Interview Age of Decadence - Defining RPGs Once Again

[Davaris]

As you said earlier they changed mid development to mirrored frames, which means part of the animations were rendered in full and part were rendered mirrored.

I haven't said so. The game was intended to have full frames from the start. The decision to introduce sprite mirroring was a really late one (most probably just a month prior to the release of the demo). All sprites in the game have full frames, and everything works properly with sprite mirroring finally disabled in the unofficial patch, as tested by many people. On a side note, some character sprites that were made AFTER the introduction of sprite mirroring were still made with full frames regardless. A case in point - the final Bedokaan model.

Hmmm... They might have retained them as a bonus for future players/modders. The publishers (lawyers) probably would have told them not to include the mirror on off switch, because turning it on would crash some machines - animated sprites with lots of frames are a major memory hog.

 

[Vault Dweller]

While Ogre is technically right - Arcanum had CONTENT cut from it - the idea that the cut content affected the success (or lack there-of) of Arcanum is clearly absurd.

The content was replaced, not cut.

However, whether you like it or not, the scope is huge. 40% of the original character art is still included in the release version but is inactive, wasting a considerable amount of space.

And? What is the big fucking deal, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Double Ogre]

To Silellak

There's another point of view, though.

Even back in 2001 many people stayed away from Arcanum because it had quite mediocre graphics, in particular it was criticized for poor animations and bland colors. If the game had no sprite mirroring, I'm sure it would do a bit better.

I still don't understand why they didn't include an option. It would really be a WIN/WIN situation. Tim Cain told me the animations were going to be cut, but he wasn't sure if he remembers this right. I guess we may never find the answer then.

 

[Volourn]

oGREoGRE = mORONmORON

 

[Silellak]

While Ogre is technically right - Arcanum had CONTENT cut from it - the idea that the cut content affected the success (or lack there-of) of Arcanum is clearly absurd.

The content was replaced, not cut.

I made the same argument earlier, but on the most basic level of "someone created something for the game that was intended to be used and was eventually removed", content was, in fact, cut. I agree that I wouldn't categorize it as actual content cut from the game if I were asked, but, as you said, it is, under the "most anal and literal" definition. Especially because, under that definition, every game ever made has content cut from it.

Even back in 2001 many people stayed away from Arcanum because it had quite mediocre graphics, in particular it was criticized for poor animations and bland colors. If the game had no sprite mirroring, I'm sure it would do a bit better.

We'll just have to disagree here. I just can't honestly see "spire mirroring" as being a reason for losing any more than a hand full of sales.

 

[SerratedBiz]

Most of what I read at the time actually dealt more with the fact that, interesting story and setting aside, Arcanum mostly failed in gameplay, balance and difficulty. Half-finished, even.

I have half a mind to borrow it one day to see why so many people swear off by it, since it sounds like a solid game. But still, whether the sprites are there or not, I don't give a crap.

 

[Twinfalls]

ummm...

you want to know how publishers work?

this an example from across media.. the film business
http://www.riskybusinessblog.com/2009/0 ... movie.html

arguably this film will almost certainly make a return but currently no publisher is willing to outlay the money to get that return because there is risk involved with the film being far from "mainstream".

Not the best example, because Terry Gilliam usually makes bloated, self-indulgent monstrosities which, despite their trappings of high imagination, end up being horribly tedious. Nobody much wants to admit it, but this is why they flop.

Anyway, carry on, this stuff is faskinating.

 

[SmokedWolf]

ummm...

you want to know how publishers work?

this an example from across media.. the film business
http://www.riskybusinessblog.com/2009/0 ... movie.html

arguably this film will almost certainly make a return but currently no publisher is willing to outlay the money to get that return because there is risk involved with the film being far from "mainstream".

Not the best example, because Terry Gilliam usually makes bloated, self-indulgent monstrosities which, despite their trappings of high imagination, end up being horribly tedious. Nobody much wants to admit it, but this is why they flop.

Anyway, carry on, this stuff is faskinating.

quite true..

but who wouldn't want Heath Ledger's last film

 

[Mantiis]

Jesus fuck - you idiots are saying the same thing: sprites were mirrored, all you are fucking doing is arguing over semantics to describe said sprite mirroring. It's like catholic vs protestant but about video games.

How about telling us when this god damned game is coming out so I can fucking buy it and get my rpg fix gods dammit!

Edit: removed creepy bit.

 

[Murk]

Yes, the mirrored sprites look better (imo). Aren't they the new sprites that replaced the now inactive sprites?

wtf, VD trolling?

