PoE Sales Analysis Thread

[J_C]

If only it was isometric.

It wouldn't make a difference.

 

[Ulrox]

Hell hath no fury like a Sensuki scorned.

He put so much into helping obsidian out and yet the game didnt end up being superior to baldur's gate 2. - Too high hopes I'd say.

 

[Hatred]

If only it was isometric.

It wouldn't make a difference.

Ah yes it would. It would increase visibility in combat. Sure there are a lot of other things which kill combat visibility but idk you can say that fixing combat visibility is meaningless.

 

[Hatred]

wtf is with people who think wanting decent encounters and decent combat = wanting more than bg2/asking for the impossible. Of all the stupid shit I read on the internet this has to be in competition for the most retarded.

 

[Sensuki]

A higher camera angle would definitely be better, I'm not a fan of their current one. It's too low.

 

[Zed]

sensuki is my favorite australian internet friend, but he could not have "saved" PoE from the superiority of BG2 even if all of his ideas and suggestions were implemented. PoE's shortcomings are all over the place, however minuscule they may be. Story, companions, C&C etc, things that had no part in the backer beta.

 

[Seari]

Miniscule is not the word I'd use.

 

[Ulrox]

sensuki is my favorite australian internet friend, but he could not have "saved" PoE from the superiority of BG2 even if all of his ideas and suggestions were implemented. PoE's shortcomings are all over the place, however minuscule they may be. Story, companions, C&C etc, things that had no part in the backer beta.

Yeah I guess I agree. Still Obsidian hasn't made a game like this in years and Sensuki said somewhere that only 2 of the people on the team had any experience with this kind of rpg - so I'm still expecting big things in the future from Obsidian once they understand the shortcomings of PoE better.

 

[Hatred]

so I'm still expecting big things in the future from Obsidian once they understand the shortcomings of PoE better.

This would mean JES and the rest of the team at Obsidian would have to think they did something wrong. Not holding my breath personally.

 

[Seari]

Why would they, when the game is a "success".

 

[Hatred]

Why would they, when the game is a "success".

Well they do like to harp on about souls. Maybe they actually have souls and some watcher will help them to see how they fkd up.

...ill just see myself out now

 

[Ulrox]

Why would they, when the game is a "success".

Good game developers understand that very few games are perfect and always want to tweak a game to make it better. Obsidian has tons of feedback now to make the next games in their series even better. In fact, the brain works by trying something out and if that doesn't work then using that data to try something else. Through their increased experience and feedback they are atleast now 'able' to create a better game than before. Even though this game is a "success" that doesn't change the fact that they will want continued and "increased" success next time.

 

[tuluse]

sensuki is my favorite australian internet friend, but he could not have "saved" PoE from the superiority of BG2 even if all of his ideas and suggestions were implemented. PoE's shortcomings are all over the place, however minuscule they may be. Story, companions, C&C etc, things that had no part in the backer beta.

It was never going to be BG2 levels, that's a well funded sequel to a massively popular game. The question is did it hit BG1/IWD1 levels and can they build from it.

Well two questions.

Edit:

This would mean JES and the rest of the team at Obsidian would have to think they did something wrong. Not holding my breath personally.

This is the same guy who said that New Vegas was the only fun game Obsidian made (this was either before DS3 or he said both of those, can't remember now).

Whatever his faults, I don't think lack of self-criticism is one.

 

[ZagorTeNej]

Yeah I guess I agree. Still Obsidian hasn't made a game like this in years and Sensuki said somewhere that only 2 of the people on the team had any experience with this kind of rpg - so I'm still expecting big things in the future from Obsidian once they understand the shortcomings of PoE better.

Who's gonna make them do that (when it comes to combat gameplay)? Sawyer mostly listens to goons and they're ecstatic over the game being so forgiving/streamlined in many aspects (party members fall asleep instead of dying, can use all spells/abilities on everything/no immunities, engagement system and the sheer effectiveness of tank and spank strategy, many nasty effects from IE games transformed into mere nuisances etc.), a likely glowing review from Codex because it has C&C, stat checks and best RTWP system ever (which is clearly the one that is trying to be turn-based and makes combat static) and the majority of other backers being just happy they can play a game that reminds them of their childhood days (being isometric, party-based with IE style graphics is probably enough for them) is not gonna make them overhaul the system and make significant changes.

Now, I still have some hope that Sawyer will want to perfect his game and find a way to make it more satisfying for IE grogs while not frustrating his target audience but I'm not holding my breath. I'm much more hopeful they can deliver on the better plot, writing, roleplaying and take the setting in weirder direction in the expansion/sequel because that I know for certain they can do better, combat system and encounter design on the other hand will probably never be to my taste in the series.

 

[Lhynn]

I honestly dont give a shit about the game being closer to IE or not, i want the damn thing to be enjoyable, right now it isnt. IE games worked, thts why most people bring them up when talking of ways to improve this thing, but its certanly not the only approach.

 

[Ulrox]

Now, I still have some hope that Sawyer will want to perfect his game and find a way to make it more satisfying for IE grogs while not frustrating his target audience but I'm not holding my breath.

Even if Sawyer doesn't, there's always mods.

 

[Seari]

Your optimism makes me sick.

 

[J_C]

If only it was isometric.

It wouldn't make a difference.

Ah yes it would. It would increase visibility in combat. Sure there are a lot of other things which kill combat visibility but idk you can say that fixing combat visibility is meaningless.

Walls and overused effects would obstruct characters just the same. Maybe some walls wouldn't as many times with a higher camera angle, but it wouldn't make that much of a difference. Characters should be more transparent through walls, that would solve the problem.

Your optimism makes me sick.

Your pessimism makes me vomit.

 

[ZagorTeNej]

Even if Sawyer doesn't, there's always mods.

It's possible, an AI mod could improve encounter design a great deal. Better spell/abilities selection and targeting system would make fights much more fun, give enemy wizards armor as well (no need to wear robes to keep up DnD appearances when this isn't DnD).

 

[Hatred]

tuluse I don't doubt that he can criticise himself. It's more just that a lot of what I perceive to be the problems with PoE come from things he did on purpose. From what I have learnt after playing the game and hating it and joining the codex I fear that his idea of a good time and mine are at loggerheads.

J_C You cannot actually see characters through characters either though. The low camera angle makes it a lot harder to see over the head of enemies/allies.

 

[Arkeus]

Huh, hadn't noticed the metacritic scores had gotten so low. Lot of people btching I see.

 

[Sensuki]

Maybe some walls wouldn't as many times with a higher camera angle

Not just walls - also units and 3D VFX. The lower the camera is, the more units and VFX obscure other units. If a larger unit is infront of a smaller unit, you can't really make out the unit at the back.

Might not make much of a difference for you but it's very noticeable for me.

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

Huh, hadn't noticed the metacritic scores had gotten so low. Lot of people btching I see.

Half of it is drama queens raiding the user score after the whole poem-gate. Which is basicallly what always happens when there's some controversy. Most of these people don't even own the game, so who gives a fuck.

 

[Lhynn]

Even simple mods like modifying the gear of the enemies to have it make sense would be good. ffs mages with robes?

 

[ArchAngel]

Hell hath no fury like a Sensuki scorned.

He put so much into helping obsidian out and yet the game didnt end up being superior to baldur's gate 2. - Too high hopes I'd say.

It didn't end up superior to BG1 either