Hey OneTwo! I know this was a long time ago, but you should update prisoner rebellion, that was the game that i played NONSTOP. I love you man, and i wish you came back! D: EzFuSe.866
Hey Gradius, good post. I liked your original analysis of WoL, and enjoyed this one too.
I'm actually working my way through the SC1 campaign right now for fun. I gotta say, it's damn good! I'm finding the overall writing quality stronger, with characters that are actually interesting and properly motivated (not to mention dialogue that IS bearable lol). I often see the argument that the "perceived quality" of older Blizzard titles is really just nostalgia, but I personally didn't play SC1 much when I was younger (was more of a Warcraft/Diablo fan). I did read several books though :)
So now, going through the SC1 campaign, I can just feel it's better (mind you, from a STORY point of view... not necessarily mission design and so forth). Basically, like how the first Matrix was versus its sequels. It's hard for me to describe I guess (though you quantified much of it in your original WoL article). I realize that many people disagree with my opinion on SC2, and I seriously do consider those opinions, because I am trying to understand why there is such polarization between those who enjoyed the newer stories versus those who didn't.
I wish I didn't have to be so critical (I'd prefer to just praise Blizz and eat up everything they make like I used to), but every game post-WoW so far hasn't really hit home for me. Not that I didn't get anything out of SC2, but I've generally found a lot less to like in the newer Blizz titles than say, D1/D2/War1-3/WoW/SC1. I still play War3 at LANs, so many great custom maps lol!
Well, I'm getting off topic here, but I definitely feel something has changed with their games, maybe it's the huge team-size instead of the 10-40 man they used to have (which leads to fewer hallway-ideas/development, and more hierarchical corporate directions perhaps?). Who knows, maybe it's just different people with different visions. Either way, they are still outputting solid products, but I don't feel *mind blown* anymore lol.
Hey sorry I retired back in 2011 so I'm pretty out of the loop on making maps. Plus the editor has changed so I can't give as good of advice anymore. But best of luck!
I don't think anything is dieing (as EW says), but more-so that over the last 10-20 years, mid-sized developers have been disappearing or merging into large ones. So you have 300-man teams now, and indie teams... and therefore much fewer 10-40 man teams that we had during 96-04.
Oh sorry I should have fact-checked that one! For some reason my brain thought Tychus was the trailer. I retract my statement, so we'll have to look at older Blizz games that had more mysterious trailers lol.
I'm a huge supporter of indie projects and especially ARPGs... but:
I played it during that open beta weekend a few months back, and it didn't keep me interested. I felt like the camera angle/zoom was off and the speed of the game was quite slow. As much as Diablo 3 is hated, I found it to be much more smooth/inviting than PoE.
I also found the whole socketing thing confusing to start, and the UI design overall could use an upgrade :/ Maybe if I stuck around longer I could have gotten more into the depth that it appears to have...
Well, I honestly wanted to like the game more, but it didn't happen :(
In my opinion, a trailer's purpose is to get new people interested in the game. Most people who are interested in lore and want a cinematic that gives plot teasers will be purchasing the game anyways. I know that regardless of the cinematic, I am purchasing it.
However, someone who hasn't played WoL, or hasn't in a long time, is going to watch that and say "holy shit, that's awesome". They won't be focusing as much on the realism. In my opinion, they did a good job making a trailer that will hook more people into buying the game, which is what I'm assuming the purpose is. If not, someone please correct me.
Isn't this an opening cinematic though, not the trailer? Ie this is actually part of the game. I agree that it will get people excited, as the CG is awesome; but as I said, I'm just fearful that the story itself will be blah again (as this cinematic gives me no indication that it won't be).
Also, I just read the critiques on page 2, and honestly I think they're pretty correct in their assessment. I didn't get much out of this trailer except for the ending, but then I remember the WoL campaign (and D3 story) and fear it'll just be another one of those.
Just seemed like a lot of mindless action with very basic Kerrigan lines. The ending was really only the redeeming part. CGI was amazing though!
Edit: Also that rant above calling the guys on page 2 'steaming piles of shit' is not exactly a great post, interesting that you guys +1'd it. Oh well.
Yeah isomnetrics rule. I remember opening Baldur's Gate maps, those were BMP files, like 5000x5000 pixels, that's why that game had 4 CDs lol. But still BG 1 and 2 beat Neverwinter Nights graphics hands down.
