The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition - Obsidian's first-person sci-fi RPG set in a corporate space colony

[Theldaran]

If nothing else, Tevinter is more of an interesting setting than Soy Worlds.

Tevinter will be an evil patriarchy with white men twisting their moustaches doing mwhahaha while the Resistance will be lead by women, all stunning, brave and lesbian.

So they are men too?

Yeah, that's what feminists "secretly" want to be

 

[TheImplodingVoice]

Fluent is literally slinging shit left and right here.

He needs to defend the honour of the m'ladies in Outer Worlds and the m'lady writers at Obsidian

 

[Dexter]

I was kinda expecting Obsidian to deliver another mass-oriented, insipid game, what was the last game by them that didn't suck balls? And we can only expect worse from now on. Obsidian is the new poor man's Bethesda. Tremendous slam dunk, Feargus!

Remember this was their last "Independent" project anyway. They've been acquired by Microsoft and are a subsidiary of Microsoft now as a part of Microsoft Studios. Ultimately their next project(s) are going to be Greenlit and fully funded by Microsoft with their Next console generation (and audience) in mind, and they may either stay hands-off or go hands-on depending on how well they turn out in-development or do commercially.

 

[Mikeal]

Can we call Obsidian's demise now and be done?

I still believe in Josh "Darklands" turn-based spiritual successor.

 

[GentlemanCthulhu]

My favorite type of post in this thread is the kind that wants to convince us that we unconsciously LOVE this game and are criticizing it just because we want to complain.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

My favorite type of post in this thread is the kind that wants to convince us that we unconsciously LOVE this game and are criticizing it just because we want to complain.

You clicked the wrong thread, this isn't the one for disco elysium.

 

[GentlemanCthulhu]

You clicked the wrong thread, this isn't the one for disco elysium.

I am talking about the outer worlds and your jab at humor fell flat for me. Sorry.

 

[Quillon]

It feels like VO budget was a serious concern; even the faction heads have about 2 sentences to convey about their recent history. Normally in an Obsidian game they'd go on and on about themselves with big chunks of lore dump all over, in light of that this could have been a good thing if they could've actually fleshed out the characters but alas.

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

I don't care one bit about the number of pronouns the writers use or how they cut and dye their hair, but looking at some videos I see that this game continues the trend of having myriad dialogue "checks" that do and mean precisely fuck all (well, ok - in this game the skill checks give a bit of xp at least). The fact that after two PoE trainwrecks they still think this is some sort of clever crpg design probably tells me more about this game than anything else I've read or seen.

Also, this dialogue tree:

- Do you know about Hope?
- The colony ship? Yes, it's a local legend.
- It's not a legend!
- I'm pretty sure it's a legend!
- No! I'm from that ship.
- Fuck off, retard.
- OK.

It seems like every talkable npc has it with wording slightly changed and without any context or it ever leading to anything. Positively bizarre.

 

[vortex]

I still believe in Josh "Darklands" turn-based spiritual successor.

Yes, but RTWP please. Turn based is too slow. RTWP can be great improving over Deadfire combat.

 

[HeatEXTEND]

I am talking about the outer worlds and your jab at humor fell flat for me. Sorry.

Flat or blunt?

.....fat blunt

 

[Thonius]

Ha ha! Called it! I stand by my decision not to buy it or even pirate.... Maybe at 70% discount. Maybe...

 

[Reinhardt]

Remember this was their last "Independent" project anyway.

Don't worry. When you hit bottom the only road is up.

 

[Grauken]

Ha ha! Called it! I stand by my decision not to buy it or even pirate.... Maybe at 70% discount. Maybe...

you are a paragon of virtue, that is the virtue of indecision

 

[Theldaran]

Inb4 Epic decides to give it away for free

 

[Trashos]

you don't know that tactics and strategy mean the same thing in the dictionary

Don't give a shit about the dictionary but that ain't what they taught me in officers' school.

They don't mean the same thing in chess either.

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

My favorite type of post in this thread is the kind that wants to convince us that we unconsciously LOVE this game and are criticizing it just because we want to complain.

My favorite type of post in this thread is how everybody was promising to "kill all the dykes and SJWs lols", but instead they ended up obediently running small errands for a lesbian couple because they don't want Parvati to be sad.

 

[Junmarko]

My favorite type of post in this thread is the kind that wants to convince us that we unconsciously LOVE this game and are criticizing it just because we want to complain.

My favorite type of post in this thread is how everybody was promising to "kill all the dykes and SJWs lols", but instead they ended up obediently running small errands for a lesbian couple because they don't want Parvati to be sad.

They did make her the most attractive female character in the game for a reason

 

[AwesomeButton]

Not far enough in yet to really pass judgment, but the writing is ten times better than average game writing. Even if it ends up their most meh overall, it's still far above average for the medium.

