Support NeoGAF

[-SD-]

Haven't seen the sys reqs officially anywhere, such as here, yet but GameStar says these are from publisher Deep Silver:

Minimum Requirements:

Operating system: Windows XP (with Servicepack 2)
CPU: Dual core with 2.1 GHz
Memory: 2GB system RAM
Disk space: 5.5GB
Graphics adapter: AMD Radeon 3870 or NVidia GeForce 8800 GTX (512MB VRAM)
DirectX: Version 9.1c
Sound: DirectX-compatible sound chip
Input: Keyboard/mouse or gamepad required
Internet: Connection for online activation required

Recommended Requirements:

Operating system: Windows XP (with Servicepack 2), Vista (with Servicepack 1) or Windows 7
CPU: Dual core with 3GHz
Memory: 4GB system RAM
Disk space: 5.5GB
Graphics adapter: AMD Radeon 4890 or NVidia GeForce GTX 260 (1GB VRAM)
DirectX: Version 9.1c
Sound: DirectX-compatible sound chip
Input: Keyboard/mouse or gamepad required
Internet: Connection for online activation required

Here's the info on what the UK Collector's Edition of Risen 2 contains:

A PIRATE’S TREASURE: UK COLLECTOR’S EDITION OF RISEN 2™: DARK WATERS REVEALED

Limited collector’s edition for pirate RPG by developer Piranha Bytes offers a boat load of content

6th February 2012 - Hampshire, UK - Deep Silver today announced the limited Collector’s Edition of Risen 2: Dark Waters for consoles that will be released in the UK on April 27th 2012 alongside the standard edition.

The Collector’s Edition will have the following additional content:
· Making of DVD – Interviews with the developers from Piranha Bytes who delve deeper into the production of Risen 2
· Soundtrack CD – The gripping tunes of the Risen 2 soundtrack will immediately absorb the listener into this fantastic pirate world
· Double-sided poster – A large sized map of the game world on one side and an epic artwork featuring the hero and his crew on board their impressive ship
· Pirate Flag – With the skull motif from Risen 2
· Amulet – A pendant that every pirate and Risen 2 fan will be proud of
· The Art of Risen 2: Dark Waters – An exclusive collection of art cards on high quality-paper
· Three Risen 2 stickers

The Collector’s Edition of Risen 2: Dark Waters will be available for a price of £69.99 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

About Risen 2: Dark Waters
In Risen 2: Dark Waters, the Inquisition dispatches the hero to seek a remedy against the monstrous sea creatures that are interfering with the shipping lines, thus cutting off the islands' supplies. The pirates seem to know how to deal with these critters ... but they are hardly cooperative.

New gameplay elements add to the diversity of Risen 2; for example, players can also use firearms now. And, being pirates, adventurers can also employ special new skills called Dirty Tricks, allowing them to confuse or attack enemies in combat.

Deep Silver will release Risen 2: Dark Waters for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC, and PlayStation®3 on April 24th, 2012 for USA and Canada and on April 27th, 2012 in European countries.

Official Website: http://www.risen2.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/risengame
Community: http://forum.deepsilver.com

The Collector’s Edition of Risen 2: Dark Waters will be available for a price of EUR 69,99 on PC and EUR 79,99 on consoles.

New screenshots, also: http://www.worldofrisen.de/english/gallery_146.htm

 

[jaundicejuice]

Any word on whether or not the PC version will feature the same shitty DRM as the first Risen? It says online activation but that's it.

 

[ReaperXL7]

so what are the chances of this running well on PS3? Probably about 0 right?

Really looking forward to this, but until i get a new rig its up to my PS3.

 

[-SD-]

Any word on whether or not the PC version will feature the same shitty DRM as the first Risen? It says online activation but that's it.

Risen 2 uses Steamworks: http://www.shacknews.com/article/69426/risen-2-dark-waters-sets-sail-steamworks

It's the same thing as with Mafia 2: you can buy the game from anywhere you like but you'll need Steam for it to work.

 

[Empty Space]

Any word on whether or not the PC version will feature the same shitty DRM as the first Risen? It says online activation but that's it.

Risen 2 is a Steamworks game. So the DRM will be Steam and should function in a similar way Skyrim does.

Edit: Damn you -SD-

 

[jaundicejuice]

Nice! That's a marked improvement over the first Risen's TAGES/limited set of intalls combo. Consider me stoked.

 

[Dennis]

Most anticipated game of 2012!


But come on guys.....

