Cantousent

Here's the real problem: getting folks to agree upon those problems that should be fixed in KotOR two. In fact, the real problem is getting folks to agree on what was a problem and what wasn't. Combat wasn't awesome in KotOR, but I didn't really care. Force powers being overpowered or how some "expert gamers" felt about the game means nothing to me. I'd like the game to be longer. That's probably the biggest compaint I have with virtually every xbox game I've played. I'd like to see more planents. I'd like to see more options to solve problems outside of combat. I'd like to see more force powers impact dialogue options. This would be a start for me. I might be a "casual gamer," but these issues are important to me. If combat were generally more difficult, that would just be an added bonus.

L5R? I prefer the Phoenix clan, personally. ...Not that I have a chance to play anymore.

You know, I just realized how asinine my post sounded. I think the graphic for the masked fellow is well done. It

How long does it take you to create these images. Are you given detailed descriptions and strict guidelines or are you free to "wander" so to speak? Personally, I prefer the white haired chic better than the masked doofus, but that's a matter of taste, I suppose.

I'm sorry, Karzak. Sometimes when you write KotOR, I must read NWN. After all, the same arguments seem to crop up in regards to both. Substitute a few words here and there, and we've got the same argument all over again. As for the reasons I like the game? Well, I could argue that I liked the characters, the graphics, the voice over work, and the atmosphere of the game. That would all be true. I'm going to give you a hand, though. I liked KotOR because it was Star Wars. I liked it because I remember seeing the first Star Wars in all it's mass culture appeal and finding it, indeed, appealing. When I played KotOR, I said to myself, "wow, looks like Bioware should have written the screenplay for Episodes one and two." Notice, episodes one and two also have the Star Wars names associated with them. I am not, however, a big fan of episodes one and two. I can't speak for others, but I suspect I am not alone. I'm as big a PS:T fan as anyone here. It's my favorite game, but that doesn't mean I'm going to carry a chip on my shoulder the size of a boulder. KotOR can be fun without threatening PS:T. I've always admired your single minded drive when it comes to discussions, Karzak. I think it's crazy, but you stick to your guns. Fair enough, but saying that KotOR succeeded in large or in part because of the Star Wars name really has very little significance. In fact, it answers the originating post rather well. After all, why have a bad feeling about KotOR 2? It will sport the same Star Wars label, right?

Folks say the same thing about Dungeons and Dragons, Karzak. Does the fact that Baldur's Gate relied on a license in order to sell make you enjoy the game less? How about ToEE? How about IWD2? How about some of the truly lackluster software sales over the years? "Game X only sold well because of its (license, hype, rabid fanbase, etc.)," arguments aren't really about the quality of the game at all. They're more about a disgruntled gamer who sees his style of gameplay either as threatened or under-represented. Hey, NWN wasn't my cup of tea, but obviously a ton of folks loved the game. ...And it's sold well enough for two expansion packs and a ton of player created mods. Folks arguing that NWN wasn't a money maker for Bioware really should take a look at the company. After all, Bioware isn't exactly behind on the rent or failing to make payroll. The thing is, it seems as if NWN went outside the Dungeons and Dragons fanbase. Hell, if anything, Dungeons and Dragons benefited from NWN. I've railed against NWN as much as the next guy. I think it was the wrong way to go and I heaved a great sigh of relief when I played KotOR. ...But somewhere along the line, you have to stop yourself from assuming that your tastes drive the market. The fact is, the current generation is rarely the generation to decide what is or is not a classical success. However, the current generation does decide what will be a commercial success. As much as some folks might hate it, KotOR sold well. Saying that the Star Wars license was the only reason it sold well is simply sour grapes.

I'd give you a long rant concerning philosophy, but I'd rather just point out that MCA, like most folks, has probably spent a lot of his time honing his skills, learning from his mistakes, taking note of his successes, and planning great things for the future. Since we don't have any choice anyhow, we might as well give him a chance to make the best game he can. No doubt, that's his desire.

The writing is great. It isn't perfect, is it?

To be fair, however, I agree whole heartedly about the story teller. That's dead on. In fact, I thought (don't kill me for this) that PS:T could have used less text. It was the single biggest complaint and, like a lot of good writing, all it need was someone to take an axe and carve out some of the excess weight.