Disagree. As little as I cared for AC: Odyssey, the writing in it was better than this. AC: Origins was much better. And these are the very definition of average mainstream games.

Like I've said in the past, writing talent in videogames is in AAA right now.

This seems misunderstood, so I'll give some more examples.
AAA writing: Tomb Raider, RDR/2, Witcher 3. I can't testify about AC Origins and Odyssey.
Good-writing-Obsidian: PoE, Deadfire, Tyranny, ToW
inXile: Do I even need to list?

 

[Reinhardt]

My favorite type of post in this thread is the kind that wants to convince us that we unconsciously LOVE this game and are criticizing it just because we want to complain.

My favorite type of post in this thread is how everybody was promising to "kill all the dykes and SJWs lols", but instead they ended up obediently running small errands for a lesbian couple because they don't want Parvati to be sad.

They did make her the most attractive female character in the game for a reason.

Not very high bar.

 

[Roguey]

Roguey What are Megan's writing credits beyond ToW? Is she the only worthwhile member of the current writing corp at Obsidian? Please share your stalker insights!

One of the great things about Megan is that she's very thorough about her contributions on her website. https://www.fictivate.com/game-design.html

Shipped titles: Tyranny (PC | Single-Player Fantasy CRPG)
Work experience:

• companion and major, iconic character writing
  • Bleden Mark, Archon of Shadows
  • Kills-in-Shadow, Companion (Beastwoman)
• regional story writing
• dialogue, both conversations and voice sets
• crafting voices (individual, regional, or race specific)
  • created the unique voice and lore of the Beast Tribes
  • helped shape the voice and diction of the Scarlet Chorus and the Earthshakers
• developing backstory and plot
• item, area, and creature descriptions
• short story writing for media purposes

Bleden Mark is a bit too literally "*teleports behind you* nothing personal kid" and people here hate Kills-in-Shadow but I ultimately found her non-offensive. You can tell when you hit a Starks NPC because they're far more twee than usual. Matt MacLean didn't rein her in enough.

Shipped titles: Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch | Single-Player Fantasy CRPG)
Work experience:

• companion and major, iconic character writing
  • companion: Xoti
  • faction heads: Furrante, Aeldys
  • memorable characters:
    • Benweth, Mirke, Yseyr the Berathian, Two-Eyed Pim, Jadaferlas the Ancient, Mad Morena, Lucia Rivan, Bathor Erkon, Brenthís Torega, High Priest Kasu, Master Kua, Waenglith, Selena, Snake-Eyes Condwen, Enoi
    • misc. pirates, slavers, Rathun, Dawnstars, and Huana
• critical path writing
  • Magran's Teeth / Ashen Maw
• regional story writing
  • Fort Deadlight, Dunnage, the Gullet & the Narrows, Crookspur, the Undercroft
• crafting voices (individual, regional, or race specific)
• factions and con langs
  • PIRATES! (british influence)
  • Vailians (latin/french influence), Hylspeak (scots influence), Rathun (norse influence), Dawnstars (american southern/western influence)
• romantic relationships
  • Xoti x player (follower to possible lovers)
  • Xoti x Eder (unrequited romantic to possible close friendship)
  • Xoti x Maia (friends to possible lovers)
  • Xoti x Pallegina (nemesis)
  • Xoti x Serafen (friends)
• dialogue, including conversations, voice sets, and barks
• story book "choose your own adventure" event writing
• quest log, bestiary entries, lore books, soul reads, items, ambient life, and examinables
• voice recording, actor directions

Almost everyone finds Xoti annoying, but Kyl swears by Fort Deadlight. Of course she wrote the infamous, very twee "PS This is not a trap" letter from Aeldys. Sawyer and Patel didn't rein her in enough.

Announced titles: The Outer Worlds (PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One | Single-Player Sci-Fi RPG)
Work experience:

• managed a team of game designers and writers to implement core features such as:
  • the critical path/main storyline content
  • companions
  • player ship
  • Phineas' orbital lab
  • voice sets
• designed and wrote
  • companions
    
  • iconic, main characters
    
  • area content and regional storylines
    
  • quests, computer terminals, examinables / journals, items, and decor descriptions
• oversaw voice recording and character casting
  
• created marketing materials, ad copy, and trailer scripts
  
• participated in pr and community outreach
• more to be added!

Seems to be Boyarsky's favorite, apparently the first lead to rein her in.

 

[biggestboss]

Megan Starks did literally nothing wrong

 

[Jasede]

That abomination (Parvarotti) is the most attractive female character? Good Lord.

 

[biggestboss]

I've restarted this game like 4 times and haven't even met a companion yet. I don't even know why I'm so hung up on character creation considering the game seems to go out of its way to make sure every build can do everything in every situation, or maybe that just applies to the beginning quests. Also it doesn't help that all the character's faces and writing are horrible.

 

[AwesomeButton]

Roguey , no offence, but it's "rein s.o. in"