Game News Avellone speaks @ xbawx360 on Alpha Protocol

[DarkUnderlord]

Tags: Alpha Protocol

<a href="http://www.x360magazine.com/qa/obsidians-chris-avellone-chats-alpha-protocol/">Link for reading</a>:
<br>
<blockquote>The story went through two drafts (not unusual – Knights of the Old Republic II, our previous title, went through at least 1), and a year and a half ago we finalized the story
<br>
[...]
<br>
Ultimately, tying the story to game mechanics wasn’t a big change (we try to make sure dialogue in our games is also a game mechanic, not just exposition) – but the biggest change was the way you communicate with characters in the game. Designed by Brian Mitsoda and implemented by Dan Spitzley, Alpha Protocol has a timed dialogue system with one route through the conversation (no loops as in previous title), and the goal was to create a more natural conversation, yet give those conversations the sense of urgency you’d often feel when watching TV shows like 24 or the snappy back-and-forth you’d get in a Bond flick.
<br>
[...]
<br>
Alpha Protocol is actually a much smaller RPG in terms of line count than our previous titles, but the reactivity amongst the major characters ends up being stronger.
<br>
flick.
<br>
[...]
<br>
With any luck, Alpha Protocol will help getting videogame storytelling outside the industry the recognition it deserves.</blockquote>
<br>
Lots of talk about how much like an action film it is.
<br>
<br>
Spotted @ <a href="http://www.rpgwatch.com">RPGWatch</a>

 

[Castanova]

With any luck, Alpha Protocol will help getting videogame storytelling outside the industry the recognition it deserves.

wut

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

With any luck, Alpha Protocol will help getting videogame storytelling outside the industry the recognition it deserves.

wut

He should have said "maybe one of those Codexer fucks remembers to go shove a copy of PS:T up Ebert's ass."

 

[Suchy]

Don't worry, there will be awesome C&C.

 

[Secretninja]

[quote="DarkUnderlord" Knights of the Old Republic II, our previous title, went through at least 1)[/quote]
OMG 1 whole draft, that is so much polish its mind boggling.

 

[Double Ogre]

Timed dialogs? Another shitty interactive movie like Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy? What about QTEs?

Avellone is such a huge faggot.

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

Timed dialogs? Another shitty interactive movie like Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy? What about QTEs?

Avellone is such a huge faggot.

Just keep in mind, that you'll never become even as half as successful as him.

 

[Double Ogre]

That doesn't change the fact that he's making SHITTY CONSOLETARD PIECE OF SHIT MOVIE LIKE GAMES FOR INBRED FUCKS WHO SIT ALL DAY ON THEIR ASS DROOLING AT THEIR TV.

 

[Micmu]

"Just keep in mind, that you'll never become even as half as successful as him."

And what the fuck does that have to do with him being a huge faggot or not?

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

And what the fuck does that have to do with him being a huge faggot or not?

It was a jab at Drog, first and foremost. He posted that bullshit when someone dared to bash Gabba the Hutt and glorious Valve. Now he's bashing developers himself. Hypocrisy much?

 

[FeelTheRads]

Too bad about Avellone, really. I liked him a lot for Torment and what he did in Fallout 2 (fuck off and eat a cock, I also believe New Reno didn't fit, however it's still great on its own) and I had trust in him. But lately with Obsidian... eh.
I don't know exactly what he did in the other Obsidian's games (does anyone know?) but in all his recent interviews he sounds like a lighter version of Todd/Pete.

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

I don't know exactly what he did in the other Obsidian's games (does anyone know?)

Kaelyn.

 

[Double Ogre]

And what the fuck does that have to do with him being a huge faggot or not?

It was a jab at Drog, first and foremost. He posted that bullshit when someone dared to bash Gabba the Hutt and glorious Valve. Now he's bashing developers himself. Hypocrisy much?

Gabe Newell makes excellent games. I couldn't care less how he looks. Also, tale a look at this thread.

 

[FeelTheRads]

I don't know exactly what he did in the other Obsidian's games (does anyone know?)

Kaelyn.

