~4 minute Mass Effect trailer on 360 marketplace

[Volourn]

"The fact that Dragon Age isn't touching it says enough about how next-gen awesome it is."

 

All that says is that DA is a different game with (similar) but different goals.

 

As for the bartender + gun thing. I agree with you. While it's cool; it's definitely not "OMG! Stuck a gun in a bartender's face so I ****! LOLOLOLOLLIPOP!!!)...

[Llyranor]

I'm too lazy to dig them up, but read up on the E3 previews from the main gaming sites. They really overhyped the real-time aspect of the dialogue system. No more outdated conversation trees, you can pull out a gun in real-time with true facial animation!

[Craigboy2]

"The fact that Dragon Age isn't touching it says enough about how next-gen awesome it is."

 

All that says is that DA is a different game with (similar) but different  goals.

 

As for the bartender + gun thing. I agree with you. While it's cool; it's definitely not "OMG! Stuck a gun in a bartender's face so I ****! LOLOLOLOLLIPOP!!!)...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"tIS s LiKe teH nXt GTA!!!!"

[GhostofAnakin]

I'm too lazy to dig them up, but read up on the E3 previews from the main gaming sites. They really overhyped the real-time aspect of the dialogue system. No more outdated conversation trees, you can pull out a gun in real-time with true facial animation!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I've been screaming for that to be a feature in my video games for years now.

[Craigboy2]

Pro's:

 

- Graphics

- Facial animation

- Seems more non-linear than Jade Empire

- Several worlds

- Different combat...

 

No's:

 

- ...which seems to be slow and uninspiring

- Generic VO

- Fixed main character

- Framerate

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't think you have a fixed man character.

[Musopticon?]

Finally saw it. I was pleasently suprised, although the battle mechanics and interface seemed everything but interesting. I wish there was a battlemap-system where you could position your forces, like Heavy Gear. Granted, it seems a bit overkill with only a three man team, but this "floating an icon to place"-thing looks redundant and less than fluid. Some high points of the trailer were:

 

- The sleek scifi look, it seems that while Bio doesn't exactly go very original when art direction is considered, they do a worthy job nevertheless. I would have liked a Nostromo-themed look more though.

- Graphics in general, they were top-notch. Faces and looks could have been better, but graphics are without mention the main seller for this Biospawn.

- Music, smooth, cold, anal. Fits the game well. The sound effect that plays when they display the game's logo at the end gave me goosebumbs. No matter Bio's previous stumbling with music(Jade Empire excluded, pure Jack Wall awesomeness), this time they seem to deliver.

- Seems like very freeform, although the planets could be one-location-ten-rooms-random-loot-gigs. We'll see soon. I'm hopeful though.

 

Obvious lows:

- I don't know about you guys, but killer robots are NOT an interesting antagonist. Give the primal evil elder race ting any day. I hope they name them Ancients or Dominators roflcopter!!!12

- Dialogue looks irky in quality. While Shephard sounded almost reassuring, the bartender and the chick at the casino(what the heck was up the with the background screaming?) were just funny. I reserve my judgement for later though. Who knows, maybe Bio can deliver.

- The Premise! Save the freaking galaxy! Only you can do it! No matter if we have the freaking Space Orbital bloody Jumper Corps with stardestroyers, it's up to you to go planetside and fight away with your ginormous 3-member team of dweebs! You're our only hope, healing potions 1000 gil!

 

Meh, I'm reserved, yet mildly interested.

 

W00t, no more moderated status!

Edited July 14, 2006 by Musopticon?

[Meshugger]

Pro's:

 

- Graphics

- Facial animation

- Seems more non-linear than Jade Empire

- Several worlds

- Different combat...

 

No's:

 

- ...which seems to be slow and uninspiring

- Generic VO

- Fixed main character

- Framerate

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't think you have a fixed man character.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yeah, Volo + others already corrected that. I was too lazy to edit my post though.

[10k fists]

My sources indicate otherwise.

 

 

"Sources" also said that Jade Empire was to be an XBOX only title as well.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I guess we'll just both believe our sources then. I have great faith in the people I talk to though, as they are hands on "in the know".

Edited July 14, 2006 by 10k fists

[Darque]

I'm inclined to believe Alan.

[Bokishi]

I'm inclined to believe Alan.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Me too

[Dark_Raven]

(w00t)

 

I do not know......

[Bokishi]

(w00t)

 

I do not know......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Just go with the flow...

[jaguars4ever]

Okay - when does this new awesomness come out? :cool:

[Dark_Raven]

Okay - when does this new awesomness come out?  :cool:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Soon my little kitty.

[Dark_Raven]

(w00t)

 

I do not know......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Just go with the flow...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am one who doe not give into peer pressure or go with the norm. I'm a rebel.

[Bokishi]

(w00t)

 

I do not know......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Just go with the flow...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am one who doe not give into peer pressure or go with the norm. I'm a rebel.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Resistance is futile

[Blank]

All these comparisons to JE... I almost consider JE to be an adventure game. This looks a little like that, but more like Oblivion than anything else: real-time fighting, dialogue atmosphere, less linear (JE=very linear), and all that jazz.

Edited July 14, 2006 by Blank

[Llyranor]

Bah, when the crap are Obs going to announce their console titles?

[jaguars4ever]

All these comparisons to JE... I almost consider JE to be an adventure game. This looks a little like that, but more like Oblivion than anything else: real-time fighting, dialogue atmosphere, less linear (JE=very linear), and all that jazz.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You gotta be kidding me, Blanky!

 

JE an adventure game? Sure, it was one hell of an adventure, but it couldn't be a truer RPG. The role-playing experience present in JE is surpassed only by the FOs and perhaps PS:T.