 

[Dennis]

They have always released low quality screenshots for the Risen games for some bizarre reason but the screenshot in the OP does offer hints that this maybe a graphics monster of a game.

 

[tomg126]

Please don't let this be as buggy as the first

 

[Dennis]

I don't remember it being buggy.

 

[Salaadin]

Please don't let this be as buggy as the first

Im going to have to check out videos tonight if there are any. I want this but if the combat is as weird as the first game, I might have to pass initially. I sucked hard at it.

 

[tomg126]

I don't remember it being buggy.

I was really enjoying it until i got to a quest that i just could not complete due to an item bug, stopped playing after that. I should revisit if it's been patched etc

 

[Winnie the Pimp]

playing the first right now and so far now notable bugs here

 

[Rawket Lawnchair]

Sounds very good. Any word on the price yet?

 

[-SD-]

I don't remember it being buggy.

Same here. I'm quite hugely baffled by tomg126's post.

 

[Alexios]

Can't wait, regardless of graphics. Although one thing I'd want fixed compared to the first is the weird LODing of shadowing/lighting and stuff. Looked bad in motion. And of course the horrid pacing/action toward and in the end.

 

[tomg126]

Same here. I'm quite hugely baffled by tomg126's post.

See my post above....first game i played on my new rig after years off of pc gaming, i may revisit

 

[Derrick01]

Surprisingly decent system specs. Will be a nice addition to my 2012 RPG collection.

 

[Randy]

Graphically nothing to get excited about, but hey, it has pirates, so I'm in.

 

[Data West]

Man, I wish that Armada of the Damned game still existed.

 

[Gaaraa]

I love the Gothic & Risen series. This is so mine come April!

 

[Karuto]

Yay, my first post! I finally have a place to offer something tangible.

I participated in a round table discussion with the Brand Manager of the game, which you can find here: http://pc.rpgsite.net/articles/302-risen-2-roundtable-discussion

Here are a couple important questions:

RPGSite: What is your opinion on DRM and its intrusive behavior towards legitimate customers especially as of late and your move to Steamworks for Risen 2?

Daniel: This is an important question. The big problem we have when it comes to our financial return is with people who just pass games to each other, which causes a big dip on sales. What we like to do on a frequent basis is check the market for what tech is available to help prevent this. Risen 1 was a disc-only copy protection, and at that time Ubisoft was already moving to an online-only DRM. We feel that Steam already has a big reputation for hardcore gamers - it isn't really something focused on the casual. We also needed software that has a reputation for a stable system that does not violate people's privacy and their data. We also chose Steam for its longevitity. It also offers users another layer of service, not just with DRM, with community features that can let people chat together in real-time. It has overall become very beneficial for us.

Q: Any lessons learned from Risen 1?

Daniel: The most important lesson: everything between the two companies (the PC and Xbox 360 versions have split development between two companies) especially communication and interaction is very important. In the first game, we didn't have the tech crew look at things as it went along, but now they have the tools to work on everything, so they can work incrementally instead of given only one week to look at the code. There was also maybe not enough talent on Risen 1 to make good looking textures, and there was not enough time to make it look and run well for the Xbox version. In the end, we had to lower the quality of things like textures and the resolution, and so we did what he had to make things far more proficient.

 

[jaundicejuice]

The sooner they get an entry up on Steam, the sooner they can have my pre-order money.

 

[Dennis]

Yay, my first post! I finally have a place to offer something tangible.

I participated in a round table discussion with the Brand Manager of the game, which you can find here: http://pc.rpgsite.net/articles/302-risen-2-roundtable-discussion

Here are a couple important questions:

Two positive things:

360 pad support

Wenches and whores


One negative thing:

Why U no emphasize exploration, devs?

 

[Karuto]

Quick follow-up: this is the E3 preview article I made for the game: http://pc.rpgsite.net/previews/295-e3-2011-risen-2-impressions

They did not emphasize exploration because there are so many other games that do that already, like Sid Maiers' PIRATES. They wanted something to differentiate themselves, so they focused on the on-foot exploration and combat instead.

 

[The Mana Legend]

Very low system recommendations.

I am honestly disappointed by the game graphically so far, especially the draw distance.

 

[Data West]

Why U no emphasize exploration, devs?

Sounds like Risen to me. Which is too bad since I assume you get a boat.

 

[Dead Prince]

so bought! bought i need a new graphics card lol.

 

[The Mana Legend]

Okay, so how does exploration work in this game? Boats? Walking? No exploration at all?

 

[Kusagari]

What is this game actually like?

