Cain on Games - Tim Cain's new YouTube channel

[Infinitron]

I perform a post mortem of my space game, talking about the pros and cons of the final product, and how I could possibly improve it.

 

[Roguey]

Despite being a Fun Friday video, he dropped a couple of juicy bits.

First item is that he thinks the reason why a lot of games these days have a short shelf life is because the devs don't have fun making them anymore, and that people can naturally tell whether there was passion behind the project. Notes how that even though ToEE is his worst-reviewed game, its fans still see the passion behind it.

Second item is that even though he liked both Fallout 3 and 4, he liked 4 less and thought it was the wrong direction to go in. Meanwhile, he liked New Vegas more than 3 and thought that was the right one. Bethesda's surely not thrilled.

 

[Wesp5]

First item is that he thinks the reason why a lot of games these days have a short shelf life is because the devs don't have fun making them anymore, and that people can naturally tell whether there was passion behind the project.

He is probably right. This would also explain why Deadpool and Wolverine was a huge success and The Marvels and other recent MCU products weren't. Or why Godzilla Minus One was a huge hit compared to the US movies.

 

[0sacred]

> Tim sent his user reviews for FO3 and 4 to Bethesda

that's what fame does to a mf

 

[Devastator]

he liked 4 less and thought it was the wrong direction to go in.

Removing skills from an RPG is the wrong direction, interesting

On the other hand... The target consumer seems incapable of watching a single YT video without overdone facial expressions and hyperactive antics. It seems logical to cater to this demographic by dumbing down games. Why not strip away skills and replace them with flashy perks every level? You have to know how to cook food for people that want vomit.

 

[NecroLord]

Notes how that even though ToEE is his worst-reviewed game, its fans still see the passion behind it.

How a well made tactical combat system that stays faithful to the source material (in this case the D&D 3.5 edition) redeems an entire game.

What a damn shame that there is not a lot of content and story in TOEE.

 

[Berengar]

I had been actively skipping the "Toy" videos because I just assumed it was about toys in his office or something lmao

 

[Late Bloomer]

I talk about designing CRPGs where the player controls a single character versus ones where the player controls an entire party.

 

[Roguey]

Temple of Elemental Evil got snubbed in an art history book of D&D and he's seething.



That is pretty lousy given that ToEE had a lot of good art. He's mistaken about how they're still using Troika's Zuggtmoy though; the current people in charge disliked that design, likely for similar reasons I did in my retrospective review, and they gave her a make-over for 5e.

5e has its obnoxious aspects, but I like this design much better. Being scary and sinister fits her concept better than being lust-bait.

 

[NecroLord]

Temple of Elemental Evil got snubbed in an art history book of D&D and he's seething.



That is pretty lousy given that ToEE had a lot of good art. He's mistaken about how they're still using Troika's Zuggtmoy though; the current people in charge disliked that design, likely for similar reasons I did in my retrospective review, and they gave her a make-over for 5e.

5e has its obnoxious aspects, but I like this design much better. Being scary and sinister fits her concept better than being lust-bait.

Yeah, that's an alright design as far as 5E "art" goes...

As I have said, TOEE could've been so much greater than it already was (even with the mods which drastically improve and fix it).
It would've benefitted from more content.
Other rpgs (especially indie ones that defy typical Triple A design choices) should take notes on how to design a proper tactical combat system.

 

[0sacred]

5e has its obnoxious aspects, but I like this design much better. Being scary and sinister fits her concept better than being lust-bait.

I don't care for TOEE, but a quick google search reveals that it had tits, that's where its attractiveness ended. If a pair of boobs on a villain in a video game is problematic for you, you are part of the problem.

 

[Roguey]

I don't care for TOEE, but a quick google search reveals that it had tits, that's where its attractiveness ended. If a pair of boobs on a villain in a video game is problematic for you, you are part of the problem.

Big boobs and a pretty face. I believe the chaotic evil demoness lady of fungi shouldn't be physically attractive, she's not that kind of fair-is-foul evil. As I said in my review, the original design was too goofy, but a corpse-like figure with fungi growing out of her, that works for me.

 

[NecroLord]

5e has its obnoxious aspects, but I like this design much better. Being scary and sinister fits her concept better than being lust-bait.

I don't care for TOEE, but a quick google search reveals that it had tits, that's where its attractiveness ended. If a pair of boobs on a villain in a video game is problematic for you, you are part of the problem.

Yes, it had tits.
There is a corset which can be worn by female characters and it will reveal their tits.

 

[0sacred]

I don't care for TOEE, but a quick google search reveals that it had tits, that's where its attractiveness ended. If a pair of boobs on a villain in a video game is problematic for you, you are part of the problem.

Big boobs and a pretty face.

Pretty face is debatable. Maybe if you like freaks.

chaotic evil

It's oldschool design. Physically attractive female beings that are evil/twisted/tainted are incline because of the significance of their symbology to the male mind. It's something most men can relate to instantly on an instinctual level, and most women instantly reject because it hurts their little feelings. If anything, we need more tiddy demons now more than ever.

demoness lady of fungi

As such, I wouldn't care if she was the demon lady of care bears or plumbing.

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

Temple of Elemental Evil got snubbed in an art history book of D&D and he's seething.

Disgraceful that The Temple of Elemental Evil was excluded; at a minimum, that book should have prominently featured Keith Parkinson's classic cover:

 

[rojay]

He's mistaken about how they're still using Troika's Zuggtmoy though;

It's a lot more like Troika's design than the depiction in the original module. I'd say they can take credit.

 

[Infinitron]

I talk about how we optimized Arcanum for both time and space considerations.

 

[Infinitron]

I talk about how to stress test games to make sure they work with a wide variety of different machines, beyond just the minimum specification.

 

[Ashen_Shugar]

Despite being a Fun Friday video, he dropped a couple of juicy bits.

First item is that he thinks the reason why a lot of games these days have a short shelf life is because the devs don't have fun making them anymore, and that people can naturally tell whether there was passion behind the project. Notes how that even though ToEE is his worst-reviewed game, its fans still see the passion behind it.

Second item is that even though he liked both Fallout 3 and 4, he liked 4 less and thought it was the wrong direction to go in. Meanwhile, he liked New Vegas more than 3 and thought that was the right one. Bethesda's surely not thrilled.

He is of course correct. Number 1 rule for life is do something you actually enjoy. If you don't really like or have a passion for designing games then get out of the industry and pass on to someone that loves doing it. ToEE had everything right just was simply too short. Can we go on a codex drive and raise enough money to lure Cain back to producing kickass games i.e. not the Outerworlds? The industry needs people that really love making games - otherwise just more turds like Avowed will be churned out.

Correct also on Fallout 3 v 4 even though 3 ended up a snooze fest halfway in. Definitely no F1/2 tier engagement on both.

 

[Ashen_Shugar]

5e has its obnoxious aspects, but I like this design much better. Being scary and sinister fits her concept better than being lust-bait.

I don't care for TOEE, but a quick google search reveals that it had tits, that's where its attractiveness ended. If a pair of boobs on a villain in a video game is problematic for you, you are part of the problem.

Yes, it had tits.
There is a corset which can be worn by female characters and it will reveal their tits.

Boobs are good. There should be more boobs in games and less tranny shit. Games were better when this was so.

 

[NecroLord]

I talk about how to stress test games to make sure they work with a wide variety of different machines, beyond just the minimum specification.

Devs these days just do not put much effort into serious playtesting.
Or has something changed?
You can never have enough playtesting.

 

[Ashen_Shugar]

Fast Travel is 100% decline. Limited, very limited mark and recall (gate) can be ok. Thats the limit though. Abundant Fast Travel and Horse Armour are two easily identifiable points of real serious decline.

Mark and Recall were alright.
Also very useful for escaping near death situations.
Also limited the Fast Travel cheese, you could only teleport back to the mark you previously placed on the map.
Been that way since Daggerfall.

If the game merits fast travel (due to large open world sandbox design) then impose a modest cost for it's use. Restricts spamming early game when funds are tight and encourages exploration. Makes sense late game with wads of cash and everything explored. Thinking back to how it was elegantly implemented in BAK via paid for temple teleportation.

 

[NecroLord]

Fast Travel is 100% decline. Limited, very limited mark and recall (gate) can be ok. Thats the limit though. Abundant Fast Travel and Horse Armour are two easily identifiable points of real serious decline.

Mark and Recall were alright.
Also very useful for escaping near death situations.
Also limited the Fast Travel cheese, you could only teleport back to the mark you previously placed on the map.
Been that way since Daggerfall.

If the game merits fast travel (due to large open world sandbox design) then impose a modest cost for it's use. Restricts spamming early game when funds are tight and encourages exploration. Makes sense late game with wads of cash and everything explored. Thinking back to how it was elegantly implemented in BAK via paid for temple teleportation.

Daggerfall has Teleportation but it can only be accessed by high level Mages Guild members.
Of course you could also just use the Recall spell. First casting sets the "anchor" and the second casting teleports you back to where you set the anchor.

 

[Sweeper]

Temple of Elemental Evil got snubbed in an art history book of D&D and he's seething.

Disgraceful that The Temple of Elemental Evil was excluded; at a minimum, that book should have prominently featured Keith Parkinson's classic cover:

Augh... I think I'm gonna...
Ooooffff I'm gonna...
AAAAAAAAAAAA I'M NOOTICING!

 

[NecroLord]

Temple of Elemental Evil got snubbed in an art history book of D&D and he's seething.

Disgraceful that The Temple of Elemental Evil was excluded; at a minimum, that book should have prominently featured Keith Parkinson's classic cover:

Augh... I think I'm gonna...
Ooooffff I'm gonna...
AAAAAAAAAAAA I'M NOOTICING!

Varg was a D&D player and Tolkien enjoyer.