Interview Obsidian Entertainment Interviews

[VentilatorOfDoom]

Tags: Chris Avellone; Obsidian Entertainment; Tim Cain

We have interviews available with Codexian darlings Tim and Chris.

Gamereactor has put up a video interview with MCA.

David Caballero caught up with Obsidian's Chris Avellone at this years Gamelab in Barcelona and peppered him with questions regarding Wasteland 2, Kickstarter and all of Obsidian's current and possible future RPG projects.

Plus, Gamestar.ru published their next entry of Obsidian interviews, this time featuring Tim Cain.

What in your opinion are the key moments in RPG genre that defined the direction all the games made after?

For better or worse, I think several features have been introduced into the genre that have forced many subsequent RPG's to include them. These features are not found in every RPG, but they are quite noticeable when absent:

• level-based character advancement
• automapping
• real time combat
• quest-based adventuring
• multiplayer

There is also a trend towards strong storylines as opposed to strong character development. The former leads to linear world settings, either for the whole game or to major portions of it, to support the story telling effort.

 

[Rivmusique]

What in your opinion are the key moments in RPG genre that defined the direction all the games made after?

For better or worse, I think several features have been introduced into the genre that have forced many subsequent RPG's to include them

• real time combat

Damn.

 

[Stinger]

If you actually read what he's saying it's clear he's not in favour of a lot of those things he lists.

Also Gamestar.ru needs to stop it with the "We think silent protagonists where the background is customisable by the player sucks"

 

[Infinitron]

If you actually read what he's saying it's clear he's not in favour of a lot of those things he lists.

Also Gamestar.ru needs to stop it with the "We think silent protagonists where the background is customisable by the player sucks"

Yeah, one of our resident Russian patriots needs to send them some polonium hate mail about that.

 

[Infinitron]

Much for the Star Control 2 reference.

RPG's seem to suffer a decline every 5-10 years or so, followed by a resurgence of popularity. Matt Barton covers this well in his book “Dungeons and Desktops”, which considers our current modern age to the be the sixth phase of RPG popularity. Although considering the book is a few years old now, perhaps we are in the seventh age, and I'd say Skyrim is dominating the field, both in popularity and market penetration.

Interesting. Has anybody read Matt's book? I'd like to hear more about this cyclical theory of his. Very Spenglerian.

 

[grotsnik]

Interesting. Has anybody read Matt's book? I'd like to hear more about this cyclical theory of his. Very Spenglerian.

There was some brief talk back in this thread of felipepepe maybe being up for purloining a review copy off Matt in order to avoid paying for it critique it for the greater glory of the Codex. I'd definitely be interested to hear if it's worth picking up.

 

[Rivmusique]

If you actually read what he's saying it's clear he's not in favour of a lot of those things he lists.

Also Gamestar.ru needs to stop it with the "We think silent protagonists where the background is customisable by the player sucks"

Indeed. My problem was with the fact that what he was saying is, unfortunately, true. Not with him stating it.

 

[J_C]

Interesting. Has anybody read Matt's book? I'd like to hear more about this cyclical theory of his. Very Spenglerian.

There was some brief talk back in this thread of felipepepe maybe being up for purloining a review copy off Matt in order to avoid paying for it critique it for the greater glory of the Codex. I'd definitely be interested to hear if it's worth picking up.

It definitely worth picking up. It's a long read, but very interesting for the people who like cRPGs. There are errors of course, but it is still a well thought, and researched material.

 

[Marsal]

It definitely worth picking up. It's a long read, but very interesting for the people who like cRPGs. There are errors of course, but it is still a well thought, and researched material.

Now this is just not cool, Matt. You can't blatantly peddle your shit like that. Giving yourself compliments is distasteful.

 

[J_C]

But..but..but...I am not Matt! I swear!

 

[Infinitron]

Holy shit You really set yourself up for that one

 

[grotsnik]

Well, seeing as you're not Matt, obviously you wouldn't mind if I were to, say...borrow the book from my local public library, thus maliciously depriving you of a sale?

I'll do it, Matt. I'm not bluffing.

 

[FeelTheRads]

If you actually read what he's saying it's clear he's not in favour of a lot of those things he lists.

Also Gamestar.ru needs to stop it with the "We think silent protagonists where the background is customisable by the player sucks"

Indeed. My problem was with the fact that what he was saying is, unfortunately, true. Not with him stating it.

What the...

So, customizable protagonists is bad?

 

[Forest Dweller]

So I guess Tim has decided to stay with Obsidian? Or is that still up in the air?

 

[Morkar Left]

It definitely worth picking up. It's a long read, but very interesting for the people who like cRPGs. There are errors of course, but it is still a well thought, and researched material.

Now this is just not cool, Matt. You can't blatantly peddle your shit like that. Giving yourself compliments is distasteful.

SHAME ON YOU!

(The book is pretty much like he described and an excellent standard of crpg literature to have.)

 

[Infinitron]

quest-based adventuring

I think this one has more of a negative effect than people realize. I've got the quest. I'm doing the quest. Quest is now done, hooray.

Yep. BTW many people on the Wasteland 2 forums have noted this, and I think (hope) the developers have taken notice.

 

[Marsal]

It definitely worth picking up. It's a long read, but very interesting for the people who like cRPGs. There are errors of course, but it is still a well thought, and researched material.

Now this is just not cool, Matt. You can't blatantly peddle your shit like that. Giving yourself compliments is distasteful.

SHAME ON YOU!

(The book is pretty much like he described and an excellent standard of crpg literature to have.)

Users posting from this IP:
J_C
Morkar



Stop it, Matt. Just... stop it.

 

[Morkar Left]

Have I ever mentioned that I like Hungary?

 

[Roguey]

So I guess Tim has decided to stay with Obsidian? Or is that still up in the air?

Yeah, months ago he decided to stay for good. The thing he was thinking of leaving them for was the Shadowrun thing.

 

[Forest Dweller]

So this might actually happen now.

 

[Infinitron]

What do you mean, "might" happen?

 

[Morkar Left]

MCA is single again after all...

 

[Renegen]

Have I ever mentioned that I like Hungary?

It's really not funny, not when the cover up has been going for such a long time. The longer it goes on and the more it tells me at least that you don't have that much respect for the Codex. It's like lying to a child at 20 that Santa Claus still exists.

 

[Morkar Left]

What do you mean with Santa Claus doesn't exist?

 

[kaizoku]

So this might actually happen now.

We'll just have to patiently wait and see what baby is born at the kickstarter hospital. PST2 or A2?