World building

[Auxilius]

Gentlemen, I like Arcanum.

Gentlemen, I love Arcanum.

 

And why do I still love it, 10 years after it came out? World-building. Whenever you went, you had a small story that was tying the world you walked in with your journey. It could have been a man trying to seal a magic portal or a city in ruins overrun by barbarians, the world had always something to tell you.

 

But those things weren't related to the world map only. There were books, architecture, art and culture that were finely crafted to create a breathing, living world that sucked you in because you weren't just playing a hero in this world, you were in this world.

 

A lot of quests involved investigations and reflexions. The most magistral quest I ever played was uniting Tarante and Caladon. To reach this quest, you had to do a lot of efforts. And when you got there, there was a big dossier to study to make sure you reached your goals. Bypass that part and you could be sure you failed, which would be a horrible end after all you went through to reach that point. And that's was great about that quest: it didn't came quickly, just because you met the right person at the right corner. You had to discover the world, walk in the streets of these cities, meet his people and get your own opinion on the politics that were going on in Arcanum before you could see the end of that quest.

 

Arcanum is the only game (With Skies of Arcadia, hey) I played three times. And I know I could replay it a fourth time as well. Because I always miss something. I never discover the gnome conspiracy for example. Damn gnomes.

 

This love letter for Arcanum has a point though. Please Obs, take your time and make sure your world is not a world to be played, but a world to explore, to discover, to know and to love.

[Ashram]

I think with the experience they have, this is just what the devs will do. I too loved Arcanum...still have it but lost my dang cd key/instructions! *shakes fist* This project had me digging out all of my old games like BG, IWD, Arcanum, etc.

 

As you point out, its a lot of the little things that help to provide the atmosphere of immersion. It should be a subtle thing that draws the player in and makes him or her feel at home.

[HangedMan]

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Aux. I have said, myself, that I would love for this to be Arcanum 2; I know it won't be, but I hope it takes a lot of the good features from that game.

 

I think with the experience they have, this is just what the devs will do. I too loved Arcanum...still have it but lost my dang cd key/instructions! *shakes fist* This project had me digging out all of my old games like BG, IWD, Arcanum, etc.

 

As you point out, its a lot of the little things that help to provide the atmosphere of immersion. It should be a subtle thing that draws the player in and makes him or her feel at home.

 

You could buy it again off Good Old Games for about ten bucks. Not that expensive, plus, you can support the fairly awesome thing they've got going on.

[Auxilius]

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Aux. I have said, myself, that I would love for this to be Arcanum 2; I know it won't be, but I hope it takes a lot of the good features from that game.

 

You could buy it again off Good Old Games for about ten bucks. Not that expensive, plus, you can support the fairly awesome thing they've got going on.

Yes and yes. P:T was nice but it was much cooler to explore a continent than a city.