Am now playing Pillars of Eternity while waiting for Adventurey. Seriously couldn't get into DA:I. I like old school to view, isometrical, games.
I've put in 50+ hours in DA:I and only played PoE for a few hours and PoE DESTROYS DA:I in terms of world building, gameplay, and character customization!
DA:I is on indefinite hold for me until my best friend nags me to play it so her and I can talk about the plot >_>
Am now playing Pillars of Eternity while waiting for Adventurey. Seriously couldn't get into DA:I. I like old school to view, isometrical, games.
I've put in 50+ hours in DA:I and only played PoE for a few hours and PoE DESTROYS DA:I in terms of world building, gameplay, and character customization!
DA:I is on indefinite hold for me until my best friend nags me to play it so her and I can talk about the plot >_>
Agreed. At least Dragon Age: Origins played like a classic isometric thrown into a blender with Knights of the Old Republic, and it was a pretty intoxicating mix. The next two have been trash in comparison. On a side note, I finally got around to trying out Skyrim on the PC and find it VASTLY inferior to both Morrowind and Oblivion.
As for Adventure Y, I feel like there are infinite (no pun intended) possibilities to explore between the fight in the Undercity and the capture. Maybe I missed something, but it seems silly that your party would just walk out of Baldur's Gate and instantly be ambushed by Irenicus. There must have been some adventuring to be had before the shit hit the fan.
Well BGII intro states some people in Baldur's Gate start having doubt about MAINCHAR's links to Sarevok.
That's not something that happened in hours. Guess some time passed. Like it's not: "cheers to the hero who saved us... but he's a sleazy bastard, being Sarevok's relative. We can't trust him he will steal from us, get him out".
Like it's not: "cheers to the hero who saved us... but he's a sleazy bastard, being Sarevok's relative. We can't trust him he will steal from us, get him out".
What Amber_Scott told us the last week about gathering several pieces into one, reminds the second stage of the pre-production phase: "Once the storyline is completed, the next step a company will execute is to attempt to piece together a storyboard for the game. This is more or less a visual representation of storyline that includes sketches, concept art, and text to explain what happens in each section or scene of the game. The storyboards may be done for scripted elements within the action portions of the gameplay and more often for the cinematic CG rendered or realtime cut-scenes that are often used to further along the story of the game in question".
Nevertheless, several months ago Andrew Foley said that the first playthtough of the game was already made. This point to the fact the game is well under a production phase.
Also, Jennifer Hale tweeted she was working with old friends, that points to the production phase as well.
So, I guess "story reviews" happen not only during the pre-production phase, but also on the production phase.
@bengoshi Thanks for the reply, I think you pointed out what caused my initial confusion, that there's been comments indicating Adventure Y was quite late in the development process (e.g. it could be played through), and to me, "story review" sounds like something that would happen much earlier.
Although it's certainly not unprecedented that a game would receive a plot overhaul when it's almost ready be released due to the developers and/or testers finding faults in the original concepts, in which case I suppose a story review might be in order. Not sure if that's what has happened here, or if Trent misspoke, or if he even meant something else entirely. Interesting food for thought, though.
I'm not entirely sure what reviews Trent's referring to above (though I'm always glad/relieved to hear they've been positive), or for that matter why he'd be hearing about them now--I thought he was on vacation, but videogame production never sleeps. Either way, I think the description of "story review" above is a little more rigid than the reality, at least in my experience.
I can't speak to how other companies work, but so far as I can tell there's no hard and fast rule for when what I personally would qualify as a "story review" takes place in terms of the sequence of production. From my perspective, the story is constantly under review, from Phil, me, Amber, Liam, WoTC, Trent, the fabulous and wonderful implementers who I hope don't hate me too much for all the ridiculous and untenable stuff I ask them to do, and various QA and gametesting parties (not necessarily in that order). Everyone's doing their utmost to produce the most polished, entertaining narrative we can inside the framework of the game (ultimately, the needs of the game take priority over the story--if it's no fun to play, we've shot ourselves in the foot right out of the gate.)
This paragraph was originally a vague, I believe non-spoilery, non-controversial description of what had been done on Y so far in terms of playthroughs, reviews, changes made, etc. But Phil's Andrew Stick is always ready to whack me with when I inadvertently say too much in public, so I cut it and wrote this probably thoroughly infuriating tease of a paragraph instead. Maybe I'll post the original in my Don't Ask Me Anything thread when the game's actually released, if anyone seems interested, I can remember where I put it, and the Andrew Stick approves.
