Nonek

Fallout 2 and playing Tragic: The Garnering with Wooz in Gecko, the Ghoul proceeds to tell me of his story of a skull in hell and I just have to believe that this is a prototype of Morte from Torment. Think i'll take a break and see if I can snag my copies of Poe from the backer site, I assume the rush has died down a little. Edit: Oh no novella yet, ah well have to make do with reading the almanac.

Thank you for the reminder i've had Unrest on my GOG shelf since release now, I really have to get around to playing it, after Fallout 2 and Poe. I've personally got no problems with a game that has very little or no combat, so long as it has some kind of gameplay, but if it does have a significant amount of combat then i'd prefer that it be fit for purpose and enjoyable, as combat is an important part of an RPG to me. The option to skip all content to me is not the same as a voluntary termination of the game, such as leaving the Mojave for California or deciding not to become a Grey Warden say, I think those would have been legitimate options though obviously more joke content as they render the game pointless and devalue ones purchase. What i'd object to is a choice to skip every instance of interaction with the game, and proceed directly to an ending, without any actual gameplay or learning of its systems. In my opinion it would lessen a game, one may as well watch a film or read a book, and in all honesty for those of us who would choose to play I fear for the quality of the content that remains when everything can be skipped. I appreciate the Far Cry 4 waiting around ending, but ask myself why I couldn't proceed on with the game as an ally of Mr Min, exterminating the Path. It seems to be a perfectly legitimate continuation.

Unwashed Villagers arise from your slumber, the hunt beckons.

Now that I would be totally in favour of, in general a lessening of combat as a means of filler content does seem to be on the cards, especially in games where one has been portraying some kind of moral struggle. Making those combats have ramifications and interesting mechanics, as well as being skippable might also be an answer. Then again as Malcador rightly states some players are drawn to combat heavy scenarios, though I suppose that is where clear definition and reporting of a games strengths and features is a priority. Know ones role I suppose is the appropriate saying.

Hmmm but rather than a skip combat button wouldn't the more appealing option be to make the combat interesting and challenging? A skip combat button gives me a little shiver of doubt, it firstly excuses a developer from making a good combat system, and secondly is one step on a dangerous (to me at least) path, one where everything can be skipped.

I agree on combat and cutscenes being optional, well the latter at least skippable, but one suspects that those occasional forays into slaughter are very cheap to produce and easy to make, replacing them with other content will be costly, and no developer has infinite resources. Plus I enjoy well orchestrated combat, ones that stretch my abilities to the max. So is the answer more depth but less breadth, fifty locations that heave with life, challenge and reactivity, rather than two hundred which are mere unreactive backdrops and obstacles, because unfortunately that may well impinge on folks who simply want to roam and experience a large play area. Edit: I suppose the perfect example of the above problem is BG1 and BG2, there are still many whom advocate rightly enough for BG1's free roaming world as superior to BG2's hubs of activity.

Though I have no conclusive figures I suspect that it is the audience whom are more invested in gaming as a hobby that are more likely to buy games that really do innovate and are creative, and not just use those terms as marketing buzzwords. However even the most pedestrian of AAA+ games can add innovative and progressive features, one just has to look at New Vegas and its DLC compared to Fallout 3, the former was far more delightfully ambitious and creative. To dismiss the AAA+ industry entirely is foolish and extremist, there are lessons to be learned from all layers and generations of the medium. Now finding the right lessons, one assumes that is the hard part.

Indeed it's most amusing, I judge a lot of combat to be needless busywork and thrive on as much detail as is possible, while relishing the few combats that challenge and frustrate me, and present me an opportunity to improve my grasp of gameplay and tactics. Opinions...

Playing recently through several very well designed games and observing forum discussion I am increasingly becoming aware that streamlining when implemented correctly can have very favourable results: Fallout for instance is a tight, coherent and very well designed game, with just enough content to make an interesting and viable world, but without the unnecessary flab that its successor has in my opinion a little too much of. KotOR 1&2 both have enormously dull and pedestrian opening segments in Telos and Taris, however the first game quickly opens up and provides a rollicking roller coaster ride similar to the original movie, while the Sith Lords gets a little too bogged down in crashing again and again in different areas. I personally was not invested after Peragus until facing Atris, except of course for my conversations with Kreia, which are an undisputable highlight of the game. Compare the original campaign of Neverwinter Nights 2, which had some remarkable potential hidden by so much pointless meandering and slaughter, to the tight, dense, reactive and unique setting of mask of the Betrayer. It seems that there is a trade off to be found here, trimming the repitive flab that weighs down a game in order to present far more highly detailed and replayable areas, that add to the experience rather than force one to endure them. Normally I champion the improvement of mechanics, the addition of content and features, because we have seen games scope shrink over the years, but here I think is one point where streamlining may be attractive and beneficial. To take NWN2 as an example, consider what might have been if the companions had been fewer, but far more detailed, reactive and integral to ones struggle. The areas we travelled through had been fewer, but held far more content, reacted far more to the players actions and were viable to visit in the late game, rather than being abandoned after a single trip through them. Perhaps if we have interesting, multilayered and reactive locales, then the constant usual demands are not needed to occupy our time. Instead of a dozen combats along a linear corridor, open up alternate paths, informative NPC's, and give us many means to solve situations according to our character. What is your view, is this a degenerate opinion that will lead to more features being stripped and less content, or will it focus on the exciting at the expanse of pointless grinding, or will it rob players of their urge to roam, meander and explore which is a very viable gaming experience?

