Such a fascinating read, and explains why everyone's experience/journey was so wildly different. I'm in awe, and having gotten back into it recently (for the second time), this will surely make me appreciate those magic moments even more knowing their design philosophy. The integrated bug reporting also explains why this game, despite its massive scale, is so free of bugs. I found one untextured triangle in my entire journey on a far edge of the map. And that's it. Completely unprecedented in my experience.
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Breath of the Wild CEDEC 2017 developer presentation
- Thread starter EmCeeGramr
- Start date
I think this old Game Informer discussion with 4 different game developers who were playing/experiencing BotW might be relevant in this context. IIRC, they talked a lot about the landscape design and the view perspective in the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk-EnbS42dM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk-EnbS42dM
Hmm, would this also seem to suggest that at one point "boots" was a separate item category from "pants" and "gloves" were separate from "shirts?"
This is neat; showing how they decided to go for a more minimalist UI language.
ZombiePlatypus
Member
Really fascinating stuff.
I've had the game since Switch's launch and still playing it.
I've had the game since Switch's launch and still playing it.
It's absolutely incredible how much thought process went into so many aspects of the game world/design that I don't think (m)any other developers can claim. The way everything ebbs and flows into each other and the game has numerous ways to point you to locations, absolutely incredible.
Triforce141
Member
I can imagine the game logic of Link inside the Gerudo town, taking off his shoes while keeping the rest of the outfit intact.
That somehow gives away his position and gets thrown out
Would've been cool for some Pegasus Boots and Power Glove that increases swinging speed of weapons
Yep, like 275 hours on the clock but still nowhere near bored of it. Just got other games to play.
The Hermit
Member
The toppest
Breath of the wilds best attribute was how the game encouraged exploration, and made it fun to see every inch of the mapm at least personally, this is something other open world games struggle with. Therefore this is very interesting to see. All the logic and effort that went into making exploring fun really paid off.
And yet they did not opt to put more types of main enemies in different parts of the world to further flesh out the different areas and reward exploration, which is becoming more and more baffling to me the more it becomes clear how much effort and smart design they put into this game overall.
It's a fantastic game, don't get me wrong, and I realize I'm beating a dead horse with this but more enemy variety would have helped to make the varied and interesting looking game world become more varied and interesting in terms of activities as well imo. It would in other words be interesting to hear their thoughts on why they felt that Bokoblins, Moblins and Lizalfos would suffice as far as organised enemies go regardless of whether you are in a snow area, desert or jungle (and the same goes for the lesser / individual foes which also stay consistent regardless of area apart from elemental variations or color changes). Even Zelda 1 had enemies that were unique to area types so why not this game that focuses even more (effectively) on world building and exploration, I can't help but wonder.
It's a fantastic game, don't get me wrong, and I realize I'm beating a dead horse with this but more enemy variety would have helped to make the varied and interesting looking game world become more varied and interesting in terms of activities as well imo. It would in other words be interesting to hear their thoughts on why they felt that Bokoblins, Moblins and Lizalfos would suffice as far as organised enemies go regardless of whether you are in a snow area, desert or jungle (and the same goes for the lesser / individual foes which also stay consistent regardless of area apart from elemental variations or color changes). Even Zelda 1 had enemies that were unique to area types so why not this game that focuses even more (effectively) on world building and exploration, I can't help but wonder.
I ran into so many bugs in that game though. Lots of invisible geometry, collectibles in rocks, environmental objects I clipped completely through. Game is still gorgeous, but it didn't feel like something that was gone through with a fine-toothed comb. Traversal wasn't a big thing either though (mainly limited to predetermined climbing points), so I could see why it wasn't prioritized.
GifGafIsTheBestGaf
Member
what's the psychological reason triangles work? the presentation made me realize my behavior about it lol
is it because we always assume there will something behind it? (mountains, structures, etc)
is it because we always assume there will something behind it? (mountains, structures, etc)
That's fantastic.
The reason is called limited development time. Enemy variety is BotW biggest weakness.
The reason is called limited development time. Enemy variety is BotW biggest weakness.
AzureFlame
Member
I would love see an online edition to this game.
Probably that, and that we probably subconsciously read them as arrows.
I imagine triangles work because they guide their eye to their point, directing your attention to items of interest
I would have happily waited an additional fifth year of development time for a few more enemy types to be added personally (accompanied by a more varied distribution of all of them across the land), as for me this was also the game's biggest weakness especially because of how much its expansive and varied world begged for more creatures to populate it. But I guess even the Zelda team has to stick to a deadline at some point :-/
Vampirolol
Member
7/10 tho.
I just realized this doesn't add anything to the discussion. What I meant is that the game is crazy good yet you can never make something that pleases everyone.
I just realized this doesn't add anything to the discussion. What I meant is that the game is crazy good yet you can never make something that pleases everyone.
I think scaled down on a regular TV or even on the Switch screen itself, and considering how small they are in the game map, that the more detailed icons would be more difficult to discern what they are. Simpler shapes and details make it much easier to read at a smaller scale, even though the more detailed ones might be more visually interesting.
