A nondescript year for PC RPGs?

humanflyz · Post by **humanflyz** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 10:34 pm

Is it just me or does anyone else notice that this year (2004) has no major PC RPG release? Well, I heard that Bloodlines is coming out, but that's more of a mix between FPS and RPG. Other than that, I really can't think of any major CRPG releases this year.

VoodooDali · Post by **VoodooDali** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 10:47 pm

Yes, I've noticed, too...

I think it's a combination of reasons - all economic. All the development companies are trying to cut costs and make more money. So, now they're designing games for consoles instead of PC's - the development time is much shorter since you don't have to test the game for whether it will run on any kind of system, plus the market of console gamers is bigger. Unfortunately, the best RPG's are too big and complex to run on consoles. The other trend I noticed was the move to MMORPG's. Again, the development is cheaper, and it ensures a steady cash flow, since it's subscription based. It's a big bummer.

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 10:50 pm

Beyond Divinity is scheduled for Q2 release, as well. But I agree with all the other points that have been made.

humanflyz · Post by **humanflyz** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 12:12 am

Lately I've found myself much more attracted to my Xbox than my computer. I mean, I just like the fact that there is no install, no patches, no head-aches from looking closely at the monitor.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 1:29 am

Originally posted by humanflyz
Lately I've found myself much more attracted to my Xbox than my computer. I mean, I just like the fact that there is no install, no patches, no head-aches from looking closely at the monitor.

Except that you can multitask on your computer, do all your work on your computer, interact live and in messages with people on your computer, do downloads and uploads from all sites on your computer, listen to innumerable radio and tv stations on your computer, control how RAM is used on your computer, and completely reformat the look and feel of the interface on your computer. I don't think the Xbox can touch that.

Schwoebli · Post by **Schwoebli** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 7:06 am

Originally posted by humanflyz
Lately I've found myself much more attracted to my Xbox than my computer. I mean, I just like the fact that there is no install, no patches, no head-aches from looking closely at the monitor.

I have 3 consoles myself. I really like games such as final fantasy, resident evil and gran turismo (some of them were also released on pc). however I could never image playing games like starcraft, baldurs gate or unreal tournament on a console system.

btw. no patches also means no addons and mods...

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 8:35 am

Originally posted by Schwoebli
btw. no patches also means no addons and mods...

Oh, I forgot that one. Thanks!

And you can run emulators on the PC that let you play most console games. Can't do that on an Xbox, either.

humanflyz · Post by **humanflyz** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 1:44 pm

Hey, I am not sounding the death bell of PC gaming. I am just saying that after a long day of working at the computer, I just can't really stare at the screen anymore. So I just play my Xbox.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jan 31, 2004 9:27 pm

Originally posted by humanflyz
Hey, I am not sounding the death bell of PC gaming.

Neither were we. At least, speaking for myself, I thought you were just referring to traditional RPGs on the PC. There's a wealth of fine games in other genres coming out.

Monolith · Post by **Monolith** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 2:07 pm

holla, I think you guys forgot The Fall
A Fallout-Like RPG which will kick ass....and that's for sure!

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 3:54 pm

While it looks possibly interesting, how do you know "for sure" that it will be? Every game sounds great, when you check the feature list, background story, FAQ and screens. Hell, Lionheart and TOEE enjoyed enormous press before they appeared--and look what happened. We really shouldn't prejudge anything as good or bad, especially on the say so of the company making a product.

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 8:38 pm

Maybe this belongs in a separate thread, but I just clicked on "The Fall," and it struck me that the general trend (from what I've seen anyway... and I've been busy, so I have probably missed stuff) is away from a D&D type of setting and toward a bleak, futuristic type of environment. Almost as though we are venturing from an idealised pseudo Feudal era towards a harsh and somehow alien scenario...

I can't help but wonder if this is simply related to fashion and potential profit, or if there is a deeper underlying cause that is a mirroring of current events or societal trends...

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 10:29 pm

I think some folks know how well the Fallout series has sold, and want to make a profit. That explains both the environment, and the title.

Monolith · Post by **Monolith** » Fri Feb 06, 2004 5:46 am

It doesn't seem to be a trend, I don't know...
The guys from Silver Style are Fallout fans themselves (and Jagged Alliance 2 fans), as far as I know, and they work together with the fans very closely. So the reason for the similarity is quite obvious...isn't it?
And yea, they got one of the Black Isle guys on board.

The Z · Post by **The Z** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:08 pm

I'm not worried about the action in The Fall. I'm just worried about whether the RPG elements of the game will be their (Storyline, Branching plot, Big decision making, non-linearity, etc.).

If only Fallout 3 were still in production

To get back on topic - Here's Gamespot's preview of Sacred, which, I'm guessing is Diabloesque (I don't know much about the title unfortunately). I think there's a few MMORPG's coming out as well (World's of Warcraft, Evercrack 2)

Monolith · Post by **Monolith** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:37 am

Originally posted by The Z
I'm not worried about the action in The Fall. I'm just worried about whether the RPG elements of the game will be their (Storyline, Branching plot, Big decision making, non-linearity, etc.).

according to this, I'm not worried. They got a second Black Isle Studios guy on board...

Monolith · Post by **Monolith** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:07 am

Preview!!!

yea, and here we go: Preview: The Fall - The Last Days of Gaia

Dorian_ertymexx · Post by **Dorian_ertymexx** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:03 am

Funny how the world goes... You guys think of it as a GOOD thing that they got Black Isle-folks on board. I rather lost interest instead. I am not much impressed with what they produced.
I'll check the link though, and see if I change my mind.

As for Dragon Wench's question, I don't think it is a fashion thing. Fallout is an OOOLD game by now, and the post-nuclear-war kind of RPG's have always been the second choice after the pure fantasy ones.

Profitseeking, though, is a sad thing indeed. To take such a deep and philosophical game as Vampire - the Masquerade (at least in its early additions) and make it into a hack'n'slash comp-game rather than a deep mystery-solving RPG... Blast. It's like making a movie of a Kafka-novell with Arnold blasting a bunch of giant ****roaches.

Dorian_ertymexx · Post by **Dorian_ertymexx** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:11 am

*LOL* Blast it! They are actually called that! It is not a dirty word! I wrote cackroachas, but with the right spelling, and now I see that the first half of the word is blacked out with starts. Talk about over-sensitive page! ;>

Well, I looked at the site, and aside from a vague reference to Gothic-style NPC's, I wasn't mucn impressed. When all of the skills are about mechanincs or blasting things, I don't get the idea that this will be a game of intrigue and plots. But I might be wrong of course. Only time, and those who try the game, will tell.

Monolith · Post by **Monolith** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 4:25 pm

There seems to be another goldie in development. Check it out: Dungeon Lords

I read a preview on a german gaming-site (GAMIGO) and it's said to be a mixture of Gothic 2, Morrowind and Diablo 2.
According to Gamigo the atmosphere (especially in dungeons), AI of enemies and the detailed graphics are rather outstanding.

Visit heuristic park homepage for more information.