Didn't they also say they were running their demo on a high end laptop? This could suggest things for the PC version ... or maybe they'll launch on 360/PS3 as well as 720/PS4 when those consoles get announced.
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Dark Souls II (PS3/360/PC) - Edge Magazine details (Prepare yourself)
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Didn't they also say they were running their demo on a high end laptop? This could suggest things for the PC version ... or maybe they'll launch on 360/PS3 as well as 720/PS4 when those consoles get announced.
Yep, EDGE article mentions that it was running on a high end laptop
Snacks the sober sea lion
Member
You mean the versions that run at 15 fps in Blighttown and look like the game is just a bunch of mud thrown at the screen?
It's a miracle the games don't crash, since everything about the UI and the engine feel shoddy.
H_Prestige
Banned
I just saw the scans and at least the concept art looks fantastic. At least that's 100% Souls. I also like the idea of horseback riding and incorporating the ocean into the levels.
davidsaurus
Member
Or maybe they wanted to put his creative talent to good use elsewhere because after 2 Souls game the essence of what it should be is solid and they don't need him there to make minor tweaks and changes.
I'm an expert
Formerly worldrevolution. The only reason I am nice to anyone else is to avoid being banned.
Or they wanna mainstream fratboy it up and Miyazaki would never do that shit.
Like I said before, I am not going to hop on the worry train without seeing evidence, but here a couple of quotes I just found that I don't like the sound of.
" I intend to make it more accessible, and that is not just the covenants."
"I want to make sure that Dark Souls II's opening draws players in and immediately gets them addicted without making players feel rejected from the game system
The thing is, that initial feeling of being rejected, chewed up, spit out and then learning and overcoming is the very essence of the series and is what makes it what it is. I am going to stay positive and hope that he just means that he wants to draw players in at first and get them hooked, while leaving intact that "The real Dark Souls starts here" essence in the meat of the game that makes you feel like it's impossible, but you can't stop playing until you are rewarded through learning. As if that hook is gone, then it will definitely not be the same game. It would not have the same 'soul,' if you will. Anyway, I'm just going to hope for the best.
" I intend to make it more accessible, and that is not just the covenants."
"I want to make sure that Dark Souls II's opening draws players in and immediately gets them addicted without making players feel rejected from the game system
The thing is, that initial feeling of being rejected, chewed up, spit out and then learning and overcoming is the very essence of the series and is what makes it what it is. I am going to stay positive and hope that he just means that he wants to draw players in at first and get them hooked, while leaving intact that "The real Dark Souls starts here" essence in the meat of the game that makes you feel like it's impossible, but you can't stop playing until you are rewarded through learning. As if that hook is gone, then it will definitely not be the same game. It would not have the same 'soul,' if you will. Anyway, I'm just going to hope for the best.
I'm pretty sure this is cross generation, since I doubt Namco went from "Well, we'll put out an extremely half baked PC version eventually." to "Let's spend tens of millions more on things only people with a PC will see."
Axelstream
Member
Some of these details have me a little worried, but I'd need to see their execution before I make any judgements. The actual team behind the game is the same (or that's how I interpreted it) so I think I can remain cautiously optimistic.
Maybe they'll have a prologue with a predetermined story character, of a substantial level and equipment, that'll teach you the basics and "make sure that Dark Souls II's opening draws players in and immediately gets them addicted without making players feel rejected from the game system".
H_Prestige
Banned
Where are you getting this from?
Even if they do make it easier, I am still going to play it and will dig it for what it is. I may come away liking Demon's/Dark Souls better, but the art, atmosphere and maybe even a more coherent story can make this an awesome game in it's own right. Guess we will just have to wait and see.
Man, looks like we might have one of those openings with a lot of action, where you've got five swords and things are exploding left and right.
I liked starting in a lonely jail-cell without any equipment...
Sounds like... Dragon's Dogma.
chaosblade
Unconfirmed Member
I'm not a developer, but I can't imagine it would cost tens of millions of dollars to have better assets for the PC version. Unless I'm mistaken, aren't assets for console games usually higher fidelity than what actually ends up in the game? They can take advantage of that for a higher fidelity PC version.
But again, I'm not a developer and that's just my understanding of things based on what I read.
I'm reading the scans and they describe it as "effortless next-gen", reference Star Wars 1313 and Watch_Dogs, and even say it's quite tantalizingly close to the Blur CG trailer from the VGAs.
I've yet to see a PS3 or 360 game to which I'd apply any of those statements.
They also describe the team size as double in many ways on internal staff alone in order to achieve this, so unless the game cost less than $10 million, this would imply about that much cost increase.
But yes, just simply making PC grade assets wouldn't cost that much, as seeable by The Witcher 2 being a ~$10 million in total game, but the team size growth they're describing that's backing this transition certainly would.
That's true; yes. Working in the already-existing high res textures isn't a difficult thing, just requires time.
It sounds to me like Miyazaki relinquished director roll for the dlc and patches to start work on his next title.
Leaving the new directors for the dlc.
If this is indeed the case, they can be trusted to deliver a great sequel. The dlc was probably the best dlc or expansion I've ever played.