ThisIsMyDogKyle
Banned
I love getting an inside look at game development like this. Exploration and level design are probably the two things that matter most to me in games so to say that I was incredibly happy with Breath of the Wild would be an understatement.
The Hermit
Member
If they missed the Switch launch I doubt it would half as successful as it is.
Hopefully the DLC will add more stuff. I can't wait for it to be honest.
That's a fair point indeed.
Me neither - I even got dragged back into the amiibo craze because of the DLC and preordered all 4 Champions after managing to buy some of the original BOTW lineup despite earlier resolutions not to do that...sigh...
And this is why I haven't seen half the world after playing 120 hours. I just keep getting sidetracked.
I did Gerudo, Goron, Zora and then Rito.
Also started with Gerudo. Game kicked my ass, so I kicked it harder. Damn were those first 40 hours magical. Felt like a straight up survival game. You're definitely not supposed to start with Gerudo lol.
That's pretty much the hardest to easiest order of the regions.
I didn't even go to Kakariko until after I had beaten 3/4 Titans lol
So it's like the Dark Souls of bug fixing?
On point
CharminUltra
Member
That was a great read.
GregLombardi
Member
I am glad to see Nintendo, and in some ways, Japan, is still apparently innovating in game software development.
I mean, you kind of knew it from the end product, but it is good to see there is a method to the leap forward that they built.
Holy crap BOTW 2 is going to be bonkers.
I mean, you kind of knew it from the end product, but it is good to see there is a method to the leap forward that they built.
Holy crap BOTW 2 is going to be bonkers.
CharminUltra
Member
Majora's Wild you mean ;P
Dwight Schrute
Member
Fascinating stuff.
TheMoon
Member
Don't set yourself up for disappointment already...
Hey thanks for the link, that was a cool talk,I've had Zelda fever since two months ago that I finally picked BotW, earlier in the morning I was watching speedruns but since I haven't finished the game (100 hours, 3 divine beasts, Master Sword)I had to stop each time they got to the castle.
UnemployedVillain
Member
This seems like you're expecting it to be bad
Nibel, you got your wish.
More stuff about Breath of the Wild.
https://twitter.com/gypsyOtoko/status/915430391447674880
Threading is a bit weird, but the rest starts from here.
https://twitter.com/gypsyOtoko/status/915430984568291329
https://twitter.com/gypsyOtoko/status/915433043141189633
More stuff about Breath of the Wild.
https://twitter.com/gypsyOtoko/status/915430391447674880
Threading is a bit weird, but the rest starts from here.
https://twitter.com/gypsyOtoko/status/915430984568291329
https://twitter.com/gypsyOtoko/status/915433043141189633
TheMoon
Member
you're calling it "botw2" which suggests very specific expectations which will surely not be met because that's not how they roll.
Great thread, and easily my favourite game of all-time. The game has plenty of problems and genuinely gets boring after 100+ hours with nothing but Koroks and farming to do, but those first 20-30 hours were unlike anything i've ever played before. The sense of discovery and adventure were truly second to none.
SinCityAssassin
Member
What about hours 31 to 99?
UnemployedVillain
Member
It suggests a continuation of the open world style as opposed to a return to the relatively linear style of previous games, which Aonuma already said was the future of the series moving on. Nothing more
I thought this was interesting
It seems minimal HUDS is a very western thing for whatever reason
This is so great. I feel like we're peeking behind the curtain or going into Willy Wonka's factory or some shit.
As someone with a background in graphic design and engineering, seeing how these geniuses did what they did is incredible and inspiring and humbling. I mean of course far more goes into every game's design than we (jonny game player) ever appreciate, but to see the process involved for a game like BoTW is a privilege.
As someone with a background in graphic design and engineering, seeing how these geniuses did what they did is incredible and inspiring and humbling. I mean of course far more goes into every game's design than we (jonny game player) ever appreciate, but to see the process involved for a game like BoTW is a privilege.
Agreed. Can't wait to dig into this when I get home. And funny enough, I have the same kind of background!
gypsyOtoko
Member
Just FYI - I've moved everything over to Medium so it should be much easier to read, and added summaries (ended up becoming more comprehensive translations than I initially intended) of the other talks here:
https://twitter.com/gypsyOtoko/status/915792679841046528
From what I can gather, it looks like there was still an art session that I haven't found any articles on...
https://twitter.com/gypsyOtoko/status/915792679841046528
From what I can gather, it looks like there was still an art session that I haven't found any articles on...
I love all the info we're getting about BOTW's development. Between the GDC keynote, Nintendo's own making of videos, media interviews, and stuff like this I'm drowning in cool tidbits from BOTW's development.
Edit: Reading the UI stuff and how focused they were on having a minimal UI that would only pop in when necessary, I so so wish that hearts would fade away outside of combat/Link taking damage. It's the only persistent UI in pro hud mode and it bothers me.
Edit: Reading the UI stuff and how focused they were on having a minimal UI that would only pop in when necessary, I so so wish that hearts would fade away outside of combat/Link taking damage. It's the only persistent UI in pro hud mode and it bothers me.