elkston

There is only one English localisation. That's the one you'll get in the UK and in the USA, so don't worry. The only issue with import versions versus the American ones may be that you might need to download different patches. Not a big deal for me. I played the "UK" version of Gothic 2 in June of 2003 because the USA one did not come out until October of the same year. It was the same English voices and text as the USA version that came out.

Gothic 3 has gone gold and will be released to all of Europe on October 13th. Germany/Austria will get the Germain version and everywhere else gets the English version. For a source, go to rpgdot.com and find the news item. A link to Pirhanna Byte's annoucement can be found there. The tentative release date for the USA and North America is November. But, if you are in the States/Canada and do not want to wait here are some options. 1. Gameplay.co.uk - UK e-tailer that ships worldwide. I used them for the UK version of Gothic 2 and they are reputable. Gothic 3 product page: http://shop.gameplay.co.uk/webstore/produc...uctcode=RM02367 2. Game.co.uk - Another UK online ship that ships worldwide. Gothic 3 product page: http://www.game.co.uk/ViewProduct.aspx?cat=10341&mid=326433 3. gogamer.com - A USA based shop. Someone at RPGDOT has asked gogamer if they will import the UK version of Gothic 3 and they said yes. They did the same for the UK Gothic 2 so I beleive you will be able to order it from them (and pay domestic shipping instead of overseas) as the release date approaches. Otherwise, just wait until ASPYR releases stateside in Novemember (or maybe later?). Personally, I am not waiting. Also, a new video of the English version of Gothic 3 has just been released. It is one of the best yet and now you can really see what is closed to the finished product with full localisation: http://www.worldofgothic.com/?go=comments&id=169 P.S. : Kaftan B. and Judge Hades .... it is time to rejoice!!!!

Correction: Yes, these are video caputres, not really "screenshots". They are taken from a 1024x768 *.wmv movie (5K video bitrate) of gameplay footage.

You know, I betcha if Black-Isle or Bioware was doing this game you'd be saying "Yeah, the graphics aren't the absolute cutting edge, but they are adequate enough and its the gameplay that comes through in the end." The situation is no different here. Personally I think they look at least as good as Oblivion. And honestly I am glad I am not discerning enough to look at a picture and tell if its got anistrophic filtering on or off. I would go crazy nit-picking over graphics all the time. Remember folks, this is not just some action game with RPG-light elements. Its a full-blown RPG with a huge world, tons of spoken dialogue and actual choices. And NO LOADING ZONES. At least cut it a bit of slack in the graphics department. And even then I think the graphics are pretty good.

You played Gothic 2, right? The Gothics have always had large areas with no loading zones. And if you played them on decent systems, then you would have experienced no pauses in gameplay. I suspect Gothic 3 will be the same. And to respond to the other query about the system this gameplay vid was taken on. I am not certain of the system specs for that particular machine. However, these are the most recent recommendations for Gothic 3: Minimum specs: * P4 2,0 GHz (or Athlon XP 2000+) * 1 GByte RAM * Geforce FX 5900/Radeon 9600 with 128 MByte Recommended Spec. (To see all details at a resolution of 1024x768): * 3-GHz-CPU * 1,5 GByte RAM * Geforce 7800 GT/Radeon X1800 XT with minimum 256 MByte Video-RAM

These are 33 Gothic 3 screenshots taken from a high-quality ingame footage video. It seems to be the same build of Gothic 3 that they are showing off at the Game Convention in Germany. This is supposed to be the near final version of the game so what you see here is likely to be what you get for real (which is great for the most part!) Release date of G3 is October 13 for all of Europe (that means German version in Germany/Austria and English everywhere else). USA official date is still pending, but some sources say October 30. Personally, I am going to see how far off the USA date is and if it is more than just a few weeks, I am going to just order it from the UK (I am in the States). Sites like game.co.uk will ship to the USA. OK, here are the screenshots. Fighting scavengers with a double-bladed polearm: http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...393ed0c5a0a.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...3b27aba1c2a.jpg Arrival & conversation at a settlement in Myrtana: http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...574332092cf.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...6b0e79aa8e7.jpg Casting "Rain of Fire"(?) on a group of snappers being fought by you and an ally: http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...ab6e7fb4395.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...ef03be209e9.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...cf5185c2743.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...3691831e35e.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...97d8e3c1916.jpg Discussing learning options with your new friend. Note the lush fields and long view distance: http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...dac9b6f32da.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...3a6d9931d56.jpg The main character screen. Note the now 9 attributes (previous Gothics only had 3) and also the list of talents ("perks") on the right: http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...d71a184d21f.jpg A wolf gets the smackdown. A quick note about combat: It is almost entirely mouse-based, so no more comments about "Did they fix the controls this time?": http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...dfe1fe9205f.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...fc06dbdea3b.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...f202dfd4e2e.jpg More conversation at a settlement. The backdrop in the first screenshot is just gorgeous. And remember -- No loading zones -- AT ALL -- EVER! That means whatever you see off there in the distance you can get to with zero gameplay interruptions: http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...4d7bf3a8511.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...ea1b2a19f9a.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...dc13c219303.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...66239fe4627.jpg Exploring a cave in the desert (or beach perhaps?): http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...6db75968919.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...e84d5c8e192.jpg A city in the desert region of Varant: http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...295aa784362.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...a263645f186.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...09f11fc373d.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...042bdc6c0ad.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...e7bae15a9d6.jpg Overlooking the vast dune sea of Varant (remember, no loading zones!): http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...399fbcffe85.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...be8dbc578b9.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...0a4f70be029.jpg Fighting minecrawlers with swords and magic. Note the ragdoll physics at death: http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...499cd205a3a.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...92ff53d34f7.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...e50bd2d585f.jpg http://fileserver2.jpghosting.com/images/0...b453ad0029b.jpg