Leaving the new directors for the dlc.
If this is indeed the case, they can be trusted to deliver a great sequel. The dlc was probably the best dlc or expansion I've ever played.
Yeah if the map size is just as big as dark souls why do they need twice the number of people who made the first one unless it's next gen?
That would be the optimal way of handling it, in my view. I don't mind if they flesh it out and make it easier to understand. I just don't want the 'soul' of feeling helpless at first sucked out after the game gets going.
Sir Ilpalazzo
Member
I'm pretty sure the Artorias of the Abyss credits still have Miyazaki as the director. I would have to check to see if the new directors are credited in there, though.
No. Miyazaki worked on the DLC and patches. Dark Souls 2 was in development before the DLC was done, they were made side by side. The new directors for Dark Souls 2 were offered the job in Sept last year.
H_Prestige
Banned
astroturfing
Member
chaosblade
Unconfirmed Member
Hadn't considered that, good point. Probably wouldn't be worth the cost of adding that many people otherwise since they clearly aren't rushing it.
If said prologue is optional and ends with the gruesome death of the character you played as, I'm on board.
Man, I'm always really late to these GAF threads; I tried to sift through the responses to see if anyone has brought this up yet, and I dont' think anyone has, but my apologies if someone did.
Basically, my take on the Miyazaki situation is this:
When Bioshock was a huge success, the publisher wanted to cash-in on the name recognition as soon as possible, so they quickly cooked up Bioshock 2. The smart move they made was to hand this project to a new team, thus leaving Levine and Irrational free to take their time on something new.
So we got an amazing game in Bioshock, a good game in Bioshock 2, and (I'm still hoping) another amazing game in Bioshock Infinite.
This is what I see happening with Dark Souls II. It likely won't be earth shattering like Dark Souls, but it will likely give fans more of what they want, while probably adding a few things to court some players.
Meanwhile, Miyazaki has proven his talent, and has earned the privilege to take his time on a new project that will hopefully have the same impact has the Souls games.
Call me an optimist but for now this is what I choose to see out of this news. I honestly think this is the right move to make from all parties concerned.
Basically, my take on the Miyazaki situation is this:
When Bioshock was a huge success, the publisher wanted to cash-in on the name recognition as soon as possible, so they quickly cooked up Bioshock 2. The smart move they made was to hand this project to a new team, thus leaving Levine and Irrational free to take their time on something new.
So we got an amazing game in Bioshock, a good game in Bioshock 2, and (I'm still hoping) another amazing game in Bioshock Infinite.
This is what I see happening with Dark Souls II. It likely won't be earth shattering like Dark Souls, but it will likely give fans more of what they want, while probably adding a few things to court some players.
Meanwhile, Miyazaki has proven his talent, and has earned the privilege to take his time on a new project that will hopefully have the same impact has the Souls games.
Call me an optimist but for now this is what I choose to see out of this news. I honestly think this is the right move to make from all parties concerned.
"-Shibuya talks about "limiting players options for the early portion of the game, making it simpler to understand new concepts. Then, after a certain amount of time has elapsed, they will suddenly experience the true dark souls experience"
This one I am alright with, provided that 'true' experience is still there in the meat of the game. We shall see.
He specifically said "the world creation team" is double in size. That just means more novel environments. I think it's a good thing. Maybe if Dark Souls one had more man-power they could have optimized the layout of blight town?
Also, I loved the action in Dark Souls, but come on; anyone who doesn't see any room for improvement is just lying to themselves.
Ghost_Protocol
Member
It's gonna be hard to decide which next gen console to pick up first.....
There's some room for improvement, yes. But with the Souls series' intricate gameplay mechanics... there's huge room for fucking up.
CountAntonius
Member
I hope this isn't a Morrowind to Oblivion level depth neutering yet critically and financially successful reworking of the Souls Franchise.
Doctor Decimate
Member
i went in this thread to check if people were still whining over next-to-nothing.
i was not disappointed.
i was not disappointed.
My understanding is that it's a lot like how Gearbox works, where Gearbox usually owns their own IPs and helps fund development (and thus gets a better financial return from sold copies as well), by the lion's share of the money comes from the publisher.
What about a morrowind to skyrim level of dumbing down??
If that happens gaming is truly dying
H_Prestige
Banned
What's this crap about the "main hero"? Are we not going to create our own character?
decoyplatypus
Member
One thing to keep in mind about "limiting player options for the early portion of the game" is that Demon's Souls did exactly that. You had to play through both the tutorial and all of 1-1 before you had any choice in destination.
Now, I'm not saying that starting an open-world game in a similar way would be a good idea, but it wouldn't be totally alien to the series.
Now, I'm not saying that starting an open-world game in a similar way would be a good idea, but it wouldn't be totally alien to the series.
I'm pretty sure in that regard they mean this is the marketing/promotional imagery hero, like how Skyrim had the guy with the horned hat and BioWare games have a character who you can later customize.
Hmm...maybe we'll use boats to move from one part of the map to the other?
H_Prestige
Banned
I don't recall Namco ever promoting the Eilte Knight as the main hero for Dark Souls.