Game News Project Eternity Kickstarter Update #66: Backer Portal Promo + Meet the Devs

[Infinitron]

Tags: Darren Monahan; Obsidian Entertainment; Pillars of Eternity

After a month-long hiatus, Project Eternity is back with a new Kickstarter update. To compensate, this one is a "double whammy", with both a promo of the game's long overdue backer portal site and another "Meet the Devs" interview. Yes, they've posted a bunch of fancy screenshots of a website. Sound boring? Yeah, it kind of is, but check this out:

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Yeah, there's no official confirmation of it yet, but it appears that the game's final name will be Pillars of Eternity. What do you think?

Going onward, in the update's Meet the Devs segment, we get to meet Hector Espinoza, Obsidian's Lead Environmental Artist who is a veteran from the Black Isle days. Here's some of what he has to say:

Hello, Hector. What is your job on the Project Eternity team?

I am the Lead Environment Artist on Project Eternity. Along with building assets and doing layouts of some the larger levels of the game, I help my team of artists create a visually exciting world for the players to explore.

What are you working on this week?

This week I'm working on polishing one of the states of the Stronghold and building a Keep that is contained within.

What other projects have you worked on?

While at Obsidian I have worked on Dungeon Siege III and after that I have helped out on a number of "unannounced" titles.

Before Obsidian the list is pretty big. At Black Isle I worked on Icewind Dale (as QA), Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter (as an Artist, yay!) and Icewind Dale II. The short lived "Van Buren", it was going to be awesome! Oh, and BG III: The Black Hound. The last title I worked on while at Interplay was Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance 2. Outside of Interplay and Black Isle I worked on Vampire: Bloodlines, Full Spectrum Warrior 2, and Lord of the Rings: Conquest. Of course in between a lot of these titles there are more projects that unfortunately never got to see a release.

Which environment that you have done has been your favorite?

By far this has to be the first one, which is the original Kickstarter image. I learned a lot when creating that scene and the feeling of nostalgia was awesome.

What's your favorite Infinity Engine game? Why?

This has to be Icewind Dale. I feel so fortunate to have worked on that game. It helped me discover the world of D&D. It also gave me the chance to work with and meet some of the best people in the industry. I'm truly grateful for that. A super close second is Planescape: Torment, I mean, come on. HA!
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But the highlight of the update may be this area that he's been working on:

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One of Hector's work in progress areas, the player's stronghold, in a ruined and restored state.​

Pretty.

 

[Flacracker]

dat gfx

 

[Whisky]

Yeah, stronghold is pretty sexy.

Oh shit, I totally did not notice the Pillars of Eternity thing. Truth be told, I forgot entirely that Project: Eternity was a placeholder name.

 

[Zed]

Stronghold is looking good. I like the small theater seating thingy. A great set for NPC intrigue, duels, and poetry readings.

They should add small banners near the entrance reflecting the PC's color configuration :D

Hmm. The "dirt road" leading into the gate seems a little misaligned though.


hehe guys... this update gave me a pillar... of eternity... between my legs. hehehehe erect dick

 

[Infinitron]

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/64555-update-66-double-whammy/?p=1384001

J.E. Sawyer, on 30 Oct 2013 - 01:33 AM, said:
The hedge maze and amphitheatre are both mechanical upgrades to the stronghold. They can provide bonuses to characters who rest at the stronghold: Stealth for the hedge maze and Intellect for the amphitheatre.

​

 

[Zed]

That sounds rather abstract, but alright.

Do we know if Pillars of Eternity is the "franchise"/world name or the title of the individual game?

 

[Infinitron]

That sounds rather abstract, but alright.

Do we know if Pillars of Eternity is the "franchise"/world name or the title of the individual game?

Nobody at Obsidian has even said anything about the "Pillars of Eternity" name at all yet.

 

[Zed]

That sounds rather abstract, but alright.

Do we know if Pillars of Eternity is the "franchise"/world name or the title of the individual game?

Nobody at Obsidian has even said anything about the "Pillars of Eternity" name at all yet.

we must inquire. take the dog and go to mr. sawyer's house, I'll go see if I can't get anything out of the young attractive heiress in the valley.

 

[nikolokolus]

What self respecting steward would let that many trees grow that close to the stronghold wall?

You just can't get good henchmen help these days.

 

[oldmanpaco]

Why must strongholds be so heroic? My stronghold should be a tavern. With upgrades like ladyboys and goats. And maybe a sauna so I can have a good steam. Also blackjack.

 

[Severian Silk]

Gfx look nice.

 

[Direwolf]

So what are they going to call the sequels?
Pillars of (blank) or (blank) of Eternity?

 

[imweasel]

Yeah, there's no official confirmation of it yet, but it appears that the game's final name will be Pillars of Eternity.

What do you think?

It's okay, but not a great name for a game IMO.

Maybe it is just a name for their backer portal though. I.e. some fantasy shit called the "Pillars of Eternity" might exist in the P:E universe and they thought it would be great to name their backer portal accordingly (pillar = support ~= backer...). Just a thought.

BTW, nice screenshot of the stronghold. It is reminiscent of one of the first areas of Baldur' Gate, the Friendly Arm Inn.

 

[Lady_Error]

I like World of Eternity as the series name, with the obligatory Something of Something as the subtitle of each game.

 

[Lancehead]

Pillars of Eternity abbreviates to PE, so it's likely the final name a candidate.

 

[Surf Solar]

I like the pillar name.
Also artworks look sooo gud.

 

[Lady_Error]

Pillars of Eternity abbreviates to PE, so it's likely the final name.

Huh? Why does the final name have to abbreviate to PE? Also, on the Pillars of Eternity website screenshot it still has the Project Eternity name on the top.

 

[tuluse]

So what are they going to call the sequels?
Pillars of (blank) or (blank) of Eternity?

Pillars of Eternity 2

 

[Lancehead]

Pillars of Eternity abbreviates to PE, so it's likely the final name.

Huh? Why does the final name have to abbreviate to PE? Also, on the Pillars of Eternity website screenshot it still has the Project Eternity name on the top.

I would think they'd want to keep the current naming conventions if possible, and Project Eternity is generally abbreviated to PE.

 

[Grotesque]

its like a toy stronghold for 5 year old and below. look at the walls and towers. laughable
somebody tell him to put some trapdoors for that towers

 

[MicoSelva]

As already mentioned on the Obsidian forums, Pillars of Eternity may be the 'cool-sounding' name for the backers of the game (hence the Pillars of Eternity website), not the name of the game itself.

But if it is the game's title, well, it could have been better, but it could have been worse. Ok, I guess.

 

[Zero Credibility]

Well, I can't say I think much of the Pillars of the Eternity name, if that even is the name of the game at all. It really does sound like something for the backers.

Anyway, insert standard bitching about the stronghold here - who the hell would leave trees that close to the walls, bonuses from resting in a stronghold with a maze and amphitheatre sound silly and so on.

 

[CWagner]

PoE will hopefully just be the portal/backer name. I really like P:E as the game name, even if it's only because I really got used to it.

Also really impressive graphics

 

[Duraframe300]

PoE will hopefully just be the portal/backer name. I really like P:E as the game name, even if it's only because I really got used to it.

Also really impressive graphics

I think you are still supposed to use PE.

@others Look at the first one. It gets much clearer that it is supposed to be the games name rather than the backer portals.

 

[Infinitron]

Yes, it's not the portal name. Look more closely at the text.