George Ziets opening a new RPG studio - Digimancy Entertainment

[cherry blossom]

Good camera controls: ← ↑ → ↓ and maybe zoom either in 2D or in 3D fixed orthoraphic projection without rotation or perspective nonsense. There has historically been no game with good camera controls that weren't limited to just these options and all the games that did more, suffered for it. Disagreeing won't change the facts.

Are you for real? Even if we're limiting this to RPGs, have you ever heard of, say, a game called Deus Ex?

Duh, talking about iso/tactical view cameras.

NWN was perfectly playable, only newfags who didn't play it on release expect post 2010 UI/camera etc.

Are you aware that there are games released before 2006 with good camera controls?

Good camera controls: ← ↑ → ↓ and maybe zoom either in 2D or in 3D fixed orthoraphic projection without rotation or perspective nonsense. There has historically been no game with good camera controls that weren't limited to just these options and all the games that did more, suffered for it. Disagreeing won't change the facts.

AoD had no problems with controllable camera. So, no. Your generalization is too sweeping.

AOD's camera was shit. My generalization is on point. There are maybe a handful of exceptions in 3D and none allows you to tinker with camera too much to get a better view because it was necessary, or allows structures to obstruct camera line of sight. AOD is guilty on both counts.

Hey hey, VOTS lives! My offer to unban your legendary original account still stands btw.

It's been so long... my original account is legendary? You embarrass me

 

[Twiglard]

AOD's camera was shit. My generalization is on point.

If you've had to waste any time on adjusting the camera in AoD, then clearly you can't discern a shitty camera system from a serviceable one.

 

[LESS T_T]

Ben Zweifel, 2D Lead: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-zweifel-2a013b/

Digimancy Entertainment
Total Duration 1 yr 1 mo

• 2D Lead
  Dates Employed Apr 2021 – Present
  Employment Duration 5 mos
• Concept Artist
  Dates Employed Aug 2020 – Apr 2021
  Employment Duration 9 mos

He did mostly sci-fi artworks including pieces for Star Wars games from Fantasy Flight Games and HBS Battletech. https://www.artstation.com/benzweifel

Well raise the chance of a sci-fi game? Also imagining some use of illustration-based cutscenes.

 

[Roguey]

Paradox canceled a bunch of unannounced projects yesterday. Was Digimancy's among them? Who knows. I did a minor bit of research but found no indications of such. I did find some employees this thread hasn't discussed yet.

Jordan Ajlouni, gameplay systems designer.
https://twitter.com/JordanAjlouni

I am a game developer specializing in Unity 3D Development and Combat Systems Design.

Agents of Mayhem
I was a combat/systems designer, scripter, and DLC lead designer on Volition’s Agents of Mayhem.

Mechanical MainFrame
My 2 person indie studio, Oil Leak Games, recently released our puzzle adventure game, Mechanical MainFrame!

AR Minigames
While at Krikey, I developed a series of Augmented Reality minigames our Krikey platform.

His personal projects: https://robotadventure.itch.io/

A Forest Full of Monsters
A classic RPG without any monsters to fight.
Role Playing

I'm not sure what to make of this game. It simultaneously feels like a joke, a walking simulator, and something heartwarming. I mean, it doesn't really feel sustainable, but was an enjoyable 2-3 minutes, and had a nice message. It feels more like interactive art about videogames than an actual videogame. And that's actually quite nice, but at the same time, I'm not quite sure what to do with it in the context of this jam. Still, thank you for the experience, it brought a smile to my face.

And Chris Hart, a programming socks-wearing senior engineer
https://twitter.com/dstrawberrygirl https://concord.org/newsletter/2017-fall/innovator-interview/

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

Truly a dream team.

 

[Latro]

Paradox canceled a bunch of unannounced projects yesterday. Was Digimancy's among them? Who knows. I did a minor bit of research but found no indications of such. I did find some employees this thread hasn't discussed yet.

Jordan Ajlouni, gameplay systems designer.
https://twitter.com/JordanAjlouni

I am a game developer specializing in Unity 3D Development and Combat Systems Design.

Agents of Mayhem
I was a combat/systems designer, scripter, and DLC lead designer on Volition’s Agents of Mayhem.

Mechanical MainFrame
My 2 person indie studio, Oil Leak Games, recently released our puzzle adventure game, Mechanical MainFrame!

AR Minigames
While at Krikey, I developed a series of Augmented Reality minigames our Krikey platform.

His personal projects: https://robotadventure.itch.io/

A Forest Full of Monsters
A classic RPG without any monsters to fight.
Role Playing

I'm not sure what to make of this game. It simultaneously feels like a joke, a walking simulator, and something heartwarming. I mean, it doesn't really feel sustainable, but was an enjoyable 2-3 minutes, and had a nice message. It feels more like interactive art about videogames than an actual videogame. And that's actually quite nice, but at the same time, I'm not quite sure what to do with it in the context of this jam. Still, thank you for the experience, it brought a smile to my face.

And Chris Hart, a programming socks-wearing senior engineer
https://twitter.com/dstrawberrygirl https://concord.org/newsletter/2017-fall/innovator-interview/

Guy who makes RPGs without combat, truly the guy you want designing combat rpgs

 

[vortex]

I hope they didn't cancel Tyranny 2.

 

[LESS T_T]

Paradox canceled a bunch of unannounced projects yesterday. Was Digimancy's among them? Who knows. I did a minor bit of research but found no indications of such.

