Starker on 5/7/2016 at 19:42
The 451 hint was for the sake of the demo, apparently:
Also:
Quote:
(
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/4pbc01/iama_founder_of_night_dive_studios_stephen_kick/d4jn0sa)
Yes, the remake will follow the original very closely in terms of story and levels. The gameplay will be smoother and more streamlined mostly due to the reworked interface. We've taken what was great about Shock and Shock 2's interface and created a hybrid that fans of the genre will feel very familiar with. All the weapons and enemies will be there, but re-imagined and updated by the original concept artist Robb Waters. We've identified a number of areas in the game that we're going to expand by various degrees - we felt there were great story telling opportunities just waiting to be explored. Veterans of the series will definitely find some surprises this time around...
We're big fans of the difficulty level presented in the first Shock and would like to emulate that as close as possible. If someone wants a greater challenge, the time limit posed by the original is a great source of inspiration. Having the events of the game occurring in real time is not something that's explored in games these days and would be fun to bring back - or if someone wants a more leisurely experience an adventure mode (Difficulty 0) is possible.
Finally, as for the changes to the beginning e-mails:
Twist on 5/7/2016 at 20:00
I don't like how they altered Rebecca Lansing's initial contact to remove her understanding of the hacker's history with Diego, but I just assumed this was because it's a quick demo to give players a brief taste of how the game might look and feel. I doubt they're nailing down some kind deliberate change in the narrative at this point.
I think people are extrapolating way too much from a simple pre-alpha demo. With Chris Avellone helping, I doubt exposition will be pared-down. My guess is he'll be more inclined to err on the side of being too verbose.
Brad Schoonmaker on 5/7/2016 at 22:37
Demo was great. Only problem for me was the inventory screen. Hopefully just a placeholder.
That RPG stretch goal is a little unnerving for me. Can't imagine it fitting into this game.
Something else that struck me as unnecessary was the recasting of the voice actors. The 'Welcome back' message from SHODAN seemed identical to the original so why not just use the original logs as well as the picture of the sender. It seems just like how Garrett was recast for the new Thief game. Just to do it?
heywood on 5/7/2016 at 23:07
They can't really use any of the original log recordings for a character unless they keep all of the original logs for that character.
Starker on 5/7/2016 at 23:20
Because the original logs didn't really have voice acting to begin with? They were basically recorded by LGS employees. Also, the original actress is reprising her role to play SHODAN, so it's hardly like the situation with Thief and Garrett.
Nameless Voice on 6/7/2016 at 00:08
Quote Posted by Brad Schoonmaker
The 'Welcome back' message from SHODAN seemed identical to the original
Nope. It was heavily cut from (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on5C4W5OtlI) the log in the original game.
It's possible that they just did that to make the flow of the demo faster (same as adding the code on the wall.)
Volitions Advocate on 6/7/2016 at 03:35
Re: RPG Elements
Quote Posted by "Kickstarter update"
RPG elements - We understand this is a pretty vague term and has been confusing to backers. The original System Shock was ahead of its time and introduced a lot of new elements to gaming. We want to preserve that innovation and present a game we feel modern gamers will enjoy. Our goal is to have the gameplay somewhere between System Shock 1 and System Shock 2, with sprinkles of BioShock on top (rich melee attacks and ranged weapons, vending machines, upgrades, and damage types). If there's enough of a demand, we'll add a “Classic Mode” to one of the s
icemann on 6/7/2016 at 04:58
Ok well for me I was not a fan of the demo.
What I did not like:
* The music sounds like something out of Dead Space (which does not match the style of the tracks in SS1).
* The gui is practically gone entirely (besides the health and energy meters), which does not fit with the plot of you having a cyber interface in your head.
* Changing the inventory system to System Shock 2's tetris style.
* Speed of the player + enemies, which moves the game in a far more SS2 style survival horror style.
* The naming of the game to just "System Shock" when this is a reboot where big changes to core mechanics are planned.
* Puzzles should be done in the GUI. Having to position yourself carefully infront of it, is just stupid.
What I did like:
* Graphics look nice
* Special effects (ie weapon shots) look good.
* New enemy models look decent.
Things that concern me, going off Night Dive's comments on the Kickstarter and from interviews:
* They have stated that they want to move SS1's gameplay to more of a mix between System Shock 2 and Bioshock. I am VERY much against this as SS1 has it's own unique gameplay style compared to the sequel and wont benefit from this change.
* Numerous comments have been made that SS1's interface is antiquated and should be moved "to a modern look".
* Adding (if the stretch goal is met) RPG elements, vendor machines and crafting. This would be terrible if added, as it would result in a game called "System Shock" that does not feel like System Shock. I hope this stretch goal ($1.3 million) is not met.
* Stream lining of plot elements. If your not happy with the plot, make your own game entirely. As in, have this be a spinoff game.
I feel that the planned direction for this game will result in something very different in style and gameplay to "System Shock" and so is undeserving of the name if it's not with added word(s) at the end.
SDF121 on 6/7/2016 at 10:26
As someone who never played System Shock and System Shock 2 until 2010 (with me favoring the original as opposed to the sequel) I loved the demo. I know there are people having a fit over the unfiltered textures but I find it charming and feel as if it gives the game its own unique look. If this slice of gameplay is indicative of Night Dive Studios plan for System Shock then I'm all for it. It will definitely be interesting to see how they handle cyberspace. I feel like this situation of various fans decrying this alpha is similar to that faced by id when they rebooted Doom which turned out to be an excellent game despite everyone's fears. I just hope Night Dive Studios doesn't compromise their vision for the game lest we end up with a game designed by committee which will only result in something mediocre. With regard to adding RPG elements I think its best to withhold judgement until further information is provided. While I'm not completely on board with adding RPG elements to this reboot I'm not opposed to them either as it remains to be seen how Night Dive Studios intends to include them. On another note, I actually like how Night Dive Studios is doubling down on the horror aspect of System Shock with the orchestral music coupled with the lighting and sound effects.
Vivian on 7/7/2016 at 11:38
Well, it's very obviously at a very early stage of development, so there's probably not too much point in criticising specifics of the GUI or animations just yet. I thought they nailed the atmosphere (or should I say AtmosFEAR, yeah?) really really well. The music worked nicely, the way you moved felt properly weighty, and the ambience was spot on - heavy mechanical hums, weird creaking, odd, muffled noises. It had what I would pretentiously call the right texture.
Not to start the whole bioshock argument again, but for me personally, the part of my inner kid that's been sulking in some back-brain storage room every since bioshock wasn't what I wanted to be, he's now getting excited. System shock is coming back. I have never played the first one into the ground the way I did with SS2, there's a lot of only half-remembered details about it, and stuff I've just plain forgot, so I get to go in reasonably fresh as well. AND THEY ARE MAKING SYSTEM SHOCK 3. and they seem to be the right 'they' this time. I'm really trying not to get over-excited.
