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Overwatch animated short - "Dragons"

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Deleted member 325805

Unconfirmed Member
These videos are rad but there's a weird disconnect between the content in these shorts and the fact that the game is a team based shooter.

TF2's video series managed to get around this disconnect probably because their videos felt like they existed way more in line with what goes on in the game itself.

They're made to generate buzz and they've done their job perfectly, my hype levels haven't been this high in a very long time, I'm counting down the days like a junky.
 

valeo

Member
While these are probably better produced, I prefer the TF2 shorts in terms of writing and humour. Overwatch has a tougher time because of the sheer number of characters though.
 
It's pretty much the League of Legends formula. The CG shorts and overall story have nothing to do with the actual gameplay.

They're made to generate buzz and they've done their job perfectly, my hype levels haven't been this high in a very long time, I'm counting down the days like a junky.

Yeah, I understand they're marketing videos that look amazing and get people excited for the game. I just think they worked better in TF2 because that universe supported having characters as both characters and as fodder units.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, Overwatch videos gets me excited for the Overwatch universe but the TF2 videos get me excited for playing some Team Fortress.
 

KLoWn

Member
they are trying to follow the tf2 playbook exactly with this game, shorts included

they have no hope of matching it tho
Yes, no other Blizzard game has had any animated shorts released to create hype before the game is released, except you know, most of them.

Oh, and Warlords of Draenor had character shorts too. I guess they stole that from TF2.
 

SDBurton

World's #1 Cosmonaut Enthusiast
Finally saw the short. Hoooly shit was that amazing. Can't wait to see it again in the theater.
 

The Technomancer

card-carrying scientician
I'm trying to put my finger on just what it is about the Overwatch character designs that just isn't doing it for me. They're ridiculously well designed, but maybe overdesigned? I am in love with all of the environmental art direction on every level, but the characters...

Are more LoL than Dota, if that makes any sense
 

rSpooky

Member
Hmm. for some reason this short makes me want to play mark of kri again..lol

Well done. Feels weird to have this rich background for a team based shooter. I guess as people are saying , it is going to be a big IP with perhaps a lot of offshoots that will build on this backstory.
 

HariKari

Member
These videos are rad but there's a weird disconnect between the content in these shorts and the fact that the game is a team based shooter.

TF2's video series managed to get around this disconnect probably because their videos felt like they existed way more in line with what goes on in the game itself.

TF2 has classes that have certain personas, but they're not specific characters. Blizzard is going for MOBA style character design in a shooter, and it's working. These shorts just flesh out the lore. I don't think what they're doing is especially original, but they are putting a lot of effort into it and that's to be commended.

If they have a constant stream of good content, this could probably be the next big thing.
 
where can I find all of the Lore for this game?

Aside from the shorts, PlayOverwatch.com has some lore in the character bios, as well as some comics focusing on individual characters.

Some of the deeper lore comes from the dialogue characters have with each other in-game. For example, it would seem that Mercy is responsible for the state Reaper is currently in through a botched attempt to save his life.

The Overwatch wiki has all this stuff summed up on the character pages, and there are a bunch of YouTube videos with speculation and such.

There's not really a single primary source for the "story" of Overwatch. Blizzard is doling out little bits piecemeal, and letting the community connect the dots. I like their approach.
 

mileS

Member
Still remember the first unveil of the IP. A large amount of people either hating or laughing it off as nothing. I get some of that but personally I knew this was going to be a winner if they pushed it hard enough. Here we are folks :)

It's very bittersweet release for me though. I found out the hard way in the beta that my PC just can't handle this game the way it's meant to be played. (i5-750 @ 2.67Ghz / 4g ram / 5850 1g) I do have the PS4 version available to me but I'm rather worried about the support, gameplay tweaks (like that turret dps change) and how they will keep up with the console balance. I heard some positive impressions in the other threads but I dunno yet.
 

zombieshavebrains

I have not used cocaine
they are trying to follow the tf2 playbook exactly with this game, shorts included

they have no hope of matching it tho

Unless they have halloween events, a video maker, ability to record replays in the engine, golden wrench update, facepunch forums, custom servers, comics, valve time, idle servers, trading, and allow the community to make content for the game it never will.

Which is fine, it will just do its own different thing. They're also focusing a LOT on consoles so a lot of the stuff that you can do on PCs won't be done because of the console focus. I'm not sure how Blizzard will keep the PC community interest other than skins/maps though.
 

Kent

Member
Awesome short.

In related news.

I feel in every bone of my body that the Lucio short will be the most cringeworthy shit ever.
Considering the conflict between freedom and order/oppression with regards to the story between Lucio and Symmetra, I can only hope that an animated short detailing it would be narrated by Billy Brown. It seems only appropriate.
It's pretty much the League of Legends formula. The CG shorts and overall story have nothing to do with the actual gameplay.
To be fair, they did at least tie the overall world into why the game exists. The characters you play are simulacra conjured by the Summoners (players) for the purposes of dispute resolution. So there's at least some justification.

Overwatch, for as cool as characterization is, and as much backstory is obviously there, I have no idea why anyone is fighting over anything in particular. Are they just mercenaries now? Is this a sport? Drills to get everyone into top condition for the Overwatch being necessary again? I get that it's a video game and the entire point is to have fun, but at least with Heroes of the Storm, they outright stated that the game's story is "this is literally just a video game." All of the animated shorts point toward some looming conflict either on the horizon or happening now, but we really don't know anything about it other than that.
 

MrHoot

Member
I mean yeah sure it's not on par with TF2's writing i'll be the first to say that. But damn, not many are on par with Valve's writing staff =p

I'm fine if they keep this kind of super hero cartoon saturday morning vibe, although there can definitively be some improvement to try and not fall into some generic tropes. But i'm also thinking right now they're just trying to establish all these things in the most straightforward way possible and we'll probably see some fleshing out down the line once the game is released.
 

aeolist

Banned
Unless they have halloween events, a video maker, ability to record replays in the engine, golden wrench update, facepunch forums, custom servers, comics, valve time, idle servers, trading, and allow the community to make content for the game it never will.

Which is fine, it will just do its own different thing. They're also focusing a LOT on consoles so a lot of the stuff that you can do on PCs won't be done because of the console focus. I'm not sure how Blizzard will keep the PC community interest other than skins/maps though.

i really just meant the writing/shorts. overwatch's beta was great and i've preordered, really looking forward to the game itself.
 

patchday

Member
cant wait for this game. Lore is so solid. probably dropping everything for it for quite awhile

Need to hurry up and wrap up Dark souls 3

That cinema was so well done
 

Azzurri

Member
These shorts are so good, yet it kills me it's just a multiplayer team based shooter. Too bad this game wasn't an RPG or had a long single player campaign (well it was gonna be an MMO).
 
These shorts are so good, yet it kills me it's just a multiplayer team based shooter. Too bad this game wasn't an RPG or had a long single player campaign (well it was gonna be an MMO).

It's Blizzard, theres a chance that they will expand on it in the future if it's a hit.

~~~

In this short more than others, it feels you can freeze any frame and just have an amazing shot.
 

Luigiv

Member
Holy shit. Did blizzard do this in house? I forgot how good they're CG team can be. It's a shame they outsourced the Warcraft movie.
 

Moonlight

Banned
Considering the conflict between freedom and order/oppression with regards to the story between Lucio and Symmetra, I can only hope that an animated short detailing it would be narrated by Billy Brown. It seems only appropriate.

To be fair, they did at least tie the overall world into why the game exists. The characters you play are simulacra conjured by the Summoners (players) for the purposes of dispute resolution. So there's at least some justification.

Overwatch, for as cool as characterization is, and as much backstory is obviously there, I have no idea why anyone is fighting over anything in particular. Are they just mercenaries now? Is this a sport? Drills to get everyone into top condition for the Overwatch being necessary again? I get that it's a video game and the entire point is to have fun, but at least with Heroes of the Storm, they outright stated that the game's story is "this is literally just a video game." All of the animated shorts point toward some looming conflict either on the horizon or happening now, but we really don't know anything about it other than that.
They retconned the League of Legends out of League of Legends, though.

(arguably it was a net benefit to the universe design space but yeah)
 
They retconned the League of Legends out of League of Legends, though.

(arguably it was a net benefit to the universe design space but yeah)

Boy. There was this period of time where they completely killed the lore in League, and starting last 2014 or so they kinda rebooted it? I guess?
 

Tagyhag

Member
I'm glad Overwatch is coming along so well.

But man...Every time I'm just reminded more and more about what Titan could have been.
 

zombieshavebrains

I have not used cocaine
probably the same way they've kept the PC community interested in Diablo..?

This isn't Valve. They're more than capable of acknowledging multiple platforms

Diablo has had seasons and 1 expansion. But I wouldn't call the community thriving based off the subreddit numbers and twitch viewers. There's nothing to play for in overwatch like there is in TF2, Diablo, CS:GO, etc.
 
I'm glad Overwatch is coming along so well.

But man...Every time I'm just reminded more and more about what Titan could have been.

They beat their head against that wall for years and weren't able to find the fun in the MMO layer. I don't think we're really missing much, to be honest.
 

Tagyhag

Member
great gameplay with an awful and laughable story?

They beat their head against that wall for years and weren't able to find the fun in the MMO layer. I don't think we're really missing much, to be honest.

Well I should specify that I'm talking more about the world and lore building aspect of it.

These shorts show some really intriguing sub-stories and a world that we'll never get to truly explore.
 

JDB

Banned
Diablo has had seasons and 1 expansion. But I wouldn't call the community thriving based off the subreddit numbers and twitch viewers. There's nothing to play for in overwatch like there is in TF2, Diablo, CS:GO, etc.

You mean like fun or the desire to get better?

but yea, the $60 retail release is going to have the same amount of content as the beta and then never get an update adding new characters or modes. this is blizzards "got cha" and they're gonna just take the money and run like Konami
 

Zackat

Member
You mean like fun or the desire to get better?

but yea, the $60 retail release is going to have the same amount of content as the beta and then never get an update adding new characters or modes. this is blizzards "got cha" and they're gonna just take the money and run like Konami

how have we not seen it before now? it's all so clear!
 
I'm glad Overwatch is coming along so well.

But man...Every time I'm just reminded more and more about what Titan could have been.
MMOFPS have too many competition while arena shooter is a no man land.
Which would you choose? Compete against Destiny, Division, Warframe or compete against a 10 years old game?
 

Zackat

Member
MMOFPS have too many competition while arena shooter is a no man land.
Which would you choose? Compete against Destiny, Division, Warframe or compete against a 10 years old game?

No offense to Destiny and Division, but Blizzard would have eaten their lunch in an MMO game of any kind. That is if they had got it right, but they didn't. So who knows.
 
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