FWIW their Paradox producer I mentioned earlier left the company in July (and joined Remedy as Development Director). This is from his Linkedin:

Managed a portfolio of 6 games, out of which 3 were canceled at different stage of conception as not matching set goals

They were probably okay at the point of July, putting new job postings.

 

[LESS T_T]

Well they posted a job posting for Senior Producer role.
https://remotegamejobs.com/jobs/digimancy-entertainment-senior-producer-remote-job

 

[just]

would apply but dont have much love for narritive-driven rpgs
too bad

 

[LESS T_T]

Also curiously Art Director Nate Abell became "Creative Director" from Art Director this month. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nateabell/

He's now Consulting Art Director.

Also "tech animator" left in July. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterlinganimation/

I guess July was when some shift happens.

 

[LESS T_T]

Hints from new job postings.

Senior Level Designer: https://digimancygames.com/jobs#senior-level-designer-unity

We’re looking for a Senior Level Designer (Unity) who is focused on developing playable isometric maps full of encounters, areas for player exploration, and secrets to be uncovered.

• Design, create, and implement playable levels for an isometric, narrative-focused RPG.

• A passion for story-focused RPGs and RPG-hybrids.
• 3+ years of experience in the video game industry.
• At least one shipped AA or AAA title in the role of Level Designer.

Lead Producer: https://digimancygames.com/jobs#lead-producer

Currently, we’re seeking an experienced Lead Producer to lead a team on an unannounced premium PC RPG.

• Experience as primary point of contact with a publisher

• Serve as a key point of contact with publisher, including addressing their concerns and questions and coordinating with publisher departments such as brand management and user research

 

[Darth Canoli]

Design, create, and implement playable levels for an isometric, narrative-focused RPG.
At least one shipped AA or AAA title in the role of Level Designer.

Well, at least now we know Ziets is going to release hot garbage.

 

[Wunderbar]

Darth Canoli what did you expect from the creator of Mask of the Betrayer? KotC3 or TOEE successor?

 

[Darth Canoli]

Darth Canoli what did you expect from the creator of Mask of the Betrayer? KotC3 or TOEE successor?

I didn't expect anything.
Actually, I even found all the fanboys from this thread quite funny to watch.

It's just the first reality check...

 

[Bad Sector]

At least one shipped AA or AAA title in the role of Level Designer.

Well, at least now we know Ziets is going to release hot garbage.

This is code for "we want to hire people who have actually worked with others on actually released games because we don't want to waste money and time on inexperienced noobs that can end up being self-important little prima-donna pricks that cant work with others". This isn't uncommon with these smaller studios made by experienced gamedev veterans that prefer to work with other experienced people.

 

[Harthwain]

This is code for "we want to hire people who have actually worked with others on actually released games because we don't want to waste money and time on inexperienced noobs that can end up being self-important little prima-donna pricks that cant work with others". This isn't uncommon with these smaller studios made by experienced gamedev veterans that prefer to work with other experienced people.

I see one big downside of working with people who have experience: not being able to innovate, therefore doing the same old stuff the industry has been doing for years and not something interesting or daring enough to set up new standards.

 

[Bad Sector]

I see one big downside of working with people who have experience: not being able to innovate, therefore doing the same old stuff the industry has been doing for years and not something interesting or daring enough to set up new standards.

I think many people here would argue this is a good thing :-P

But i wouldn't really associate innovation with working with (in)experienced people, if anything in general people work in game development because they want to make games and they're bound to have ideas of their own after a while - however in large companies unless they're on some lead position (which are by definition very few) chances are they wont be able to work on what they want.

 

[Viata]

I think many people here would argue this is a good thing :-P

Only if the "not being able to innovate" means "since the dos-era rpgs" and not "this last decade of shit games".

 

[Roguey]

This confirms beyond a doubt it's an RTS-RPG anyway.

 

[Wunderbar]

This confirms beyond a doubt it's an RTS-RPG anyway.

it doesn't confirm the RTS part. It may as well be a diablo-clone, or something like Nox.

 

[Roguey]

it doesn't confirm the RTS part. It may as well be a diablo-clone, or something like Nox.

https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads...ncy-entertainment.130360/page-25#post-6821745

You’ll work closely with our leads to shape the core systems of a new RPG-strategy hybrid.

Additionally from earlier in the thread

For me, RPG hybrids are games with strong RPG elements (solid narrative, choices and consequences, character management, etc.) but nontraditional gameplay. A good example would be King of Dragon Pass. Personally, I’m a fan of strategy games (especially grand strategy and turn-based strategy), so my hybrid ideas often borrow elements from that genre, or at least use them as a starting point.

"Diablo but with a strategy layer" wouldn't be that.

 

[Wunderbar]

it doesn't confirm the RTS part. It may as well be a diablo-clone, or something like Nox.

https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads...ncy-entertainment.130360/page-25#post-6821745

You’ll work closely with our leads to shape the core systems of a new RPG-strategy hybrid.

did you just assume a type of strategy? What if it's a TBS, not RTS?

 

[Roguey]

did you just assume a type of strategy? What if it's a TBS, not RTS?

https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads...ncy-entertainment.130360/page-28#post-6858938 confirmed real-time combat.

 

[Wunderbar]

This confirms beyond a doubt it's an RTS-RPG anyway.

you said "this", as if LESS T_T's recent post confirmed it.