57 réponses à ce sujet

[JRCHOharry]

Was Alpha Protocol delayed because it was "less of an RPG than Mass Effect"? If that is true, i wont get myself all excited over it... That'll not stop me from buying it though.

[Orkchop]

No response from Chris or Stanley? Can we even get an "I enjoyed Planescape: Torment." or a "I don't think we see them around the office much because they're in Irvine, California and we're in Edmonton, Alberta"?



Alpha Protocol is going to have the problem of being compared to both Mass Effect 2 (even though it's built with ME1's tech) AND Splinter Cell: Conviction. That's like if they tried to release a shooter at the same time as Half Life and Halo. But, that team can make great games, and I'm definitely going to be checking out Alpha Protocol.

[RurouniSaiya-jin]

JRCHOharry wrote...

Was Alpha Protocol delayed because it was "less of an RPG than Mass Effect"? If that is true, i wont get myself all excited over it... That'll not stop me from buying it though.

Recent interviews reveal that the reason it was delayed is because Sega wanted to do more promoting for the game and get more information out.

[Orkchop]

RurouniSaiya-jin wrote...

JRCHOharry wrote...

Was Alpha Protocol delayed because it was "less of an RPG than Mass Effect"? If that is true, i wont get myself all excited over it... That'll not stop me from buying it though.

Recent interviews reveal that the reason it was delayed is because Sega wanted to do more promoting for the game and get more information out.

Well that kinda failed.  I haven't sween much of it at all. 

[LdyShayna]

scyphozoa wrote...

don't sleep on alpha protocol, it will sell out and you'll miss your chance!

I can live with that.

[Seagloom]

RurouniSaiya-jin wrote...

Recent interviews reveal that the reason it was delayed is because Sega wanted to do more promoting for the game and get more information out.

The cynic in me finds that claim dubious. They delayed Alpha Protocol twice and I'm supposed to believe the second time was for a nonexistent marketing push? I've seen maybe two interviews and one video since the delay. I know they won't come out and say the game had problems. That would be crazy from a marketing standpoint. I just wish their provided excuse wasn't so lame. -.-

[Fraevar]

Given how I've found every game Obsidian has ever done (while being Obsidian) woefully lacking and a blemish on franchises I really cared about (KotOR/NWN) I can't say I'm all that interested in Alpha Protocol, either. Obsidian have yet to release a polished, quality title that left me feeling like I'd just finished a great story with memorable characters.



And there's the fact that SEGA just announced you're gonna get limited installs and online activation on the PC version, so I'm basically just "meh" all around on it.

http://www.eurogamer...uses-uniloc-drm

[Seagloom]

Delerius_Jedi wrote...

And there's the fact that SEGA just announced you're gonna get limited installs and online activation on the PC version, so I'm basically just "meh" all around on it.
http://www.eurogamer...uses-uniloc-drm

. . . <_<

It was fun while it lasted. I didn't spot any mention of limited installs in that article but I'm not bothering if Alpha Protocol does ship with it. I've done that twice. Except in those cases I wasn't paying full price and didn't expect to replay the games enough to need more than three installs. Now I'm going to have to take a wait and see approach too...

Modifié par Seagloom, 14 avril 2010 - 06:25 .

[Orkchop]

One more reason why most of my games are on Xbox,...

[Kaiser Shepard]

Wasn't it pushed back because of Modern Warfare 2? Like pretty much every other game scheduled for that period?

[Fraevar]

Seagloom wrote...


. . . <_<

It was fun while it lasted. I didn't spot any mention of limited installs in that article but I'm not bothering if Alpha Protocol does ship with it. I've done that twice. Except in those cases I wasn't paying full price and didn't expect to replay the games enough to need more than three installs. Now I'm going to have to take a wait and see approach too...

If you look at the article, there's a link to when SEGA used Uniloc on Football Manager 2010, which did come with limited activations. It's also up on the Steam product page for that game. I believe it's set at 5. What I'm more annoyed about is that this was *proven* to be a huge problem for customers when Football Manager 2010 shipped, and they're just going ahead and doing the same again.

[Nivenus]

As others have said, it's largely a casual friendship. BioWare provided limited support for the development of TSL and NWN2 as well as, in fact, recommending Obsidian to LucasArts and Atari for the job while they started work on Jade Empire and Mass Effect, but beyond that there isn't much of a relationship. Usually, BioWare and Obsidian devs will say nice things about one another, but since NWN2 was released I don't believe they've actually collaborated on anything.



I find BioWare to be the superior developer overall, with a much more balanced approach to games, resulting in more smoothly running and generally more entertaining titles. That being said, I've really liked what Obsidian's put out and I feel that TSL was in some ways (though not overall) superior to KotOR. I also felt both NWN2 and (particularly) its expansion MotB blew the original NWN out of the water narratively, though your mileage may vary on that particular point (particularly given how buggy the initial release was).



I'm looking forward to Alpha Protocol and their other announced game, Fallout: New Vegas, quite a bit.

[MerinTB]

Delerius_Jedi wrote...

