Editorial RPG Codex Report: Gamescom 2015 - Expeditions: Viking

[Cadmus]

No future, please.
There's plenty of real expeditions they could be doing like India, Africa has about million expeditions, maybe Australia, Japan, whatever. Their strength is the realism as opposed to sci-fi.

 

[skyst]

I agree that LA is on to something with the Expeditions: formula. Utilizing the viking theme for the next game seemed wise to me, though I adored the conquistador setting, it definitely turned some people off. Vikings appeal enough to fantasy geeks that the game should see more widespread appeal, where many were likely turned off by Conquistador seeming very historical and including firearms and stuff.

It's good to see the LA guys posting on here and seeking input. I'd wager that a positive consensus from us easily swings a dozen or so sales.

So, uh, how about hooking us up with some beta/preview code?

 

[Nael]

With the Vikings settings now they can have female warriors and not be completely historically inaccurate...

:incloosive:

 

[Crescent Hawk]

though I adored the conquistador setting, it definitely turned some people off. Vikings appeal enough to fantasy geeks that the game should see more widespread appeal, where many were likely turned off by Conquistador seeming very historical and including firearms and stuff.

What is widespread appeal? Who are these people that will flock your game because it has elements from the current trends and fashion, It must look like GoT, it must be like Skyrim... stupid goddamn noise. You will never find success like this. A true videogame carves its own place , has its audience hooked to its mechanics. Do you think Thief Dark Project was looking for widespread mainstream success? Sure they wanted the game to do good but I am sure Looking Glass didnt compromise their vision for the game. Thats how you gain widespread appeal, you stick to your strengths, and after all these years Thief gains more fans because the core fans are still there playing, because the core of the game is solid, and the passion never waned.

Fucking stupid rant I hate sundays.

 

[skyst]

What is widespread appeal? Who are these people that will flock your game because it has elements from the current trends and fashion, It must look like GoT, it must be like Skyrim... stupid goddamn noise. You will never find success like this. A true videogame carves its own place , has its audience hooked to its mechanics. Do you think Thief Dark Project was looking for widespread mainstream success? Sure they wanted the game to do good but I am sure Looking Glass didnt compromise their vision for the game. Thats how you gain widespread appeal, you stick to your strengths, and after all these years Thief gains more fans because the core fans are still there playing, because the core of the game is solid, and the passion never waned.

Fucking stupid rant I hate sundays.

The mechanics of Expeditions put it in a genre that prefers medieval fantasy settings. Many people, even here, skipped Conquistador largely due to a disinterest in the setting. Did LA choose Vikings because it might be more popular? Maybe. Conquistador was a great fucking game and not many people played it. Sticking true to their vision probably wouldn't help, especially considering how follow up titles haven't been selling as well lately as the initial efforts (see Shadowrun, Grimrock).

 

[Cadmus]

The mechanics of Expeditions put it in a genre that prefers medieval fantasy settings. Many people, even here, skipped Conquistador largely due to a disinterest in the setting. Did LA choose Vikings because it might be more popular? Maybe. Conquistador was a great fucking game and not many people played it. Sticking true to their vision probably wouldn't help, especially considering how follow up titles haven't been selling as well lately as the initial efforts (see Shadowrun, Grimrock).

You're one of those fucking idiots who are always busy making predictions about how something will fail because people are dumb so it's better to do what the dumb people want. I hate your kind with a passion, fuck you, die in a car fire.

I don't know how it would help my gaming experience to care if people are turned off by interesting setting, because I like the game. What I don't like is playing shit washed out shovelware that's trying to ride Skyrim's coattails. So if they go totally bankrupt by making a good game for me, it's good for me. If they succeed by making shit, I don't care anymore.

 

[V_K]

Conquistador was a great fucking game and not many people played it.

Well, technically that is not entirely true. Steamspy shows 135k owners and 90k players, which is a fairly respectable amount for an indie game.
Also, it's not the theme that matters, it's where they take it. Heroine's Quest had Norse mythology as a setting - but Crystal Shard did their research and as a result their setting was anything but cliche. Logic Artists are doing historical vikings, and if they do it justice the game's setting will be just as far from Skyrim and other mainstream shit as Conquistador was. Granted, it's somewhat less original than Conquistador, but still no reason to accuse the devs of all deadly sins.

 

[skyst]

A more popular setting does not necessarily make a game less interesting, less competent or less hardcore in any way whatsoever. In fact, a more popular setting makes it more interesting to more people. Be as edgy and hipster as you'd like, picking a super obscure setting isn't going to magically make the game a slam dunk while choosing one currently very popular won't make it immediate shit washed out shovelware or whatever either. If LA is planning to make a sellout shit game, it's going to be a sellout shit game, regardless of where it takes place.

I'm surprised that Conquistador has 135k owners, good for them! I stand firm in that a follow up title without more mainstream appeal (again, choosing vikings in no way makes the game less good or interesting) would sell far worse for them. I took a glance at the achievements for Conquistador and only 19% of the players made it through to the second half (arguably the second third) of the game and only 5% completed the game.

 

[V_K]

I took a glance at the achievements for Conquistador and only 19% of the players made it through to the second half (arguably the second third) of the game and only 5% completed the game.

Well, they did kinda shoot themselves in the leg with this two-part structure: fi you're thourough with the first campaign, by its end you've experienced most of the mechanics the game has to offer and the story conveniently wraps up, so you loose a lot of incentive to play further. That's what happened to me, for example - I'm still to start playing Mexico, even though a liked a lot about the first chapter.

 

[Infinitron]

Before you make assumptions about Conquistador's sales numbers I suggest you check what sorts of sales and bundles it's had.

 

[V_K]

Which is why I also brough the players statistic up - which is fairly good too, a lot of games have lower ratio or even total number even with better sales figures.

 

[Bubbles]

Making the Logic Artists meet the last one... What is this, save the last dance with the one who brung ya?

I contacted them last because I wagered that they'd be willing to change their schedule for us if need be.

It turned out that they were already fully booked, but Alex offered me an irregular Friday 4 PM appointment.

 

[Atomical]

I contacted them last because I wagered that they'd be willing to change their schedule for us if need be.

It turned out that they were already fully booked, but Alex offered me an irregular Friday 4 PM appointment.

I was worried that we wouldn't get to show the Codex our Gamescom wares as the schedule filled and we didn't hear back about a meet. But it worked out for the best as Bubbles and I spoke at length and needed more than the regularly allotted 30 mins to cover it all. Thanks Bubbles for typing up all of my rants!