Interview Dungeon Siege II bigwigs spill the beans at GameSpot

[Spazmo]

Tags: Dungeon Siege 2; Gas Powered Games

<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/pc">Gamespot PC</a> has put up an <a href=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/dungeonsiege2/preview_6112230.html>interview</a> with <b>Kevin Lambert</b>, <b>Sarah Boulian</b>, <b>James Loe</b>, <b>Daniel Achterman</b> and <b>Bert Bingham</b> of the Gas Powered Games team that discusses the game's graphics and setting.<blockquote>The first thing we did was find out what our fans had to say about the interface to Dungeon Siege. We updated a couple of things as a result, adding more slots for spells and stripping down the controls for party formations to keep formation control really easy in a real-time environment. Gas Powered Games also looks for places where we can make it easier for players to perform common actions, such as the "pick up all items" button in Dungeon Siege. Dungeon Siege II makes it easier to target monsters, to keep the party together, to share potions, and to do even more than you could do in real time in Dungeon Siege. We also completely overhauled every game window and added a lot of functionality to our existing interfaces. I think players will really like the new journal, for instance. It's got game maps, a thorough player reference, and a full bestiary, in addition to quest information. It's crazy.</blockquote>Now, granted, those last few interface improvements sound neat, but what I don't get is how fans of Dungeon Siege could find something wanting in the game's interface when they hardly ever had to use it.

 

[Otaku_Hanzo]

So we can look forward to a more streamlined interactive screensaver that comes with neato maps now? Cool. :D

I just wanna know if they put more barrels and crates in for us to smash. There just wasn't enough in the first game to keep me interested, let alone my cat.

 

[Volourn]

"So we can look forward to a more streamlined interactive screensaver that comes with neato maps now? Cool.

I just wanna know if they put more barrels and crates in for us to smash. There just wasn't enough in the first game to keep me interested, let alone my cat."

You sound like you are gonna buy it. ARE YOU ON CRACK!?!

 

[Reklar]

While I'm not interested in the game and never played the first Dungeon Siege, it seems like a positive note that the developers are making improvements, even if it's the interactive screensaver you folks call it. Perhaps there is hope they will develop something better in the future?

-Reklar
(a Fallout/RPG fan)

 

[Country_Gravy]

Perhaps there is hope they will develop something better in the future?

No. No there is not.

I met one of the artist guys from the first Dungeon Siege game up in Seattle when the game first came out, and HE even said that the gameplay wasn't as cool as some of the other games he had played, but the graphics were cool. He too was into more complex RPGs, but was stoked to be working on a AAA game title. They will sell a bunch of copies, which I guess is how the game is supposed to be played, but it just seems like it could be so much more if they changed some stuff around. The game is just WAY too dumbed down, but it looks pretty.

It IS great for a screensaver, but not much else.

I bet I would like it if I was 10 years old.

 

[Whipporowill]

You know what - I liked Dungeon Siege, although not particularly for it's sp component. I'm pretty sure I'll like this game as well, but it's hardly any deep masterpiece crpg we're talking about here. At least they're moving in the right direction - adding stuff, rather than simplyfing it and contributing it to make other parts "great".

 

[Sol Invictus]

I'm definitely buying the game. Perhaps not for its single player component but for its multiplayer one, but from the sound of it, they've greatly improved the entire game, including the character generation by adding skill trees (akin to Diablo 2) and unique/set items which weren't very evident in the original game. Some new game mechanics like elemental damage versus certain types of monsters is also being added, so that's a definite plus. Improving the party controls and interface is also a huge plus, because the original was about as difficult to manage as the Baldur's Gate games, and caused a lot of annoyance when it came to tactical formation in the single player game.

One of the things I liked about the original game was its audio direction, which was superb in comparison to a lot of other titles, with the exception of Blizzard games, of course (which had, unarguably, the best audio). It's good to see that they're improving that as well. I love that feeling of satisfaction when you bash a monster's skull in and it makes a nice, crispy 'crunch' sound.

This bit is just plain awesome:

We'll definitely be supporting more characters in multiplayer. Each player can control a full party in Dungeon Siege II, instead of just one character per player. We're already playing multiplayer games with armies of characters taking down monsters, and it's awesome. Monsters get stronger based on the number of characters in the game, so it stays tough. We've also upgraded our multiplayer game browser to make it easier to find a game that's right for your party, and it's super easy to stay in touch with your friends. You can actually log in to the friends server while playing single-player so you'll know when your friends log in.

It might not be a deep and cerebral RPG experience but I'm sure it'll be a fun one.

 

[Ortchel]

Rex, you should go into PR, I'm serious, you have a talent for it.

 

[Otaku_Hanzo]

You sound like you are gonna buy it. ARE YOU ON CRACK!?!

I'll give it a go, sure. I was mostly being sarcastic and using my razor sharp wit to get such a response as the one you posted, Vol.

But seriously, it does sound like the MP experience will be thoroughly enjoyable and I am willing to give it a shot for that. As far as SP goes, I'll probably check it out, but doubt it'll be any different from the first one. My cat won't mind that though.

 

[Diogo Ribeiro]

I love that feeling of satisfaction when you bash a monster's skull in and it makes a nice, crispy 'crunch' sound.

I get that feeling every morning when I'm eating Golden Grahams or Frosties.

 

[Otaku_Hanzo]

I get that feeling every morning when I'm eating Golden Grahams or Frosties.

I prefer Muslix with some liquid LSD sprinkled on top. Makes for an interesting day.

lol

 

[Ortchel]

Otaku, does that say 'rugur'? My 1600 x 1200 makes stuff hard to make out at times.

Do I smell a custom tag?

 

[dojoteef]

I also liked Dungeon Siege for it's modding capability. It's very intuitive and easy to begin working with.

 

[Whipporowill]

Otaku, does that say 'rugur'? My 1600 x 1200 makes stuff hard to make out at times.

Do I smell a custom tag?

It's Augur, and not custom.

 

[Ortchel]

What are all the ranks? I'm always seeing new ones popping up.

What about pooperscooper's? Illiterate, that is.

 

[Diogo Ribeiro]

I prefer Muslix with some liquid LSD sprinkled on top. Makes for an interesting day.

That's cereal killer talk!!

 

[Otaku_Hanzo]

That's cereal killer talk!!

Toucaaaaan! Son of Saaaaaam! :twisted: