Dark Souls 2

[Yegolev]

I challenge you to identify a discernible reason today.

[schild]

CHALLENGE NOT ACCEPTED

[Yegolev]

I might guess that there are four, depending on taste (or lack of).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Wii_U-only_games

[Falconeer]

SMT could easily make me stupid enough.

[Falconeer]

If you like me are obsessed, here's 11 minutes of informed speculations about why Project Beast is very likely going to be Demon's Souls 2 (and the differences between the Demon's Souls and Dark Souls IPs, for those who aren't Schild).

[schild]

I never got into Dark Souls. I know why now. I'd never looked at the credits, but the lead game designer wasn't on dark souls 1 or 2? Huh. Didn't know that. Surprised the guy in the video didn't point that out (rather, he pointed out the head / planner).

[Falconeer]

I did a bit of research myself since I really wanted to know who came up with the lore for Demon's Souls, and then Dark Souls, and all the characters and item descriptions, but couldn't find anything. I probably would have had more luck if I knew Japanese, and for lack of any better information I guess we have to assume Director Hidetaka Miyazaki did. Regardless, as far as I know he's the director and designer of both Demon's Souls and Dark Souls 1, but he didn't work on Dark Souls 2. It's not that I can't read credits sheets when they are translated, but I have to admit some of the roles (planner/director/designer/lead designer/producer) are confusing.

[schild]

Lead Planner is generally The Man in Japanese studios. Sometimes it's the director. End of the day though, the majority of the work is being done by the other leads. The lack of crossover between Demon's and Dark is pretty telling.

Either way, Project Beast is stunning looking. From's fantasy art style is basically the best since Yoshitaka Amano's early concept art for Final Fantasy. I'm unsure as to why the guy who made that video didn't say the most telling thing about it is that its a PS4 exclusive. Chances are, internally at Sony, the guy from NeoGAF sees that it's called Project Beast, hence his hints. But he wouldn't know more than that unless it was already getting localized - which it may very well be.

Edit: The ONLY reason a From game would be a PS4 exclusive in 2014 is if it's Demon's Souls. Period. There's no other reason to do that at all.

[Lakov_Sanite]

Also this video should kill the controller V kbm debate once and for all. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl35QCbMi-c&feature=share

[Yegolev]

More like Camped You With A Wheel.

[Pennilenko]

Not sure if it makes a difference for people who are on the fence, but there is a 25% off coupon on green man gaming that can be applied to this. Just got it for like 32 bucks.

[jakonovski]

Project Beast, it moves!
http://a.pomf.se/pfqpvs.webm
http://a.pomf.se/akfinw.webm
http://a.pomf.se/zoyrmx.webm
http://a.pomf.se/djsxfc.webm

All together: http://a.pomf.se/jvcape.webm

[Falconeer]

Freeze me now and wake me up when it launches. My life will be so empty until that day.



EDIT: One rumour/speculation says it could be a sequel to Shadow Tower, which I am sure Schld played and finished and can tell us more about.

EDIT 2: Insane frame by frame video analysis of the leaks.

[RUiN 427]

I'm asking because I don't know the answer to this.

Once a developer goes multi platform, do they ever come back to exclusives?

[Margalis]

I'm asking because I don't know the answer to this.

Once a developer goes multi platform, do they ever come back to exclusives?

Yes.

Insomniac made FUSE multi, now Sunset Overdrive is XB1 only. There are also plenty of companies with a healthy mix of mutli and exclusive titles - Platinum made Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 2 for Nintendo and is rumored to be working on an exclusive XB1 game, but they also make stuff like Metal Gear Rising for everything. Epic made Gears for 360 while releasing UT for both 360 and PS3.

Making something exclusive generally makes it more high-profile and desirable, but also limits the customer pool. For some massive thing like Call of Duty that doesn't make sense - COD doesn't need the bump in interest exclusivity provides and being exclusive would limit sales potential drastically. But for something less well-known the bump can be worth it. And in some cases a game is exclusive because the hardware manufacturer is paying for development or is putting their own money into marketing.

The same is true for cross-gen games vs only next-gen. For the biggest titles being cross-gen makes sense, but for the next tier of titles being next-gen only makes them much more appealing and can bump sales even with a much lower hardware install base.

[RUiN 427]

Oh, that makes perfect sense.

What about a series or several franchises that are as close as Demon Souls, Dark Souls, and possibly Shadow Tower?

I'm not anti-PS4 or anti-Exclusives, I just would prefer to keep it to PC and one console in my home. All signs point to exclusive and it's harshing my mellow. Desperate for someone to tell me it will all be ok.

[schild]

Project Beast, it moves!
http://a.pomf.se/pfqpvs.webm
http://a.pomf.se/akfinw.webm
http://a.pomf.se/zoyrmx.webm
http://a.pomf.se/djsxfc.webm

All together: http://a.pomf.se/jvcape.webm

Holy fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

Could be Shadow Tower, but if its a ps4 exclusive we have to assume its in the souls series.

Shadow Tower, much like Froms early stuff, was just another game that contributed DNA to what became Demons Souls. It was not a notable game.

[Margalis]

What about a series or several franchises that are as close as Demon Souls, Dark Souls, and possibly Shadow Tower?

Yeah that's a little weird. Bayonetta 2 is only for Wii U and Bayo 1 was for both 360 and PS3. The last couple Fatal Frame games are also Nintendo-only, even though previously there were for PS2 and XBbox. A series becoming exclusive is a little strange - in the Bayo case Nintendo is paying for development, I'm not sure about Fatal Frame but there is probably either direct money or some significant co-marketing.

It would be strange for a Souls spinoff to be only for PS4. (If the rumors are true) In that case I have to assume that either Sony is paying for it, Sony is going to heavily market and promote it, that there was an issue with getting XB1 development hardware and translated docs, or something to that effect.

There are some games that come to PC and one console but not the others (Titanfall being the most recent big example), so maybe it will end up being PS4/PC.

[schild]

This game is very clearly being coproduced by SCEI. As such its either demons souls spinoff or a different ps1 exclusive game.

[Margalis]

The Souls series is already sort of weird, with Dark Souls 2 being a direct sequel to Dark Souls and Dark Souls having the "Souls" part of Demon's Souls. Apparently Sony still owns the Demon's Souls IP. Curious how this will be positioned - as an entirely new title, a spinoff or what.

Personally I've always liked it when games aren't connected in a traditional way but share some elements, a sort of house style. Like how Soul Blazer has some of the sound effects from Act Raiser and a similar high-level plot, or how old Climax games (Shining Force, Shining in the Darkness, etc) had the same UI.

I don't own a PS4 or an XB1 and I wouldn't get both, so if this is a PS4 exclusive it makes that decision a lot easier. Worst case scenario for me is that this is a PS4 exclusive and that Platinum is making an XB1 exclusive that isn't a shooter.

[Falconeer]

Incoming DLCs.

The Crown of the Sunken King - July 22, 2014
The Crown of the Old Iron King - August 26, 2014
The Crown of the Ivory King - September 24, 2014

Trailer.

[RUiN 427]

New IP… Bloodbourne

[schild]

Check the E3 thread where no one talked about it because the trailer was worse than the gifs that have been going around.

[Yegolev]

Incoming DLCs.

The Crown of the Sunken King - July 22, 2014
The Crown of the Old Iron King - August 26, 2014
The Crown of the Ivory King - September 24, 2014

Trailer.

Somehow I'm very MEH on this.  Probably because I'm very MEH on DS2.

[Nightblade]

Incoming DLCs.

The Crown of the Sunken King - July 22, 2014
The Crown of the Old Iron King - August 26, 2014
The Crown of the Ivory King - September 24, 2014

Trailer.

Somehow I'm very MEH on this.  Probably because I'm very MEH on DS2.

I agree with you on DS2, but think of this game as the Dark Souls 1's true successor.

Yoshimura reveals that this first DLC chapter will take place in an area called The Poisoned Winds, and will feature two potential paths one with the expected level of Dark Souls 2 difficulty, and another more challenging route, designed to be tackled with a summoned soul at your side...

"Designed to be tackled with a summoned soul" as in; dump a shitload of strong enemies with infinite stamina into a tiny room and call it a day.

[Yegolev]

It's been a long day here, but are you saying this DLC for DS2 is a true successor to DS1?

[Falconeer]

There's nothing wrong with Dark Souls 2. It is 100% the "true successor" of Dark Souls 1.

You know what it's not though? Demon's Souls.

[Yegolev]

I don't know what's going on here.

[schild]

Dark Souls has been and will always be From's B-Team trying to recapture the bottled lightning that Demon's Souls was.

Ain't happening. The design isn't tight enough and the open-esque world fails on every level in that system.

[Nightblade]

It's been a long day here, but are you saying this DLC for DS2 is a true successor to DS1?

AND for some reason I thought you were talking about bloodborn. I had a longer day it looks like.

[Falconeer]

Bloodborne's first impressions (no pictures).

More attack, less shield. Mmmhnm.
Firearms short ranged, more crowd control than anything.

[jakonovski]

No shield always seemed to be the advanced way to play Souls games, so I'm intrigued.

[schild]

I never beat Demon's Souls using a shield.

[jakonovski]

I always hide behind a shield as big as possible, like a little bitch. Then I poke with a stick.

[Lounge]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTBFUnm1hYU

I think this is a new leak?