...But the fact is you do rate PS:T as superior in the writing contest. Now it just comes down to the details, seen from the perspective of several years for PS:T and a bare year for KotOR, that might explain why you find the writing superior for PS:T. Since, by your own admission, you prefer the writing in PS:T, you have probably spent at least some time considering why you prefer it. At the very least, you had to consider such things to make your post. I believe, however, that you've spent some amount of time considering this question. I don't think it matters. Clearly, both PS:T and KotOR are well designed. I'm not trying to be diplomatic. I firmly believe this. If I had to choose one over the other, it would definitely be PS:T. That's irrelevant. Both served as great entertainment. I can't put my finger exactly on why I like both games as much as I do. I can only hope that whatever mojo MCA has will work it's way into KotOR 2. To me, it's far more useful to discuss why KotOR was a commercial success while PS:T was not. That's a matter for a huge discussion, I'm afraid, and I doubt this thread is the best place for it.

First of all, kumquat, you've always been a geek. Second of all, I really hope they put in the choice of how you ended the last game. If we have the NPCs limited because of what some folks did in playing the dark side, that will truly suck. If they start doing that, I hope there are ways to kill certain NPCs as a light side character. What if, when playing as the light side, the main character were forced to kill the HK-47? Would the dark side players be happy if he were no longer available? What about Canderous? The whole point, at least I thought, was to give players the option at the beginning of the game. If they remove everyone who might have been killed in KotOR One, then the design team might as well design the game with the assumption that the ending of the first was a dark side ending. Personally, I think that will eventually cause just as much strife for the design team as if they were to assume that the first game had a light side ending. Maybe more.

I, for one, hope to see some participation from the developers. The idea that they don't have enough time is silly. Sure, they're busy and it's their right to read and answer threads or not as they choose. Frankly, I've been happy to see some of the team answering questions and keeping in touch with the board population. It's a good thing to see and I hope it continues. If the developers come on to discuss some of the issues with the members, then the forum can only be enhanced. Will I buy the game if the developers don't frequent the boards? Of course I will. I want the game because of the game, not because of the accessibility of the developers... or lack thereof. Nevertheless, getting some access to the developers does promote interest for the folks who come here.

I'm going to wait to see. That's the only choice we have, I guess, but there seems to be a lot of "info" going around that is contradictory. It's obviously too early to tell.

an xbox. The requirements for KotOR weren't too tough on a PC, were they?

Don't be so jaded, Jaesun!

I don't understand why they would presuppose that the majority of characters finished as the dark side. It just doesn't make sense. I'm sure folks can come up with arguments about why they should fashion the next game upon the assumption that the dark side won, but I don't think I'll be the only person who finds the setup lacking. I'd much rather see them institute something that allows the player to decide how the first one ended than to do a "one size fits none" approach or assume a "dark side ending" for the first game. If that happens, then you can pretty much be assured the folks who prefer playing the good guy can be just as vocal as the minority who thinks it's kewl to play "I'm greedy and rude therefore a great evil." I think it's a big mistake to try to work things so that the new game doesn't reflect the different endings of the first game. That just reinforces the complaint that sequels always presume the good guys won in the first game. After all, in one case, it presumes a light side ending which doesn't reflect dark side choices. In the other case, it simply says that neither the dark side nor the light side choices matter.

I'm glad the protagonist will be human again. Some games are superior because of the choices they offer. Others are superior because of the detail they offer. In the case of the first KotOR, the story is tighter because the protagonist is human. The player then has plenty of meaningful choices in terms of what he does with the character. Personally, I think a ton of race options would make the story a mess. Now, my question is this, if we start out as a dark sider by the choices we identify during character creation, will we have the oportunity to change? Redemption might be the first compelling reason I have to finish a game I've started as the bad guy.

That makes sense. ...And it will be a lot less irritating than trying to placate the "dark side ending" crowd altogether. Let them play the bad guys. Fine, but don't screw the rest of us in the process.

Thanks, Draikin. I set that up as my background also.

I can see it now: TNO, on a little R and R from the blood wars, gets drunk on Mandalorian ale and forgets his identity again. Now, he's on a rampage, kicking Sith ass and trying to remember where that portal was to the seventh plane of hell. With his trusty floating computer, named Morte, and a cute wookie, named Annah (voice over by Sheena Easton), he masters the force and his own mortality yet one more time.

I was literally cracking up at this one. On the other hand, TNO remembers who he is at the end of PS:T and Star Wars is part of the multiverse. Maybe the protagonist really is TNO on R&R from the blood wars.

I remember the first time I walked up to a chest and tried to stick my excess items in it. That was funny. I wasn't very quick on the uptake so I tried to figure out what was wrong for a good 10 to 15 minutes.

I wouldn't mind catching midichlorians, but I've heard it eventually makes you go bald, become really short, have pointy ears, and walk with a cane.

My God, it sounds like Planescape: Sith Lords.