the last more traditional sci-fi RPG and cyberpunk at that. I just love the setting, which is the first reason i'm definitely going to buy it. From what i've seen the gameplay seems fun and satisfying, and acting seems to be good as well. It's still Spiders game - *cough* Bound by Flame *cough* - so it could turn out any way possible, but I trust it'll be at least decent.

Could this be the surprising gem on otherwise so very quiet summer game season.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Hmm, Never thought about this, I was talking more about the game itself rather than it's platforms and distribution.
I used to use Ubuntu but I never really got into using Linux properly, nor do I know many people who use it for games, but that is a shame regardless.

Well, when the choice is to make a non playable game, or playable but less grandiose, I'd prefer developers to choose the later

 

[Alan989]

Looks like Capcom's latest experiment has been a failure. Umbrella Corps has almost universally been panned by both fans and critics alike.

 

[227]

I genuinely regret believing that Ragnar Tornquist still had stories to tell after The Longest Journey. Dreamfall Chapters is a giant middle finger and I hope some kind of vengeful deity comes along to punish everyone involved. Ideally with fire.

 

[volsung]

To be honest I didn't think The Longest Journey was that great to begin with. The story was good but the execution and writing (including many of April's lines) ... meh.

 

[Phinnway]

I guess remastering games is just too hard.... :lol:
http://batman-news.com/2016/06/28/batman-return-to-arkham-delayed-indefinitely/

 

[Alan989]

I guess remastering games is just too hard.... :lol:
http://batman-news.com/2016/06/28/batman-return-to-arkham-delayed-indefinitely/

No surprise there. :rofl:

 

[Arvuti]

I guess remastering games is just too hard.... :lol:
http://batman-news.com/2016/06/28/batman-return-to-arkham-delayed-indefinitely/

They should have just played it safe and keep the engine at UE3, with the arkham games running 1080p 60fps on the consoles. That would be fair enough, they fucked themselves over by trying to port it over to UE4. I believe Rocksteady extensively modified their version of UE3 for the games, along with building custom shaders, postprocessing effects etc. Changing engines isn't just a matter of opening up the game files in the new editor and it automatically transfers everything correctly over.

 

[TootyNooty]

Looks like Capcom's latest experiment has been a failure. Umbrella Corps has almost universally been panned by both fans and critics alike.

I stopped caring after RE4, which was a really good game, but the end of Resident Evil for me.

 

[Alan989]

I stopped caring after RE4, which was a really good game, but the end of Resident Evil for me.

I'm currently trying to make my way through RE1 Remaster. Those puzzles are so confusing.

 

[227]

To be honest I didn't think The Longest Journey was that great to begin with. The story was good but the execution and writing (including many of April's lines) ... meh.

Yeah, I remember seeing it coming up in another thread and noticing that there didn't seem to be a lot of fans around here. Personally, it was the game that got me interested in the point-and-click genre a few years ago and I still remember it fondly.

Even for those who didn't care for TLJ, though, it gets so much worse. Chapters is basically Michael Bay presents: The Longest Journey. Spectacle over sense. Important characters receive virtually no development and show up to save the day because reasons, gameplay is at an all-time low, there are numerous inconsistencies, and the rules of the world are never defined for players so there are never any stakes. It got the typical 5-episode episodic treatment, and apart from the very beginning of the first one, nothing important happens until the fourth. There's tons of padding, lots of bugs, unskippable cutscenes (even for slow panning shots that contribute nothing), Brian Westhouse becomes a Jedi and can apparently use the force because reasons, and that's still only scratching the surface of the many things wrong with the game. "Game." Ugh. This is Final Fantasy XIII-tier bad.

I'm never touching anything Ragnar had a hand in again. Fuck that guy.

 

[cyseal]

Mages of Mystralia

Accompany Zia as she strikes off to train and learn to control her magical abilities that had her exiled. Journey across the lands to meet other exiled mages and uncover runes with magical properties that can be combined into millions of different possibilities, letting you come up with completely new and incredible spells!

Borealys Games is a new studio based in Montreal, composed of industry veterans and passionate young developers, some of which have worked at Ubisoft, Gameloft, Artifice, Ludia and Ankama. The story is being written by bestselling author Ed Greenwood, creator of the Forgotten Realms fantasy world for Dungeons and Dragons.

Spoiler

 

[schinderhannes.999]

KICKSTARTER FROM PAPER UNICORN

Mike here again - I wanted to throw in a quick personal plug for a crowdfunding project on Kickstarter that really caught my eye called Transmission. One of our artists passed this along to me and I was really struck by the game’s style and storytelling ambitions. They’ve still got a ways to go so just I wanted to help get the word out - it’s the kind of game I hope to see more of in the world, and I’m a sucker for exploration and minimalist sci-fi. If that sounds interesting to you, check it out here!

kickstarter.com/projects/webeharebrained/battletech/posts/1614948

I second the advice to check out and consider backing Transmission.
Nathaniel West, the art and creative director for Transmission, usually does concept art for feature films, with Inception and Interstellar being some of the recent additions to his portfolio, and it really shows.
Throw in visual homages to other sci-fi classics such as Event Horizon, Alien or 2001: A Space Odyssey and you can't help but wonder why this isn't funded already.

 

[eskiMoe]

The first physical PC game that I've bought in 5 years:

Spoiler

Totally worth it for the [alternative] box art alone! :thumbup: