38 Studios is Working on a Game, Apparently, Afterall (Kingdoms of Amular)

[Rendakor]

After playing a few hours I think it's pretty fun. It's like Skyrim-lite; Skyrim's the better game for sure, but I've beat that and this is new and shiny. The combat is also faster paced, although I hate the QTEs because I am terrible at them.

[ffc]

The QTE is just jamming on one button / key after you kill something in Reckoning mode for an xp bonus right?

[Rendakor]

Yea, it's usually the mouse button or the spacebar.

[fatboy]

After playing a few hours I think it's pretty fun. It's like Skyrim-lite; Skyrim's the better game for sure, but I've beat that and this is new and shiny. The combat is also faster paced, although I hate the QTEs because I am terrible at them.

Exactly what I am finding.  I got it for the 360.  I have been playing Skyrim for what, 3+ months now....so this is a nice time sink until ME3 comes out.

Combat is fun - much better than Skyrim.  It's kind of mix of Dungeon Siege 3 meets Fable.  The worlds do seem shallow as another poster said in his review.  I'm not very far into it - still in the areas you could see in the demo, so I can't comment on the rest of the world.

To the people who said this felt like a single player MMO - I think the original plan was that this *was* going to be an MMO, but they changed their minds at some point.  At least I'm pretty sure I read that.

Bottom line is that I think it's fun and will keep me occupied as a "lighter RPG" for a while.

[Lucas]

Yes, the world is somewhat generic but at least there's a lot of lore, background and info dump; yep, mostly an "illusion of depth" but I wouldn't call the entire thing shallow. While I wait to dwelve deeper into the game (I've only reached the first village), there are some baffling immersion breakers:

- No possibility to walk

- Why can't I just open barrels and crates instead of going on a insane whacking rampage when I want to check their contents? Maybe the newest generation of console and computer players find the possibility of simply opening a crate boring and not heroic enough :P

- No mounts

- awful camera (but maybe we'll get a fix for that, or at least the option to zoom out more)

- Oh, another thing: I remember that, during the development, one of the devs mentioned that you could disable the MMO-like quest markers if you wanted, but it seems to me that they never added that kind of toggle.
- They went for a somewhat "cinematic" approach to dialogues, but when the camera look at your character while talking, he's like a zombie, no expression on his/her face.

[Sky]

Barrel breaking is a peeve of mine.

[rk47]

Not sure if the guy is playing on low details but man, this looks just comically awful. And considering the supposed 'writing talent' they had... Hahahah.

[schild]

Don't blame the writing department for trying to capture the true speaking patterns of the jungle white man.

[schild]

Just kidding, it looks like Age of Conan was baked in an oven with the temperature set to "shit."

[MuffinMan]

- Why can't I just open barrels and crates instead of going on a insane whacking rampage when I want to check their contents? Maybe the newest generation of console and computer players find the possibility of simply opening a crate boring and not heroic enough :P

[Draegan]

I think the original plan was that this *was* going to be an MMO, but they changed their minds at some point.  At least I'm pretty sure I read that.

I believe this was the project Big Huge Games was working on when 38Studios bought them up.  They just took it and made the single player game for their upcoming MMO world.  Their using this to set up their MMO platform.  Expect a shit ton of books from RA to follow soon.

[Sky]

"Amalur him in, yurgunna nukem."

[Malakili]

Day9 Interviews Curt Schilling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYw3rnxd1vU&feature=g-u-u&context=G2239354FUAAAAAAACAA

[Tannhauser]

I don't like that Day9 guy, too jittery.  Really like the Total Biscuit guy, he's able to form coherent sentences.  I know it's a blog, but I wanted the Day9 guy to actually ask some pertinent questions instead of raving how awesome the game is to the game's creator.

Really do hope Amalur does well.  I think they have a good idea there.

[schild]

Day9 is the most optimistic and upbeat person in gaming. I like him existing but he'll never be critical in a meaningful way. The guy just fucking loves games too much.

tl;dr: He's the opposite of me.

[stray]

This game has so many good ideas and nice touches, I'd almost think they developed it by taking polls from experienced rpg veterans.