Given how I've found every game Obsidian has ever done (while being Obsidian) woefully lacking and a blemish on franchises I really cared about (KotOR/NWN) I can't say I'm all that interested in Alpha Protocol, either. Obsidian have yet to release a polished, quality title that left me feeling like I'd just finished a great story with memorable characters.

And there's the fact that SEGA just announced you're gonna get limited installs and online activation on the PC version, so I'm basically just "meh" all around on it.
http://www.eurogamer...uses-uniloc-drm

They seriously are trying to kill the PC gaming market, aren't they?

When the PC game developers themselves are doing everything in their power to make me think console gaming is better...

[Fraevar]

MerinTB wrote...

They seriously are trying to kill the PC gaming market, aren't they?

When the PC game publishers themselves are doing everything in their power to make me think console gaming is better...

I doubt Obsidian were even asked what they'd like. Publishers just won't admit that anything more than a disk-check is wasted effort as it will get cracked regardless and once a version is out there without restrictions, the pirates suddenly offer the more attractive package than the publisher.

As for going console I just don't see myself doing it, though. My 360 was on loan to a friend for almost a month and I didn't miss it one bit. When I did get it back the other day I tried firing up BioShock and I found myself getting annoyed at the whole thing. Annoyed at the controller for feeling clunky and un-intuitive, annoyed at the poorly upscaled graphics and annoyed at the noise from the 360 requiring me to turn up my surround sound to ridiculous levels.

I want my games on my PC, unless it's an exclusive title that's really tailored to a console - like Heavy Rain or Metal Gear Solid is on the PS3. The sad truth is I've managed to make myself tech savy enough to counter whatever ill-conceived notions game publishers try to use to put kill-switches in my legally bought PC games.

Modifié par Delerius_Jedi, 14 avril 2010 - 07:29 .

[MerinTB]

Delerius_Jedi wrote...

MerinTB wrote...

They seriously are trying to kill the PC gaming market, aren't they?

When the PC game publishers themselves are doing everything in their power to make me think console gaming is better...

I doubt Obsidian were even asked what they'd like. Publishers just won't admit that anything more than a disk-check is wasted effort as it will get cracked regardless and once a version is out there without restrictions, the pirates suddenly offer the more attractive package than the publisher.

As for going console I just don't see myself doing it, though. My 360 was on loan to a friend for almost a month and I didn't miss it one bit. When I did get it back the other day I tried firing up BioShock and I found myself getting annoyed at the whole thing. Annoyed at the controller for feeling clunky and un-intuitive, annoyed at the poorly upscaled graphics and annoyed at the noise from the 360 requiring me to turn up my surround sound to ridiculous levels.

I want my games on my PC, unless it's an exclusive title that's really tailored to a console - like Heavy Rain or Metal Gear Solid is on the PS3. The sad truth is I've managed to make myself tech savy enough to counter whatever ill-conceived notions game publishers try to use to put kill-switches in my legally bought PC games.

I really prefer PC gaming, and hate having to rely on the console for almost anything.  I'm still minorly ticked off at Bioware for swearing that Mass Effect would be XBOX 360 only, so I bought a 360, and six months later it came out on the PC. <_<

I just don't want to be forced to download cracks for games I bought.  It seems stupid.

[Nigawatts]

Obsidian makes lackluster Sequels while the main developer takes the time and money to create something good.



God I wish 2K had hired them to make Bioshock 2.



Oh and cheers for Fallout New Vegas!

[The Grey Ranger]

MerinTB wrote...

I really prefer PC gaming, and hate having to rely on the console for almost anything.  I'm still minorly ticked off at Bioware for swearing that Mass Effect would be XBOX 360 only, so I bought a 360, and six months later it came out on the PC. <_<

I just don't want to be forced to download cracks for games I bought.  It seems stupid.

You failed your Bioware speak roll.   Almost everytime they were asked,  The response was something along the lines of  "We have no plans to release the game on PC, at this time. "  I remember them taking the same line with KOTOR and Jade Empire.  Both of which were later released on the PC.

[I Valente I]

OnlyShallow89 wrote...

... As mentioned above, they only have 1 original IP to their name, and in a way I think it's good for them that they're doing what they do.

This is true, though the IP really belongs to SEGA. I remember Feargus saying in an interview that his company is more like "mercenaries" than anything else. I think he said that even he didn't think Alpha Protocol was really "obsidian's" IP, but more of them making SEGA's IP. I like Obsidian for what they used to be...but I just sometimes get the feeling that being "mercenaries" results in a sort of unnattachment to the game..like maybe they don't really care for the game they're making. I wonder what kind of game they would make if they well and truly put everything into it, and they weren't just a studio for hire.


About the OP: I like to think of Bioware and Obsidian's relationship like that of ex-lovers(one of which has gone through numerous plastic surgeries) that are still polite friends and are slowly growing distant. Or maybe like Paul McCartney and John Lennon....And Interplay can be Yoko...

