Gaming World Forums
General Category => Entertainment and Media => Topic started by: Marcus on September 21, 2008, 08:04:10 pm
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I'm surprised you guys aren't talking about it. CD Projekt just released the "enhanced edition" which is basically a special edition containing the OST, the short story the game is based on, full color map, revised manual, and a bunch of fixes to the main game like reduced load times and revised script.
(http://gamingw.net/pubaccess/26699/thewitcher1.jpg)
(it wouldn't be a pc rpg without running through massive fields)
For those that don't know The Witcher was an RPG quietly released last year that got lost in the hectic Fall season. The best part about the game is its "time-delay" plot which changes based on the choices you make after you make them. In most RPGs, choices you make take an immediate effect and have little to no impact afterwards. In The Witcher, the result of your choices won't even be apparent until later in the game adding replay value and reducing save-reload syndrome. The game's plot is really well written (Bioware/early Black Isle quality) and the world itself doesn't fall under the high fantasy tropes that the Lord of the Rings films beat to death.
(http://gamingw.net/pubaccess/26699/thewitcher2.jpg)
(you can either fight battles from a "traditional" overhead perspective...)
(http://gamingw.net/pubaccess/26699/thewitcher3.jpg)
(or an over-the-shoulder perspective where you use the WASD keys to move)
For 40$ you get a high quality product and great packaging that pretty much beats out all the other overpriced vidya that came out this year. I have to say this is RPG of the year IMO (not like there's any other competitors).
(http://gamingw.net/pubaccess/26699/thewitcher4.jpg)
(i love the game's art style and it has a rather unsaturated palette without resorting to BROWN GRAY TAN textures on every object)
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You forgot to mention that you can shag the female NPCs and win cards for doing so.
Marcus you are the weakest link, goodbye.
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umm the witcher was by no means quietly released. around it's launch almost every low-brow game news website had a witcher skin, fuck I think even Eurogamer was pumping out anticipation(and eurogamer is one of the tops... just not near edgeonline of course)... leading to it's eventual mediocre review. Dude I havve seriously heard NOTHING interesting about this game. Like all the women are just whores and shit.
It looks pretty and all but... come on..
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Yeah, it's funny how they can release a game, then finish programming it and release it again.
That's all~
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I don't know what websites you frequented but I heard absolutely nothing coming from the game and the only indication I heard of the game even existing was a small preview based on the fact that it used the Aurora engine from NWN.
The game basically tosses out all the annoying stupid things from pc rpgs and flips them on the head. I love being able to switch cameras and control styles and the game is exceptionally well balanced with an intuitive alchemy system that rewards experimentation.
Yeah, it's funny how they can release a game, then finish programming it and release it again.
If you own a registered copy you can download the enhanced edition for free. It's not like Konami releasing Metal Gear Solid: You-Should-Have-Waited-A-Year-To-Get-The-Better-Version-At-The-Same-Price or Pokemon: Precious-Stone-Version-Combining-The-Last-Two-Versions-You-Bought-Last-Year-But-Must-Purchase-Again-Because-We-Have-Our-Hands-In-Your-Pocketbook.
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This was the talk in the WAR forum board I frequented because a dwarf lover in particular was going all up in arms (not the I hate it kind of way) about it because he lives in the country The Witcher was made in, so he had a heads up about it of sorts.
The combat and inventory system made me cringe but all in all I enjoyed it. I want to play the sequence of how he dies by a mere peasent.
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I'm sure this game was more popular in Europe given that's where the series took off in but as an American I can say I didn't even know what The Witcher was until the game was announced (and we're talking about a property that had a major film, tv series, comic books, and table top rules).
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I bought this in january I think and it was pretty but very unoriginal and boring
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Thats cause of the style, which is like Marrowind except more linear and with better voice acting. If you don't like one i'll doubt you'll like the other. Plus it helps if you read the book to enjoy the story.
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I tried it out when it first came out and was turne doff by the bugs, and cheesy voice acting/dialogue (and bad performance problems). I might try this version now since they fixed a lot of that!