 

[Mechazawa]

What is this game actually like?

I believe it's a Gothic-like.

 

[Victrix]

All over this game. First was short but sweet, and a clean fun experience throughout. Also really, really pretty.

 

[loganclaws]

Anticipated GOTY for me.

 

[Kevtones]

Will the LE come stateside?

 

[goober]

The system requirements similar to the first game?

Has Steam updated the first game to remove the DRM? Have it installed, it's the only thing holding me back.

 

[Gamer @ Heart]

I loved the verticality of the first ones island. I hope that continues.

 

[Sinatar]

Please don't let this be as buggy as the first

I never ran into any problems. It was the first Pirahna Bytes game to actually get a proper QA cycle.

PS your avatar sucks.

 

[Dennis]

I never ran into any problems. It was the first Pirahna Bytes game to actually get a proper QA cycle.

PS your avatar sucks.

 

[Karuto]

Very low system recommendations.

I am honestly disappointed by the game graphically so far, especially the draw distance.

Screenshots do not do this game justice. I saw it way back at E3 and it looked downright amazing, which is remarkable considering it was obviously a pre-alpha build. The very low system requirements just allows the game to scale a lot more for more people to enjoy it, but if you set this thing to max, I'm sure you'll be blown away. During the roundtable discussion, the man even said that the PC will have the best graphical performance because they want to optimize it for the different platforms rather than setting some common bar among all three.

Exploration is done either by boat (which you have a navigator/helmsman to handle it for you) or by foot, where you get to have a crewman with you to assist. There will be a lot of different environments and towns to visit in this regard.

Have not heard about the LE but it is a pretty safe bet that it will since they're looking to make Risen 2 a success.

As far as DRM for the first game is concerned, I know they said a couple of weeks ago they were removing the TAGES garbage from the Steam version, and you would be able to download a DRM-free version which should be going live real soon. By the way, you DO NOT need to have played the original to play this one because the story is a separate one.

If you have any other questions I will try my best to answer them through my experiences I had.

 

[pilonv1]

One negative thing:

Why U no emphasize exploration, devs?

Is there less exploration? Or they just haven't talked about it? I did enjoy wandering around the island.

 

[Reuenthal]

I really liked the first one and I anticipate a lot this game. Might even be the game of 2012 that I anticipate the most for me. Graphics look good but I am wondering what they changed in the combat, I liked it in the first Risen and I hope it is even better here.

 

[Karuto]

Is there less exploration? Or they just haven't talked about it? I did enjoy wandering around the island.

From what I understand, there's tons of on-foot exploration. Just don't expect a sailing sim. The analogy to Mass Effect 2 in that the ship acts as a movable base like Normandy was is their explanation.

 

[jaundicejuice]

As far as DRM for the first game is concerned, I know they said a couple of weeks ago they were removing the TAGES garbage from the Steam version, and you would be able to download a DRM-free version which should be going live real soon. By the way, you DO NOT need to have played the original to play this one because the story is a separate one.

Awesome. I actually emailed PB asking them why they used TAGES, why Steam wasn't DRM enough or if they *had* to use TAGES, why not use the rolling 30 day activation. That's ace of them to patch that horrendous DRM out.

I'll re-install and replay Risen in celebration of this move and in anticipation of Dark Waters.

 

[Ceebs]

No PC version of the CE? This is like one of the very few games I would pay the premium for.

 

[-SD-]

I'll re-install and replay Risen in celebration of this move and in anticipation of Dark Waters.

I replayed Risen last year and liked it even more than the first time. Yes, the boss fight and the part just prior to it still suck but pretty much everything else is the usual explorative greatness that only PB can provide.

Is there less exploration? Or they just haven't talked about it? I did enjoy wandering around the island.

From the previews, interviews and such I've gotten the impression that there's at least the same amount of exploration than in Risen.


EDIT: Pic of the CE contents:

 

[Hammer24]

2012 is shaping up to become one of the great years for us wrpg whores. Me likey!

 

[Of All Trades]

I don't remember it being buggy.

Did you play it before or after the patch?

 

[TheVampire]

I don't remember it being buggy.

I remember it looking like ass.

 

[-SD-]

I don't remember it being buggy.

I remember it looking like ass.

On Xbox 360, but I hope you don't mean on PC, since I think Risen looks nice, especially with the INI tweaks and the distance blur removed.

 

[Sportbilly]

I remember it looking like ass.

On the 360? I thought it looked very nice on the PC, bar the gesticulating characters in cut scenes.