Comments on: Fresh from the RPS Chatroom: DX3/T4 News

By: Goddamn

Goddamn — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:07:16 +0000

Squeenix = best CGI?

Blizzard and Blur Studios want a word with you…

By: Psychopomp

Psychopomp — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:04:02 +0000

Vin, they didn’t hire Squeenix. Squeenix owns Eidos.

By: Cedge

Cedge — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:36:13 +0000

Cry some more, bitches. I think that sounds awesome. In-engine cinematics in Deus Ex sucked.

By: Raane

Raane — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:31:01 +0000

Sad :(

Loved the subtlety of the original vignettes from thief. I really really hope against all probability that they don’t overblow it and hollywoodise it.

By: sinister agent

sinister agent — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:09:21 +0000

I also quite enjoyed the cut scenes in Mirror’s Edge. They were a nice change of style from the main game, and quite entertaining, although the animation was rather ropey in places.

By: The Hammer

The Hammer — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:06:59 +0000

“See above comment. We were totally aware of the Japanese style of cinematics and art right from the beginning – that’s why all that stuff is being done by us. They are producing our ideas. We are working closely with them every step of the way to ensure the Western Cyberpunk feel is maintained. Fear not.”

“to ensure Western Cyberbunk feel is maintained”

Portray that as PR speak if you want, but I’m not sure how else they can prove it, until they make the trailer: “The only CGI they are producing is for the trailer. All in-game cinematics are done in-engine. Again, fear not.”

Also:

“We have already almost completely lost the FPS as PC gamers, due to ‘consolization’ of so many titles in the past few years, we really don’t want to give an inch more to the consoles, as they are, and always will be inferior platforms to play anything complex on… that is, until they adapt better or completely different control.

Stars off with the pretentiousness of the console gamer and then goes on to that waffle :D”

“What about the pretentiousness of the console gamer? We, as PC gamers want to keep our games good and enjoyable, outside the influence of terribly crappy production coming usually from Asia’s direction when it comes to any kind of roleplaying game.

We have already almost completely lost the FPS as PC gamers, due to ‘consolization’ of so many titles in the past few years, we really don’t want to give an inch more to the consoles, as they are, and always will be inferior platforms to play anything complex on… that is, until they adapt better or completely different control.”

THAT is what people are responding to. THAT. That’s the PC versus stuff, earlier on in the thread.

By: TeeJay

TeeJay — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:29:03 +0000

They are doing the trailers only.

By: Vinraith

Vinraith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:41:19 +0000

@Psychopomp
I’ve read that already, I fail to see how it addresses either of the two concerns ennumerated in my response the The Hammer, much like I fail to see how The Hammer’s lengthy response has anything to do with my original reply to TCM.
Specifically, I’m not concerned about Squeenix providing things like art direction, I’m concerned that the developer’s art direction made it appropriate for them to hire Squeenix.

By: Psychopomp

Psychopomp — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:37:52 +0000

Okay, this has been posted three times now, so pay attention

http://forums.eidosgames.com/showpost.php?p=1221875&postcount=21

By: Vinraith

Vinraith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:31:21 +0000

Oh, and as an added bonus, neither your essay nor your conclusion addressed my orgiinal question: why are people trying to start a PC vs. console flame war about a problem that’s got nothing to do with platform? :)

By: Vinraith

Vinraith — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:30:18 +0000

@The Hammer

I fail to see how your essay supports your conclusion, so I’ll address each separately. Regarding the essay on JRPG’s vs. Western RPG’s (which is out of place here, being as Square is in no way involved in DX3/T4 beyond FMV as I understand it) I’ll keep it short: I’ve no interest in being objective. Everything you list about JRPG’s nicely summarize why I find them to be unplayable dreck. Everything you list about western RPG’s illustrates why, as a long time table top and pen and paper gamer, I consider them the only proper computerized implementation of pen and paper RPG’s. That legitimate criticisms can be lobbied against both is immaterial, I want to see games made that I enjoy playing.

As to your conclusion, specifically: “But more than that, there’s space for a Japanese company to contribute to the starting and ending FMVs of a Western game series.”

Of course there is. However, 1) the choice of a company notorious for a certain kind of FMV provides insight into the desired look/feel of the promotional materials and cinematics for these games. I’m sure we’re not talking anime here, but a certain narrative excess is a Square trademark and many of us are concerned that a company known for such is being chosen to work on FMV’s for games that don’t support such a tone. 2) This represents a serious misappropriation of resources. We’re talking about, at least in the case of DX3 (I can’t speak for the Thief series) a series that is pretty much the opposite of cinematic-driven. The most astounding things about the original DX was that you basically never broke character, control was never taken away from you. That may still be the case (the article implies as much) but why would a game built around choice and immersion utilize a sizable chunk of budget to hire an outside FMV house to create the one thing many of us would agree it doesn’t need at all: cinematics.

I think these are reasonable sources of concern.

By: Bhazor

Bhazor — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:20:49 +0000

Yeah, what Psychopomp said about what Hammer said