Development Info InXile consults academics to create Wasteland authenticity

[Surf Solar]

 

[Vault Dweller]

 

[DragoFireheart]

Is there something wrong with hiver?

 

[TwinkieGorilla]

Is there something wrong with hiver?

Now that's a loaded question...

 

[hiver]

-edit-

nah...

 

[hiver]

Is it any good?

I even got the version with the -intermission- break, and everything. They dont make them like that anymore man...
Is it any good?


-Ha!-




(kids today...)

 

[Alex]

Problem Vault Dweller, hi/v/er, Alex, Monocause?

Not really. Forgotten Realms may have had a more pulpy origin once, but that has been gone for a long while now, and even in the beginning, sensible world building had always been an important thing for Ed Greenwood. As I understand it, his players were interested in less martial pursuits, stuff like trading and diplomacy. So, seeing PE as a continuation of Baldurs Gate, it fits pretty well. Also, the kin of crazy you can come up with real science could fit well with the stuff in PS:T (as long as you don't forget to use the basic philosophy too).

I mean, this may well be a waste of money, and this talk about industry leaders make it sound really dull, but that is a complaint on the logistics of the move, which I really am not in position to judge. My complaint about this move for Wasteland 2 is more about how I think it doesn't seem to fit in principle, not in execution.

 

[Jaesun]

Now I feel really bad, and should have NOT mentioned Alex in my uh.... post.

 

[Alex]

Now I feel really bad, and should have NOT mentioned Alex in my uh.... post.

Hahaha, damned if you do and damned if you don't right? Don't worry, though, I am glad you actually brought that to my attention.

 

[almondblight]

Yes, do you? You can't say that a subspecies is different from a species. Would talking about the difference between the Canus Lupus and the Indian Wolf make sense? Seriously, this isn't that complicated.

Even fucking wikipedia has it spelled out at the beginning of second paragraph, with citation attached.

Neanderthals are classified alternatively as a subspecies of Homo sapiens (Homo sapiens neanderthalensis) or as a separate human species (Homo neanderthalensis).

Even wikipedia that's more suited for retards like you has it as a 7th sentence.[/quote]

So you're saying "no, I don't understand." If neanderthals are classified as a subspecies of homo sapiens, then saying "the difference between homo sapiens and neanderthals" makes as much sense as saying "the difference between homo sapiens and this subspecies of homo sapiens." Again, would talking about the difference between canus lupus and the Indian Wolf make sense? It's a simple yes or no question.

But you're too fucking dumb too get that one type of organisms has two classifications because people can't agree which one is more correct.

Umm, that's exactly the point. There is disagreement as to whether or not neanderthals are homo sapiens; ergo, saying that classifying them as homo sapiens is wrong is not correct. It's. Not. That. Complicated.

Is this terribly important? No. But since you're whole point seems to be "lol, VD used the popular phrase 'missing link' which science writers at National Geographic and The Telegraph use," and you follow it up with comments like:

"Dude, listen. Difference between Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens it's like a difference between gray wolf and jackal...Yes, they are different."

"With some of them we intermixed (like Neandertals, tho' not much) with some we didn't. But we didn't evolved from them, as they were often living concurrently to early homo sapiens and therefore are not relevant for this discussion."

"Erm, no. Human evolution is solved since ca. 1980."

"When all had was fossils, we already had some clever ideas, but had no solid evidence. Only with discoveries of new techniques like DNA sequencing (1977) and PCR (1983) we were able to prove certain critical hypotheses. Therefore I used word "solved", as in: nobody could say it was "just a theory" ." [remember all those other scientific theories about the origin of man competing with evolution in the early 70's?]

"It's still hard scientific work, but there are no nobel prizes in paleobiology - we already know all the important stuff." [no Nobel prize in biology or mathematics, because we already know all the important stuff. Hell, apparently we knew all the important stuff in the early 1900's when the Nobel prizes were solidified.]

Well, I'll let other members decide which one of us is "fucking things up royally and looking like a dumbass."

 

[Oriebam]

-edit-

nah...

damn, I missed the edit, did he actually try to answer that? mods?

 

[trais]

There is disagreement as to whether or not neanderthals are homo sapiens; saying that classifying them as homo sapiens is wrong is not correct.

Nice straw-men. Here's some history:

Can you tell me the difference between homo neanderthalensis and homo sapiens neanderthalensis?

There's none. If you consider neandertals a sub-species of homo sapiens, then you call them Homo sapiens neanderthalsis; if you consider them a different species then you call them Homo neanderthalsis.

Neanderthals are classified alternatively as a subspecies of Homo sapiens (Homo sapiens neanderthalensis) or as a separate human species (Homo neanderthalensis).

I've got no idea what mental problems do you have, but do yourself a favor and go see a doctor.

 

[Vault Dweller]

http://venturebeat.com/2012/10/26/thwacke-wasteland-2-interview/

Relevant info:

Fargo: So for me, it goes beyond their science background on things … . They’ve really been great [at] throwing out all sorts of ideas. And all of my writers have used pieces of what they’ve thrown out. It really has helped make the product better.