Gee, @AndrewFoley, the pressure you guys must be under ... seriously, I sympathise that as a writer your instinct must surely be to show your public what you've created, so by now you must be just bursting to tell us all about it, and yet you're not allowed to say diddly about squat! Oh, the irony! Oh, the agony!
Still, not only for your own comfort, but I reckon for the commercial benefit of the business, the timing would now be about right for a small advance-teaser (i.e. an "authorised leak") to keep the pot boiling while we're waiting for the official announcement due later in the spring, what with all the recent distractions of other releases and developments which might otherwise take people's eyes off your particular ball. Perhaps a quiet word with @PhillipDaigle would persuade him that his Andrew Stick ought to suffer a "mysterious mechanical failure" for five minutes while SuddenlyUnsupervisedAndrew slips us a new fact.
Even the fog knew that blankets were so last-century, so tonight it covered the City like a high-tog duvet, one of those with a frilly edge to tickle the ears and feet at the same time and prevent any possibility of sleep, as embarrassingly endorsed (in a memorably forgettable ad campaign) by WhyAmIStillSingleGirl. As PublicInterestHero stops by a lamp-post for a sly Strand on his way from stakeout to news-stand, a shifty character in comically stereotypical spiv costume, long dark coat and hat-brim pulled low, slips out from a darkened alleyway, sidling up to our hero in a silent mince because his previously-owned gum-shoes are a size too small. Leaning close to our hero's ear, which not accidentally shades his face from the dim light of the street-lamp, he leaves only his throat and collar illuminated. He whispers. His voice is oddly reminiscent of a frog in a kettle-drum, though PublicInterestHero can't immediately recall how he knows what that sounds like, and with that (and the extensive old scarring of his throat where a ghoul had torn it out some years before), PublicInterestHero realises that this creepy whisper is the spiv's best effort at a turn-it-up-to-eleven bellow. "Psst! Wanna buyya fact, buddy?"
I'm not entirely sure what reviews Trent's referring to above (though I'm always glad/relieved to hear they've been positive), or for that matter why he'd be hearing about them now--I thought he was on vacation, but videogame production never sleeps. Either way, I think the description of "story review" above is a little more rigid than the reality, at least in my experience.
I can't speak to how other companies work, but so far as I can tell there's no hard and fast rule for when what I personally would qualify as a "story review" takes place in terms of the sequence of production. From my perspective, the story is constantly under review, from Phil, me, Amber, Liam, WoTC, Trent, the fabulous and wonderful implementers who I hope don't hate me too much for all the ridiculous and untenable stuff I ask them to do, and various QA and gametesting parties (not necessarily in that order). Everyone's doing their utmost to produce the most polished, entertaining narrative we can inside the framework of the game (ultimately, the needs of the game take priority over the story--if it's no fun to play, we've shot ourselves in the foot right out of the gate.)
This paragraph was originally a vague, I believe non-spoilery, non-controversial description of what had been done on Y so far in terms of playthroughs, reviews, changes made, etc. But Phil's Andrew Stick is always ready to whack me with when I inadvertently say too much in public, so I cut it and wrote this probably thoroughly infuriating tease of a paragraph instead. Maybe I'll post the original in my Don't Ask Me Anything thread when the game's actually released, if anyone seems interested, I can remember where I put it, and the Andrew Stick approves.
Soooo... There are actually NO PICTURES to show or take... yet! ! !
Can I have a picture of what you can see over your shoulder at work then?
*Yes, this way we may see some of the story to over analyse until our brains hurt whilst gorging on the broken souls of chocolate bunnies destined never to be gifted to others... Mwhahahaha!*
Does this mean she's mumbling secret stuff as she times this on twitter, or that she'll be mumbling secret stuff once she's done? (maybe loud enough for us to overhear some tidbit of information?) or maybe what she's mumbling is better in the first place than any fodder for our speculative hunger. Aaaah, I feel the plot thickens!! Thx @bengoshi
I'm going to make a suggestion to the Adventure Y team in the spirit of positive and constructive thinking:
If, at any point in your story, you offer the player a choice between multiple courses of action, please be mindful that these should lead to different outcomes, regardless of scale. Nothing kills replayability like false decisions - respect player agency and they'll come back. Be more like the Ardulace/Phaere/Solaufein scenario in Ust Natha and less like, say, Dorn's endgame in BG2:EE.
Sub-corollary: if Adventure Y has specific content for Evil characters, it would be well worth your time and effort to make sure the quality is on par with the rest. Beamdog has, in the past, demonstrated great aptitude in Evil character design and basic premise, only to fall short in execution (particularly in comparison to other Enhanced Edition content). Statistics may show that most BG players prefer Good or Neutral playthroughs, but if it's worth putting into the game at all, it's worth doing properly.
