The games of 2005

[Dis]

Originally posted by Lord Nuclear
I'm quite excited about the mounts in TES IV.

meh

I'm just hoping they make some improvements to the dialogue and npc system. I'm not expecting alot. But every little bit helps. Then you would really feel immersed in the world.

I also would like to see some improvements to the magic system.

And improvement to the AI is a must (both enemy and friendly)

[Grumbold]

[SIZE=1] Well, I can't speak for IWD I but the reason I prefer IWD II to BG 1 and 2 is the many-member "create YOUR OWN" party option- that just doesn't exist in many games. I was able to create my own tales in the game as to how my people came together and everything.

BG1/2 were interesting with the character interactions and all, but eventually there comes a time when Imoen's catchphrase becomes highly annoying and you just HAVE to turn the sound off. (The same goes for repetitious music).

You can play BG2 with your own party, just set up a multiplayer game with yourself. I did that because I was sick of the repetitive NPC commentary too (and wanted a different party mix.)

That being said, it brings up another point- what's with all the 'darkness' in today's games?- doom, etc.? I can't stand adventuring underground in BG or IWD2. I would rather have a bright area where I can actually see. It does nothing for the atmosphere, at least in my mind, and frankly, I have tyet to become 'immersed in a game' or 'scared by one' despite designers best efforts. At best, darkness annoys rather than frightens me.

If the darkness is actually affecting your ability to play the game then it sounds like a graphic card issue, I.e. you need to turn the gamma right up. I can't think of places in the BG games where it was too dark to see the game area properly.

Of the modern RPGs, I'd say KotOR is the best one that isn't freeform. There are side quests to do to earn credit but they are all tied in with the very controlled adventure areas.

[Grumbold]

Originally posted by Dissident
I've heard reports that civ4 will be kept simple as well. Such as civ3. But I've heard that civ4 will be very moddable.

this seems like it could work. Keep it simple enough so the general population likes it and it sells well. But put in enough modability for hardcore gamers to appreciate the game.

They said Civ3 was going to be the most moddable ever too, before they released it.

What do I want to play? Hmm.

HoI2
KotOR2

other than those, the games are purely specualtive like Middle Earth Online, BG3 and Fallout 3. They might show up and might be good.

[DarkCloud]

You can play BG2 with your own party, just set up a multiplayer game with yourself. I did that because I was sick of the repetitive NPC commentary too (and wanted a different party mix.)

That's a very good idea!

If the darkness is actually affecting your ability to play the game then it sounds like a graphic card issue, I.e. you need to turn the gamma right up. I can't think of places in the BG games where it was too dark to see the game area properly.

I suppose I might do that. It's probably the best fix to a bad problem

[Dis]

the main problems with darkeness in my games is in BG2 in the underdark. Though the name kind of gives it away . But you are forced to go through this area, so you have to deal with it.

Baldur's GAte 1 had many outdoor areas that were nice and bright. At least during the daytime. Though some of the mines were a little dark, but not too dark for me.

KOTOR is a fairly bright game. At least the outdoor areas.

[Tassadar500]

Originally posted by Dissident


meh

I'm just hoping they make some improvements to the dialogue and npc system. I'm not expecting alot. But every little bit helps. Then you would really feel immersed in the world.

I also would like to see some improvements to the magic system.

And improvement to the AI is a must (both enemy and friendly)

They are doing that. Supposedly, there will be less amounts of quests, but each quest will be more important and complicated. They implemented Radiant AI as well. It should be great.

[DarkCloud]

child of thor

Mostly i was making a point to Darkcloud that its possible for relatively little cost to increase your game playing base with some of the newish titles in the strat/good game genre - my journey into the murky depths of console gaming has shown me(a previous 3D basher) - that its possible to combine 3D and a good game, its just a very rare combination, especialy in any strat title imho

Well, I do have a reasonably good graphics card- ATI Radeon 9200, I believe. (I purchased it last year) and I'll admit that games look sharper- so I think that I corrected any on-board problems of 3D display.

