Risen 3: Titan Lords

[cherry blossom]

Somebody put these guys out of their misery, already.

 

[toro]

The second interview: [link]

Björn's answers


First off, we would like to start by saying that we are grateful for your work on both the Gothic and Risen franchises. We appreciate very much your willingness to give us an interview.

1. The first Gothic game was very enjoyable for the gamers of its time and it was praised for its atmosphere and originality. When the time for creating a sequel came, how did you set yourselves to enrich an already winning recipe and to which extent do you believe that you achieved that goal?

When our first title Gothic was released, there was no break or time for holiday, so we started to work on the sequel without knowing that Gothic would be such popular. Our recipe was the same than ever. Making a Game that we would like to play ourselves and we're very happy and lucky because it worked.

2. Did you have a certain source of inspiration when you created the story and characters of the Gothic games? For example, have you borrowed some elements from fantasy literature, such as Tolkien's books?

Yes, of course, we did. Many of our Game-Designers were table top role players (Dungeons and Dragons or The Black Eye) and we read many fantasy books or watched fantasy films to get inspiration and still do.

3. In which way did the Gothic games influence the manner in which you have conceived and developed the Risen series? Did you try to use the same pattern, which you adjusted and enriched?

After Gothic 3 we tried to go back to the roots and created a game that should have all the important features, that has been typical for our games and it should be strong and bugfree. With Risen 2 we tried to add something new to our world. Something that suits to us. So we decided to change some things and tell a pirate story. Now we are very excited to see how you will like our next game.

4. Which one of your games do you enjoy the most? Do you prefer Gothic or Risen?

With Gothic we were very lucky to reach the gamers and we were able to survive and create other games. So we enjoy all of our games, of course! Every single game contributed our success and our progress. We are very proud of our games and wouldn't want to miss one of them.

5. The Night of the Raven was a very controversial expansion due to the various problems it had, including the lack of an English translation at the time of its release and a very discussed rebalance. In spite of that, Jharkendar has introduced a couple of memorable elements for its fans, the most important one being the presence of the pirates in the game. Would you say that the pirates in the Risen series started simply as an homage to NotR, or was it a chance to dig deeper in the “pirateology” which you never had until now?

We think that pirates had ever suit to our world and rough dialogues. Night of the Raven has confirmed that, so we decided to tell pirate stories in Risen and finally create a whole pirate game.

6. Have you guys played Gothic a lot? How do you perceive it from the point of view of the gamer?

Of course, we did! Especially we story guys play the games regularly, I don't remember how often i have played Gothic, yet. I played all the games many times and enjoyed it. I also get inspiration by playing for new designs, too.

7. What is your favourite part of developing a game? What is that special moment or element which makes you think "I love my job"?

The best thing on the development is that there are different stages you have to go through and you always get new tasks. After the design there is the implementation an after that bugfixing and balancing. My tasks are game design, project management,story writing, quest implementation, filling the world with characters and Items, voice recordings and much more. Every Piranha has many tasks to do, so we never get bored. One of the best moments is, when I know, that we have finished and can show our fans the product to get feedback. In this moment we know for what we have worked hard all the time.

8. Which part of developing your games was the hardest one? What part gave you headaches during the development of your games?

The hardest parts are crunch times, when there is not enough time to implement everything we set out to. In this times everybody is nervous, doesn't sleep enough and we work overtime. But this is also a part of our job.

9. Share with us a funny story that happened during the development of one of your games, preferably Night of the Raven, since that game has its anniversary.

In this early years of development we had not much experience in games industry. So we sometimes worked 16 ours a day to get finished and doesn't went home. One of our colleagues has been very hungry so he had a snickers between two waffles at breakfast. We tried to learn form it, so fortunately such days got rare.

10. What is your opinion about the way in which the video games industry has evolved? More than 15 years ago, when Piranha Bytes was founded, the game developers were very small companies, most of them being independent. Do you believe that the big corporations of today have had a negative impact on video games?

I think it is not easy to develop a good game in these days because the possibilities and claims are grown. Making games is very expensive, so the most difficult thing is to design something that you really can develop in time and budget. If you do some bad mistakes your game will never get released. Big corporations often has got enough money to develop big projects, so they have other requirements and claims than small companies. On the other side i think there is enough space for cheaper and small projects, too. Although I have ever been a player i never had a such big choice on games than today. You still won't get rich by making games but you are able to realize many ideas when you are engaged and persistent.

11. What is your opinion regarding the indie wave? Moreover, where do you think that Piranha Bytes stands between the independent developers and the big comapnies?

Our development studio is still our own, but we ever had a publisher on our side, who took care about marketing and publishing. Of course it would be interesting, if we could be completely independent, but on the other side there is no need to change a running system.

12. Have you considered the possibility of crowd funding? Would you trust your fans with financing a new project, leaving behind any difficulties you might have with publishers in general?

We have thought about that, but doesn't contemplated it.