 

[Gragt]

I start to believe Drog is in fact Tim Cain trolling this forum.

 

[Forest Dweller]

Why is it that for every one of these AOD previews/interviews there has to be some group of people arguing with VD over something completely inane and off-topic? I think some people just like to take a poke at him.

And Drog, hate to burst your bubble, but putting artwork on the same level as quests and dialogue is a pretty retarded thing to do. Yes. It really is.

 

[Murk]

And Drog, hate to burst your bubble, but putting artwork on the same level as quests and dialogue is a pretty retarded thing to do. Yes. It really is.

donno man, avernum and geneforge's appearance is the main reason i dont' even want to think about bothering with that game. There's a limit to arguing each, but I'd say artwork is important, Drogre is just kind of anal about Arcanum I guess? The sprite mirroring is a very cool restoration but I wouldn't hold that against a game, especially if everything else is pretty good.

 

[DarkUnderlord]

If you guys want to argue cut content, talk about the brothel in ToEE or the
horribly rushed ending in Bloodlines. If you want to cover whether Troika
rushed their games or not, talk about the bugs that exist in all of their games.

Also:

Terry Gilliam <s>usually</s> makes bloated, self-indulgent
monstrosities which, despite their trappings of high imagination, end up being horribly
tedious. Nobody much wants to admit it, but this is why they flop.

That is all. Carry on.

 

[Fat Dragon]

I lol'd.

 

[Pastel]

Wait MoronMoron is Drog Black Tooth?
And using size and percentages to judge cut content is incredibly dumb. Especially considering said content does not represent new creatures. They aren't 200MB of a whole new race, but rather new poses of the existing creatures.
They were deemed irrelevant.
Which they fucking are.

 

[poocolator]

What DarkUnderlord said. Also: ever notice the absurdly humongousousousous muzzle flashes in hollywood movies? Funny, huh?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4yxbcd0lZQ&feature=related
OMG it's like they're pretend-shooting LAWL THAT'S FAKE. I KNOW WHAT REAL GUNS ARE LIKE CUZ I WATCH LOTSA AKSHUN MOVIES.

My point is: I'd never noticed the sprite issue playing Arcanum until I read through the first couple of pages of this grueling thread, just like you all had never noticed how moronic Hollywood effects were until I just outlined them for you. (Or maybe you have, which makes you a smart cookie, like me).

 

[Wyrmlord]

Maybe I am a guy with highly sensitive eyes, but I do think it is a problem when shields change sides while changing position.

So there.

 

[poocolator]

Maybe it's because some of us played Arcanum looking forward to the next NPC-dialogue encounter (encouraged by the game's quality writing), and not as a trite dungeon romp, scrutinizing every little detail. It's enough that my character was a charismatic firearms engineer, and could hold his own in combat, without having to ensure his firearm was always in his right fuckin hand. Besides, I could barely make out the pixels representing the weapon anyway :/

 

[sheek]

A ridiculous statement, considering that the model is the same.

Do you not see the difference?

... since we have a choice here I see no reason to not choose the full set over the mirrored one.

And I'm very happy for you.

a) Troika games had plenty of flaws and nobody's denying that.

FLIP-FLOP

*sigh* Are you a moron, Ogre? Be honest with me.

You don't seem like such a foul-mouthed little man from your photos.

Even though I like your style.

 

[Vault Dweller]

A ridiculous statement, considering that the model is the same.

Do you not see the difference?

... since we have a choice here I see no reason to not choose the full set over the mirrored one.

And I'm very happy for you.

a) Troika games had plenty of flaws and nobody's denying that.

FLIP-FLOP

*sigh* Are you a moron, Ogre? Be honest with me.

You don't seem like such a foul-mouthed little man from your photos.

Even though I like your style.

What photos?

 

[Mantiis]

Ooh the plot thickens...

 

[Darth Roxor]

You don't seem like such a foul-mouthed little man from your photos.

Even though I like your style.

What photos?

in before 'VD is a tranny'.

 

[sheek]

A ridiculous statement, considering that the model is the same.

Do you not see the difference?

... since we have a choice here I see no reason to not choose the full set over the mirrored one.

And I'm very happy for you.

a) Troika games had plenty of flaws and nobody's denying that.

FLIP-FLOP

*sigh* Are you a moron, Ogre? Be honest with me.

You don't seem like such a foul-mouthed little man from your photos.

Even though I like your style.

What photos?

The unicef or whatever prize ceremony.

Not that I'm stalking but somebody revealed your identity earlier in this thread.

 

[Vault Dweller]

On drugs?