 

Also, how can you say it's very linear when you say it's like Oblivion? Oblivion is pretty much the most open-ened you can get - bordering on a SP MMO likeness.

 

But you're right about one thing - there are comparisons between JE and ME: Not only have they both ascended to the realm of being totally sweet, but they're also individual reasons to buy their respective consoles alone!

[Darque]

[Blank]

First, let's clear some stuff up about this dialogue tree junk.

 

Scene- PC talking to bartender:

 

Bartender: Besides Commander,inslults won't get you the info you need.

 

PC Dialogue Tree: #1- Then I'll buy it

#2- Cross me and it'll cost you #3- I'm not bribing you

#4-Threat's might (this one is chosen)

 

PC: (Draws gun to bartender) Billions of lives are hanging in the balance here, I won't let some pissed bartender slow me down (Camera cinematically moves around to faces and body shots).

Bartender: (frightfully) Wait! Hold on, I, uh, just remembered, she's in the casino, (Eyes and head nod to the left) upstairs. (stutters) You.. you can't miss her.

PC holsters gun while bartender sighs relief.

------------------------------------------

That is detailed, with the eyes and head bobbing to the location he speaks of. This is going to be a real cRPG I think. Just the jist of what is going to be said is put on the dialogue tree, then the cinematic type thing takes place. I like it, since what the player chooses to say is actually spoken, as opposed to being imagined as said, like in most all rpg's I've ever played. What is said is fresh though, since only the idea is chosen.

 

JE an adventure game? Sure, it was one hell of an adventure, but it couldn't be a truer RPG.  The role-playing experience present in JE is surpassed only by the FOs and perhaps  PS:T. 

 

Also, how can you say it's very linear when you say it's like Oblivion?  Oblivion is pretty much the most open-ened you can get - bordering on a SP MMO likeness.

 

But you're right about one thing - there are comparisons between JE and ME:  Not only have they both ascended to the realm of being totally sweet, but they're also individual reasons to buy their respective consoles alone!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmm, well, what you say may be true, but I am biased. JE's combat just demolishes all of its good qualities for me. So blocky and choppy and the hits don't come close to connecting on their targets.

 

I couldn't stop everything and play pazaak in any cantinas during JE. Stuff like that makes RPG's better, giving subtle options. Sure, there were minigames, but only as the story allowed. You could revisit the games, but that took me out of the Role-playing experience; it felt like metagaming.

[Llyranor]

First, let's clear some stuff up about this dialogue tree junk.

 

Scene- PC talking to bartender:

 

Bartender: Besides Commander,inslults won't get you the info you need.

 

PC Dialogue Tree: #1- Then I'll buy it

#2- Cross me and it'll cost you #3- I'm not bribing you

#4-Threat's might (this one is chosen)

 

PC: (Draws gun to bartender) Billions of lives are hanging in the balance here, I won't let some pissed bartender slow me down (Camera cinematically moves around to faces and body shots).

Bartender: (frightfully) Wait! Hold on, I, uh, just remembered, she's in the casino, (Eyes and head nod to the left) upstairs. (stutters) You.. you can't miss her.

PC holsters gun while bartender sighs relief.

------------------------------------------

That is detailed, with the eyes and head bobbing to the location he speaks of. This is going to be a real cRPG I think. Just the jist of what is going to be said is put on the dialogue tree, then the cinematic type thing takes place. I like it, since what the player chooses to say is actually s poken, as opposed to being imagined as said, like in most all rpg's I've ever played. What is said is fresh though, since only the idea is chosen.

A step up from the persuasion minigame, I guess. From a roleplaying perspective, it's not necessarily a bad thing, having the player focus on intent more than choice of words (intimidate, bribe, seduce, disrobe, etc). Can't say I favor it over the traditional conversation trees. The shift from active participant and passive observer becomes more obvious - though, of course, this is more a design issue than it is over what dialogue 'system' is being used. Click 'threat', view scene.

 

Dialogue trees as they currently are aren't perfect either, though. There's lot of room for improvement, but mainly at a fairly large cost in resources - perhaps at a minimal return in investment, since current design of such trees is already effective enough. In this way, ME's system can provide a fair economy of resources. By limiting the amount of branching, you focus more on the cinematic quality of each branch. Different priorities, perhaps. Hmm.

[Blank]

The shift from active participant and passive observer becomes more obvious - though, of course, this is more a design issue than it is over what dialogue 'system' is being used. Click 'threat', view scene.

That's arguable, since there have always been only 3 or 4 options of set dialogue anyway, so have you ever been that active of a participant? Active participant is like typing your own response and sending it, which is a long ways off.

In this way, ME's system can provide a fair economy of resources. By limiting the amount of branching, you focus more on the cinematic quality of each branch. Different priorities, perhaps. Hmm.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

At what point does it stop being a game and start being a movie!?!? :o

[Volourn]

"I couldn't stop everything and play pazaak in any cantinas during JE. Stuff like that makes RPG's better, giving subtle options. Sure, there were minigames, but only as the story allowed. You could revisit the games, but that took me out of the Role-playing experience; it felt like metagaming."

 

Eh? JE, despite it's relative shortness, has more than a few side quests. They're just easily lumped into the main quest because they're not (usually) off the beaten path). JE's role-playing strength comes in the form of choosing how to do soemthing; not in freeform travel.

 

Jags is correct on this issue as well. Besides, as long as ME is better than KOTOR series (which it will be); all is well. JE's combat, while real time, was vastly sueprior than KOTOR's 'fake' TB combat that is for sure.

[Llyranor]

There's a reason why Final Fantasy has such a large fanbase. Going all cinematic is nice and all. Looks nice. How much does it really benefit interactive storytelling, though?