Wormerine

I agree here. Micr business revolves around many things. Sure, they want system sellers to push XBOX but they also have Game Pass. Adding more niche games to it's library is something they might be interested in. Did people who played Morrowind/Oblivion/Skyrim or Witcher3 played all previous games? Nah, also fallout might have weight, but not to audience Fallout3 was targeted at. Did a game ever not sell because people got scared of a number?

So, back before PoE1 was released I thought an idea of scripted interactions was brilliant. Obsidian often tried to to more then engine properly supported (like sensing with force in KOTOR2) and SI seemed like a good way of implimenting those ideas without being awkward. With that in mind I found PoE1 interactions to be greatly disappointed - it mostly focused on very mundane interactions. Then White March came out, and I thought it was done really well - burning house, mine card ride, puzzles and others were all brilliant. Then again, I was excited to see a more robust scripted interaction interface for PoE2... So what did you guys thing of Scripted Interactions in PoE2? I don't recall any standouts. I felt most of the time they were money saving feature, then enabler of interesting moments - like it would be nicer to have actual enterance to a dungeon, or interaction with NPCs on a map, but we will do it via scripted interactions cause it's cheaper. In other words Scripted Interactions rarely did something that couldn't be done via existing systems. Some things pop up to my mind - like storm, but honestly I didn't find it particularly memorable.There was also some fun stuff in the DLCs (like trial of a boar from SSS), though I don't think any of it was as good as White March (but what is!)

In a way. I see it as a brand identity. I don't think it has to be a "game wouldn't sell as well if it had Pillars in the title" but a case of what Obsidian wants "the Pillars of Eternity" brand to represent and what they want Avowed to be. I don't think pitting "PoE" in Avowed title would hurt it, but why would you do it? It won't boost Avowed's profile and and you will only annoy PoE fans. If Obsidian doesn't completely erase a possibility of making PoE3 at some point in the distand future, it's good to leave the brand untouched. All they will have to do is announce that they are working on PoE3 and everyone will understand. At the same time they are free to do whatever they want with Avowed and not face a backlash from people invested in the IP.

I personally thought Fenstermaker/Sawyer made a good combo. All PoE1 needed was more polish, revision, iteration, and it could have been one of the greats.

So you are telling me, that objectively, Skyrim/Bloodlines/or-whatever-other-game have a high quality Third Person gameplay? I am not disputing that you, or anyone else complaining, would enjoy Avowed/Cyberpunk better if it had TPCamera, but I will claim that games that design their system around specific perspective work better. Dark Souls wouldn't be as good if it needed to accomodate FPCamera. Deus Ex,Thief wouldn't be as good if they needed to make exploration work with TPc. Set top-down camera in RPG works better, then Dragon Age: Origins, which switched between TP and top down camera doing well neither. As a side note, I tend to prefer my melee combat to be in TP, and shooters in FP.

I don't think Avowed being success makes PoE3 impossible, and I agree there would be a benefit to having a more niche games within the IP. My bigger worry would be, if Obsidian is genuinely interesting in making it. Sure, it saved a company and, at least initially proved profitable.... but is someone at Obsidian interested in making it? Josh was rather vocal about disliking some things (like classes and RTwP combat), and iI remember him saying that if he were to make another onr he would need to find a way to make a game he would enjoy making, and players would like to play (citation needed). Now, when Obsidian isn't desperate for cash influx... is there someone really passionate about the project to invest years of their life into it? And if so, how far would it depart from original "IE spiritual successor"?

On the other side, I don't recall a game which had both First and Third Person and didn't play awful. And thinking of Thief1&2, Systemshock1&2, Deus Ex - FPS immersive/RPG sim aren't new. I would definitely get either dedicated FP or TP rather then half-ass both. Luckily for me, I am fine with either.

Take my advice with a grain of salt - I have been a fan of Witcher IP since I read books in high school, so I enjoyed all three games on that basis alone. I think all 3 games a worth giving a go. Without a doubt W3 is the best out of three. Still, CDPR subversive quest designs is there from the beginning, although in Witcher1 There are couple ones that stand out from the crowd, rather then being a standard. Combat is the biggest offender - it’s not action RPG just yet - rather it’s roll based RPG with a rhythm game to continue performing attacks. It’s not interesting in any way, but I also found it fairly inoffensive. It doesn’t take much brain power and doesn’t waste much time. plot is all over the place, Geralt’s amnesia gets old very quickly, however, it has some great moments. To say more would be a spoiler. Eurojank and it’s finest and jankies. W2 is closer to witcher3. Its more polished game, but also my least favourite in the series. Mostly as game’s narrative doesn’t play to Geralt strengths as a character IMO. Also you need to play it twice to see all of it. There are two different 2nd chapters (really) depending on a choice at the end of chapter 1. My favourite example of overambitious reactivity. Rather then focusing on characters, this game is very focused on politics of the witcher world - something that gets completely overwritten in W3 anyway. Still, like with w1 there are some really good bits. Both games are a much shorter time investment then w3.

