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Post by WickedCrustacean on Nov 22, 2013 4:55:57 GMT -5
Many of us love open world games and history, so here are some exciting news on that front. This is a game in development by a new Czech company, formed in 2011 and called Warhorse Studios, and is for now unnamed. The company is currently looking for some publisher to finance it, so it's not definite that it will see the light of day, as of now. However, the company is made up of industry veterans who have worked on games like Mafia, Mafia 2, Operation Flashpoint, and the first ARMA, among others. They also seem to have made significant progress, with many game systems already working to some degree, so it's not just an idea. The game itself has not been officially announced yet, so the information on it is pretty sparse, but it seems to be an open world historical RPG running on CryEngine3, probably taking place in medieval Bohemia. Official website: www.warhorsestudios.cz/index.php?page=blog&lang=enBest interview I could find so far: www.rpgcodex.net/content.php?id=877610 minute leaked video of graphics (just shows a location in the world, no gameplay details): www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gwnSo9bcIyAI loved Operation Flashpoint and enjoyed the first Mafia game quite a bit. These guys created very realistic and enjoyable combat systems in both of those, at least for me, so if they could do the same for medieval combat, and just overall, create a historical version of Bethesda games with better game mechanics, I would be blown away. |
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Post by Tig on Nov 22, 2013 7:13:16 GMT -5
Oh very nice. Sweet blog too. They like hot chicks. I'll have to stick around for them. Great find WC.
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Post by WickedCrustacean on Nov 22, 2013 10:37:28 GMT -5
OK, I was reading through the comments in that interview, and mostly it was RPGCodex members (kinda known for being of a hardcore trollish disposition) insulting the heck out of the head Warhorse guy, who was nice enough to post there. He was game though, and hung in there. Eventually he posted another youtube video showing off the game, but this one actually showed some gameplay and in-game stuff: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBXXfPsjJg8This video impressed the hell out of me. It's short, but the the graphics and character animations look great. In particular, check out the short combat sequence toward the end. What's so impressive about it, aside from realistic looking weapons, armor, and movements, is that there is actual collision detection going on in the game. The player character parries the other guy twice, both times stopping the trajectory of his sword in place, and then hits the enemy on the head, where the other guy's metal helmet stops the player's sword. I think this might be the first game I've seen this in, as typically, weapons just move through other weapons/shields/bodies. The Warhose developer commented on this later on in the forum post: "Actually what I meant when I was answering this question was, that finally in our game, combat and some other actions will not be just a dice rolls or tedious button bashing like in other action RPGs (or combination of both), but actual realtime skill based combat with very similar mechanics as real world combat. This wasnt possible few years ago even if you wanted. You need lot of CPU power to simulate collisions and IK during combat accurately and you need to solve how would you control this. I believe that we have both now and I really do think, that its MUCH better and closer to real world fencing than dice rolling, because there is much more combinations, more variables in play and most importanty much more choice of actions. Thats it. Maybe I didnt expressed myself clear enough, because I didnt knew what this sentence could cause here. " "Inverse Kinematics, basically it means, that our combat takes physics into account and everything actually reacts properly to impact of the weapon. Its one of the most complicated tasks for our coders. " and compared their combat system to the one in War of the Roses: "Yes, I know this game. Its different than our combat (interesting idea, but much simpler and little bit awkward to control). " Based on these comments and video, my hype-meter is definitely going into overdrive. I really hope these guys can get a publisher. |
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Post by WickedCrustacean on Dec 19, 2013 2:51:44 GMT -5
I saw that these guys have officially announced the game, so I got all excited, assuming they found a publisher, but according to their last blog, which in great detail outlines all they ve been through in that search, I was wrong. They are still exploring some options, but no publishing deal as of yet.  In any case, game announced: kotaku.com/next-gen-rpg-has-no-monsters-magic-or-minotaurs-1485418733and also, the official website for the game is up, with the first trailer (no gameplay footage there though): kingdomcomerpg.com/The website has a countdown of something like 34 days, when I guess more info about the game will be revealed. The game is currently due for next gen consoles AND PC in 2015. Kingdom Come: Deliverance is the official name. As hinted earlier, it is a "realistic open world first person medieval RPG" with (sit down for this, Tig) no magic whatsoever. No monsters, no spells, not even enchanted weapons, haha. It's set in the Holy Roman Empire in late medieval ages. Revolutionary first person combat "with a range of period- accurate fighting techniques, horseback combat, open-field sieges, and large-scale battles". Someone hold me.  Do you guys remember when we had that thread about games we wanted to see, and some of you wanted more realistic Skyrim set in Scotland or with Vikings, or I wanted a medieval GTA, holy cow, this game is as close to that as you can get. Really hope they can find someone, but damn it, between their blog and some of the comments on Kotaku, it seems like there are too many idiots both in the gaming community, and in the publishing business, but I guess we already knew that. Oh noes, this game doesnt have fireballs and dragons, who needs that.  If this game doesnt get made, i think this will be the biggest single disappointment for me since City States. |
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Post by Tig on Dec 19, 2013 9:03:05 GMT -5
"Kingdom Come: Deliverance promises no magic, high fantasy or mythical overtones - it draws its inspiration instead from historically authentic characters, themes, and warfare."
I just hope that if they make it to gold and deliver on their promises that it's not another half-baked potato like Mount & Blade. We need an actual purpose to explore and conquer, not just run about picking fights. Still, I remain optimistic.
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Post by Mako on Dec 19, 2013 10:27:48 GMT -5
If only I'd won the lottery the other night...
