Prosper Realms of Arkania: Shovelware Edition

[DalekFlay]

Well the massive chalice had nothing physical, which is why I didn't even think of pledging, and from all the people who keep demanding less physical items I'm not feeling good towards the future. I only donate if I can a physical copy. I'm not giving them money so I can sign my rights over and not even own a copy of the game I helped fund.

How is a box relevant to ownership concerns? It's still a license no matter how the content is delivered. DRM free is the only thing that matters, and GOG is one of numerous examples of DRM free digital purchasing.

 

[80Maxwell08]

Well the massive chalice had nothing physical, which is why I didn't even think of pledging, and from all the people who keep demanding less physical items I'm not feeling good towards the future. I only donate if I can a physical copy. I'm not giving them money so I can sign my rights over and not even own a copy of the game I helped fund.

How is a box relevant to ownership concerns? It's still a license no matter how the content is delivered. DRM free is the only thing that matters, and GOG is one of numerous examples of DRM free digital purchasing.

Because they can call it a license to the end of time if it makes them feel better. If I own a physical copy there's nothing they can do about it. GOG is the only place I buy digital from anymore because Steam has screwed me over too many times for me to buy anything else from them.

 

[DalekFlay]

Because they can call it a license to the end of time if it makes them feel better. If I own a physical copy there's nothing they can do about it. GOG is the only place I buy digital from anymore because Steam has screwed me over too many times for me to buy anything else from them.

Right. The "I own it nothing they can do about it" thing applies to GOG as well. So I still don't understand how a boxed copy is relevant there.

But... okay!

 

[80Maxwell08]

Because they can call it a license to the end of time if it makes them feel better. If I own a physical copy there's nothing they can do about it. GOG is the only place I buy digital from anymore because Steam has screwed me over too many times for me to buy anything else from them.

Right. The "I own it nothing they can do about it" thing applies to GOG as well. So I still don't understand how a boxed copy is relevant there.

But... okay!

Simply put GOG doesn't need a client. So whatever I buy there I can install whenever I want (provided I download it beforehand). As for Steam if their servers or client screw up I can't do anything. I haven't been able to play games for months because Steam's client issues and I've had so many problems with customer support I've sworn not to buy anything else from them. The only reason I haven't deleted my account is there's some games I own there that are only on Steam. Which I can't play now because Steam won't stop screwing up on me. At least with GOG if the game's installed then the only reason it won't work is because of me. I may not own anything on GOG more than Steam but at least with GOG I can keep whatever I've downloaded for however long I want.

 

[DalekFlay]

Simply put GOG doesn't need a client. So whatever I buy there I can install whenever I want (provided I download it beforehand). As for Steam if their servers or client screw up I can't do anything. I haven't been able to play games for months because Steam's client issues and I've had so many problems with customer support I've sworn not to buy anything else from them. The only reason I haven't deleted my account is there's some games I own there that are only on Steam. Which I can't play now because Steam won't stop screwing up on me. At least with GOG if the game's installed then the only reason it won't work is because of me. I may not own anything on GOG more than Steam but at least with GOG I can keep whatever I've downloaded for however long I want.

I don't think you understood me. I don't need an info pamphlet about DRM free versus Steam, I know all about that.

I am saying a box doesn't matter in this.

 

[80Maxwell08]

Simply put GOG doesn't need a client. So whatever I buy there I can install whenever I want (provided I download it beforehand). As for Steam if their servers or client screw up I can't do anything. I haven't been able to play games for months because Steam's client issues and I've had so many problems with customer support I've sworn not to buy anything else from them. The only reason I haven't deleted my account is there's some games I own there that are only on Steam. Which I can't play now because Steam won't stop screwing up on me. At least with GOG if the game's installed then the only reason it won't work is because of me. I may not own anything on GOG more than Steam but at least with GOG I can keep whatever I've downloaded for however long I want.

I don't think you understood me. I don't need an info pamphlet about DRM free versus Steam, I know all about that.

I am saying a box doesn't matter in this.

Sorry for that then. Well then I'll just end it with I want a box. I don't need a giant box filled with trinkets I just want something physical to own. I hope you don't mind if we just end it on that I'd rather not fill a page or two with this.

 

[DalekFlay]

Sorry for that then. Well then I'll just end it with I want a box. I don't need a giant box filled with trinkets I just want something physical to own. I hope you don't mind if we just end it on that I'd rather not fill a page or two with this.

No, it's all good. Wanting a box is understandable. I was just confused because it seemed like you linked DRM free and boxes.

 

[80Maxwell08]

Sorry for that then. Well then I'll just end it with I want a box. I don't need a giant box filled with trinkets I just want something physical to own. I hope you don't mind if we just end it on that I'd rather not fill a page or two with this.

