Nepenthe

Pretty sure it isn't, otherwise Alpha Protocol would indeed have NO C&C like Volo loves to shout. Obviously, 'C&C' has a different definition depending on the circles you ask, and the Codex will keep moving the goalpost, but I'd generally say that providing both story and gameplay consequences what you do works. From the little I've seen Mass Effect 3 works on a similar approach except a lot of the choices are provided in the two early games and that there are fewer consequences on a gameplay front. There's also the ending.. yeah. Let's just ignore that. Thanks for the clarification. I think that the genophage is about as good an example of multigame C&C you can get without and/or areas/questlines in the game. Decisions from the two previous games essentially make an otherwise fairly unpalatable choice become the only reasonable one. In Rannoch it's a more straight "third door" option for having the right people still alive. Of course it's a pity that it all gets reduced to points (that have basically no impact on the ending) afterwards, but personally I'm impressed by how well they managed to integrate consequence into those two storylines in subtle, yet effective ways. I can appreciate subtle, pure continuity porn

Yeah, here in the liberal nordic countries teenagers dress like strippers every weekend, no need to stamp a stupid nerdy theme on it.

This game'll still cost less than you spend on games you'll never play on any given day of a steam sale.

Yeah, looks like I missed something, alright. I checked Giantbomb et al and Watamaniuk wasn't listed for ME3. But in the in-game credits, he does indeed appear as lead designer. I guess the in-game credits are the go-to source for this. I was also misled by the fact that Watamaniuk is known to be working on TOR... can't say since when, though. After reading on it a bit more, it seems he took over Christina Norman's duties after she left. I'm not sure what that means. My bad. Christina Norman was in charge of the separate team they had working on just the gameplay in ME2 and ME3 (which had at least Manveer Heir, Eric Fagnan and Corey Gaspur in it, IIRC). When she left, that team was simply moved directly under Preston. I think the other Watamaniuk brother's been working on SWTOR, can't remember his first name, but there's definitely two of them.

Makes sense, if you think about it. Good organizational and project management skills aren't something most people are born with, exactly. So maybe, just maybe, the project lead for ME3 was in over his head. It's odd, because while both ME and ME2 have a "lead designer", there is nobody credited as having that job for ME3. You can also see how the lead writers changed from ME to ME3 and, coincidentally, main plot quality has seen a very steady decline. Eh? Preston Watamaniuk isn't credited as ME3's lead designer in spite of having been just that? Either somebody's missed something, or he disavowed the project as well.

Larger... than Baldur's Gate 2? I think you didn't think that one quite through.

Is area branching really the (only) yardstick for C&C? Coz that's the impression I keep getting.

I haven't tried it in a while, but I assume that the problem is that it's, you know, broken, as in not working. Certainly doesn't work on OS X/ipad.

I think the Omega DLC is almost a given; not just thematically, but simply due to the fact that Aria remains flagged as an important NPC until the end. Of course, now that they are at least giving the impression of trying to unscrew the pooch (and well the Mythbusters did prove that you actually can polish poop), things might change. (Also nearly shameless doublepost, tee hee) p.s. Is it just me or is the readiness decay hella fast? It's like 2 % overnight. O_o

Mmh, I refer to what I posted in the other thread, there were obviously some very talented writers (and designers) working on this game, yet there are some macro level issues throughout the game that actually snake into the "micro" towards the end of the game (basically Thessia onwards). Not sure if they worked on the game chronologically and just ran out of time, or if their resources were directed in the wrong places or simply if their project direction bit off more than they could chew.

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I was just thinking about this earlier. It's funny, because it's true for DA2. But it's sad, because it's almost the opposite for ME2. They finally perfected the formula they were toying with from ME1 onwards only to totally **** up on the narrative side of things.

The poignancy somewhat disturbed by the authors' inability to spell "decision".

Nah, just gym to rebuild my core and kick start my metabolism, for the moment.

