Interview Brian Fargo talks to Rock Paper Shotgun about the Wasteland 2 beta

[undecaf]

Surprised there weren't any questions/demands about female presentation.

Anyways, for a Beta test, everything sounds pretty much right to me.

 

[ColCol]

Is this the Really Pretty Graphics 'dex or Role Playing Game 'dex because the lines between the two are getting blurrier each day.

Is font style that important? Blur can be turned off (thank god) and I presume other "post-processing" effects can be turned off and I'll bet that this game is better looking in motion rather than screenshots. As far as 3D games go that is. 2D is still be superior. :D

Yeah, but this is rpgcodex, we love complaining more than anything.

 

[Disgruntled]

It was meant to look like late 90-ties games; Iso perspective + 2D feel...
Joined: Sep 17, 2012
Carry on newfag.

So it was meant to look like shit for the sake of it?

Since Expeditions was mentioned, lets take a look at some superior visuals made on a lower budget.

Spoiler

Keeping in mind, the game also delivered a fairly solid combat system and C&C.
If W2 blows us out of the water on the final product, Ill ignore the murky resolutions. Until then, all i can judge on is that demo video they showed off not long ago.

 

[Duraframe300]

"Barely survived"? I don't think inXile has ever edged close to being shut down in the same way that Obsidian was back in 2011. They did have to lay off everybody after Hunted but that was considered par for the course.

Uhm, what?

1. You probably mean 2012.

2. Even with the layoffs Obsidian could still support more people than InXile ever had employed. 90+ vs 60+ (I think was Hunted's peak. Might be misremembering)

The trolls gettin' to you Infinitron?

 

[tsabu]

So it was meant to look like shit for the sake of it?

Since Expeditions was mentioned, lets take a look at some superior visuals made on a lower budget.

I don't think comparison of screen shots with background full of trees, grass, ruins etc. have much sense. Peoples are bitching mostly about typical desert like scenery in wasteland2. Interiors and more green zones looks just fine. Check the very first video with agricultural center.

Its harder to make interesting graphic in typical wasteland\desert scenery. Color palette needs to be very limited, and there's not much details that you can add without ruining the whole atmosphere.

 

[Chaotic_Heretic]

Infinitron is white-knighting inXile because he is hopeful for a moderator position in the Wasteland 2 forums.

 

[Infinitron]

1. You probably mean 2012.

Whatever.

2. Even with the layoffs Obsidian could still support more people than InXile ever had employed. 90+ vs 60+ (I think was Hunted's peak. Might be misremembering)

It's not about the number of people. It's about the future of the company (at least in its recognized form) being in doubt.

 

[Duraframe300]

1. You probably mean 2012.

Whatever.

2. Even with the layoffs Obsidian could still support more people than InXile ever had employed. 90+ vs 60+ (I think was Hunted's peak. Might be misremembering)

It's not about the number of people. It's about the future of the company (at least in its recognized form) being in doubt.

Even then it wasn't for Obsidian. What hurt them was the people/friends they had to let go. Not that their very existence was in danger. (They still had other things working on)

I'm sure InXile has been in similiar situations. The situation (and afterwards the whole bonus thing) was blown out of proportion. Which I'm addmitingly at fault myself in retrospect.

 

[Excidium]

So it was meant to look like shit for the sake of it?

Since Expeditions was mentioned, lets take a look at some superior visuals made on a lower budget.

I don't think comparison of screen shots with background full of trees, grass, ruins etc. have much sense. Peoples are bitching mostly about typical desert like scenery in wasteland2. Interiors and more green zones looks just fine. Check the very first video with agricultural center.

Its harder to make interesting graphic in typical wasteland\desert scenery. Color palette needs to be very limited, and there's not much details that you can add without ruining the whole atmosphere.

It's about how blurry and grainy it is, it's also evident on that indoors pic

 

[Davaris]

It's about how blurry and grainy it is, it's also evident on that indoors pic

Could be they are trying to make it look like the original Fallouts.

 

[FeelTheRads]

Since Expeditions was mentioned, lets take a look at some superior visuals made on a lower budget.

lol no

Expeditions looks fake and boring. Everything seems to be made of plastic. Textures suck, shadows suck, colors suck.

 

[BLOBERT]

BROS LLOLLOLLOLL WHERE IS SKYWAYS COMPLAINING ABOT THE GRAPHICS LOOLLOLLOOL

LOLLOLOL LETS GET OUR POPAMOLE ON LOOLLOLOO

 

[Durante]

Betas are supposed to be feature complete ^_^

Smedstad: possibly right

BTW here's another prediction: Larian's Divinity: Original Sin beta will be feature complete. It kinda has to be considering they're releasing it in early January and they have to have the gold master out by late Jan-early Feb. Larian, more competent than inXile. Amazing.

Why is that so amazing? Larian have been making PC RPGs (well, and a RTS/TB strategy dragon action game) on their own tech since 1998. Conversely, the bulk of inXile's previous experience is phone games and console popamole.

How is that surprising? Larian has survived as a mid-tier developer for over a decade, verging into AAA territory at times, without giving up their independence. inXile barely survived with mobile/shovelware, and only is back as a developer worth mentioning because of Kickstarter nostalgia pity.

Well yeah. I wrote the above reply before continuing to read the thread. That was stupid.

 

[Infinitron]

Betas are supposed to be feature complete ^_^

Smedstad: possibly right

BTW here's another prediction: Larian's Divinity: Original Sin beta will be feature complete. It kinda has to be considering they're releasing it in early January and they have to have the gold master out by late Jan-early Feb. Larian, more competent than inXile. Amazing.

Why is that so amazing? Larian have been making PC RPGs (well, and a RTS/TB strategy dragon action game) on their own tech since 1998. Conversely, the bulk of inXile's previous experience is phone games and console popamole.

How is that surprising? Larian has survived as a mid-tier developer for over a decade, verging into AAA territory at times, without giving up their independence. inXile barely survived with mobile/shovelware, and only is back as a developer worth mentioning because of Kickstarter nostalgia pity.

Well yeah. I wrote the above reply before continuing to read the thread. That was stupid.

FYI we've learned a few new things about D:OS since this was posted: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/inde...ta-now-open-to-all-kickstarter-backers.88136/

 

[Zeriel]

Delaying games doesn't make them flawed. Kind of the opposite inference, actually. I have more faith in Larian because they are much less tied to Kickstarter funding (and hence on a clock).

 

[tuluse]

Larian would have been forced to release already sans kickstarter, I think they're on just as a tight of a budget as anyone.

 

[Zeriel]

Yeah, but neither did they start developing the moment they got a check from Kickstarter. Pretty major difference.