If we end up getting Pillars of Eternity, Baldur's Gate 1.5 Adventure AND Torment: Tides of Numenera in the same calender year....yikes, say goodbye to all free time.
If we end up getting Pillars of Eternity, Baldur's Gate 1.5 Adventure AND Torment: Tides of Numenera in the same calender year....yikes, say goodbye to all free time.
I very much doubt, though, that Torment: Tides of Numenera will be out in 2015. We actually have a semi-official confirmation of it: "InXile are targeting late 2015 for Torment: Tides of Numenera, although Colin reminded me to emphasize the word “targeting”, adding “you know how development works”. So with that in mind, Torment: Tides of Numenera will be coming to PC in 2016"
Tholamin is a transmuter and an apprentice to a local mage. When you encounter him he is mid way into a fight with some locals (who have been sent by a mysterious Lady Viona Siamorphe) who are upset over his spellcasting. As it so happens he has been earning some extra coin on the side by demonstrating in public his ability to turn into a spider, wolf, and ogre. He periodically will alternate his form with his humanoid form as well as any one of these shapes. A player can also pay him to transform into any one of these forms.
Nah just messing with ya. This isn't what I ended up going with. April fools!
@elminster I believe causing a heart attack to a development team member may be punishable by banishment...
The good news being there is a job opening at a place that allows you to play PoE at work and a cool D&D session every Friday.
I already have two campaigns alternating on Friday and a game on Monday, as well as a less consistent game on Saturdays. This week we're going to try something new on Thursday. I've got quite enough tabletop roleplaying for now, thanks!
Tholamin is a transmuter and an apprentice to a local mage. When you encounter him he is mid way into a fight with some locals (who have been sent by a mysterious Lady Viona Siamorphe) who are upset over his spellcasting. As it so happens he has been earning some extra coin on the side by demonstrating in public his ability to turn into a spider, wolf, and ogre. He periodically will alternate his form with his humanoid form as well as any one of these shapes. A player can also pay him to transform into any one of these forms.
Nah just messing with ya. This isn't what I ended up going with. April fools!
Tholamin is a transmuter and an apprentice to a local mage. When you encounter him he is mid way into a fight with some locals (who have been sent by a mysterious Lady Viona Siamorphe) who are upset over his spellcasting. As it so happens he has been earning some extra coin on the side by demonstrating in public his ability to turn into a spider, wolf, and ogre. He periodically will alternate his form with his humanoid form as well as any one of these shapes. A player can also pay him to transform into any one of these forms.
Nah just messing with ya. This isn't what I ended up going with. April fools!
He should teach some tricks to Gazib at Carnival!
Actually if I do anything involving him mod wise it will probably involve an inclusion in my Eve of War mod. Probably someone to be found in the centre area of Baldur's Gate (south of the Diviner near all the circus tents).
Comments
DA:I is on indefinite hold for me until my best friend nags me to play it so her and I can talk about the plot >_>
As for Adventure Y, I feel like there are infinite (no pun intended) possibilities to explore between the fight in the Undercity and the capture. Maybe I missed something, but it seems silly that your party would just walk out of Baldur's Gate and instantly be ambushed by Irenicus. There must have been some adventuring to be had before the shit hit the fan.
That's not something that happened in hours. Guess some time passed. Like it's not: "cheers to the hero who saved us... but he's a sleazy bastard, being Sarevok's relative. We can't trust him he will steal from us, get him out".
"great story reviews"... Sounds VERY tempting!
What Amber_Scott told us the last week about gathering several pieces into one, reminds the second stage of the pre-production phase: "Once the storyline is completed, the next step a company will execute is to attempt to piece together a storyboard for the game. This is more or less a visual representation of storyline that includes sketches, concept art, and text to explain what happens in each section or scene of the game. The storyboards may be done for scripted elements within the action portions of the gameplay and more often for the cinematic CG rendered or realtime cut-scenes that are often used to further along the story of the game in question".
Nevertheless, several months ago Andrew Foley said that the first playthtough of the game was already made. This point to the fact the game is well under a production phase.
Also, Jennifer Hale tweeted she was working with old friends, that points to the production phase as well.
So, I guess "story reviews" happen not only during the pre-production phase, but also on the production phase.
