Obsidian's (rumoured) next kickstarter, what would you want to see?

[Keyrock]

So can you just plop the "punk" suffix onto pretty much anything and call it a genre?  How about Paper Mache Punk?  A world dominated by fully functional (though likely not very sturdy) machines made out of paper mache.

[Blarghagh]

That idea is calling out for a game.

[aluminiumtrioxid]

Fair enough. Like I said, it's going off-topic, but I think it's telling that the link you gave to explain clockpunk starts with:

 

Essentially, identical to Steam Punk, but with intricate clockworks replacing steam power as the technology of choice.

 

Which is to say the classification is unneccesary and superfluous. They also do not serve their purpose very well because, as you agreed, most people won't even know what it means except for those in the know.

 

 

I've also said that something like that would only interest someone in the know, therefore making the whole issue moot

 

Besides that, they are treated as settings or genres when they are only look & feel classifications. Whereas "science fiction" tells you the type of thing it is, going "no it's not, it's cybergoth" just clouds the issue by pointing out outlying design elements instead of the core of what something is. So to me these classifications are incredibly problematic and limiting - because selling something as a steampunk setting limits you to things with the steampunk aesthetic, whereas telling a fantasy story with steampunk elements, for example, will be much more interesting.

 

Well, to be fair, both Warhammer 40k and basically every steampunk thing ever has a very strong "style over substance" element  - ok, you can say that the original Difference Engine didn't, but it was written by post-Neuromancer Gibson, and therefore can only be described as "an intellectual bluff masquerading as a novel"* -, so the aesthetical part IS (or, in the case of W40K, is half of) the whole thing.

* The only difference being between the two that "style over substance" at least has style going for it.

 

Aside from that, this would be a very convincing argument except for the fact that "science fiction" also carries little meaning about what lies at its core. I mean, yes, it was supposed to be about the examination of the effects of technological progress on the human condition, but let's face it, in the last, say, 50 years, most SF writers haven't even paid lip service to this ideal. Between this "rootlessness" of the genre and the fact that aesthetically, it can mean anything from the worn-down yet strangely cozy-looking space western of Firefly through the bloodsplattered industrial nightmare of Dead Space to the shiny and light world of the first Mass Effect, I think if you're a developer and you just go like "I want to make a sci-fi game", it will mean something completely different for each fan.

Also: Arcanum was basically a fantasy story, with the trappings of steampunk, so... the chosen subgenre doesn't really determine what kind of story you will tell in the end.

Edited December 16, 2013 by aluminiumtrioxid

[Mamoulian War]

 

A WildCards RPG would be boss.

I would throw too much money at that.

 

Probably this would never happen, but I say this again on this board:

 

I would love to see TB RPG based on Pathfinder Ruleset made by Obsidian...

 

Preferably in more eastern based part of Golarion.

I don't see that happening, if for no other reason that PE is already a fantasy game and that Obsidian probably wants to do a different genre for their next KS.

 

Would be nice to see someone competent do it though.

 

 

That's why I think as well, that this would never happen :'( 

[Mamoulian War]

 

 

Also I am so unbelievably tired of Star Wars.  

 

On that note, if Obsidian were to make a Star Trek RPG, I think I would die from awesomness poisoning.

 

Obsidian's hallmarks are complex morality, and the dark aspects of authority, and sin.

 

How exactly does that dovetail with the Star Trek universe?

 

Apply even 1% of Obsidian's cynicism and the Federation would fall apart like gin-soaked cake.

 

 

I'm failing to see a problem with this scenario.

 

But they could just set it in the mirror universe. Still not happening anyway, unfortunately.

 

 

Or they could just make the game from Borg perspective

[Ganrich]

Holy ****!  Is that just a joke trailer or is this a real (super low budget) movie?  Oh man it's got sexy storm troopers AND awesome tag lines like "Get between him and his woman and space ain't black enough to hide you from him."  

 

I'm fully in support of absolutely anything Lando Calrissian focused. 

It has a 15 minute short film that is fan made. I like it.

 

[ShadySands]

^ Awesome!

 

I was thinking Astronaut Jones but that works even better

 

[Mamoulian War]

Man, I would absolutely pledge for Shaft in space :D Of course only with soundtrack by Isaac Hayes :D

Edited December 17, 2013 by Mamoulian War

[Llyranor]

I hadn't thought about it before, but I would love an Obsidian-led space opera, with full-fledged epic spaceship battles (not dumb cutscenes) and all, not just some fantasy RPG with a scifi skin.

[licketysplit]

I think they should build on Alpha Protocol. Only this time, hire competent game designers, and make it semi open-world. I wouldn't try space opera, post apocalyptic or Cyberpunk as Bioware ( for better or worse), CD Projekt and Bethesda have those covered. They're already doing a satire with South Park. Steam Punk and Diesel Punk...meh. Do something real world, in the here and now.

[Rostere]

 

The thematic setting most yearning for an RPG is Interplanetary Blaxploitation.

 

Start with a Flash-Gordon-style take on the technology, culture, and geopolitical situation of the Solar System, and add '70s Blaxploitation themes, characters, music, and art design. Playable classes include Bad Mutha-Shut-Yo-Mouth, Voodoo Mamajama, and Cosmic Prophet (see avatar).

 

Solid. Gold.

 

 

Mind blown...