That's unfortunate downside of GPS in video games. Whether it is Skyrim like, Ass Creed or others, one quickly starts ignoring enviroment and just follows icons. However, you can disable GPS and game still works pretty well actually. A lot of quests have verbal descritions, and if in trouble one can always refer to the map. I plan to make a full playthrough like that, as soon as I upgrade my computer at some point in the future.

I am curious to see. To me, personally, lack of PoE anywhere in the title suggests a very standalone experience - I don't expect story, systems, themes or tones to be tied in anyway to PoE1&2 (they could be, but could not be). However, it is also possible that Avowed is PoE3, and change of IP name is used to 1) not scare off new audience 2) not annoy old audience. A lot of conversation around Baldur's Gate3 revolves around "but is it really Baldur's Gate?" Possibly, with the state of the world at the end of PoE2 it would be possible to introduce new protagonist, new story thread and still reveal to the new audience all they need to know (from the point of witness to the Eothas aftermath, rather then with inside knowledge of the Watcher). What I find odd is the title - it seems very specific to built a lengthy franchise on... Avowed2? Avowed again? Avowed for life? Everyones Avowed MMO?

That will do nicely as well, but I am more interested in fried cheese anyway. EDIT. Damn, now I am hungry. Supper time I suppose.

Feed me full of smažený sýr and Kozel and I might be willing to concur.

No, Poland is the centre of the world. But yeah, I meant west, past the big water. USoA EDIT. Of course, quality has a final say really. Sergio Leone films don't reflect values of american genres that it uses (be it Westerns of Gangster films) but due to their quality they provide a unique, critical take from an italian film maker.

Yeah, my mention of CDPR doesn't really make sense. Originally, my comment was a bit long-winded and I mentioned that I feel some polish games touch western subjects but do it with foreign mentality. That's were Cyperpunk comment came from, not awkward edgyness.

No argument here. "Hatred" anyone? I feel there is this tendency to make an edgy game in the most embarassing way possible. That's kinda why I am worried about Cyberpunk... Witcher's strength was that it was a very Polish licence. Making a more western game - they might ring false. miss the mark, whatever you want to call. I didn't like what I have seen so far.

Mostly refering to things like names were changed to be intuitively convey what author wanted to convey. Poetry modified to still somewhat sound good and convey the meaning. That kind of stuff - that wasn't Shrek kind of translation, where jokes are completely different. Tolkien uses language in very specific way and that's something that can't be ignored nor easily translated. In PoE specifically names could be problematic (Dyrwood has a meaning and will take some thinking to properly translate, or most likely find fitting substitute). Also different races speak in different manners. How will one translate Huana's speach pattern? Those are things that need to be taken into account and 1) Indeed require context which translator might/might not have 2) will take time to think through and review, and I doubt deadlines were generous. And I think that if such details are lost PoEs loose a lot of it's charm. Perhaps that is a reason why I didn't like Obsidian games until I lived for couple years in English speaking country and became more fluent with the language.

Hey, Poland gave you CDPR. Other studios need to balance it out.

Well... [spoiler below]

In factions questlines you will have plenty space to explore what are strength and weaknesses of each faction and decide which one will appeal most to your character. I agree that Valian seems like a possible fit for your rogue. There are also different subfactions WITHIN each faction, so you can fine tune your character choice even further.

I am also afraid that PoE aren’t the easiest to translate. It’s use of language is unusually sophisticated for a video game. For Tolkien it took 2 tries to translate it properly into Polish, and honestly the strength of 2nd translation is making changes to the source material. I have been wondering for a long time, if Bioware basic and simple language was fully intentional for world-wide appeal.

There is nothing about systems of Avowed, but it makes perfect sense - one doesn’t need to create assets that would nicely fit on our character! Imagine how many armors we can have if we don’t need to see it animated

I like Far Cry 3 though. It's definitly Ubisoft-the-game, but I thought it was one of the best versions - even Towers were fairly enjoyable, and side activities are reasonably paced. For the first island. The game lost me, when the fun villain kicks the dirt, get replaced by a boring dude in a suit, and we get to do everything once again. Also, unlike AssCreed you actually control the character.

I don't know. I had more fun watching and rewatching this trailer then playing Skyrim for 30 hours (God 30? I don't rember anything of note happening) I worry that if Avowed will take place after PoE2, that will mean most likely end of PoE... though maybe, with enough interest in Avowed, PoE will get some love and people will realize how great the series are.... Meh. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. Que Sera Sera As "prequels" go, KOTOR turned out rather well.

I would take Wizardry8 Pillars game over Skyrim Pillars. But beggars can't be choosers.

What looks worse? We haven’t even seen Avowed and most likely won’t see it for quite some time.