EM Teaser & Site Updates - Official Trailer Up & Latest PREVIEWS & Blog Fan Kit

Renzatic on 7/4/2013 at 18:00

jtr, as much as you might claim otherwise, you're emotionally invested in the series, you don't think you're going to like this new game, and you tend to exaggerate any potentially negative news to the utmost extreme, sometimes going so far as to take things entirely out of context or reinterpreting phrases to prove it to yourself.

I think the cool kids call it confirmation bias.

Like at least 3/4ths of that Sneakybastard interview were the developers practically sounded like a love letter to oldschool Thief fans. There's very, very little bad news contained with it. Yet somehow you came away from that article with the impression that...for some reason...just don't like that one guy.

Beleg Cúthalion on 8/4/2013 at 08:29

Quote Posted by sterlino

nice, if you have a translation... -_- :rolleyes:

Erm, to make it short: They criticise the PR policy of making journalists watch a linear video of a game which is supposed to have non-linearity. Concerning the game itself, while looking good and everything, the Thief fan of the two felt that the feeling of familiarity was lacking. Garrett's comments were some sort of idiot's tutorial with all too obvious content, but probably due to the mission being the first. Graphics are great but the cloak is constantly covering parts of the game (however, it will be re-worked). A major drawback seems to be a largely action-stealth-oriented gameplay where visibility is the only measurement of detection on side of AIs, sound seems to play no role, at least there was an example of Garrett jumping from the ceiling and landing right next to an AI without that it noticed it. In general, even though this will still be worked on, too, stealth mechanics didn't work too well with real world logic as they did in the first titles. What you would naturally do to hide or be stealthy didn't work if you didn't "hit" the game mechanics or vice versa. But this is again something where EM probably showed a very early stage. Strange PR method, but probably not too bad a sign for the actual game.

sterlino on 8/4/2013 at 08:33

Quote Posted by Beleg Cúthalion

thank u very much, very very interesting..

jtr7 on 8/4/2013 at 08:50

And since that confirms what statue said for taffers over at Eidos, here's how he put it:

Quote Posted by Statue

Basic informations distilled:

- the Thief presentation mission was fairly weak, they called it "like on rails". In the video shown to them (no live play) the person playing seemed to know exactly where to go and what to do, what made the game much faster than Thief1/2.

- Garret talking to himself seems to be their kind of "tutorial", but poorly done. He is stating the obvious too much, like: "hm, my target is in that house, I should find a way to get inside...I should climb up that wall"

- the graphics look great, but at the corners of the screen is a permanent "black mist" constantly wafting, which indicates whether you are hidden or not. So you like never have a clear picture, which looks "blood-curdling" to the journalist, because your eyes are constantly distracted by the moving fog. --> PR guy admitted that they plan to change that

- critical on the focus mode, sneaking is way too easy, quick time events ("hitting a guard in the nuts to escape" --> defs call it "escape feature" --> running away seems to be a big part of the game

- sounds are not an issue anymore ("sounds have no influence anymore") --> garret jumps from a cupboard right next to a guard, but the guard did not react/hear it --> no logic in the gameplay --> sneaking around in bright candlelight, making noise, but no reaction from the guards.

- they are trying out a lot of things recently, it’s a quite early presentation

- he was overall disappointed to not see live gameplay but a pre-recorded video

Keep in mind that this is a german review, we are quite the sceptical, pessimistic people. :)

Hmmm. I'm about half-German, so maybe I can't frikkin' help it, eh? No excuses, though.

Cerebration on 8/4/2013 at 08:50

Considering it's slated for a 2014 I'm not surprised they don't have a fully functioning, free-form press demo available right now. Still lots of work to do.

Also, when trying to make sense of all the information coming out, maybe it's worth remembering the very first quote from TDP:

The essence of balance is detachment. To embrace a cause, to grow fond or spiteful, is to lose one's balance, after which, no action can be trusted. Our burden is not for the dependent of spirit.

thiefessa on 8/4/2013 at 08:56

Quote Posted by Cerebration

Also, when trying to make sense of all the information coming out, maybe it's worth remembering the very first quote from TDP:
The essence of balance is detachment. To embrace a cause, to grow fond or spiteful, is to lose one's balance, after which, no action can be trusted. Our burden is not for the dependent of spirit.

:thumb:

I'm chilled. Just waiting for EM to release gameplay footage which, according to the CM last post, should be anytime now. :cool:

jtr7 on 8/4/2013 at 08:58

I find it really odd that sound at this stage is so under-developed. Loud/soft and light/shadow are fundamentals of Thief stealth. Sound propagation is huge and processor intensive, so I guess they stayed away from going that route for eye-candy on top of eye-candy and three-tiers of HUD feedback instead of one simple thing.

I am invested, and detachment serves the money-makers in this case. They are counting on detached brains. Prove detachment by not hanging around the Thief 4 forum, or just be honest, eh? Running from the truth is not positive, constructive, and also not even self-serving.

sterlino on 8/4/2013 at 09:03

At this point i don't expect to see a gameplay video anymore. (but i hope to wrong and i wish badly to see some s@*/% asap).
Probably they will fix some of those ''details'' to show the gameplay at the next E3... or at least is what i would do (walking in their shoes).

peace.

Beleg Cúthalion on 8/4/2013 at 10:24

It might seem a bit contradictory if one doesn't pay attention to their criticism of presenting not-yet-fleshed-out game mechanics to the public instead of criticising the game mechanics themselves which are still worked on, so I hope this video gives a much better impression: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=exR_qF0Jsh0#)

Am I the only one finding the lead level designer a bit more sympathetic than the others?

Judith on 8/4/2013 at 11:42

Quote Posted by Beleg Cúthalion

At least he seems a bit more relaxed than the others. Actually I find one thing amusing: people who are being criticised for their zealotry and narrow-mindedness here become even more stubborn in their efforts, as they feel attacked and their sense of purpose is stronger — the same psychological effect works for the devs :) I think in the beginning Stephane tried to be more diplomatic while discussing Thief, but after tons of bile and ridiculous backlash over the tiniest things, he states his views in a stronger manner. The game is to be respectful of the past, but it's their own vision and link to the future — cool :) I don't know whether I'll agree with the choices they'll make, but I respect the attitude.