Starwars

Thread makes me remember how much complaining there was due to no horses in NWN2.

It's all good and I'm sure we are properly annoying to each other on the forums anyways. This camp gets annoyed by that camp and so and so forth. Let's hope we'll all get some enjoyment from the final game at least.

Do I often do that Sensuki? Really? I have certainly joked about it but not particularly because I enjoy seeing a grognard upset. Many (most) times I agree with the "old guard". I really don't like the restrictions on casting outside combat, I don't like that I can't transition from a zone when I'm in combat, I don't like the skill system, I still feel the combat feels hectic and hard to see exactly what's going on, the itemization (at least from what I've seen in the beta) feels disappointing to me, list goes on (though I do like the engagement mechanics). Though it's true that I probably don't feel as passionately about the issues as a lot of folks do (and I'm *glad* there are people who have the passion, don't get me wrong). I was on the barricades about Fallout 3 when it was in the making (I daresay that was rather farther from the goal of being a sequel than PoE being a spiritual successor to the IE games). But there is a sense of arrogance, downright rudeness, sense of entitlement and crappy attitudes that have permeated these forums since a bit after the beta release that is grating and annoying. I expect it on the Codex, where we all let our true feeling out, not here. That is rather unhelpful. There have been *great* feedback from yourself (probably the greatest source of feedback throughout the entire beta period), yet it's a shame that much of it has been coated with venom and video game zealotry. As always when we're dealing with communication between humans, I suspect that may have gotten some feedback/opinions to get overlooked and dismissed rather than welcomed. Constructive criticism is *good*, a critical eye is *good* but presentation and basic human relations is key if one wants people to actually take it to heart instead of feeling it is simply complaining. The tactics are good, but the strategy is lacking. But, this thread is about BG2 and PJ's struggles with it... As such, I guess it's either BG2 just not being to PJs taste or PJ maybe having a bit of a forced perspective on the game and having entered it more as an experiment on why some people hold it in such high esteem. I personally never needed a particular angle or perspective to approach BG2 from it, I had fun with it the first time I started it (having played BG when that came out). There was no secret there for me, even with many, many deaths on my first playthroughs. I did not enjoy IWD as much personally though I still found that fun as well. Different strokes.

ToB is trash so you surely don't need to play that. I'd say try to give some more of the storyline a go (I don't like it but then again I think I enjoyed the openess of Athkatla and then surrounding areas quite a bit more than you do) if you can't find it in you to enjoy what you're doing in the game right now. If it doesn't grab you, then you don't need to play it. While I don't find BG2 amazing, I found it fun the first time I played it (but I was also pretty young then, not sure what I would think nowadays if I tried it for the first time) but you shouldn't force yourself. Play something you like instead. There shouldn't be a need to find som secret key to liking a game.

You guys should totally do a shoutout to Shadowrun Hong Kong though.

Pursuing the main quest is where BG2 just completely drops off the radar for me. It's crappy. I always loved the open and big feel of Athkatla (and then the surrounding areas once you get to exploring those also) in the opening chapters though I would also agree that there is a big feeling of the game dumping things on you. But that open and big feel of it all is addictive. But once one pursues the main quest, the game's CHR goes down the tubes.

We are going to try to hit the release date exactly (or as closely as possible). Boxes are in production as we speak. Will boxes go out from Sweden (per Paradox) or how does that work? Since I added international shipping, I'm wondering (I'm in Sweden)... I assume no change is needed there?

Would be great to hear something on this!

I do believe it is time for some news on a new update!

I think alignment had its place to shine within the Planescape side of things. It was interesting there, nice flavor. Other than that, I'd be glad to see all "morality tracking" systems gone from RPGs forever.

BG2 doesn't let you play a one-dimensional LG-bound freak. If that's how far your definition of Paladin class goes, it's probably a bad idea to roll a paladin in any game. But don't be so upset - it's a very common mistake. Many people think that playing a paladin is about casting Detect Evil before talking to anyone and, in general, smiting some "evil" at every corner. "Hey you! You, crossing the road in the wrong place! Feel my holy wrath!" What BG2 offers in roleplaying is a *lot* more limiting than simply not being able to play a "one-dimensional LG-bound freak". Choices in quests is not something BG2 does well generally. In my mind, the game excels at exploration and its large sense of scale. Not because it offers multitudes of ways to solve things.

Lots of people are going to conclude it's not as good because there's a *huge* amount of nostalgia attached to the IE games, and BG2 in particular (though OEI of course brought that upon themselves with their kickstarter pitch). That's not to say that there won't be people who will objectively be able to point out relevant things that BG2 does better, or point out reasons why they would prefer the BG2 "way". But the nostalgia attached to BG2 will keep that game firmly rooted in place as top dog for the people who holds BG2 as number one. That's just the way media and art works. Lord knows I have my own favorites. Plus, of course, PoE is but the first game in a series (hopefully) with rulesets, lore and all of that stuff developed from scratch. So certain things will just be more developed in BG2, no question. In the end, I would hope people will be happy if they get a good game at least. While comparisons can be useful in improving games, the idea of "competition" between these games is really silly in my opinion (and I'm guily of it myself, having seen BG2 held to the skies throughout all these years whilst only finding it "good" myself).

Given that I think BG2 is one of the most overrated games ever (though I still find it enjoyable, had a fairly good time when I replayed it last year) I fully expect PoE to be a better game in most ways.

Just got a facebook update from Harebrained schemes that the Shadowrun: Hongkong kickstarter will go live at January 13th. Get your wallets ready!

ShadySands for president!

I think more work is still needed on the visual side of things, there is still a ways to go in the visual clarity side of things. That's still my number one problem. Other than that, I hope they'll keep offending the self-proclaimed IE die-hards.

He was involved in Rock'N Roll Racing?! Feargus, you are my new hero!

Actually started up Final Fantasy 9 on a PS emulator. This was always my favorite FF (well, didn't play the ones after 12). Just loved the atmosphere in it. Haven't played it in many, many years now. Kinda fun to go back to it. I haven't really played much jRPGs since, well, around FF12 either. Not sure if I'll finish it but I'm enjoying the nostalgia trip for now, it's a very charming game.

Can't stand it. BG2 after you leave for the prison is pretty meh altogether but ToB is even worse.

I think it was way too "gamey" and annoying to really feel like an Alien experience. It's like they tried very hard to copy the first Alien but in the end couldn't shake the classic videogame trappings (you need this item to open this door, but to get this item you need to get that item which is behind yet another locked door etc). Or that Alien had pretty down to earth, human, characters. But in-game Ripley only gets afraid/anxious when it suits the game, like when cutscenes take over. There's no remorse for when you shoot or bludgeon another human to death To me, that disconnect ruined the game completely and I was simply annoyed by it. Again, wouldn't necessarily bother me much in another game but since this tries so hard to be "authentic", well... That said, if that doesn't bother you, the aesthetics are certainly nice and it get can get stressful at times.

Still Dead State, 32 hours in. This game is a lot bigger than I thought it would be (though it's also, similarily to WL2, a bit too slow overall). Having a great time, maybe the surprise of the year for me.

Only battle music is bad. And if it stays like that, I guess I will have to. And it will be -1 for any user review I will do. Ah, internet...

22 hours into Dead State. This game is a diamond in the rough, it's pretty damn awesome. The survivalist bit of the game gets too easy though, but man, it is addictive as hell.

Yeah, the Hobbled effect feels really weird to me also. And even aside from its over the top look, it's not really what I would think of when I think "hobbled".

I'm really, really glad it doesn't.