[Loerwyn]

I Valente I wrote...
This is true, though the IP really belongs to SEGA. I remember Feargus saying in an interview that his company is more like "mercenaries" than anything else. I think he said that even he didn't think Alpha Protocol was really "obsidian's" IP, but more of them making SEGA's IP. I like Obsidian for what they used to be...but I just sometimes get the feeling that being "mercenaries" results in a sort of unnattachment to the game..like maybe they don't really care for the game they're making. I wonder what kind of game they would make if they well and truly put everything into it, and they weren't just a studio for hire.

Whoops, my mistake there. Wasn't aware of that

I'd like Obsidian (for now) to stay as they are. Fallout: New Vegas is their biggest challenge yet (it's appearing on all the PC gaming magazines over here, possibly console ones too) and it's their chance to really shine. KotOR 2 and NWN2 were low profile releases for the most part, and I can't really comment on Alpha Protocol but I've not seen much about it. I think because a lot of Obsidian are from Black Isle/Interplay, they'll have a bigger attachment to the Fallout franchise and I hope they're putting their hearts and souls into it. They've got this chance to show Bethesda up and make Fallout 3 look complete tripe. Will they manage it? I don't know. But I honestly hope they do. I loved Fallout 3 and New Vegas looks to just improve on it in every way possible.

I'm interested to see what they do with the Wheel of Time series, too. But really, I'm not overly excited about it because it's probably going to be nothing more than a bona fide RPG in the vein of NWN and Dragon Age.

[Khayness]

They are BioWare's Anti-Midas.

[Fraevar]

MerinTB wrote...
I really prefer PC gaming, and hate having to rely on the console for almost anything.  I'm still minorly ticked off at Bioware for swearing that Mass Effect would be XBOX 360 only, so I bought a 360, and six months later it came out on the PC. <_<

I just don't want to be forced to download cracks for games I bought.  It seems stupid.

@The "exclusive" bit - Complete agreement, and I'd feel the same way. I bought my 360 at a time when my PC wasn't rally suited to contemporary gaming and I didn't have the budget for an upgrade. Got the 360 cheap through trade-ins and it was a pretty good dead. But now that I have a decent gaming PC I just prefer it that much more.

@The cracky-bit - Again, I agree but if it's a choice between that and letting a publisher tether me by mandating online checks and then collecting "marketing data" without the ability to opt out or get insight into that data then I can tell you which one suddenly is the more attractive option. I'm really glad you can turn the "feedback" option off in BioWare games. It's not that I'm against giving feedback but I prefer doing a write up, rather than having them collect data streams about who knows what whenever I'm playing the game.

[Lucy Glitter]

Orkchop wrote...

andyr1986 wrote...

I'm not trying to have go at bioware's writing staff but i think obsidian create deeper more complex dialogues and storylines. Sadly obsidian don't seem to have the same technical ability as bioware. NWN2 being a good example. I also feel sorry for Obsidian, they have been almost always tied into quiet harsh deadlines.

That's excatly why I think the two studios should join forces.  Let Obsidian just work on story and not worry about tech and deadlines.  BioWare has put out some great games.  And, I imagine, if their resources were doubled, they could put out even more great games!

I'VE BEEN THINKING THE SAME THING FOR YEARS!

It would be so epic.

[Onyx Jaguar]

Lucy_Glitter wrote...

Orkchop wrote...

andyr1986 wrote...

I'm not trying to have go at bioware's writing staff but i think obsidian create deeper more complex dialogues and storylines. Sadly obsidian don't seem to have the same technical ability as bioware. NWN2 being a good example. I also feel sorry for Obsidian, they have been almost always tied into quiet harsh deadlines.

That's excatly why I think the two studios should join forces.  Let Obsidian just work on story and not worry about tech and deadlines.  BioWare has put out some great games.  And, I imagine, if their resources were doubled, they could put out even more great games!

I'VE BEEN THINKING THE SAME THING FOR YEARS!

It would be so epic.

I agree with this series of statements.

[Blind Bard]

I wouldn't know what their relationship is but I couldn't help but noticing how a lot of people here consider both sequels that Obsidian made inferior to the originals (KotoR and NWN). Is this really a popular opinion? Didn't anyone really like either of the games?



Frankly, I found NWN2 simply better and KotoR2 potentially better. NWN2 had a huge bonus in my eyes: NPCs instead of henchmen. The story wasn't that good, I admit, but the dialogues were solid as were at least some of the characters.



As far as KotoR2 is concerned... Well, I managed to overlook the fact that the game was pushed to release before it was 100% complete, mainly because of the amazing dialogues. Kreya is probably the best NPC I have ever found in a game (along with Ravel from Planescape Torment), and almost every companion in the game was very well thought of and with perfect dialogues and voice acting backing them up. The story was amazing, in my eyes, and despite its flaws, KotoR2 was for a long time at the top of my "Best RPGs" list, with Planescape Torment being a close second. While this has probably changed now, I still load KotoR2 from time to time, if only to go through the dialogues once more.



Hmmm... I realize that all this is probably off-topic so I think I'll start a thread about top RPGs or something. I was just surprised by all the trashing of Obsidian's work.