Development Info Bloodlines weekly update #11

[Whipporowill]

Tags: Troika Games; Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

Time again for one of those updates on (what it seems) is one of the most anticipated CRPG's currently in production. This time the questions wasn't even that uninteresting, imagine that? Gosh! Here's this weeks special order:
<br>
<br>
<blockquote>
<br>
Hey all,
<br>
<br>
Now that we have E3 behind us a bit in the rearview mirror I'm going to start up our weekly updates again. Here is what Leon at Troika had to say in response to your inquiries.
<br>
<br>
-Shane
<br>
<br>
#1: Will the friction of certain surfaces affect player movement/combat? For Example, will fighting on dry blacktop be noticably different from fighting on wet grass?
<br>
<br>
No. In the past we,ve found things like this aren't always understood by players, and the feeling can be difficult to convey.
<br>
<br>
#2: There's been mention of secret items and paths that provide an experience increase, are these items functional or are they more like easter eggs or maybe just props?
<br>
<br>
The quest paths you're speaking about are not purely Easter Eggs in the classic sense of the term. Extra experience is given in a number of different situations, mostly for paths that are hard to discover/execute. No items give you XP per say, but sometimes finding them does.
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
I'm glad that there's no item xp, that would've felt like more akin to Thief and the "nab 40% of the loot for completion". Certainly not very rpgish.

 

[Anonymous]

The friction thing would of been neat, I think.

 

[Whipporowill]

The friction thing would of been neat, I think.

I'm guessing this game is pretty modable... :wink:

 

[Stark]

#1: Will the friction of certain surfaces affect player movement/combat?
For Example, will fighting on dry blacktop be noticably different from
fighting on wet grass?

No. In the past we,ve found things like this aren't always understood by
players, and the feeling can be difficult to convey.

I agree only partially with the guy. In DX (1) there were cold rooms where the floor is more slippery and walking involves sliding. they managed to convey that pretty well, and that was such an old game.

imagine sliding and skidding around while in combat...

 

[Sol Invictus]

It's not as fun as you think, Stark. In fact, it's very annoying and I wish less games had slippery/muddy surfaces. They're just a hassle to deal with and add absolutely nothing to immersion unless they're scripted events (e.g. getting trapped in a muddy corridor with a wall of fire cascading behind you).

 

[Stark]

I agree. Which is why i said i only agree partially with the quote.

however imagine fighting in a slippery floor, where if u run u have a probability of falling, and hence need to walk slowly. that may add some twist/tactics to the combat. it should not be overdone but injected late in the game it might just spice up the familiar combat mechanics which players were already bored with by then.

yeah, also the situation u mentioned: "getting trapped in a muddy corridor with a wall of fire cascading behind you".

makes me wonder why so little games attempt this type of moments.

 

[Whipporowill]

Things like this would be annoying if it occurs to much. Would possibly add some interest in a boss battle though?

 

[Ultron]

Damn! I was hoping to gain a tactical advantage when grappling with a hobo that's standing in a pool of his own urine. DAMN YOU TROIKA!

 

[Fez]

Oh god, this brings back the flashbacks of the bad-old days when games had the obligatory "slippy-slidey ice world" level/world/section, which was always the most universally loathed part of a game. Which is why it is rarely seen now.

 

[StraitLacedDeviant]

you can always simulate the surfaces yourself by flooding your room when your walking through a wet patch, pouring liquid nitrogen on the ground for ice etc.

You could even go so far as shooting yourself every time you get hit in the game.

 

[Fez]

Or perhaps by drinking spirits or occasionally a dose of hard drugs? That should spice the game up for you.

 

[S4ur0n27]

I agree. Which is why i said i only agree partially with the quote.

however imagine fighting in a slippery floor, where if u run u have a probability of falling, and hence need to walk slowly. that may add some twist/tactics to the combat. it should not be overdone but injected late in the game it might just spice up the familiar combat mechanics which players were already bored with by then.

yeah, also the situation u mentioned: "getting trapped in a muddy corridor with a wall of fire cascading behind you".

makes me wonder why so little games attempt this type of moments.

Combine that with AI = annoying fights.

 

[Megatron]

woo jousting.

ice sucks in fps. Why not just make an escort missions across an ice-rink while snipers are placed randomly above you?

 

[DarkUnderlord]

STOP TRYING TO GIVE THEM IDEAS!!