WorstUsernameEver

That's a... long beard.

Any new information on the game you manage to obtain with your 18 points in charisma?

So strange, never imagined something like this would happen...

Sounds interesting. Did they give you any info about the difficulty they were playing? I also read the MCA comment on the DSS as 'We'll only use it again for another heavily cinematic game without exploration'.

Another preview.

New informations, apparently from a Polish 'press pack', directly from The Witcher forums : Story’s background: After suppressing Order’s rebellion and saving Foltest’s life, Geralt enter right into middle of political mess in the Kingdom of Temeria. The witcher is helping king with restoring peace. Order’s last stand finally surrenders. Now the only thing standing on way to peace is rebellious castle of Baroness La Valette, which separated herself from the Kingdom. A month after attempt of Foltest’s assassination, his army stands in front of Baroness's castle, preparing for the final battle. In the meantime Geralt, busy with protecting the King, is not able to solve the mysterious witcher - assassin case. Case, which may answer many questions… Short story’s description: Geralt starts his adventure with attempt to explain identity of group of killers, which are responsible for assassination [in Polish “assassination” and “assassination’s attempt” is the same word so we don’t know whether these ones were successful] on Kings of Northern Kingdoms. He wants to find their connections to witchers and theirs motives. Lead follows Pontar river’s upstream, into restless lands between Temeria, Kaedwen and Aedrin – the place, where Geralt will come just into the middle of conflict of the most powerful forces of the world Story’s details: • 3 different paths, each with alternate events and side missions, leading into many various endings. • Story’s development as well as ending is fully up to player and his decisions. • In comparison to W1, gameplay will be shorter, however story will be more intense and full of events. • Mature, multithreaded story presented in understandable way. It takes place on two plains – the wider, political one, which concentrates on search for assassins – and second, the personal one, in which Geralt follows lead of witchers-assassins in search for his own identity. Both [story’s plains] lead into discovering secret of powerful forces, which have impact on our lot and understanding part which was given to us • Mature dialogues (just like in Sapkowski’s books and W1) presented in theatrical way • Enhanced flashbacks system. Scenes, in which Geralt finds out about consequences of his decision are more realistic and better joint with game • Sex and erotica is more realistic and mature than in W1 • Unique and complex world created by Sapkowski’s books • Realistically behaving characters with their own motivations and targets. While travelling, Geralt will meet common people, soldiers, rebels, powerful wizards, kings and assassins. Depending on our choices, we will meet different characters and their attitude to us will have influence onto upcoming events • Different, breath-taking locations • Living world with unique character, every one of them living with their own rules. Our actions will impact our relations to them and their communities. Depending on player’s choices, some options of interaction with game’s world will be closed and some will be active • Geralt can jump and climb walls and rocks New mechanics and technology: • Full non-linearity. [blah, blah – they explain what it is, but it’s written few lines up] • Unique additional missions more connected to the story than it was in W1. No “FedEx” missions. • More expanded character’s development system. It bases on three specialties: the sword, the magic, the alchemy. They can be joint, giving possibility of creating a mixed fight style • No-level scaling – while developing your character, opponents become easier to fight with • New mutagens system, which gives you possibility of expanding effects of different characteristics. For example – increasing power of magic • System of own items creation. You can make about 200 different items (weapon and armor) while in W1 there was 10 blades only • More armor’s elements – cuirass, gloves, belts, calf-shield [yeah, congrats for my dictionary] – you can improve every element. • You can make weapons from parts – about 300 different swords-making combinations • Random items characteristics • Improved equipment system – no boundaries on carried items. Improved sorting."

Very interesting tidbit about localization.....

They're doing some sort of conference and it's in streaming too.. but in Polish, so I don't understand a damn thing. Here's a transcript, it's still being updated : http://www.thewitcher.com/forum/index.php?topic=28286.0

The previews looks interesting. I think The Witcher 2 just joined my list (increasing it by 100%) I bought both the regular and enhanced versions of the Witcher, so I think it's safe to say I liked the game. I'm a little leery of streamlining though with the sequel. The trailer didn't show enough to reassure me. I did think the change to Geralt's appearance was disappointing. He went from being a somewhat exotic, almost feral or demonic-looking dude (which I think suits him) to a more standardized square-jawed western action-hero type. Much more generic-looking. My concern is that the entire game may be more generic as well, if that is their overall design philosphy towards W2. Apparently the Geralt shown in the trailer is temporary, meaning that they will work to change the texture and make him more feral. They also said that they weren't happy with it TW1 face because he looked out of place with the new models and his proportions were off, and they've also redone all the other characters from TW1. Apart from Geralt's looks I didn't see any indication of streamlining in the trailers and preview, quite the contrary actually. EDIT : The info so far has been good so yes, I can say that TW2 is one game I'm looking forward to.

Some info appears here and there on RPG sites and The Witcher's forums. (from Dagon on RPGWatch): You will probably want to know that they have finally get rid of those horrible fed ex quests! The C&Cs, Story and Dialogues are the most important aspects for them this time. It actually seems that they listened to the fans, and changed what they didn't like. The graphics are around 60% complete (which hopefully means that geralt's face will be changed). There is reputation system, every npc has his name, thoughts and will react to Geralt in different ways based on Player's decisions. New dialogue system seems to be inspired by Mass Effect & Alpha Protocol, time based choices, If you aren'y quick enough the system will take the default response which isn't the best one for the player And yes I am hyped! The info comes from polish previews . Also saves will be imported from TW a-l

The Witcher 2 : Assassins of Kings first preview. Revamped dialogue system vaguely similar to AP's, 'companions' more integral to the experience, more action-y combat system, no loading times for area transitions, 'romance system' (it's actually a gameplay element? never noticed) etc.. Mostly sounds good, not sure about the new dialogue system.

Cannot imagine someone so desperate to proclaim his/her love to a comic book character, but apparently they exist. So no surprise whatsoever here.

Wow. 'Magic sex scene' with Triss... MATURE! Honestly, they should scrap that 'mature' nonsense.. it's even campier than ME's sex scene. Also, me doesn't like new Geralt's face.

New Avellone Q&A

TBH the only thing I understood from that presentation was that the one who was talking thought it was really cool. Also, the logo was awful. Uhm.

Thought I had mentioned them, guess I didn't.

It's.. it's.. it's like EA and Activision are in a battle for who takes the stupidest decision. Really.

What Bioware is trying to do.. uhm.. well..

Variety issues aside, am I the only one who liked the screenshots shown in the previews? There are still low-res texture here and there, but the lighting seems atmospheric and the environment is varied and detailed enough.

We actually already saw a screenshot of the gelato guy, a conversation involving a password and a virus IIRC.

You mean Vampire the Requiem? Anyway, they pretty much scrapped the whole Gehenna concept and went for a more urban feel.

You've pretty much described one of Metal Gear Solid 3's villains, can't remember the name however. My rodent friend, care to elaborate on GURPS Transhuman? It sounds interesting.

It's like they picked the worst previewer they have and said them 'Look, this is Alpha Protocol and you shoot things here. Should be fun'. It's good to see that while being an action-rpg AP will be heavy on the RPG side, however.

Bitmob thinks Hunted : The Demon's Forge is a fantasy Gears of War. ....

To be honest I played it years and years ago and I just remember that it was a convoluted mess.