13. Have you taken into consideration creating a new Gothic game in the future, or a merger between the Gothic and Risen franchises?

We have thought about many things and everything is possible in future. But at the moment it is too early to announce anything.

14. Seeing as a lot of years have passed since the release of Gothic 1, would you consider creating a remake of Gothic 1, with today's graphics and technology?

We cant' tell you at the moment. Sorry about that.

15. What do you consider to be the smallest possible budget which would be needed to create a new, but instantly classic PB game?

I haven't ever thought about that. We do our job, as good as we can do.

16. How do you plan on competing with large video games, with astronomical budgets? There is a chance that the funding will become bigger and smaller companies will be unable to keep the pace?

When you create a game, that you want to play by yourself and you do it with love and ambition, there will be enough space to compete with other bigger projects. Loving handmade parts of a game sometimes get more enthusiasm by fans than big generic or cinematic ones. We are working very hard on our new game at the moment and we are proud and hopeful that it will really please you!
Thank you for your interest and stay tuned!

 

[toro]

I always secretly hoped that the reason why they took Risen 2 in the piratey/actiony direction is because they would put out a new Gothic game soon and it would make little sense to have two franchises that go in the same direction. I still believe the Gothic brand is strong enough for both them and their publisher to want to continue milking it, but that interview doesn't really give a lot of hope to the idea that the Gothic will pretend that Forsaken Gods and Arcania never happened and continue doing its own thing, but that it will rather go towards bland, flavourless linear bullshit.

Gothic 5 is a possibility after this game but that means another 4-5 years of waiting. As for the pirate stuff, they had no choice considering that at that moment the Gothic IP belonged to someone else.

 

[DalekFlay]

I think the pirate and colonial setting does work for their dialog and world style, as he says in that interview. Nothing nefarious about that decision, it really does fit them. And Risen 2 had a ton of problems but setting wasn't one of them. I fucking loved the setting of that game.

If all you want is straight dark fantasy die in a fire, thanks.

 

[Metro]

Why are they so fucking coy about the game they're working on? Does anyone expect anything other than Risen 3 especially when they're still in bed with Deep Silver?

 

[Roguey]

Publishers are serious about NDAs even if it's obvious.

 

[toro]

Why are they so fucking coy about the game they're working on? Does anyone expect anything other than Risen 3 especially when they're still in bed with Deep Silver?

This shit baffles me as well. There are only two options: is either Risen 3 or is something ... mind-blowing. A new franchise from PB!? That would be so sweet.

 

[CorpseZeb]

I saw this link on the one of Beyond3D forums (I didn't see this here), so... I think it is pretty interesting lecture for Gothic fans:

http://www.worldofgames.ro/sascha-henrichs-interview/

 

[Name]

Saw a similar one a while ago. Basically PB is scared of retards and codexers and even they finally get hold of their Gothic IP, they are afraid to do it.

I guess Gothic is dead until they have no other project alternatives.

I blame Internet.

 

[Zed]

I'd hate being a dude called Sascha.

11. Would you like to go back to developing a new Gothic game?

Oh, ok, the following only represents my own opinion:

To be honest: not really. The one who develops a new Gothic, will get his fingers burned. He will be slashed by magazines and burned alive by die hard fans.

The expectations for this game would be so high, we couldn’t meet them.

The times have changed, the Gothic games lived up by a different mood, we were much more experimental back in the day. Something that was very exciting and the player could feel this loose and playful approach, but this also led to exorbitant developing times and many many bugs. We fixed this, but we also parted from this sand box developing approach.

What is this desperate need for a new Gothic game? What is expected? Well, a Gothic 1 extension is expected. Basically the same game, but more of it and in a fresh looking environment. Despite the fact, that our company is no more the same like back in the day and we would have a hard time, getting back that “feel”, chances are, we would be accused of plagiarism and lack of innovation.
Like “copy-pasting” our selves. These are accusations, we actually have to face very often; nearly after every new project. But in combination with a new Gothic, this would be terrible for the Gothic world.

When we do this, this one has to be nailed. It has to be fabulous in every aspect and there should be a huge and long planning phase. I believe it to be developed some day. But not now.

Sounds like he has very little confidence in his team.

 

[Crooked Bee]

Yeah I believe I posted a similar interview with him for a different website some time ago.

Basically this guy sucks.

 

[Humanity has risen!]

Go to hell, traitors. This studio used to be glorious, it is now completely dead. I am never touching any of their newer products ever again.

 

[DalekFlay]

I think his comments are unfortunate, though I think he has a point about being caught in the "old fans won't be happy, new players won't be happy" trap. It's really hard to skirt both sides.

 

[Infinitron]

Old: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index.php?threads/piranha-bytes-new-game.78778/page-7#post-2879879

 

[Aeschylus]

I may be wrong, but haven't a large number of the original PB staff moved on? I also recall reading somewhere that one of the lead Gothic devs passed away a few years ago, but I can't recall the details.