No, it's all good. Wanting a box is understandable. I was just confused because it seemed like you linked DRM free and boxes.

Yeah I'm not good when it comes to arguing or getting my point across.

 

[Little Killerz]

mindx2

I'd like to do it sooner than later. But yeah it could be part of the Desktop launch. I really just need to spend some time sourcing and pricing the items and then I can decide if its makes sense economically to do a limited run.

 

[LESS T_T]

Thank god they replaced the overland map!

https://www.facebook.com/DSANordlandtrilogie

Old one:

 

[SCO]

Now just replace the character models.
And their animations and animation blending.

 

[Lady_Error]

Thank god they replaced the overland map!

That is good news indeed!

And it will come out on GOG as well.

 

[Kem0sabe]

How big was the original in terms of content?

 

[Gord]

Depended a bit on how you played it.
Playing it quickly and largely ignoring exploration you could probably do it in ~20 hours?
If you explored a bit and took your time maybe 30-40 hours?

If you didn't manage to (by pure luck or thorough exploration) find that silly plot-critical document hidden in the orc cave that isn't mentioned anywhere, 80 hours?

 

[Wolfus]

They put town names on the map! What about copy protection?

 

[Gord]

They changed the game in a way that increases convenience?
They lied about being oldschool! Bring out the pitchforks!

 

[HiddenX]

They changed the game in a way that increases convenience?
They lied about being oldschool! Bring out the pitchforks!

Very young Codexian:

 

[Tramboi]

Now just replace the character models.
And their animations and animation blending.

Bethesda never suceeded (shame on them) in this so I can cut indies some slack about this.

 

[Bobbles]

The first part has now been "inofficially released" in Germany. By my estimates it has roughly as many bugs as the 1.0 version of New Vegas. Looks pretty though.

 

[eric__s]

The first part has now been "inofficially released" in Germany. By my estimates it has roughly as many bugs as the 1.0 version of New Vegas. Looks pretty though.

I'm reminded of the Titan Quest anti-piracy measures.

What can you tell us about it? What should we expect - is there additional content? How is the combat? Do you, or whoever you're getting this from, enjoy it?

 

[Bobbles]

Many of the pre-orders were already delivered on Friday (with Tuesday being the officially German release date), so there's plenty of info on the game out already. Personally, I can't even get it to start.

Problems with the gold version according to various German forums:

- no intro
- no battle sounds
- all weapon models looks like crossbows
- most NPCs look like skeletons
- trying to cast a spell gives the message "spell not implemented"
- snow textures are broken
- walking sounds are placeholders/unbearable to listen to

The release day patch was pushed out early on Saturday at 10 p.m. local time (at least they're dedicated!), but it doesn't fix most of these issues - only weapon models and walking sounds have been completely fixed. The game is still unplayable and crashes frequently with messages like this:

Failed executing javascript(Syntax Error: Mismatched closing token in expression):
function hasresponse(which){return(which==1)||getQuestState("schick_call')==2 of Magistrat Thorwal[2]

Further current issues:

--button hotspots aren't centered on the actual buttons
- map turns black indoors, stays black when going outdoors (workaround available)
- Many NPCs have holes in their heads
- only one save game slot with fixed name
- save game (singular) randomly deletes itself
- heroes in-game don't look like they do in the editor
- you start with infinite money, which randomly resets to normal during gameplay
- random events and random battle on the overland map don't seem to work
- hard crash trying to enter Daspota

The lead dev has announced a "new" release day patch for Tuesday, though it will obviously only represent a few days' work of bugfixing by a small studio... probably not a good 0-day purchase.

On actual feature changes:

- haggling and vehicle skills have been removed
- about 10% of the spells have been removed
- more spells have been set to druid and witch exclusive
- getting enough xp to level no longer auto-triggers the level up screen; it's solved like in the Baldur's Gate games now

Gameplay footage is here.

 

[Ramireza]

Brrrrr... looks terrible. Why they did not use nice painted 2D Screens for the Inn´s and Merchants?

 

[Excidium]

Looks like a cheap cashgrab alright.

 

[eric__s]

Sounds like it's got some real problems, hopefully the devs will get on them quickly. Also, is the music in the video really the music in the game? Those songs were made 20 years ago for the CD version soundtrack. They're also playing the songs at the wrong times - the travel theme is now a town theme, the tavern theme is a shop theme. It's not really a huge deal. The game looks good, I definitely want to play it but I'll wait until these problems get ironed out.

Also, comments like yours confound me, Excidium. It's definitely cheap, the originals were too, but a cash grab? From who? The dozens of people who played the originals who still care?

 

[mondblut]

As long as they keep beating it into shape past the "release" and eventually do, it's all right. Day 1 purchasers are not the learning animals (which is fortunate, since our ecosystem does depend upon their uninformed and uncontrolled impulses).