E3: Thief Community Interview

New Horizon on 4/7/2013 at 17:58

Quote Posted by b1skit

I don't think your analogy proves the point you think it does :)

That's my point exactly though.

The devs are issuing this DNA line all the time to validate that they are making a real Thief game. My point, is that if a creature sharing 98% of our DNA is not considered human, then a game that shares even less DNA with the games it is based on would be even further from that.

That's the whole point, it's a botched analogy no matter how you look at it. Unless they were making a 1:1 copy, their not retaining Thief's DNA, they're simply injecting bits and pieces into another creature.

SubJeff on 4/7/2013 at 18:17

I think it's more about how you have some of your mums DNA.

and possibly some of mine

Nuth on 4/7/2013 at 18:46

Quote Posted by b1skit

Our mods are 100% unaffiliated. E3 was the first time I'd met most of the group except for John, who I was fortunate to meet at PAX earlier this year. The guys have never once signed any sort of agreement, they have never received any sort of payment, nor have they ever been instructed on what to say about any topic, nor is there any expectations placed upon them as a condition of their attendance or involvement.

At the risk of coming perilously close to reneging on my decision to stop discussing the new game, I'd like to ask if the moderators were simply invited to attend E3 or if their trips were funded by EM.

bukary on 4/7/2013 at 18:51

Quote Posted by b1skit

Unfortunately not without checking with my higher ups higher up, but I'll ask.

That would be great! :thumb:

If the developers decided not to include swimmable water in the game, could you, please, ask them what was the reasoning behind this decision? Of course, I really do hope that Garrett can swim. ;)

Quote Posted by b1skit

I hear ya, so I just stopped by our Playtest manager Alex's desk and asked him the question on your behalf. He confirms that we've not received any feedback during any Thief playtest that the hands were bothersome when you could see them during crouch.

That's strange. Did they receive any feedback that corresponds with so many of our worries (eg. attachement points for rope arrows, "unglue" button for jumping from high surfaces etc.)?

pavlovscat on 4/7/2013 at 19:37

Quote Posted by b1skit

You really haven't been in a while eh? It's actually black and cyan - to match Thief's art direction ;)

That's the most muted cyan I've ever seen. It is even harder to read than the old color scheme, and I just got new glasses. The background should be blue & the text black if you want to go with those colors. My old eyes find the current scheme very difficult to read. Just saying.

MensaLaureate on 4/7/2013 at 19:38

Quote Posted by Nuth

I'd like to ask if the moderators were simply invited to attend E3 or if their trips were funded by EM.

I eagerly await B1skit's answer on that; for if Eidos Montreal paid their airfare, rooms, food, misc. then those people WERE on the payroll. Payroll does not necessarily mean getting paid money for work performed. Perks, bonuses, and compensation that is not in money form, goes "on the payroll" just as an hourly wage.

b1skit on 4/7/2013 at 20:06

Quote Posted by Kurgan

You want us to recognize your position and get over our grief? Ok, fine. On one condition. You recognize that we are grieving and disappointed, and not unreasonably so.

I hear ya.

Quote Posted by Nuth

Funded - and we've been up front about that the whole time. We bought and paid for flights, hotels, and E3 passes and entertainment outside of the show. Considering these guys gave up valuable time from their jobs and educations, it's the least we could do.

Again, there was no pressure or expectation associated with this - feel free to ask the guys yourself. Frankly, it's a *huge* risk to take if things don't go well, but we were confident in what we had to show. Their feedback included both positives and negatives - (http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthread.php?t=138032) See for yourself

Quote Posted by bukary

Did they receive any feedback that corresponds with so many of our worries (eg. attachement points for rope arrows, "unglue" button for jumping from high surfaces etc.)?

Not to my knowledge - but I doubt the focus test questioning gets that granular tbh. You don't miss those things because the game isn't designed in a way that you'd need them.

This stuff seems to have been really blown out of proportion here on TTLG - you guys really need to start fact checking some stuff :)

There is only an "unglue" button, as you call it, at extreme heights - your normal exploration abilities are just as they were in the classic games. You can climb up onto, say, garden beds, bookshelves, etc, and drop off just like you could in the classic Thief games. You can also vault over smaller obstacles smoothly, which feels great.

It's only at seriously high moments that you need to press a button to drop down and is usually tied to a unique, 1st person animation - leaping from rafter high in the ceiling, for example, where Garrett needs to kneel down and press his hand to the ground in preparation for a big drop. It's really not a big deal.

bukary on 4/7/2013 at 20:09

Quote Posted by b1skit

where Garrett needs to kneel down and press his hand to the ground in preparation for a big drop

It sounds great... if it's really in 1st person. :)

Quote Posted by b1skit

It's really not a big deal.

I have to admit that your post are usually really reassuring. Let's hope that you are right.

Still, do you have any info about swimmable water? ;)

b1skit on 4/7/2013 at 20:13

Quote Posted by bukary

Still, do you have any info about swimmable water? ;)

There was no swimmable water in what we've shown, but I've emailed the team to find out and I'll share the info at a later date. Not much of an answer I know, but it's all I've got.

bukary on 4/7/2013 at 20:18

Quote Posted by b1skit

There was no swimmable water in what we've shown, but I've emailed the team to find out and I'll share the info at a later date.

Thank you. I look forward to any response from the developers. Please, let us know if we can swim again.