Hopefully they'll find some publisher with half a brain that can see beyond the regurgitated norm.
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Post by PegLegPete on Dec 19, 2013 12:39:48 GMT -5
I'm back playing Skyrim since I got it and its expansions on the steam holiday sale. I forgot what a great game it is and on PC its much better than the xbox version. Almost no load times, better graphics and a lot less buggy. Controls take some getting used to and the menu's are a little harder to navigate but I'm flying through the main story and than on to the civil war. Usually after that point I'm at a comfortable level and free to adventure!
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Post by WickedCrustacean on Dec 19, 2013 13:39:44 GMT -5
Tig, it often gets compared to Mount & Blade, I guess because of medieval setting and realistic combat, but it's a completely different game. M&B is like a combat simulator crossed with a strategy game with some RPG elements, where you are only in first person on small combat maps and in small city maps, and are playing on a strategy overhead map elsewhere. This game, on the other hand, is a full on open world RPG, more similar in structure to Bethesda games, where you are always in first person in a huge world. Even the combat should be somewhat different, given that they are the first game to do full collision detection on weapons. As far as purpose, I think these guys would come up with something good, given that the story in the first Mafia game was very solid, and the period/setting provide a lot of material, everything from petty lords constantly at war with each other, to Crusades and religious overtones, and everything else going on. Should at the very least make for a refreshing change from typical fantasy "save the world oh, chosen one" stuff. I'm sorta imagining playing through a Walter Scott novel, haha. "If only I'd won the lottery the other night.." Haha, yeah, me too. I don't usually play the lotto, but whenever one of those pots gets huge and makes the news, I buy a ticket, just for fun. For a buck or two, its a nice bit of excitement for a day. So far this year, the four or five times I did it, I haven't gotten a single number to match, much less the entire thing. |
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Post by Tig on Dec 19, 2013 15:22:08 GMT -5
I hear you WC, and that's what I was lamenting in my comparison. M&B got marketed as an RPG, you'll recall, with the blatant rip-off of Aragorn on the box cover to attract the fantasy crowd. With the onset of Warband, a campaign of map conquest was promised and valiantly attempted but with a completely random and non-cooperative AI, it's otherwise impossible. Hopefully there is either a story or a means to give direction in the world of Kingdom Come.
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Post by WickedCrustacean on Dec 21, 2013 0:42:17 GMT -5
It will definitely have a story if it ever gets made. There is a 1403 date inside the title on their website, so that's probably the time it takes place in the Holy Roman Empire, and I saw on some website preview that the story has to do with the fight over the throne (HRE throne??? no idea). They will probably reveal more details on that in a month.
The sad thing is, while there are certainly a bunch of people who don't want to play games like this, there is also a TON of people, judging by comments on various websites who would love to see a historical open world RPG.
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id42928110
Barfly
...little girls in sailor suits
Posts: 220
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Post by id42928110 on Dec 21, 2013 13:53:40 GMT -5
Here's hoping the game devs can release this game with their original vision of the game intact. Once a publisher gets involved......
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Post by WickedCrustacean on Dec 21, 2013 16:06:42 GMT -5
Yeah, and the worst part is (from reading their last blog), the only publisher that's interested in them at all right now, is a smaller company that will probably want them to release the game in parts/episodes, to make it cheaper to finance. I don't think this is a good idea at all for an open world RPG, a genre one of the main draws of which are huge worlds. In the same blog post, they mention some publisher representative told them that PC and console games are dead, the only money is in free-to-play MMOs on the iPad. Is it any wonder so much crap is churned out and studios like IO Interactive and many other are either forced to close or downsize? It seems like the people in charge never play games at all, and just chase whatever is shiniest at the moment. |
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Post by WickedCrustacean on Dec 23, 2013 0:25:11 GMT -5
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Post by Tig on Dec 23, 2013 6:57:25 GMT -5
The Facebook page is really taking off.
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Post by WickedCrustacean on Jan 22, 2014 5:47:35 GMT -5
Ok, so no publishers picked it up, and they are now going the Kickstarter route. The game's website countdown has finished and now links to their Kickstarter page: They are looking for $500,000 dollars (as a minimum to fund it), but basically, according to the video, this will let their main investor (some rich Czech dude who has been financing them so far) know that there is demand for the game, and he will provide the rest of the money they need to finish the game. Unfortunately, because of the lack of publisher interest, they won't be able to release a Skyrim sized game at once, so they are shooting for 3 Acts/Episodes, each about 30 hours of gameplay. The Kickstarter is for the first Act, and if things go well, they plan to release the 2nd act about 8 months later. The Kickstarter page is full of details, and has an awesome video that includes a lot of in-game footage and details about the game, as well their pitch. So far the pledges are coming in strong, as I can literally see the sum ticking up. I really hope they raise a lot of money, just to show the publishers that not everyone wants to play elves and dragons all the time. P.S. A couple of new previews up as well: A nice one from Eurogamer: www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-21-i-do-care-for-a-next-gen-medieval-rpg-with-no-fantasyAnd a crappy one from Gamespot: www.gamespot.com/articles/the-medieval-unmagic-of-kingdom-come-deliverance/1100-6417236/The gamespot one basically mentions the lack of fantasy every other sentence and how it handicaps the game. I guess those guys have so much repressed angst from having to kiss big publishers' games's backends, their criticism just explodes when dealing with smaller companies.  |
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In any case, game announced:
If this game doesnt get made, i think this will be the biggest single disappointment for me since City States.