Yes they're species not races if one wishes to be precise, though there are races of the various species, such as Human Meadow and Savannah folk. It's quite an original and welcome move in my opinion. Edit: As to why this is not specified, I suppose it is just to make things easier. Players have gotten used to calling Elves, Dwarves and others races even when they cannot breed with mankind.

Oh so its the old diatribe and invective against people who believe in SJ values Okay, I have heard it all before and I'm still not convinced As for the other part of the question. No I don't think I use innuendo, I am clear on issues and what I mean. Perhaps I am guilty of sententiousness at times but I still appreciate debates and I have changed my views on some topics...so its not like I'm completely intransigent Ha, because I raise a clear and uncontestable point that happens to be detrimental to SJF's my views are to be dismissed and do not convince you, yes of course you have changed your mind and will accept logical arguments. You contradict yourself within the space of sentences. This is why I do not deem you worth interacting with, your arguments are shallow and repetitious and your viewpoint is hypocritical and two faced considering your proclivities. I shall not further derail the thread as you wish me to do, so consider this exchange terminated.

Game journalists and SJW's obviously, I cannot be any more direct than stating things clearly in good English, if one cannot understand that then they must accept their own mental limitations. Also do you not think it is rather hypocritical to accuse me of sermonising and innuendo in light of your own constant boring and repititious routine Bruce?

Those whom play games recreationally are a massively diverse majority, whom do not focus on their own races and genders, but rather on skill and individuality. Compare this to hypocritical, predominantly white SJW's, trying to focus on race, gender and diversity, yet remaining a group of pseudo intellectuals, largely of one race, whom feel they have the right to tell others how to act and think. One group is diverse and always has been, the other just talks their moronic talk. Case closed on diversity. put up or shut up.

One of the X Men got lucky?

And stop calling me Shirley.

Moonblade/Mahakaman rune sihill suffers same fate. Kind of sad considering how much work it takes to acquire it. At any rate new weapons and armour are very rare in first Witcher. While in 2 you find silver swords lying around in puddles. So true, personally I think that pacing was perfect. It really says, to me at least, that one can design a game where the tyranny of loot does not dictate gameplay but rather is a welcome addition to gameplay.

never played it, but we did see frequent complaints about south park bugginess at release. it were one o' the only things we do recall from reviews o' a game we had no intention o' playing. we like south park (most o' the time) but a sp game didn't grab us. regardless, we do recall bugs being mentioned. HA! Good Fun! I had one bug when invading the tree house castle at the end of the game, which necessitated a quick load, other than that it was stable as a rock. I was unaware of any egregious issues, several friends commented on its stability, the game being somewhat of a water cooler topic at work. But obviously my personal experience does not trump documented issues, though due to the press' obsession with Obsidian bugginess i'm somewhat dubious.

You could write entire reams of text on Leigh Alexanders insecure toxic speech, but strangely enough i'm of the opinion that nobody will.

Game journalists seem obsessed by Obsidians reputation for bugginess, yet when New Vegas had almost the exact same (if not worse) bugs as Fallout 3 and Skyrim, it was Obsidian who had Russ Pitts frothing at the mouth and screaming that he was done with the developer, while Skyrim was of course best game forevah and evah. Seems a little two faced, especially when South Park and Dungeon Siege (both steady as rocks) were not praised for their lack of bugs.

Never mind the length, feel the breadth.

A little worrying that the people at Kotaku like Poe, makes me somewhat nervous, then again they've probably not really played and are simply jumping on the what's popular at the moment bandwagon. I'm surprised they don't have a problem with the tens of thousands of gamers whom funded this project, one would think that they'd boycott it for that reason.

Impressive work Ms Fresser (one assumes you're a Ms due to the female avatar, if not please excuse my ignorance,) not exactly my specific cup of tea but one cannot help but be impressed by your skill.

Hopefully we'll be surprised by what twists and turns the main narrative takes, I always like when a game throws me into deep waters when I am just going through the motions. For everything to be labelled and explained beforehand smacks a little too much of MMO's for me personally.

At the risk of repeating myself, there's only one appropriate way to mispronounce "Dyrwood": Showing ones age but I must admit that this did crack me up, then again one has rather fond memories of Elisabeth Montgomery.

If I hear Dyrwood pronounced Drywoood one more time i'm going to...tut and roll my eyes. Is basic literacy too much to ask for?