And I love SC1 isometrics too, the doodads were beautiful. I used to mod and create new doodads and all I needed was PAINTBRUSH!
0
Thanks!
Also, just fixed the download link.
0
Hey Gradius, good post. I liked your original analysis of WoL, and enjoyed this one too.
I'm actually working my way through the SC1 campaign right now for fun. I gotta say, it's damn good! I'm finding the overall writing quality stronger, with characters that are actually interesting and properly motivated (not to mention dialogue that IS bearable lol). I often see the argument that the "perceived quality" of older Blizzard titles is really just nostalgia, but I personally didn't play SC1 much when I was younger (was more of a Warcraft/Diablo fan). I did read several books though :)
So now, going through the SC1 campaign, I can just feel it's better (mind you, from a STORY point of view... not necessarily mission design and so forth). Basically, like how the first Matrix was versus its sequels. It's hard for me to describe I guess (though you quantified much of it in your original WoL article). I realize that many people disagree with my opinion on SC2, and I seriously do consider those opinions, because I am trying to understand why there is such polarization between those who enjoyed the newer stories versus those who didn't.
I wish I didn't have to be so critical (I'd prefer to just praise Blizz and eat up everything they make like I used to), but every game post-WoW so far hasn't really hit home for me. Not that I didn't get anything out of SC2, but I've generally found a lot less to like in the newer Blizz titles than say, D1/D2/War1-3/WoW/SC1. I still play War3 at LANs, so many great custom maps lol!
Well, I'm getting off topic here, but I definitely feel something has changed with their games, maybe it's the huge team-size instead of the 10-40 man they used to have (which leads to fewer hallway-ideas/development, and more hierarchical corporate directions perhaps?). Who knows, maybe it's just different people with different visions. Either way, they are still outputting solid products, but I don't feel *mind blown* anymore lol.
0
@YoungMichael: Go
Hey sorry I retired back in 2011 so I'm pretty out of the loop on making maps. Plus the editor has changed so I can't give as good of advice anymore. But best of luck!
0
Hey that's sweet they made this video tutorial. You still making maps Progammer? Or retired like me lol?
0
I don't think anything is dieing (as EW says), but more-so that over the last 10-20 years, mid-sized developers have been disappearing or merging into large ones. So you have 300-man teams now, and indie teams... and therefore much fewer 10-40 man teams that we had during 96-04.
0
I agree! :)
0
Oh sorry I should have fact-checked that one! For some reason my brain thought Tychus was the trailer. I retract my statement, so we'll have to look at older Blizz games that had more mysterious trailers lol.
0
@progammer:
Ah very interesting.
0
I'm a huge supporter of indie projects and especially ARPGs... but:
I played it during that open beta weekend a few months back, and it didn't keep me interested. I felt like the camera angle/zoom was off and the speed of the game was quite slow. As much as Diablo 3 is hated, I found it to be much more smooth/inviting than PoE.
I also found the whole socketing thing confusing to start, and the UI design overall could use an upgrade :/ Maybe if I stuck around longer I could have gotten more into the depth that it appears to have...
Well, I honestly wanted to like the game more, but it didn't happen :(
0
Isn't this an opening cinematic though, not the trailer? Ie this is actually part of the game. I agree that it will get people excited, as the CG is awesome; but as I said, I'm just fearful that the story itself will be blah again (as this cinematic gives me no indication that it won't be).
0
Also, I just read the critiques on page 2, and honestly I think they're pretty correct in their assessment. I didn't get much out of this trailer except for the ending, but then I remember the WoL campaign (and D3 story) and fear it'll just be another one of those.
Just seemed like a lot of mindless action with very basic Kerrigan lines. The ending was really only the redeeming part. CGI was amazing though!
Edit: Also that rant above calling the guys on page 2 'steaming piles of shit' is not exactly a great post, interesting that you guys +1'd it. Oh well.
0
P.S. did the Ultralisk running into the street scene remind anyone of something I made a while back? It did for me LOL.
0
Lol even in the future, NBC is still running Heroes...
0
All these models from War3 are making me remember some fun custom mapping days lol.
But seriously, software patents and copyrights... bleh what a convoluted area.
0
Oh yeah Baldur's Gate looked really cool too.