Even coming off of Skyrim, I'm having fun delving into another RPG. It's gotta lot of things Skyrim doesn't have.. Mostly the "fantasical" element of fantasy. You can tell they took some cues from TES though (considering the lead developer), as well as Bioware and some MMOs. Even the interface is TES like. But the combat is better than anything they offer.

edit: I'm playing a dark elf mage btw. With chakrams. Not sure if it's different for others. I haven't read this thread. Just glancing above, it seems like teh hate is going strong. Hmm.

[Hawkbit]

I haven't read this thread. Just glancing above, it seems like teh hate is going strong. Hmm.

For this one title only, don't bother.  Even published reviews have been all over the place, some at 100s, others at 50s. 

Just enjoy it and don't bother what everyone else thinks.  For me, I'm not going to analyze the game too much.  I'll just play it and have some fun.  It is a rare title that I allow myself to do that with.

[ffc]

Day9 interview with Ken Rolston.  Nothing crazy but still neat to watch.  He doesn't really answer why there's no jumping but I read elsewhere he said something along the lines of jumping only making sense when there is something to jump or traverse.  I didn't feel like jumping was missing in the demo.

EDIT: Might as well round out the interviews.

McFarlane, cool interview about art and animation and a bit of gameplay.

For schild there's Salvatore, at 12:00 there's an explanation of the thought process regarding resurrection in KoA via the Well of Souls.

[stray]

I'll just play it and have some fun.  It is a rare title that I allow myself to do that with.

I know what exactly what you mean.

[Margalis]

The game seems to have so many easily-fixed thing that a sequel has a good chance of being genuinely great.

The no jumping did annoy me. In an action game I feel like you have to be able to jump, even if it serves no real gameplay purpose. Plus, like throw in a dude who has an shockwave attack you can jump over and you have a gameplay purpose. Also I think games with jumping tend to feel more 3-dimensional and dynamic.

[stray]

I can agree with that. The lack of jumping is annoying. It's a goddamn staple, man. Who cares if I don't have to jump or not.

Anyways.. already with "rerolls". I went Light Elf now. They didn't catch my eye at first, but it's a cool looking race. I mean, blue skin and blonde hair. You don't see that often. They get a decent elemental resist bonus, I guess.

[NiX]

I don't like that Day9 guy, too jittery.  Really like the Total Biscuit guy, he's able to form coherent sentences.  I know it's a blog, but I wanted the Day9 guy to actually ask some pertinent questions instead of raving how awesome the game is to the game's creator.

Really do hope Amalur does well.  I think they have a good idea there.

Day9 is a Starcraft Player/Caster, not really an interviewer. Most of his time is spent getting people interested in games.

As for Total Biscuit.. I can't stand him. His voice is annoying and any time he talks I find myself cringing at how corny he is.

[Bzalthek]

The Day9 with Felicia annoyed me (though it took me to the third video to get completely frustrated.)  The guy seemed to have trouble with attention, making me scream "no you jackass, that's the way you came from", "red dot, guy screamed for help, go to the god damn red dot on your map"  and then accompanied by Felicia constantly "Kill the boxes, you have to kill the boxes, there are boxes, oh get the reagent, harvest it, harvest it harvest it harvest it! boxes!  harvest it kill the boxes sparklies sparklies sparklies"    ...

[stray]

Oddly enough, I think McFarlane is kind of the weak link. I hate to say that too, because I generally like his style. It seems like a cool idea at first, but I don't think it fits for a fantasy setting like this. At least the faces, I mean. Humans look too much like Frank Castle.

[tmp]

To the people who said this felt like a single player MMO - I think the original plan was that this *was* going to be an MMO, but they changed their minds at some point.  At least I'm pretty sure I read that.

If i remember right this single player game (as well as some other stuff they have planned) is intended to introduce the IP and pave the way to eventual MMO title. Or something along these lines.

[Bzalthek]

That's the line they pushed.  It's kind of hard to believe it.

[tmp]

Well, i imagine it is indeed easier/cheaper (and so safer) to develop the gameplay, graphics and all in a game that doesn't require robust network system, servers and all the other junk on top of those. This way they get some feedback (and possibly revenue) faster, and if it flops then it'll be with less money invested. So... dunno, it does make some amount of sense to me. Certainly more than just trying to blindly launch yet another "wow killer" and hoping for the best.

Didn't the guys behind Torchlight do pretty much the same thing?