If you are in the states, the way to obtain the expansion is to buy the budget pack: Gothic 2: Gold. It includes the original G2 and the expansion. You can get it at amazon.com. My advice is that since you already have G2, just play the original game for a bit and if you like it enough -- stop playing and buy G2:Gold so you can play it with the expansion. The expansion requires you to start a brand new game because it alters details about gameplay and adds lots of content to the 1st and 2nd chapters. There is also a brand new part of the island to explore that most players do during the 2nd chapter. And unlike what a lot of people say, the expansion is not exceedingly difficult. It is challenging, yes. But not impossible. Just remember to specialize and not try to be a "jack of all trades".

If you're at all into party-based games and turn-based combat then Wizardry 8 is a must. I cannot state it more simply than that.

I betcha "Kaftan Barlast", despite his snooty objections, will be the first in line to buy Oblivion. Cause there is absolutely nothing out for single player CRPGs. He is as desperate for a good game as all of us. Don't try to deny it Mr. Barlast. You cast aspersions on Oblivion, but come March 21st when you see people are playing it and having blast ... you will cave in and buy it. The feeling of missing out will overwhelm you. P.S. - The same thing will happen with Gothic 3.

And what is your criteria for an "adult" story? On the contrary I think Gothic is mature without being in your face about it. There is profanity here and there and few smatterings of sex and nudity. But these situations always happen in the proper context. They are never gratuitious. The characters and story elements in the Gothic series are no less mature or adult than the stuff in BG2 or KOTOR.

It's almost nothing like Might and Magic. In fact, the game it most closely resembles in mechanics and interface is Ultima IX. Though many people have said Gothic is "Ultima IX done right". Gothic 2 Review at RPGDOT Night of the Raven (addon) Review at RPGDOT NOTE: If you get Gothic 2 Gold (only 14.99 at amazon), you get both Gothic 2 and Night of the Raven. I am telling you that based on what you wrote you are interested in : -Action RPG -Not purely hack/slash -A sense of wit, but not always funny No other game matches what you said more closely than Gothic and Gothic 2. Do not listen to any horror stories abou the controls. Once you get used them (which takes about 5-10 minutes) they are 2nd nature and you can start enjoying the huge game (about 80 hours of gameplay w/ addon) in front of you.

Yes the Gothic series fits the description of what you want very well. It's going to be very hard to find the 1st one in stores and you'll have to look at Ebay. Expect to spend $50 at least. Note that I am talking about the English version of the game. A better bet is the sequel, "Gothic 2" (just as good w/ some gameplay improvements). You're in luck because "Gothic 2: Gold" has just been released at a budget price. It includes the base Gothic 2 and its expansion "Night of the Raven". You can get it from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...ogames&n=507846 or try your EB or Gamestop. Man, it is scary how *exactly* Gothic/Gothic 2 fits with what you described. It just goes to show how badly marketed those 2 games were (outside of Germany that is) if that is your criteria for picking an RPG game and you have never heard of them.

Ultima 5. So *very* closely followed by both U7's though.

Man, at least you are playing the game -- giving it a shot. That's more than I can say for a bunch of people who didn't even try to learn the controls (they aren't THAT big a deal) and just gave up. This one guy who reviewed it at GameSpy gave it 2 stars. And his review was full of such misinformation that you knew he didn't even play it past chapter 1. IN fact, I doubt he even got that far in Ch. 1.

The first real RPG I played was Starflight (for the PC) back in 1986. I had been gaming for quite a few years before that (C64 & Apple), but that was my first RPG. Starflight was incredible, a true classic. Such a great feeling of exploration and a memorable story. And that's not just nostalgia talking. Star Control 2 was a great game in its own right, but many people have forgotten that they got plenty of ideas and inspiration from Starflight. http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/starflight