The Witcher 3 at E3

[Agent_Blue]

Yes, CDPR have already said in several other interviews that books will tell you about the weak spot of the monster that you can exploit by using the Witcher Senses in combat. Geralt will know how to track and deal with the monster without the aid of books, though.

You're downplaying the significance of this. If it lands in the final game then a distinctive and proeminent feature will have become a variation on the «Press A to win» theme.

Now, what would be terribly objectionable about this scenario:

1. The player activates geralt's senses 2. Geralt talks to himself aboput a persistent odour and certain distinctive marks do get highlighted 3. The player contrasts Geralt's remarks and the highlighted tracks against the bestiary notes and draws his own conclusions

What's so terribly wrong here for CDProjeckt to apparently feel compelled to patronize us?

 

[ReptilePZ]

You're downplaying the significance of this. If it lands in the final game then a distinctive and preeminent feature will have become a variation on the «Press A to win» theme.

Now, what would be terribly objectionable about this scenario:

1. The player activates geralt's senses 2. Geralt talks to himself aboput a persistent odour and certain distinctive marks do get highlighted 3. The player contrasts Geralt's remarks and the highlighted tracks against the bestiary notes and draws his own conclusions

What's so terribly wrong here for CDProjeckt to apparently feel compelled to patronize us?

I'm not downplaying anything. I was replying to Wichat's post, confirming that Geralt will not need books to track down monsters. I also clarified the role that books will play now, accoridng to CDPR. I was stating facts, not expressing an opinion. I still have not decided what exactly I think about the Witcher Senses system as there's not enough information on it.

 

[Agent_Blue]

I'm not downplaying anything. I was replying to Wichat's post, confirming that Geralt will not need books to track down monsters. I also clarified the role that books will play now, accoridng to CDPR. I was stating facts, not expressing an opinion. I still have not decided what exactly I think about the Witcher Senses system as there's not enough information on it.

My mistake then.

Guess I took your words as beating around the bush.

Interview with Gamingbolt

 

[wichat]

In W3 Geralt has his memory back. So He don't need to read books, because He already know everything. I thing It's fair choice.

What about a little more of common sense?

I'm doubt that CDPR will offer us 80 new diferent monsters which Geralt already know. That should be the worst and most boring of ideas. His memory is not the Bestiary Encyclopedia.

 

[misho87233]

New interview with Jonas Mattson (some interesting things) : http://gamingbolt.com/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-interview-ps4-xbox-one-versions-weather-system-monsters-and-dragons

 

[username_3547489]

I am so hyped for this game after hearing all the good things that's been said after the private demo. Here's hoping there's a public release very soon.

 

[CostinRaz]

They have Umbra, excellent most excellent.

 

[misho87233]

They have Umbra, excellent most excellent.

Can you describe what importance it has to the engine? I heard of it first time in that interview with Jonas

 

[Agent_Blue]

They have Umbra, excellent most excellent.

We already knew that.

But I can't figure out from the interview whether the demo was running on a Umbria-enabled engine or not. What do you make of it?

 

[cmdr_silverbolt]

In one of the previews I read that Geralt is commenting on what clues he sees, mumbling to himself. So hopefully we will have to pay attention to what he says and deduct from his words where to look and what to look for.

Yea, it sounds like the investigative portions of this game are inspired by the Batman games.

But I hope there is a way to turn off the "help" in this game. It doesn't make sense to give a player a hard mode for combat, but not a hard mode for questing.

 

[sidspyker]

Can you describe what importance it has to the engine? I heard of it first time in that interview with Jonas

Did a post about it a while ago

 

[Agent_Blue]

Yea, it sounds like the investigative portions of this game are inspired by the Batman games.

But I hope there is a way to turn off the "help" in this game. It doesn't make sense to give a player a hard mode for combat, but not a hard mode for questing.

Enough with the Omni-option already.

I don't want it to be optional, I want it to be meaningful, want to shift the burden from the game to the gamer, don't want it to be a variation on the theme of "Press A to win".

Here's my proposal:

1. Gamer activates Witcher senses.
2. Geralt mumbles to himself about the stench of the place and marks get highlighted.
3. Player compares Geralt's comments and highlighted marks with entries on the bestiary. Player reaches his own conclusions.

No handholding needed.

 

[cmdr_silverbolt]

@ Agent- I already believe that some games aren't meant for everyone, and that it's okay if a game markets itself exclusively to a certain type of player. But CDPR included these mechanics perhaps to increase the accessibility of their game, and it's their prerogative to do that; that's why players who want certain things have to ask for "options" or different modes of difficulty.

While we're on the subject, let's also note that increasing accessibility is not inherently a bad thing; there are ways to include all types of players into playing a game without dumbing it down.

I also think that since this world will be expansive and have a lot of details, some players might find the "sign posting" in the quests useful, but other players, who want to be left to their own devices, will not.

That's why there need to be different modes of difficulties for questing.

Ideally, a "dark mode" for questing would not have quest arrows, quest directives, or Geralt speaking out loud to give us clues; questing should be left to the analysis and interpretation of the player.

Might be a strange example, but I really like how the game The Last Express handles itself- there are no hints or game directives for the player; you just get into the story and figure it out. I wish TW3 would let us do that.