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I do think the game looks cool even though I'd never play it
But seriously PC doesn't just seem like a different version of console, it seems like all games for PC are the same 3 games sometimes, except HEY LOOK A PRETTIER TREE. This still has that same look but it seems like somebody actually, I dunno, made concept art that was nice-looking in the first place and screwed around with color palettes unlike 99% of PC games that are like colors are so queer back to making models of massive gray dudes with guns
This is also the kind of shit that looks like it would look just as nice if they took some polygons out and I don't even know if it has BUMP MAPPING or PIXELSHADERS or anything I just know that it fucking looks good
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I gotta admit when it first came out I got swayed by mediocre reviews and I didn't buy it, but in hindsight I should have taken a better look at it. It looks pretty cool and I'm liking the colour palette. I might buy it next payday.
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I bought this and I thought it was okay but I couldn't stick with it. The core gameplay was really awkward I thought and while the writing was reasonably good I really didn't like having to *play* the game (combat system, inventory, etc).
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Zero Punctuation: The Witcher First Impression (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/22-The-Witcher)
Yeah... I'll pass.
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if you just listen to everything a fast talking brit says your gonna End up in Trouble ~george bush.
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You actually take his advice on games? ive only ever listened to what he had to say for entertainment purposes as he pretty much hates on everything.
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Yahtzee hates almost every video game ever made, welp better give up gaming.
and i thought The Witcher was that first person game where you have this black stuff around you that kills people and you were living in like the 1940's.
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No he doesn't, he just enjoys ripping games apart for humors sake (he also gets paid to be really really negative). If you actually listen you'll find out out soon enough that he does point out good points and bad points but it's 2 thirds a bunch of jokes. But he has stated, and you should take this seriously, that he hates RPGs in general.
I'd also like to point out that it's good to have atleast one critique out there put the hate on everything this way you'll no why it's bad AND why it's good.
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I'd also like to point out that it's good to have atleast one critique out there put the hate on everything this way you'll no why it's bad AND why it's good.
Speaking of which, I really miss "Your webcomic is bad and you should feel bad for it." They haven't updated in like 6 fucking months.
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When Yahtzee likes a game it tends to be a really good game though. (Read: Portal)
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and i thought The Witcher was that first person game where you have this black stuff around you that kills people and you were living in like the 1940's.
That was The Darkness (I know this because that Yahtzee review featured the phrase 'fan-dabby-babulous').
Shamus Young on the atrocious unenhanced version. (http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?tag=witcher)
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Did they fix the combat? Is it still clicking your mouse in time with attacks, and a bunch of stances that do no damage unless you pick the right one?
I really liked the visuals, but goddamn, even summoner on the PS2 had a better combat system than that.
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Funnily enough, this topic inspired me to buy The Witcher off of Steam.
It's pretty decent so far. It's not amazing by any stretch, but yeah.. It's definitely a decent RPG. I'd say, at the VERY least, it is average.
I got to the point where you heal Triss and then everyone leaves.. whatever that witcher fortress was called. I saved and quit just before I had to fight what looked like a pack of hellhounds.
If I were a professional reviewer (which I obviously am not), I would give this a 7/10 so far. It's interesting.. The graphics are pretty and the voice acting isn't bad at all (especially the old witcher), and Geralt seems like a pretty cool protagonist... But I am worried about the gameplay possibly growing stale later on, especially with the "rock, paper, scissors" combat system which is really lame.
So overall, so far, the game is very well made and is very cool. The only thing I don't like so far is the combat system which seems very poorly executed.
I'll play more tonight after work, definitely. It's a cool game.
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haha, unfortunately the game loses a lot of it's coolness every "level", so yeah basing your likes of the game off the first part isn't that good an idea :(
that said it isnt a BAD game, even later on. its just repetetive.
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so the esa mailed my internet service provider about how i downloaded a torrent tracker to the game (not the game itself but the TRACKER) and they threatened to sue me or something. my service provider sent a mail to me saying i had to sign an "apology" or something stating that i deleted the game off my harddrive.
i shredded the letter and i'm contemplating calling the esa's customer service and telling them how much they're huge fucktards for threatening me with a lawsuit based on absolutely no substantial evidence. my copy of this game is even REGISTERED under the same ip they flagged. Hell, there are laws in the state of washington regarding "internet harassment" and mailing my internet company and threatening them with action in order to shut down my service probably qualifies as harassment.
just a warning to you guys; if you use bittorrent then be careful about where you get your trackers because the esa is apparently monitoring the more popular ones or something (i downloaded the tracker from the pirate bay). if they try to get your service provider to shut you down, call customer service (your service provider) and tell them they have absolutely no grounds to do so. god damn i fucking hate all of this anti-piracy scare tactics.
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Stick it to the man, Marcus!
EDIT: I meant that!