Although it's certainly not unprecedented that a game would receive a plot overhaul when it's almost ready be released due to the developers and/or testers finding faults in the original concepts, in which case I suppose a story review might be in order. Not sure if that's what has happened here, or if Trent misspoke, or if he even meant something else entirely. Interesting food for thought, though.
I can't speak to how other companies work, but so far as I can tell there's no hard and fast rule for when what I personally would qualify as a "story review" takes place in terms of the sequence of production. From my perspective, the story is constantly under review, from Phil, me, Amber, Liam, WoTC, Trent, the fabulous and wonderful implementers who I hope don't hate me too much for all the ridiculous and untenable stuff I ask them to do, and various QA and gametesting parties (not necessarily in that order). Everyone's doing their utmost to produce the most polished, entertaining narrative we can inside the framework of the game (ultimately, the needs of the game take priority over the story--if it's no fun to play, we've shot ourselves in the foot right out of the gate.)
This paragraph was originally a vague, I believe non-spoilery, non-controversial description of what had been done on Y so far in terms of playthroughs, reviews, changes made, etc. But Phil's Andrew Stick is always ready to whack me with when I inadvertently say too much in public, so I cut it and wrote this probably thoroughly infuriating tease of a paragraph instead. Maybe I'll post the original in my Don't Ask Me Anything thread when the game's actually released, if anyone seems interested, I can remember where I put it, and the Andrew Stick approves.
Still, not only for your own comfort, but I reckon for the commercial benefit of the business, the timing would now be about right for a small advance-teaser (i.e. an "authorised leak") to keep the pot boiling while we're waiting for the official announcement due later in the spring, what with all the recent distractions of other releases and developments which might otherwise take people's eyes off your particular ball. Perhaps a quiet word with @PhillipDaigle would persuade him that his Andrew Stick ought to suffer a "mysterious mechanical failure" for five minutes while SuddenlyUnsupervisedAndrew slips us a new fact.
Even the fog knew that blankets were so last-century, so tonight it covered the City like a high-tog duvet, one of those with a frilly edge to tickle the ears and feet at the same time and prevent any possibility of sleep, as embarrassingly endorsed (in a memorably forgettable ad campaign) by WhyAmIStillSingleGirl. As PublicInterestHero stops by a lamp-post for a sly Strand on his way from stakeout to news-stand, a shifty character in comically stereotypical spiv costume, long dark coat and hat-brim pulled low, slips out from a darkened alleyway, sidling up to our hero in a silent mince because his previously-owned gum-shoes are a size too small. Leaning close to our hero's ear, which not accidentally shades his face from the dim light of the street-lamp, he leaves only his throat and collar illuminated. He whispers. His voice is oddly reminiscent of a frog in a kettle-drum, though PublicInterestHero can't immediately recall how he knows what that sounds like, and with that (and the extensive old scarring of his throat where a ghoul had torn it out some years before), PublicInterestHero realises that this creepy whisper is the spiv's best effort at a turn-it-up-to-eleven bellow. "Psst! Wanna buyya fact, buddy?"
Can I have a picture of what you can see over your shoulder at work then?
*Yes, this way we may see some of the story to over analyse until our brains hurt whilst gorging on the broken souls of chocolate bunnies destined never to be gifted to others... Mwhahahaha!*
Please?
If, at any point in your story, you offer the player a choice between multiple courses of action, please be mindful that these should lead to different outcomes, regardless of scale. Nothing kills replayability like false decisions - respect player agency and they'll come back. Be more like the Ardulace/Phaere/Solaufein scenario in Ust Natha and less like, say, Dorn's endgame in BG2:EE.
Sub-corollary: if Adventure Y has specific content for Evil characters, it would be well worth your time and effort to make sure the quality is on par with the rest. Beamdog has, in the past, demonstrated great aptitude in Evil character design and basic premise, only to fall short in execution (particularly in comparison to other Enhanced Edition content). Statistics may show that most BG players prefer Good or Neutral playthroughs, but if it's worth putting into the game at all, it's worth doing properly.
So the character I went with for Adventure Y was....
Name: Tholamin
Race: Human
Class: Mage
Kit: Transmuter
Alignment: True Neutral
Tholamin is a transmuter and an apprentice to a local mage. When you encounter him he is mid way into a fight with some locals (who have been sent by a mysterious Lady Viona Siamorphe) who are upset over his spellcasting. As it so happens he has been earning some extra coin on the side by demonstrating in public his ability to turn into a spider, wolf, and ogre. He periodically will alternate his form with his humanoid form as well as any one of these shapes. A player can also pay him to transform into any one of these forms.
(But ... wheedle, wheedle ... that's only a very small fact, Andrew!)