 

[Agent_Blue]

@ Agent- I already believe that some games aren't meant for everyone, and that it's okay if a game markets itself exclusively to a certain type of player. But CDPR included these mechanics perhaps to increase the accessibility of their game, and it's their prerogative to do that; that's why players who want certain things have to ask for "options" or different modes of difficulty.

While we're on the subject, let's also note that increasing accessibility is not inherently a bad thing; there are ways to include all types of players into playing a game without dumbing it down.

I also think that since this world will be expansive and have a lot of details, some players might find the "sign posting" in the quests useful, but other players, who want to be left to their own devices, will not.

That's why there need to be different modes of difficulties for questing.

Ideally, a "dark mode" for questing would not have quest arrows, quest directives, or Geralt speaking out loud to give us clues; questing should be left to the analysis and interpretation of the player.

Might be a strange example, but I really like how the game The Last Express handles itself- there are no hints or game directives for the player; you just get into the story and figure it out. I wish TW3 would let us do that.

Nothing in what they've stated thus far indicates that's what they're aiming for. But if so, that's a shitty route.

I have come to terms with Geralt mumbling to himself pearls like «This place stenches of troll's fart" and marks getting highlighted. Fine. What's hardly acceptable is that the game apparently then proceeds to interpret these clues for you. So what exactly are you the player doing there? Sipping soda and eating buttered popcorn, hey?

Give the clues away but let us interpret them. It's the very least. Under my proposal, the player gets to decide whether or not to activate the senses, gets to decide whether or not to conduct a thorough investigation, gets to decide whether he acts upon the results or mistrusts them. A lot of options. Misinterpretation would open up new gameplay possibilities such as assuming you're dealing with monster X and aiming for its forehead, when in fact it's monster Y you're battling with and striking its forehead only energizes it even further.

If the game just prompts you which monster the gathered clues point to, then there's no ambiguity, no chance to fail. And if there's no chance to fail then winning has lost all meaning and the word 'game' becomes a misnomer.

 

[sidspyker]

So what exactly are you the player doing there? Sipping soda and eating buttered popcorn, hey?

No but seriously, I do agree with you. The lesser handholding, the better.

 

[IsengrimR]

What about a little more of common sense?

I'm doubt that CDPR will offer us 80 new diferent monsters which Geralt already know. That should be the worst and most boring of ideas. His memory is not the Bestiary Encyclopedia.

Hmm, to be fair I thought books will play bigger part in TW2 ( that's why I kept the book... what was it called? It was a sort of monster encyclopedia written by some sort of semi-common folk [ or it's how the language used suggested ] it appeared in the books, Geralt got is as an award for... something, I forgot [ I need to read the books again, it seems] - in TW1 You can get it from random guy in III Act that gives it to you to pay off his debt to Leuvaarden ).

But to be fair, most of his memory is basically a Bestiary Encyclopedia, issue is, if it is, a ingame encyclopedia is nothing more than a bit illogical game mechanic as Geralt already knows what's up ( and his brain isn't saving the memory on a page of a book ).

Finding and gathering the knowledge about the monsters should be a big part of monster hunting... but no overpriced to hell and back books please.

 

[cmdr_silverbolt]

I don't think making a game accessible is shitty- what matters is that a game has some difficulty mode for different types of players. The difference between what we're saying is this: in a difficult mode for questing, Geralt shouldn't get as much help from his witcher senses, they could be nerfed somehow.

But really, all this over someone's limited impressions of the first quest of the game. Like that guy said, the on-screen prompts probably exist because this is an intro quest.

I seriously doubt CDPR would make a game where the player received on-screen prompts throughout the entire game, or at least I hope they don't do that.

 

[wichat]

Hmm, to be fair I thought books will play bigger part in TW2 ( that's why I kept the book... what was it called? It was a sort of monster encyclopedia written by some sort of semi-common folk [ or it's how the language used suggested ] it appeared in the books, Geralt got is as an award for... something, I forgot [ I need to read the books again, it seems] - in TW1 You can get it from random guy in III Act that gives it to you to pay off his debt to Leuvaarden ).

But to be fair, most of his memory is basically a Bestiary Encyclopedia, issue is, if it is, a ingame encyclopedia is nothing more than a bit illogical game mechanic as Geralt already knows what's up ( and his brain isn't saving the memory on a page of a book ).

Finding and gathering the knowledge about the monsters should be a big part of monster hunting... but no overpriced to hell and back books please.

In books Geralt find criatures which he doesn't know and which even surprise him. And he knows some creatures only from its names. In books, Geralt doens't know ALL creatures and ALL their features.

 

[ReptilePZ]

In books Geralt find criatures which he doesn't know and which even surprise him. And he knows some creatures only from its names. In books, Geralt doens't know ALL creatures and ALL their features.

And that is why books will give you more specific details on how to deal with them. Geralt knows/remembers the basics about the creatures, but the books still point him to how best to dispose of them.

 

[wichat]

And that is why books will give you more specific details on how to deal with them. Geralt knows/remembers the basics about the creatures, but the books still point him to how best to dispose of them.

RRRRight!