The scientist dude: we mostly work early on the conception of a project with writers and with designers. We work with writers to craft plausible narrative — world building — and with designers to align a scientific concept with a design mechanic.

For example, in Wasteland 2 we were asked which animals that would survive a nuclear fallout and why. In this case we found specialists in environmental biology, medicine, and evolutionary biology to craft science into ideas that can be used in game design. This saves researching time for writers and allows them to focus on gameplay. This out-of-the-box approach has been able to spark new directions for narrative and gameplay that wouldn’t have otherwise been explored.

In later stages of development, we usually work on easy-to-implement text-based assets. In Wasteland 2, we will be doing this for a side mission that involves pages in a wastelander’s logbook. This information is optional but adds depth to narrative and immersion for those willing to read it.

For the lulz:

Deus Ex [Human Revolution] and Mass Effect did their homework. BioShock also gets points for crafting an interesting balance between stem cells and molecular biology. When you polish an aspect like science, you end up polishing the logic behind the narrative and create an authentic experience.

I’ve followed my share of conversations that argue whether one alien can beat the other in Mass Effect solely based off of their evolved traits from their fictional planetary history.

Our consultants are expected to be able to communicate their theses to an eight-year-old within five minutes — should an eight-year-old be interested.

​

 

[Moribund]

Fargo: So for me, it goes beyond their science background on things … . They’ve really been great [at] throwing out all sorts of ideas. And all of my writers have used pieces of what they’ve thrown out. It really has helped make the product better.

​

Oh, so it's exactly what I said, and how it is on every game that uses these consultants. Which was wrong then, but somehow supports your position now.

 

[mediocrepoet]

http://venturebeat.com/2012/10/26/thwacke-wasteland-2-interview/

I’ve followed my share of conversations that argue whether one alien can beat the other in Mass Effect solely based off of their evolved traits from their fictional planetary history.

Our consultants are expected to be able to communicate their theses to an eight-year-old within five minutes — should an eight-year-old be interested.

​

So they're uniquely qualified to speak to the denizens of BSN? I'm sure that's one of the talking points they use when marketing their services to game companies.

 

[Brother None]

Whoah, 19 pages.

So do we still hate Thwacke for somehow forcing developers to apply realism over good game design even though that's not what they do at all, or are they ok now that Obsidian also hired them?

Obsidian and inXile seem to have rather parallel decision making processes.

 

[Jaesun]

...

Did NO ONE actually verify my completely obvious troll post?

 

[TwinkieGorilla]

So do we still hate Thwacke for somehow forcing developers to apply realism over good game design even though that's not what they do at all, or are they ok now that Obsidian also hired them?

Well, that depends on whether you're asking VD and like, two other people, or just about everybody else. Oh, and then hiver is saying something. I think. Ok fine I haven't been paying very close attention for about 11 pages.

...

Did NO ONE actually verify my completely obvious troll post?

Oh man. I just-

I took it for...I ju- oh Kickstarter what the fuck have you done to me.

 

[Harg Harfardarssen]

...

Did NO ONE actually verify my completely obvious troll post?

I clicked on the link, then facepalmed out of shame that I fell for it.

 

[Brother None]

Did NO ONE actually verify my completely obvious troll post?

Haha. Man, you'd think after so long on the internet (and the Codex) I'd be a bit more wary. Too funny.

My amazement at this thread's length and basic viewpoint on Thwacke still remain.

Mostly I just hope Wasteland 2 starts offering more substantive info so people don't have to discuss irrelevant consultancy hires for days.

 

[Jaesun]

COME ON! I actually used SOIL EROSION! In the piece FFS!

The day any of you let your guard down and don't outright fucking attack me based on not investigating and researching stuff, and providing your opinion, and take a "fact" as truth because someone says is it, IS the UTTER fucking decline of the codex.

Just FYI.

 

[Alex]

Whoah, 19 pages.

So do we still hate Thwacke for somehow forcing developers to apply realism over good game design even though that's not what they do at all, or are they ok now that Obsidian also hired them?

Obsidian and inXile seem to have rather parallel decision making processes.

I kept my view from before, but then again, I am not a big fan of Obsidian, so...

...

Did NO ONE actually verify my completely obvious troll post?

Sorry Jaesun. When someone posts something in a Thread, I tend to assume they aren't ling, so it didn't even occur to me to click the source.

 

[Jaesun]

Sorry Jaesun. When someone posts something in a Thread, I tend to assume they aren't ling, so it didn't even occur to me to click the source.

I do get your point Alex. And as I said earlier I apologize. Because unlike the majority of the 98% of fucking shitposters, YOU are a minority that actually provide good content posts and encourage discussion. The very thing about the codex I appreciate and respect. I apologize and only hope you can forgive me this experiment someday.

 

[Excommunicator]

And when you give them a nice, factual and thought out answer then they just skip it, maybe take one sentence out of the context and go on another retarded diatribe about it, full of stupid shit and nonsense that they just invented.

I have honestly never read more than the first 1-2 lines of your posts from the first time I saw you posting here and I'm not going to start now. Yes you really are that bad a poster.

 

[tuluse]

The best part of this is that update #29 just came out for real today, and no one put 2 and 2 together.