Been doing SP and MP Mass Effect 3. Loved Priority: Tuchanka probably even more the second time around and is a really nice mission, the elevator bit is a nice change of pace and gameplay, and even Kai Leng doesn't ruin it. I hated the MP until I unlocked the Krogan Sentinel and the Disciple shotgun (at the same time, I might add), now it's rather enjoyable unless I try silver and run into the people who are too 1337 to play with me. ****in' xbox live.

How the **** do I scrutinise 140 character messages from the project director that report what the team is doing? I mean, you're not making any sense to me. It's not like Oster's tweeting about "deep meaningful gameplay" and we're parroting it here, it's all stuff that's concrete to what they are doing, or what he says they're doing. And I'd think the latter is obvious without having to get all Kierkegaard.

Well, since Trent Oster's tweets are basically the only source of information, what the **** do you want him to do? Use his crystal ball?

1. I suppose it helps them work the UI and whatnot, but its all under the hood stuff so why do we care? 2. They are adding an unspecified number of new areas and quests, new music and one more NPC. 3. I did see something about restored cut material but I don't remember where, so its an open question. 4. We'll just have to ask them. There will be new difficulty settings most likely. 5. Probably not. We have to ask them. 6. Probably impossible. Why would you want to do that, the environment wouldn't be seamless and some parts would be pretty nonsensical? "Travel" between locations is implied and part of the original design. 7. There will be no achievements. Beginning tutorials will be reworked to make them more friendly for new players. I think there was a specific "we're looking" at the stuff included in, say, Unfinished Business. But then again, they also said they are including mod support, so unless they feel that they have more/original/better info on some stuff that was in UB, they might just leave it as is.

Thanks. Well, went again on Saturday and then again today. Saturday workout was hell, probably didn't fuel myself enough after the first workout as also had a splitting headache for most of Sunday. Feeling a lot closer to normal after today's. I hope I'm gonna bust most of my gut before I realize what my ex leaving and two years of hammering on the dissertation did to me physically.

So we can post pics of guys being nailed to crosses but can't say ****pit?

Okay, would you now give a suggestion or is that going to remain some faint expectation that the game inevitably fails to meet? The way I see it, we could bitch all day long about how these evil money sucking developers are trying to trick us all into buying a decade old game again or we could draw up a list of stuff we want to see done and fixed, make sure they get it - and see what they do with it. It costs nothing, I'll even do the leg work of writing up and sending the email on behalf of the "jaded fans loitering at Obsidian forums" - all you have to do is supply the grief. Why is it so unreasonable to ask for 'one concrete improvement that seems substantial'? Zoom. I also consider a support for a wider variety of resolutions that doesn't require me to use a tool if I want to switch resolutions, or, in fact, read posts by the arrogant (yet apparently talented) **** who made the mod when I run into issues. That particular mod never worked with the OS X version, btw. (a lot of the others do) and that version hasn't worked properly in years, anyway. With the integration to the OS level app store on the mac side, maybe BG3 will be an Apple exclusive.

That one at least is explained in game- in the codex, I think, since I noticed it and went looking for an answer. Resigned from the council to prepare for the reapers when the council did it's standard sit-on-hands routine one time too many. That's just lazy. At least they some lip service was paid to the other inconsequential choices. This was one of the bigger decisions in ME1, not to mention how it's the last choice you make in that game. Yes, Bioware always said it was a crucial decision. That's why it doesn't get stored in the end game save.

So, first time at the gym in almost two years, and first time ever being trained by my cousin's ex-NCAA sprinter husband. I'm going to be so sore tomorrow I'm afraid I won't get out of bed.

Oh, I'm perfectly aware that is their rationale. I'm just hoping he'll be given what he deserves (ie. shouts of "you work for ****!"). That said, they're still sending Evil Chris Priestly there. ;P

I hope they are more up to date regarding mr. Weekes, his opinions and impact on the games he has worked on, than you are.