[Blodhemn]

I think they should build on Alpha Protocol. Only this time, hire competent game level designers, and make it semi open-world. I wouldn't try space opera, post apocalyptic or Cyberpunk as Bioware ( for better or worse), CD Projekt and Bethesda have those covered. They're already doing a satire with South Park. Steam Punk and Diesel Punk...meh. Do something real world, in the here and now.

Agreed with this completely. Unfortunately a KS wont provide the funds for such a game. AP was something like $8 million.

[Oerwinde]

Fair enough. Like I said, it's going off-topic, but I think it's telling that the link you gave to explain clockpunk starts with:

 

Essentially, identical to Steam Punk, but with intricate clockworks replacing steam power as the technology of choice.

Which is to say the classification is unneccesary and superfluous. They also do not serve their purpose very well because, as you agreed, most people won't even know what it means except for those in the know.

 

Besides that, they are treated as settings or genres when they are only look & feel classifications. Whereas "science fiction" tells you the type of thing it is, going "no it's not, it's cybergoth" just clouds the issue by pointing out outlying design elements instead of the core of what something is. So to me these classifications are incredibly problematic and limiting - because selling something as a steampunk setting limits you to things with the steampunk aesthetic, whereas telling a fantasy story with steampunk elements, for example, will be much more interesting.

I'd like to see a low-magic fantasy setting with a steampunk/clockpunk combo techlevel/style, keep the aesthetic bright and optimistic, but the story and themes darker to contrast. Edited December 17, 2013 by Oerwinde

[babaganoosh13]

I voted for Original IP, but I'd also be more than happy to get another Dark Sun game.

[Nepenthe]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-12-17-what-will-obsidians-second-kickstarter-project-be

 

Not too crazy about episodic content, tbh, but I can see the advantages (like getting paid at regular milestones). Would depend on the content.

 

I have to say, the idea of a Cthulhu type isometric rpg really tickled me, really good idea. Apart from the whole copyright mess thing, which might be a turn off.

[PrimeJunta]

@Nepenthe, Cthulhu is in the public domain.

[Keyrock]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-12-17-what-will-obsidians-second-kickstarter-project-be

 

Not too crazy about episodic content, tbh, but I can see the advantages (like getting paid at regular milestones). Would depend on the content.

On the other hand, 10 hours in a pretty beefy episode.  Most episodic games are 2-4 hours per episode.  Heck, 10 hours is the size of an entire typical on-rails, set-piece to set-piece, explosionfest.  With proper planning, each episode would essentially be a chapter/act, ending at a natural time/location shift point, or plot cliffhanger.  I mean, I'd rather get the entire game all at once too, but if episodic is what it takes to make it happen, then I can get behind that.

Edited December 17, 2013 by Keyrock

[Mamoulian War]

@Nepenthe, Cthulhu is in the public domain.

 

Not everything is in public domain... I think everything is in public domain only in Europe. In US some of the works are still copyrighted.

[Blarghagh]

Yeah the copyright status of the whole Cthulhu Mythos is a clusterhump.

[PrimeJunta]

@Nepenthe ah, yes, well, I was referring to the civilized world. :ducks:

[Nepenthe]

@Nepenthe, Cthulhu is in the public domain.

I'm a lawyer, so I don't post about legal issues without doing at least a little bit of research.

 

So while I'd be perfectly fine with Obsidian releasing a game just in Europe, I doubt that as an American company they'd do that

 

My issue with episodic is less with pricing and more with my growing need to finish games in one go. Yes, bgee had me in a bit of a zombie mode, not looking forward to bg2ee from that point if view :D

Edited December 17, 2013 by Nepenthe

[Guest Slinky]

My issue with episodic is less with pricing and more with my growing need to finish games in one go. Yes, bgee had me in a bit of a zombie mode, not looking forward to bg2ee from that point if view :D

Tell me about it, I have 25h now on BGEE and I'm starting to feel like cleaning the bathroom would be more fun.

 

Though that is mostly because of the less than fluent mechanics of the game, changing Khalid from bow to sword and shield and back to bow again over and over again is getting REALLY tedious.

[Keyrock]

My issue with episodic is less with pricing and more with my growing need to finish games in one go. 

Fair enough.  I'm the opposite these days.  I have to tackle something the size of an Infinity or Aurora Engine game in chunks.  There is exactly a zero percent chance of me powering through one of those games straight through without taking a break.  I just can't do it.

[Nepenthe]

 

My issue with episodic is less with pricing and more with my growing need to finish games in one go.

 

Fair enough.  I'm the opposite these days.  I have to tackle something the size of an Infinity or Aurora Engine game in chunks.  There is exactly a zero percent chance of me powering through one of those games straight through without taking a break.  I just can't do it.

Probably usually not for me, either, but I have a lot if trouble getting back into a game I've abandoned.

 

 

Had the new hitman and dishonored going, had to take a break and now been almost a year...

[Gfted1]

...but I have a lot if trouble getting back into a game I've abandoned.

You and me both. Off the top of my head:

 

FONV: Couldn't get the quest to trigger where the sniper in the dinosaur kills the old lady. Never played again.

DXHR: The tutorial gave me vertigo, 14 minutes in. Never played again.

Van Helsing: Played quite a bit until I ran into a boss I couldn't kill. Never played again.

Warfare European Escalation: Couldn't figure out how to resupply. Will try to play again. But probably wont.

SRR: Made it almost to the end. Had a wipe and never played again for whatever reason.

XCOM: Countdown timers make me angsty. After losing a few cities I quit and never played again.

 

I think the only game Ive finished (repeatedly) and still play daily is D3.