[stray]

If this combat was in an mmo, it'd be a pretty good mmo. It's one of the better action rpgs I've played. I'd rank it better than say, Rogue Galaxy, but not Dark/Demon souls.

Some of the.. way you explore and interact seems mmo-ish, but the game as a whole doesn't seem like they stuck with that idea for long.

edit: Even the main story only makes sense for a single player game (the "Fateless One", etc).

[Venkman]

Getting old, but I though he launched the MMO company, decided to buy Big Huge because they had an RPG system he liked, bolted on the Salvatore story to introduce the IP that'd eventually be an MMO, and shipped it for some kind of cash flow?

[stray]

You guys probably keep up better than me. I wouldn't know. Although I haven't got too far into this game, I will say it's kind of puzzling how this would translate into an MMO. You're basically the "chosen one". Or maybe not that. You're someone who chooses what you want for yourself. The rest of the world is tied down to fate. Unless something comes up where others become like you, it's hard to see an MMO with a bunch of ubermensch characters running around.

Anyways, I'm really surprised more here aren't talking about it. Or comparing it to Fable, of all things. Get a big sword, and a sceptre - and you got an rpg that's closer to DMC or Bayonetta than it is to that.

[MuffinMan]

You guys probably keep up better than me. I wouldn't know. Although I haven't got too far into this game, I will say it's kind of puzzling how this would translate into an MMO. You're basically the "chosen one". Or maybe not that. You're someone who chooses what you want for yourself. The rest of the world is tied down to fate. Unless something comes up where others become like you, it's hard to see an MMO with a bunch of ubermensch characters running around.

I see what you're saying but it's an MMO, there's never an explanation on why there are tons of heroes running around doing the same thing you are with the same stories. Might as well just go all the way and not worry about the entire premise, either.

[Hawkbit]

The IP is massive.  They've said that any future games might be in different time periods, or areas of the world.  Not that developing an IP is the real challenge.  Hell, I've got worlds of stories in my imagination, but lack the writing skills to pour them out.  Plus, the market is saturated with Salvatorian bullshit writing (I'm a fan of his, but I understand the hate, too).  What we need (and what I'm back in school for) is for more people to translate those cool ideas into code.  I mean, it's cool that I have a story in my head, but if I don't know how to communicate it properly through media, then the story is meaningless because it will never be heard.  

And yeah, what Darniaq posted is pretty much true.  Initially it was an MMO he was hyping, but I think they realized that starting an MMO from scratch isn't the best way to go about business - look how many have crashed and burned.  His whole concept was solid - develop an IP, market books/graphic novels, create single player games, and then finally push an already known IP into an online world.  Think about it:  if BW did a Mass Effect MMO, it would sell like hotcakes.  The only real question now is whether Amular can stand on its own as a new IP, and that question has yet to be answered.  

Curt seemed like a pretty okay guy.  Its somewhat unfortunate that he came here to F13 to pimp his shit a few too many times without actually putting out.  Then we devoured him and he never came back.  I think he just misunderstood what the culture here at F13 is.  

[Hawkbit]

You guys probably keep up better than me. I wouldn't know. Although I haven't got too far into this game, I will say it's kind of puzzling how this would translate into an MMO. You're basically the "chosen one". Or maybe not that. You're someone who chooses what you want for yourself. The rest of the world is tied down to fate. Unless something comes up where others become like you, it's hard to see an MMO with a bunch of ubermensch characters running around.

I see what you're saying but it's an MMO, there's never an explanation on why there are tons of heroes running around doing the same thing you are with the same stories. Might as well just go all the way and not worry about the entire premise, either.

I went off the rails in my last post, but my understanding is that the MMO would be less about a "chosen one" and more akin to a normal MMO. 

[rk47]

KOTOR was chosen one. You played Revan and the sequel, the Exile.
Based on the established canon, it's possible for the devs to create a starting point for the MMO world to start with, much like SWTOR did. Although I didn't enjoy the direciton they went into. So many questions unresolved and the Revan arc was plenty bullshit. 

[stray]

The main storyline doesn't just place your character in the position of simply badass "chosen one" like a Revan type. But more like some existential oddity..an exception to the laws of the universe type. They're not even supposed to exist - their very nature is not what the gods even chart out for people. At least one main character says that.

That isn't to say I don't think the IP can't have an MMO. Just that I would think it'd be in some different setting/storyline.