Obsidian doing a 2D RPG

[LordDenton]

Was going to say. Scaleform is Flash-based and used by just about every game out there these days, and can presumably be used for a full 2D game as well, not just interface (not 100% sure but it seems logical, you'd have to do engine systems yourself but other than that it'd probably be very easy).

Flash in itself isn't even a bad thing for 2D games not requiring too much in the way of animation - games can be played in a browser and therefore are cross-platform, can run on just about any device you can think of, very low performance requirement, probably fairly easy to port to other platforms if necessary, fast development time, etc. There are some really beautiful Flash games out there, and several even sold as retail titles (Samorost, Machinarium), so don't assume it automatically rules out quality. I dislike Flash overall but it's not a bad choice for this sort of thing.

You cannot make a quality RPG in Flash. Browser games are all, without exception, shit.

Also, Machinarium and Samorost are casual games. Not exactly Icewind Dale level of complexity.

 

[sea]

You cannot make a quality RPG in Flash. Browser games are all, without exception, shit.

What evidence do you have for it? There are plenty of bad Flash games, and most Flash games err on the side of casual, but why does that mean Flash is by nature prohibitive of complex game mechanics? I've seen plenty of Flash games that feature both fairly deep mechanics and extremely fast, complex visuals (lots of bullet hell shooters, for instance, with hundreds of moving and animating objects at once). Are you suggesting that Flash is incapable of rendering Infinity Engine-like graphics even though there are many games which do far more than that, artistic considerations aside?

Also, Machinarium and Samorost are casual games. Not exactly Icewind Dale level of complexity.

I was referring to their visuals, not gameplay, as examples of what Flash is capable of animation-wise - and I'm sure they don't fully explore its capabilities either, being relatively static adventure games.

 

[Roguey]

This better be for Project Virginia because having two of these Flash things in production at the same time would be disappointing.

 

[CrimsonAngel]

Could be a tie in promotion game.

 

[J_C]

You cannot make a quality RPG in Flash.

Why not? I'm just asking because you seem like a pro programmer, who is an expert in Flash programming.

Flash =/= browser based game. Lots of 3D games use Flash in some way.

 

[Melcar]

Flash is horrible shit anyway.

 

[Mastermind]

Or maybe facebook social crap. The ulimate low. Only appropriate for obsidian

Facebook games are vastly superior to anything biowhore produces.

In fact I tried their POS Dragon Age Legends game, which they advertise as the first "real" game on facebook (a lie, i can think of at least 4 games that follow a mainstream game's blueprint). It was shit. Just another way for EA to milk the abominable retards who play their games.

 

[Topher]

Could be anything but I'm putting my money on an XBLA/PSN title.

 

[Johannes]

Rather just wait & see than try to guess too much into it.

 

[Metro]

From the When it Rains it Pours department.

 

[Overweight Manatee]

You cannot make a quality RPG in Flash.

Why not? I'm just asking because you seem like a pro programmer, who is an expert in Flash programming.

Flash =/= browser based game. Lots of 3D games use Flash in some way.

Nothing prevents you from making a quality RPG. Just so long as thats a quality RPG without 10k polygons for a character's ass and enough bloom to gouge out eye sockets. A quality 2D RPG could easily be done in flash. It may even prove a good idea to do it in flash, chances are flash developers have a lot more experience in creating such things than 3D game developers.

 

[deuxhero]

Could be a tie in promotion game.

Possible, but the requirements are quite steep for such a thing.


Wait a second! Lots of (western) animation is done in flash. Nothing here actually says this is gameplay the artist is making.

 

[Awor Szurkrarz]

Didn't someone remake Ultima IV in Flash?

 

[IronicNeurotic]

Sawyer confirms (somewhat) on Formspring

http://www.formspring.me/JESawyer/q/199194726031717125

What do you know about the amazing 2D RPG Obsidian is making?

it's kewl

 

[Turisas]

It's kewl.

 

[Havoc]

It's kewl.

 

[Gord]

highly stylized

Sounds suspicious to me...

 

[hoverdog]

highly stylized

 

[Gord]

Could just as well mean something like this:

 

[Radisshu]

Was going to say. Scaleform is Flash-based and used by just about every game out there these days, and can presumably be used for a full 2D game as well, not just interface (not 100% sure but it seems logical, you'd have to do engine systems yourself but other than that it'd probably be very easy).

Flash in itself isn't even a bad thing for 2D games not requiring too much in the way of animation - games can be played in a browser and therefore are cross-platform, can run on just about any device you can think of, very low performance requirement, probably fairly easy to port to other platforms if necessary, fast development time, etc. There are some really beautiful Flash games out there, and several even sold as retail titles (Samorost, Machinarium), so don't assume it automatically rules out quality. I dislike Flash overall but it's not a bad choice for this sort of thing.

You cannot make a quality RPG in Flash. Browser games are all, without exception, shit.

Also, Machinarium and Samorost are casual games.

Logic fail.

 

[Severian Silk]

Something like Avadon could easily have been developed in Flash.

 

[Kaanyrvhok]

A 2D fallout game would be very profitable. It would have a similar appeal as Halo Wars and it would be cheap to make.

 

[sea]

A 2D fallout game would be very profitable. It would have a similar appeal as Halo Wars and it would be cheap to make.

Not to mention it would probably be a hit if they sold it for $5 on the iPod/Pad/Android in addition to consoles and PC.

 

[Metro]

Also, Machinarium and Samorost are casual games.

Is there such a thing as hardcore adventure games?

 

[sgc_meltdown]

Is there such a thing as hardcore adventure games?

interactive fiction with fuck you tier puzzles and/or parsers

or nocturnal illusion