Obsidian's Pillars of Eternity [BETA RELEASED, GO TO THE NEW THREAD]

Steam is seen as a convenient digital platform because it is the BIGGEST digital platform. I don't have any numbers but I bet that the amount of games sold on Steam in a given time period trumps all other digital distribution services combined. If you plan on releasing a game digitally and it can't be on Steam, well then sucks to be you because that's a huge customer base that you can't reach. Not only that but I believe that Valve also has a sort of quality standard system placed in because I read somewhere that not every average Joe can get his indie game up on Steam, it needs to pass certain quality tests (I could be wrong about this though), so if you're game is there it means it's more prestigious.

Anyway, Obsidian could still sell their game digitally directly through their site just like Larian does with their Divinity games, and they can do the same thing with any DLC they might want to use to milk poor shmucks (Biodrones). This DRM free option is always available should they wish it.

 

Yeah Biodrones and Bethtards need their familiar crutches, I am cautiusly optimistic about this project again, One thing that Obsidian delivers every time are companions... even in a pos like NWN2. Still have the feeling it is not game I want from them.

 

Well, PS:T didn't have dwarves and elves, neither did Wiz8. It's not like it hasn't been tried before. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy; a company imagines the fans want elves, but is this really the case? With some boldness an audience could be found for a fresh setting. This would even generate some hype and bring a new audience aboard.

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/60116-do-we-want-elves-and-dwarves/

72 votes for no dwarves and elves, 54 votes in favour of them (plus 66 for a "subversion")

 

I want Spemins.

 

Oops All I remembered were the furries, dragons and fairies...

 

Well, there you have it. Almost double the number of people wanting the familiar setting (the people who want a subversion just want elves and dwarves with a new coat of paint, such as the ni...african-american elves from Dragon Age). And I'm not even sure if the people who say they don't want their scottish dwarves would maintain that position once the game is a reality and it isn't just an hypothetical "so yeah, do you want the good old races you know or NEW EXCITING STUFF????" question anymore.

 

It's actually pretty interesting the ways that Tolkien gets consistently twisted in generic fantasy now, like his elves going from scary superhumans to effete tree people martyrs or his monkey-coward-sociopath orcs becoming giant androgenized beefcake monsters. And Scottish dwarves that make no sense.

 

So... are there any reasons for having steam exclusivity other than making as much money as possible?

I thought if they were interested in milking the game, they'd naturally think of releasing it on the console market.

I could visualise an announcement halfway through development about how they realised how great this game could be on consoles.

 

The bro from 'straya speaks what I was thinking, Todd?

 

2D backgrounds. 3D models. Like in ToEE.
http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/59974-project-eternity-known-information/

This tends to suck.
People like have their collection in a single location.

I think they will be pleasing both crowds.
You do indeed have the 3 traditional races, but you also have subraces. And none of them are there just because. He's adding them in a way that's coherent with the world.

So you'll have the traditional 3.
You're very likely have subverted sub-races.
And you'll have 2 other races that are non-traditional ones.

 

He looked pretty chillaxed to me in the last video update.

 

Yes, but this is written by a moderator on a forum, I don't see where Obsidian mentions this, not explicitly on the Kickstarter page for sure. But nevermind, I'm just nitpicking.

Well, not really. I didn't look closely. The poll is very badly constructed, with multiple options for and against, with nonsensical distinctions:

PRO:
"Yes, I think the traditional races are good mainstays" 54 votes
"I like them, but prefer them in a subverted, non-traditional form" 67 votes
"I only like Dwarves" 8 votes
"I only like Elves" 4 votes

total: 133

CONTRA:
"I dislike the traditional races" 17 votes
"I hate the traditional races, they are in everything and feel like something a publisher would forcibly include in a setting, regardless of original vision." 44 votes
"I dont dislike the traditional races, but i do want new races to explore" 74 votes

total: 135 votes

(don't care: 17 votes)

More votes against than for! The very bad poll options obscure this fact, should have gone with three options.

 

This thread could be interesting:

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/60230-mature-themes-youd-like-to-see-in-the-game/

Edit: Some comments aren't though...

 

Trying to fight the good fight. There are a lot of retards in these romance threads. Would like to get these threads shut down.

 

Yes. This location being my hard drive.

 

tsk tsk

 

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/60...-player-character-having-a-strong-soul-means/

 

Cover system in an isometric RPG could work. Skayway will hate, but who cares - as long as it's not convenient placement of cover for cover.

 

Can someone elaborate to me as a layman what those "middleware attachments" could be exactly? I'd like to ask Adam Brennecke about this for our hopefully sometime upcoming Codex interview.

 

A freebie. Magic is based on soul. Maybe moral system to determine spellset? I wouldn't mid it, if you're a douchebag you can't heal people. Bye bye righteous paladin stereotype.

 

All the crap the annoys you with endless logos before the game finally starts. Bink video, Scaleform, Havok, Speedtree... I don't see why they would even need most of it in a game like this.

 

Didn't Tim Cain program ToEE's engine, one that had exactly the same prerequisites as Project Eternity ?

 

Yeah, nah. Too Fable and Star Wars-esque. I'm tired of infantile Saturday morning cartoon morality forced down my throat. Unless it's a deep and complex philosophy based code of honor / morality kind of thing then I'm fine with not having any kind of morality at all. I don't need a day care lady to constantly remind me what is naughty and what will get me rewarded with animal stickers.