A fellow youtube commenter suggested I check out Project Eternity, a Kickstarter project by Obsidian.
I finally had time out of my day to make a contribution: $250.
I'm not saying you all should contribute. I'm still skeptical how this will pay off, 2 years later.
But looking at that image set my mind nuts:
-The Fallout series. My most favorite PC RPG of all time, Fallout 2. The ever so brilliant jump to 3D, and then New Vegas.
-KOTOR 2. One of the greatest female lead roles and supporting roles in a video game ever. To hell with lip synch and a rushed ending: these characters are real.
-Alpha Protocol. A tense spy thriller with brilliant dialog and choices that actually mean something.
-Planescape.
Planescape: Torment.
THE Planescape: Torment.
Infinity Engine or new technology be damned:
You give money to Obsidian.
It's shameful... I only ever finished two of those games.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I share your scepticism. Since the thing is already on the fly I'll only support it when the product gets out.
I can't seem to hand out 20 bucks for something that's in its first stages of development (and I'm not sure it's going to work out), let alone 250.
There is a reason why Planescape is right in the centre. :P
ReplyDeleteThough isn't that a bit odd that they're taking credit for the Black Isle games? Sure, there's a bunch of BI people in Obsidian but still.
Speaking of which, have you heard that Black Isle was revived recently?
We'll see how this works out when the first Kickstarter game gets released - Double Fine Adventure. I don't think they have shown anything from that game yet, though.
Okay, I have a few questions, Smudboy. Do you mind if I ask them here?
ReplyDelete1. How do you wish to be adressed? Smudboy, Stefan?
2. Out of all games which plot you analyzed which one is the best?
3. Did you had a chance to play Alan Wake since it came out on PC? If yes, what do you think about the game's story and methods of storytelling?
4. How is the story in the Assasin's Creed series doing so far?
5. Is making the main character mute in a video game a good idea?
1. Smudboy's fine.
Delete2. The game with the best plot, or as a game? I'd say Deus Ex: Human Revolution has a great plot and great game play.
3. Haven't tried.
4. I actually like the AC series. I'm not a big fan of genetic memory, but the frame narrative works, even if at times I don't care for it. Having the majority of the storytelling occur in a virtual world makes us believe in the world of a giant conspiracy, regardless if the causes are aliens or what not (that was a bit unnecessary, but who knows what they're doing here.) The time skips work, and additional games can all neatly connect within the idea of multiple genetic histories. It's a pretty neat way of telling a story, when everything is a giant interactive flashback. "This is how it really happened."
5. It's more a storytelling technique in gaming, neither right or wrong, and if the developer knows what they're doing, can pull off both well. Classically, it's used for players to fill in the blanks, and in more Western style RPGs, to be an avatar. It wasn't really necessary in, let's say, Chrono Trigger, but it worked just as well for association. I would, however, love to see a main character who is actually mute in a video game you get to control. The idea of having a voice, tone, way of talking, attitude, is much more difficult to pull off, as the character would have to be easily likable, or else players simply wouldn't want to play. This isn't hard, however, in typical RPG style backgrounds (being the caring, good-natured hero, for example.)
Compare that to a series like, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, for example, where one isn't exactly a good entity, though definitely not an anti-hero in comparison to greater evil they are surrounded by; especially with RPG/DnD style mechanics, where one can be as evil or good as one chooses.
Well, actually Those Who Came Before are not aliens.
DeleteMultiplayer of AC Revelations gave you additional story pieces, the mai attrraction being able to see what modern Templars are doing from the point of view of a guy who becomes their Top Operative. But there were also Abstergo Files - a bunch of documents, photos and pictures that give you more info on them.
Here's the last one:
"Little is known about the beings of the First Civilization, but recent findings have enabled us to ascertain several facts about them. Those Who Came Before were native to the planet. Like us, they were a product of evolution, a process that undoubtedly took hundreds of thousands of years. One theory is that the skulls from archeological sites around Boskop, South Africa, give fossil evidence of their existence.
These beings were anatomically similar to humans, though they were taller and their skulls approximately 30% larger. It is theorized that their larger skulls housed bigger brains, which could explain why they possessed six senses, allowing for a more sophisticated perception of space and time. Those Who Came Before also had a longer lifespan, and evidence of their passing can be found throughout the planet, not only in the ruins of their lost civilization but also in our own myths and legends.
Indeed, after the Toba catastrophe, the survivors of the First Civilization continued to interact with mankind, influencing many aspects of our societies. We suspect the ancient pantheons – such as the Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Indian and Mesoamerican pantheons, to name a few – were largely influenced by Those Who Came Before. The fact that myths and deities from different cultures share so many similarities only strengthens this hypothesis."
So they are pretty much first humans. Then they created a race of slaves who were inferior to them - modern humans.
And one thing on a side note - I bet you still remember Kai Leng, eh? The guy who appeared in one random novel and then out of nowhere became the second most important antagonist next to TIM?
DeleteApparently the Assassin's Creed series has a similar character - Daniel Cross. Only it seems that Ubi made a better job of foreshadowing the guy. He got 2 comic books (which are apparently pretty good) but he also appeared in the multiplayer of ACR - you learned all the most important facts about him you need to know in a game from the series before his actual reveal. Seems like Bioware should have done a similar thing.
@Ake Polak
DeleteYou're confusing alien with extraterrestrial.
Doesn't word "aliens" imply that they are alien to this planet?
DeleteNo, it implies something that is outside of our knowledge. It's foreign, different.
DeleteAll extraterrestrials are aliens, but not all aliens are extraterrestrials.
Somehow, I'm surprised you like the AC series, Smudboy. The reason for this is that I hear a lot of people say that it sucks, yet funny enough don't give any argument as to why it sucks (plot wise).
ReplyDeleteI like the AC series as well. The thing that stands out for me is that Ubisoft really lets you get to know the protagonists over the course of the main games. That and it feels more consistent and thought out. Although I have to admit that I was disappointed with Revelations since it felt like a spin-off and had barely any main plot development.
Regardless, it's my favourite series of the recent years. It used to be ME, but then ME2 came along...
Well, personally I loved Revelations. From the beggining I somehow felt it was not the grand finale but pretty much a moment before the said finale (AC3). They took that moment to show you Desmond's past. They let us catch a breath before some really nasty stuff will occur.
DeleteAnd yet - I still think a lot of important things happened. I don't want to talk about it here though. Spoilers.
And about criticism for the story and apparent plot holes... People are quick to complain about them and yet slow to point them out.