Is that a one-word-answer that's supposed to impress me or is that really all he did?
Because if it's the former then I'm not really impressed considering Kaelyn sucks, and if it's the latter, then I have some troubles believing it.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

Kaelyn sucks

Kill yo'self.

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

Gabe Newell makes excellent games.

Valve made precisely one good-but-not-great game: the original Half-Life. The rest is either average (Half-Life 2) or below average (Half-Life 2 episodes, Portal).

Is that a one-word-answer that's supposed to impress me or is that really all he did?
Because if it's the former then I'm not really impressed considering Kaelyn sucks, and if it's the latter, then I have some troubles believing it.

1. Kaelyn rocks. Definitely Avellone's best, even better than characters from Torment.
2. Avellone contributed to all of Obsidian's games (except SoZ, I think), but he hasn't been a lead since KotOR 2. He wrote a couple of characters for NWN 2 OC and MotB, and that's about it.

 

[DriacKin]

I don't know exactly what he did in the other Obsidian's games (does anyone know?)

Kaelyn.

If I'm not mistaken, he also wrote all the dialogue for Gann.

Kaelyn sucks

Kill yo'self.

This.

 

[Double Ogre]

Valve made precisely one good-but-not-great game: the original Half-Life. The rest is either average (Half-Life 2) or below average (Half-Life 2 episodes, Portal).

You're so hardcore and elite, Lestat, I will probably never have such refined tastes in video games as you.

 

[FeelTheRads]

Okay, I'm open to be educated. How many times do you have to play MotB to see that Kaelyn "rocks"? Or Gann. Or any other character.
I played it once and no character "rocked", as opposed to Torment where they "rocked" on the first playthrough.

 

[Double Ogre]

Oh, and BTW, Lestat, I should probably mention that your idolized Avellone once said that the narrative method used in HL2 works much better for video games than reading a lot of text (PS:T). Make of this what you will.
Link

 

[DriacKin]

Okay, I'm open to be educated. How many times do you have to play MotB to see that Kaelyn "rocks"? Or Gann. Or any other character.

I only had to play it once to see that Kaelyn was awesome. The dialogue between Myrkul and Kaelyn was especially memorable.

Imo, Kaelyn is the most well written character I've seen in any RPG this decade.

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

Okay, I'm open to be educated. How many times do you have to play MotB to see that Kaelyn "rocks"? Or Gann. Or any other character.

Once.

I played it once and no character "rocked", as opposed to Torment where they "rocked" on the first playthrough.

Cool story, bro.

Oh, and BTW, Lestat, I should probably mention that your idolized Avellone

Idolized? I just happen to enjoy the man's writing. I don't have a shrine to him hidden at my home.

once said that the narrative method used in HL2 works much better for video games than reading a lot of text (PS:T). Make of this what you will.
Link

He's right. Using enviroment to tell a story is a better approach than dumping walls of text on a player. Problem is, Half-Life did a poor job at that. It didn't make me care about characters or the setting. Thief, Deus Ex and Ocean House Hotel from Bloodlines are good examples of how it's done right.

 

[FeelTheRads]

Okay, I'm open to be educated. How many times do you have to play MotB to see that Kaelyn "rocks"? Or Gann. Or any other character.

Once.

Cool story, bro.

Oh, look, I can do it too. Must mean I'm just as smart as you are.

 

[MetalCraze]

Alpha Protocol has a timed dialogue system with one route through the conversation

Dun dun dun

give those conversations the sense of urgency you’d often feel when watching TV shows like 24 or the snappy back-and-forth you’d get in a Bond flick.

I want to play a game, not a fucking movie. Is this a new shit?

With any luck, Alpha Protocol will help getting videogame storytelling outside the industry the recognition it deserves.

I think someone at the Codex said that the gaming industry reminds more and more about a place for failed movie directors.

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

Alpha Protocol has a timed dialogue system with one route through the conversation

Dun dun dun

If you quote something, do it properly.

Alpha Protocol has a timed dialogue system with one route through the conversation (no loops as in previous title)

One route means that every conversation happens exactly once. When it's over, it's over. You can't keep asking a character the same question once you got an answer.