Basically, they're probably right to think they can't produce something on the level of Gothic 2 anymore. Not that anyone else seems to be able to either.

 

[Nim]

4. Have you guys played a lot of Gothic? How do you perceive it from the point of view of the gamer?

I started to play our games at home but never played one completely to the end, they are just too long

.

Oh well, PB has declined for a long time, not that surprising I guess.

 

[Black_Willow]

4. Have you guys played a lot of Gothic? How do you perceive it from the point of view of the gamer?

I started to play our games at home but never played one completely to the end, they are just too long

.

Oh well, PB has declined for a long time, not that surprising I guess.

Mandatory

 

[DalekFlay]

Basically, they're probably right to think they can't produce something on the level of Gothic 2 anymore. Not that anyone else seems to be able to either.

The shame is that Risen, and even Risen 2 toward the start on the bigger islands you begin the game with, showed a lot of promise. A few quality staff in the right places changing just a few decisions could have turned the Risen series into a classic, in my opinion. Shame it went the other way.

 

[Invictus]

Why is everybody still posting here? All of the posters agree that the previous game was mediocre at best and that the best days of the studio are GONE
They have lived for the last 5 or 6 years om the goodwill of fans of the Gothic series and the fanboi fantasies that thy could somehow recapture the lightning I'm a bottle from the prior games and somehow magicaly transform Risen 3 into a worthy succesor of the great Gothic series
It won't
They are doing Risen 3 clearly because they are under contract to produce a third game but even the interviews and reveladed information is underwhelming at best and mediocre at worst...
Just who cares anymore, I mean they should have hired a PR girl with big tities to convince some wankedout interviewer how eveybody is psyched about Risen 3 and they are preparing for a return to greatness with the aquiring of the Gothuc series again but no...
It is quite telling that the most fun I amanaged to get out of Risen 2 was the Angry Joe review where even he admits the game is dumbed down as hell
Simply put just let's move along and replay Dark Souls again or somehting because PB is DEAD and Gothic is gone

 

[ZagorTeNej]

Why is everybody still posting here? All of the posters agree that the previous game was mediocre at best and that the best days of the studio are GONE
They have lived for the last 5 or 6 years om the goodwill of fans of the Gothic series and the fanboi fantasies that thy could somehow recapture the lightning I'm a bottle from the prior games and somehow magicaly transform Risen 3 into a worthy succesor of the great Gothic series
It won't
They are doing Risen 3 clearly because they are under contract to produce a third game but even the interviews and reveladed information is underwhelming at best and mediocre at worst...
Just who cares anymore, I mean they should have hired a PR girl with big tities to convince some wankedout interviewer how eveybody is psyched about Risen 3 and they are preparing for a return to greatness with the aquiring of the Gothuc series again but no...
It is quite telling that the most fun I amanaged to get out of Risen 2 was the Angry Joe review where even he admits the game is dumbed down as hell
Simply put just let's move along and replay Dark Souls again or somehting because PB is DEAD and Gothic is gone

Risen wasn't that long ago (in 2009?) and I personally feel the game is quite underrated, not as good as the first Gothic (my personal favourite in the series) and Gothic 2 NOTR but IMO better than Gothic 3 and almost on par with vanilla Gothic 2, it's definitely one of my favourite games ever.

Risen had PB's usual great exploration and (believable)world design, nice faction and combat system (I actually prefer Risen's combat to any other ARPG, unless you stretch the definition and include Blade of Darkness in that genre), decent writing (& voice acting which I feel is better than in the rest of PB games) and character development system ( a bit simplified compared to Gothic 2 maybe but still good enough) and in addition to all that, very nice visuals and good performance (PB's most polished game).

That said, Risen 2 was a major disappointment so I hope they don't continue in that direction.

 

[DalekFlay]

Yeah, Risen was pretty damn good I thought.

Risen 2 is one dark spot, and honestly the game had potential. I would be interested in the next PB game for sure.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

gothic 2 was the last game that i got truly excited for and it ended up exceeded my hype, i played the kraut demo for weeks while i waited for the english localisation. (which seemed to take forever)

And then the wait for the expansion happened....and that was fucking incredible too!.

 

[Invictus]

Ok guys to each his own I just find it really hard to believe that PB will somehow with none of the personel who created the first and arguably best games in the series to somehow pull a 180 and right the ship somehow with Risen 3
God knows we need good quality RPGs and hope your faith is justified

 

[Tigranes]

Risen was very good, and in my opinion not significantly weaker than G1/2. R2 was fun enough but indeed a disappointment. All I want is for them to do R1 proper honours with R3, and I think that's possible.

 

[Irxy]

The one thing I liked about Risen 2 is that they managed at last to maintain the exploration/social/combat balance throughout the whole game, more or less, while all previous games turned into linear hack & slash shortly before midgame.
Sadly, that is probably the only thing they managed to improve on.

 

[Tigranes]

That's true, though they achieved this by taking the same quantity of exploration content that you'd normally find in the first 50% and spreading it out across the game.