Warren Spector joining Otherside to lead System Shock 3 development... - by terrannova
Vae on 23/2/2016 at 01:09
^ Exactly true.
OtherSide will have to make a saving throw vs. Spector
Renault on 23/2/2016 at 15:47
Some more quotes from Warren. He definitely can talk the talk:
Quote:
In the mainstream space I really haven't seen a whole lot of progress. It seems like we're getting more finely-tuned, prettier versions of games we've been playing for years.
Thank god for the indie space; there are people trying interesting things there. I see a variety of places where we could make some strides that would help take games to the next level.
The biggest one, for me, is more robust characters and character AI. We've gotten very good at combat AI - we've made great strides there - but I don't think we've done much in the world of non-combat AI and interacting with people - human or otherwise. We haven't done a lot with conversation, and establishing emotional relationships with characters in games. So I'd very much like to play with that.
Also, while I've seen some efforts, especially from the guys at Arkane, to sort of extend the design philosophy of Origin and Looking Glass - that whole ‘immersive simulation' and its philosophy of empowering players to tell their own stories. I'd like to go further with that.
Quote:
Paul Neurath, who founded OtherSide, has been very generous, and so I'll be buliding a studio in Austin. I'm trying to find people who get the concept of what I call "playstyle matters," where what you do actually creates a unique experience for every player. So I'll be looking for people who get that, and building a team in Austin, starting this summer.
Quote:
So I've done the big-budget, huge team thing, and at this point what I'd like to do is smaller, lower-budget, almost like "games as a service" model games that require somewhere between 10-20 people to make. I don't want to get much bigger than that.
I think we can work with external partners to create a virtual, larger team that will allow us to compete with the larger teams and the larger budgets without actually having to build that. I don't want to get so far away from the game that I have to spend all my time running an enormous studio and dealing with publishers. I want to be in the thick of it, so smaller teams is part of the deal.
BEAR on 23/2/2016 at 19:14
I'll say I'm super excited just at the chance to get something really new and different.
I feel like many of the lessons from SS, SS2 were taken to heart in the industry (or at least segments of it) to the point where we're seeing a lot of the same things recycled over and over again (with increasing polish) so I'll be interested to see what boundaries (if any) they can push. Bioshock already did the SS2 clone thing so we don't need more of that. Even though a very familiar upgraded SS2 style game with a new story would be cool, but I hope they try to push it and it sounds like that is the goal.
One area I think would be ripe for innovation would be some high-level AI competing against you the entire game (call it, I dunno, SHODAN?) that could attempt to adapt to your playstyle and take advantage of your weaknesses. It would be hard to do for sure in a real game and not some kind of tech demo, but I can't think of anyone that has really done that and it could provide the kind of non-linear playstyle-dependent experience they are hoping for. I had hoped for something more like that from L4D, even though I loved both of them.
heywood on 23/2/2016 at 23:41
I'm just not sure I want something really new and different done with one of my favorite franchises.
For example, he said "We haven't done a lot with conversation, and establishing emotional relationships with characters in games. So I'd very much like to play with that." I don't see how that fits in a System Shock game.
Hopefully it's a successor in more than name only.
Pyrian on 23/2/2016 at 23:56
Fans of the System Shock series want something familiar, but neither game was familiar when it was created and their designers have little interest in rehashing - and would never have made them in the first place, if they did. Perhaps it would be better if Spector (and Levine for that matter) stayed out. Go make new things, for better or for worse, and let the fans rehash.
froghawk on 24/2/2016 at 04:11
This excites me. A rehash doesn't sound interesting. My biggest gripe with Human revolution (aside from boss battles / ending) was the lack of innovation.
El_ on 28/2/2016 at 02:07
Quote Posted by BEAR
I'll say I'm super excited just at the
chance to get something really new and different.
I feel like many of the lessons from SS, SS2 were taken to heart in the industry (or at least segments of it) to the point where we're seeing a lot of the same things recycled over and over again (with increasing polish) so I'll be interested to see what boundaries (if any) they can push. Bioshock already did the SS2 clone thing so we don't need more of that. Even though a very familiar upgraded SS2 style game with a new story would be cool, but I hope they try to push it and it sounds like that is the goal.
One area I think would be ripe for innovation would be some high-level AI competing against you the entire game (call it, I dunno, SHODAN?) that could attempt to adapt to your playstyle and take advantage of your weaknesses. It would be hard to do for sure in a real game and not some kind of tech demo, but I can't think of anyone that has really done that and it could provide the kind of non-linear playstyle-dependent experience they are hoping for. I had hoped for something more like that from L4D, even though I loved both of them.
A good example of an AI adapting to player strategies in a first person game is seen in Alien: Isolation. On hard difficulty, the Xenomorph would notice if the player had a favorite type of hiding place and check those more often. Perhaps we could see some version of that here. To be honest, I wish Otherside could just buy the assets and engine from A:I (and modify them) to use the savings on making a massive, well-rounded game. If they can recreate the tense atmosphere and polished gameplay of A:I, SS3 could be a major hit. But maybe not a major commercial hit, as apparently A:I didn't sell well enough to warrant a sequel...
Glottis on 3/3/2016 at 04:20
Very much looking forward to this! If they ask for,or do a kick starter,I would happily donate.
El_ on 6/3/2016 at 20:52
I don't understand your argument because you linked to it without giving any context. Are you saying that hide and seek was a bad or good gameplay mechanic in A:I? The argument you linked to lists everything that A:I does right, but you still somehow seem to talk about it in a negative tone. For that matter, I do not automatically associate your unknown "game dev" friend with credible authority on the matter (I look at the argument itself, not who is giving by proxy - a no name who makes browser rpgs :joke:), and furthermore, I don't automatically assume that you share his viewpoints. You have to tell us your position if you want anyone to understand it. Regardless of if you think the gameplay mechanics of A:I were bad (even though I would disagree), I wasn't suggesting that SS3 involve one persistent, invincible enemy, just draw on A:I as an example of good atmosphere and intelligent game design.