Then again, I will agree that a 9200 isn't exactly top of the line Heck it's not even compatible with NWN, but it does show that I can run decent 3D graphics if I enjoyed them enough to want to.

As for a good 3D game combination, I would have to agree that there are few- Dungeon Seige and NWN look choppy, and are hard to navigate in- though as Dissident states, extended play might make me more adept at doing so.

However, the XBox console game Fable did 3D right I think... although of course, it was a bit harder on the eyes than top-down 2D.

Fable was bright, and easy to navigate in (at least with an x box controller)

I don't know how any ported version or similar game runs on the computer- but still, I repeat, I have yet to see a well-executed well-navigatable, well-graphicksed 3D RPG... and as for RTSes:

dr spike

Well popular games include Rise of Nations, Age of Mythology, Warcraft3. I'm not a big fan of SP RTS so I can't actually really sell them (though WC3 MP is awesome), but they are undeniably better in story and unit depth terms than the earlier games. Of course they should be. I'd suggest you try RoN, it would suit you.

Well, I can't say that I enjoy how Warcraft 3 looks, I suppose I could get used to it, though. Age of Mythology is a bit blocky, but I didn't even know it was 3D. I thought it looked decent. Rise of nations looked good. Thus, I will agree, the technology seems to have finally 'gotten there' for RTSes.

However, I still have objections to 3D RPGs (for computers) and TBSes.

and as for your other comment:

I sympathise with your technical problems, but that's not a game flaw. If you were able to play it you'd get used to the graphics, which I prefer to BG2 style, as do most I'd say.

I don't really agree with that. I prefer simple graphics- for 3D to work- graphics seem to need to be flashy and very detailed-colored almost animeish like in Fable or in the Xbox Dungeons and Dragons game, or in Warcraft III. I find that style straining on the eyes much as I find darkness in IWD2's underground scenarios and the chapter 1 mines in BG1 is straining. But unlike those games, where as has already been noted, the darkness can be corrected by messing with graphics and monitor controls- there is no fix for the graphics themselves.

Dissident

I've heard reports that civ4 will be kept simple as well. Such as civ3. But I've heard that civ4 will be very moddable.

this seems like it could work. Keep it simple enough so the general population likes it and it sells well. But put in enough modability for hardcore gamers to appreciate the game.

That's great news!

[Grandpa Troll]

I have to say The Battlefield next genre game will be on a top of desire list for me as well as Tekken 5 for PS2, the next SWAT,AOEIII and of course CIVIV


I am patiently awaiting the next civ game as it is an awesome game but I do enjoy my shooters..

Gramps

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Lord Nuclear


They are doing that. Supposedly, there will be less amounts of quests, but each quest will be more important and complicated. They implemented Radiant AI as well. It should be great.

Assuming you're still talking about TES 4 (forget the name ottomh) ... less quests probably is meaningless, as TES 3 (heck Arena for that matter) had essentially infinite quests if you counted every little thing. I suspect they mean the main story will have less of the fedex quests like Morrowind had as a part of the main quest (like the first few with the mages guild guy and whatnot); TES wouldn't be TES without the millions of side quests available if you want them.

I hope they make the main quest a bit more interactive - heck I'd rather have more quests as a part of it, not less. The problem I had with morrowind above anything else was simply that you didn't usually do much of the main quest for probably 20-30 hours of gametime - heck one of my friends put in over 30 hours of gametime without even MEETING the main quest starter (the moon-whatever addict guy in Balmora). But then she likes immersion over plot, so ... I liked Arena more in that sense though, that it at least forced you into the main quest a bit to start with; you did lots of other things but still had main quest elements dogging you all the time.

I suppose if you wanted to play a game almost Sims-like, where it was about the day-to-day living and not about the plot-based action, then morrowind style would be fine - heck don't HAVE a main quest, just occasional emergencies that pop up. But, you need a lot more immersion first - like a home you live in, when not adventuring, not just a building you can improve but never really feel like you live in ...