Preview Arcania preview at gram.pl

[Elwro]

Tags: JoWood Productions

I spotted a <a href="http://www.gram.pl/art_8A7jHu3_Arcania_A_Gothic_Tale_zapowiedz.html">preview</a> of Arcania (the next game in JoWood's Gothic series, developed by Spellbound of Airline Tycoon fame) at gram.pl. Don't worry you can't read it, because it's almost entirely content-free. I mean, you already know the game will take place on an island, feature a new Nameless One, include hundreds of quests with lots of choices, boast an extensive alchemy and item crafting system, and have combat relying on Stamina, therefore minimizing mindless bashing (yeah, right), don't you? So just look at the purty screens. 'course, they are exactly the same screens as <a href="http://www.worldofgothic.com/gothic4/?go=G4WogPreviewGC08Eng">World of Gothic</a> is using in their preview. As I guess all the other sites will do in their upcoming Arcania previews.

 

[Carrie Underwood]

Your worthplaying link goes to that gram.pl site.

I looks like a dull Oblivion clone. The one thing people should have gotten from that game is if you're going to do forests then use SpeedTree! It looks better than anything you could come up with on your own.

 

[LarsTheSurly]

An Oblivion clone?

Wow. That sounds so... inefficient. For some reason it makes me think of cloning Rick Moranis if you want to rip off an actor. There are so many better things to copy.

 

[Jung]

Purdy...I thought Oblivion used speed tree.

 

[Sir_Brennus]

developed by Spellbound of Airline Tycoon fame

Spellbound is one of the oldest independent game developers in Germany.The business was founded by Armin Gessert in 1994 who was one of the three developers of the game The Great Giana Sisters (first released for the C64 in 1987).

The Spellbound team initially produced graphics for the company Attic and thus took part in the creation of the role-playing game "Das schwarze Auge III" ("The Black Eye III"). This collaboration led to a commission from the company Fantasy Productions.

[Their first own project was] Airline Tycoon. Infogrames (ATARI) published the title in 1997. The game never actually managed to enter the top ten, but it turned out to be a successful long seller in various territories and can still be found among budget titles in stores.

[...] Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive and it turned out to be Spellbound’s biggest success and most critically acclaimed title so far. The game received praise from the press for its AI and an innovation called "Quick Actions" which allowed the player to plan their moves in advance.

Just like the first part of "Airline Tycoon", "Desperados" was distributed by Infogrames (ATARI). In 2001 it was at the top of the game ratings (charts) in some countries for several weeks. The game’s cinematics won the "Animago award" in 2001 and the game itself is still ranked second in the "all-time-best-list" of the German magazine "PC-Games" in the category for strategy games.

[...] Due to the success of "Desperados", Spellbound was able to expand its team. To be able to ensure a smooth game production with the increased team, the company introduced a form of "Extreme Programming" (a.k.a. "XP") to the development process in 2001, which was adjusted to the needs of game production.

Just try to be fair, Elwro. Those guys have a longer and more sucessful history than the mofos from Pirhana Bytes.

 

[FrancoTAU]

I actually thought the OP said Arcanum preview and this was a necro thread. Probably would've been more entertaining.

 

[MetalCraze]

Why do you call Arcania a sequel to Gothic? (at least they've changed the name)
No it's not. It is a PoS clone of Oblivion with better graphix.
Also as per AG.ru according to the developer guy at GDC the only kewl thing that kept everyone playing Gothic was an open world
Spellbound got their ideas totally right

 

[denizsi]

There were also these:
http://www.rpgcodex.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=25961

if you're going to do forests then use SpeedTree! It looks better than anything you could come up with on your own.

Crysis. In-house tech. No SpeedTree. Best vegetation.

 

[MetalCraze]

SpeedTree looks like shit because it is always the same and is everywhere. Why devs still use it is beyond me.

 

[Bloodeyes]

I really can't comment as I can't read Lolish. Screens look like... screens? Someone translate for us.

 

[Elwro]

Fixed the link to World of Gothic, thx Carrie!

For a preview in English, go there: http://www.worldofgothic.com/gothic4/?g ... iewGC08Eng

 

[Carrie Underwood]

Crysis. In-house tech. No SpeedTree. Best vegetation.

Well, those guys are the exception.

I still like SpeedTree's look over Crytek.

SpeedTree looks like shit because it is always the same and is everywhere.

Nope.

 

[denizsi]

Well, those guys are the exception.

I still like SpeedTree's look over Crytek.

Well, some people fall in love with ghetto whores too.

 

[dagorkan]

The Schwartze Auge folks should sue the hell out of them... "Arcania"? Seriously??

 

[Elwro]

Sue? You think they'd think it was their original idea? :D