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so the esa mailed my internet service provider about how i downloaded a torrent tracker to the game (not the game itself but the TRACKER) and they threatened to sue me or something. my service provider sent a mail to me saying i had to sign an "apology" or something stating that i deleted the game off my harddrive.
i shredded the letter and i'm contemplating calling the esa's customer service and telling them how much they're huge fucktards for threatening me with a lawsuit based on absolutely no substantial evidence. my copy of this game is even REGISTERED under the same ip they flagged. Hell, there are laws in the state of washington regarding "internet harassment" and mailing my internet company and threatening them with action in order to shut down my service probably qualifies as harassment.
just a warning to you guys; if you use bittorrent then be careful about where you get your trackers because the esa is apparently monitoring the more popular ones or something (i downloaded the tracker from the pirate bay). if they try to get your service provider to shut you down, call customer service (your service provider) and tell them they have absolutely no grounds to do so. god damn i fucking hate all of this anti-piracy scare tactics.
the esa is a pretty big group of people with most of the big companies supporting it, that exists in washington. they are pretty harmless. send an apology, or give them proof you actually own the game (though if your copy of the game is registered to the ip they flagged why are you downloading it? just wondering?), but don't try to do anything stupid because they know laws etc enough to know HOW NOT TO BE CONSIDERED HARASSING obviously (they are a big company ok, they don't really do stupid stuff because doing stupid stuff makes you lose money.) and while they are harmless in so far as HEY SEND APOLOGY OK (seriously. this is pretty much all they do), you don't really want to mess with them because they can fuck people up too. they owned a lot of rom sites which were refusing to bring down a lot of ESA protected games (mostly because they also went lol send an apology), and they are big on anti-piracy even to the point of protecting roms of games made like 15 years ago that don't make profit.
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the esa is a pretty big group of people with most of the big companies supporting it, that exists in washington. they are pretty harmless. send an apology, or give them proof you actually own the game (though if your copy of the game is registered to the ip they flagged why are you downloading it? just wondering?), but don't try to do anything stupid because they know laws etc enough to know HOW NOT TO BE CONSIDERED HARASSING obviously (they are a big company ok, they don't really do stupid stuff because doing stupid stuff makes you lose money.) and while they are harmless in so far as HEY SEND APOLOGY OK (seriously. this is pretty much all they do), you don't really want to mess with them because they can fuck people up too. they owned a lot of rom sites which were refusing to bring down a lot of ESA protected games (mostly because they also went lol send an apology), and they are big on anti-piracy even to the point of protecting roms of games made like 15 years ago that don't make profit.
I still take it as a threat and I'm not one that likes to get pushed around. Sega used to do this with Sonic the Hedgehog fan fictions (I think this topic in question was posted on GW at one point). When Jack Thompson was ragging on the Penny Arcade guys he CALLED THEM and told them how stupid they were and when they called back he brought up some random telephone harassment law and said he'd sue.
There is a particular article on counterfeiting that governs peer 2 peer or torrents but there's no way they can prove that you even owned the item on your hard drive. The letter was dated 25th of august and I just received it in the mail; my service provider didn't disable my account or even contact me about it. These guys are just blowing hot air.
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So wait a minute... you mean the time to have taken action has long passed? You should laugh now, cause that is pretty funny. I'd also like to point out that the laws are open to interpretation, and who knows more isn't how big companies beat the little guys you see they have money and can waste your time and your money before the day in court.
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just a warning to you guys; if you use bittorrent then be careful about where you get your trackers because the esa is apparently monitoring the more popular ones or something (i downloaded the tracker from the pirate bay). if they try to get your service provider to shut you down, call customer service (your service provider) and tell them they have absolutely no grounds to do so. god damn i fucking hate all of this anti-piracy scare tactics.
just wondering
do these guys harass people outside of USA and if they do what about scandinavia?
im pretty sure there's not a damn thing they could do if i was to torrent the game
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the esa is a pretty big group of people with most of the big companies supporting it, that exists in washington. they are pretty harmless.
I don't know, man. They might tie you to a rocket (http://www.esa.int/) and send you to Pluto.
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just wondering
do these guys harass people outside of USA and if they do what about scandinavia?
im pretty sure there's not a damn thing they could do if i was to torrent the game
they're a us group.
they can only do stuff within us law.
you're pretty safe especially if you're in one of those Euro countries that don't give two shits about pirating and have no laws what-so-ever against it.
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That sucks man, but it won't amount to anything so there shouldn't be anything to worry about.
Just make a big deal about how ridiculous they are or something over the media.
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So I played for another hour or so last night. Man, this game has so many unlikeable characters.. I don't mean that they're poorly executed or anything, they're just LOUSY PEOPLE. The entire mood so far is just so gloomy.
Also Geralt must be on anti-depressants or something.
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wait marcus, you didn't answer why you had the tracker to begin with.
I mean sounds like you're in the legal right but why'd you get it?
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they're a us group.
they can only do stuff within us law.
Companies usually temporarily give a license to a local company so that they can sue you wherever it is you are.
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Also Geralt must be on anti-depressants or something.
Nah it's just that he's been through so much in his life so... You'd understand a bit better if you read the book(s?), that is if you can read the native language however I find that it's reminiscant to real life involving characters where most people I meet could be equated to unlikeable characters.
As gloomy as it is, the cards kinda kills it a little bit.
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Nah it's just that he's been through so much in his life so... You'd understand a bit better if you read the book(s?), that is if you can read the native language however I find that it's reminiscant to real life involving characters where most people I meet could be equated to unlikeable characters.
As gloomy as it is, the cards kinda kills it a little bit.
My understanding is that the potions or whatever that you take in the game are addictive and mind-altering or something so maybe he is a drug addict? I have not and can not read the books but I believe that is a theme. Am I correct?
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Yes but he took those before hand, and I think it was due to him becoming a Witcher which of itself is a pretty horrible experience to begin with and altering the mind being a requirement.
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So I played for another hour or so last night. Man, this game has so many unlikeable characters.. I don't mean that they're poorly executed or anything, they're just LOUSY PEOPLE. The entire mood so far is just so gloomy.
Also Geralt must be on anti-depressants or something.
That's why I love it. This is probably the first game with a world that I absolutely loath and because there's very few "good guys" it makes the events in the story that much more engaging. All three endings are satisfying in their execution but so fucking depressing. It's literally SIDE WITH BADGUYS, SIDE WITH OTHER BADGUYS, KILL ALL BADGUYS AND DAMN EVERYTHING ELSE.
wait marcus, you didn't answer why you had the tracker to begin with.
I mean sounds like you're in the legal right but why'd you get it?
I planned on downloading it (they "flagged" me August 25) But I heard the enhanced edition was coming out in 2 weeks so I deleted it. I literally downloaded the tracker then deleted it before leeching. If anything they should track the IP of the seeders, not the leechers.
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Yeah punish the dealers not the users (trying to make a drug metaphor here)
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okay time to answer some generic questions now that i've played a bit more of this
I tried it out when it first came out and was turne doff by the bugs, and cheesy voice acting/dialogue (and bad performance problems).
Yeah, some 5,000 lines of dialog have been rewritten and revoiced in ALL languages. speaking of which, you can mix and match languages and subtitles. As far as performance go, my computer handled it back when it came out but the load times have been noticeably reduced (we're talking from 30 seconds to 3 seconds).
(combat system, inventory, etc).
The combat has been tweaked so stances aren't completely useless based on the enemy you're fighting. Also the inventory has been made much much much more user friendly and there's an separate bag for alchemy (those that played the original know how quickly the inventory got cluttered).
My understanding is that the potions or whatever that you take in the game are addictive and mind-altering or something so maybe he is a drug addict? I have not and can not read the books but I believe that is a theme. Am I correct?
Potions are "poisonous" but his stoic attitude is partly influenced by his amnesia as well as his job. I don't know why, but CD Projekt translated Wiedzmun (the actual title) into WITCHER instead of the direct translation HEXER which makes 30x more sense given the fact that they're magic using monster hunters.
I guess The Hexer sounds like a generic title or something because I've never heard of a "Witcher."
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Actually the guy who made the Witcher made it up sorta, I geuss you could say he made a masculine word for Witch in his native language and it translated to Witcher because there is no existing word for a male Witch (in his native tounge which is Polish) so the truer translation would be The Witchman but that wouldn't make any sense at all so it was changed to Witcher.
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The Witcher is actually a pretty appealing sounding title, really. I'd be more inclined to check out a game called The Witcher before one called The Hexer.
Didn't play last night, but I'm going to try to spend some time with this game on the weekend. Last I left off, I had to go around the village and get approval from four people or something (including a head guard who seemed mentally challenged) in order to go fight The Beast, I think.