The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

[cmdrdredd]

I don't care so much about having 15 "main" endings. I care about great story and gameplay. Sure, situations and people being influenced by your choices are lovely, but an overall wonderful story and character development should be the main focus. Even with only 1 storyline ending.

I feel this way too, but I really think CDp can do both and get away with it where others could not.

 

[HeXen]

I only played part 2, the story didn't draw me in, didn't make me care. The protagonist i felt didn't have any personality at all nor did any of the NPC's really other than maybe a couple particulars but not noteworthy. So overall i didn't care much for it, felt like it was dragged out and i was going nowhere fast, just run back n forth doing this and that.

 

[badb0y]

They've pretty much hired a whole new team to work on Cyberpunk, IIRC. So they have two groups of people working on both games at the same time. Hopefully the second group is as talented as the first. (I figure as much. I also imagine there will be some crossover between the teams, to provide QA and feedback, stuff like that)

They also revealed that they're releasing The Witcher 3 for PS4, and in fact they've been developing with the PS4 for some time now. That's nuts. Seems like just a few years ago, CDP Red was a low-profile little studio. They're playing with the big boys now.

Yea, I was pleasantly surprised about that too.

EDIT: Just beat the Witcher 1 and damn that was a good game. The combat was a bit clunky but the story was just awesome. Can't wait to play the Witcher 2 now!

 

[Chaptorial]

Some screenshots from The Witcher 3 were released today. From IGN:

 

[Rhezuss]

Nice shots! Looks a bit like Skyrim in the last one. Love the viking theme on this shot.
If it is indeed an open world Witcher game i'm all in.

 

[Arg Clin]

Looks more and more promising:

The main story will occupy you for 50 hours, it's said. Mopping up all the side-quests will push that time to 100 hours. There are a possible 36 states the world can end up in because of your actions, and there are three possible epilogues to finish your adventure with, each an hour long.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...-hour-quest-no-xp-for-killing-only-for-quests

I am in particular pleased with the 50/100 hour game time. In a time where 20/40 has become much too common it's great to see someone finally going in the right direction.

 

[badb0y]

Looks more and more promising:


http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...-hour-quest-no-xp-for-killing-only-for-quests

I am in particular pleased with the 50/100 hour game time. In a time where 20/40 has become much too common it's great to see someone finally going in the right direction.

That depends if it's actual game play or running around because in my opinion the first Witcher had a lot of running around for no reason.

 

[Carfax83]

Apparently, the Witcher 3 will be using PhysX instead of Havok, for cloth, fluid and destruction effects:

Source.

I'm glad CDPR decided to go with PhysX this time around. I suggested it to them on their forum in fact. PhysX is just the most cutting edge physics API right now, and the support they'll get from Nvidia will be great I'm sure.

I hope they use the latest SDK as that has much better optimizations for the CPU, otherwise the AMD guys are going to be griping..

 

[badb0y]

Apparently, the Witcher 3 will be using PhysX instead of Havok, for cloth, fluid and destruction effects:

Source.

I'm glad CDPR decided to go with PhysX this time around. I suggested it to them on their forum in fact. PhysX is just the most cutting edge physics API right now, and the support they'll get from Nvidia will be great I'm sure.

I hope they use the latest SDK as that has much better optimizations for the CPU, otherwise the AMD guys are going to be griping..

It most definitely will be optimized for the CPU because both next gen consoles use AMD Radeon GPUs and we know CDPR is developing for the PS4/Xbox720.

 

[gorcorps]

Looks more and more promising:


http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...-hour-quest-no-xp-for-killing-only-for-quests

I am in particular pleased with the 50/100 hour game time. In a time where 20/40 has become much too common it's great to see someone finally going in the right direction.

Sounds like a Bethesda game. Hopefully they can do it without copying all the npcs, and maybe make the side quests interesting. That's a lot of content to keep at a high quality.

 

[ArenCordial]

Sounds like a Bethesda game. Hopefully they can do it without copying all the npcs, and maybe make the side quests interesting. That's a lot of content to keep at a high quality.

CDPR did an interview with GI talking about the open world. They specifically mentioned this being the focus of their concern. While they loved Skyrim in the end the Bethesda chose to concentrate more on the world than the characters in it and this is where they want to differenciate themselves. They are aiming to keep their strong and multilayered characters while allowing the freedoms of open world gameplay. So at least they are going in trying to tackle this problem.

Anyway heres some other information I'm getting from some of the other interviews.

-At least 3 regions. Skellige Islands (viking like), Novigrad (cloak and dagger like), and No Man's Land (black magic is mentioned).

-3 different epilogues depending on player decisions, each roughly an hour or 2 in length.

-Monster Investigation is Important. If you do your research, you'll gain tactical advantages in combat. For example if your fighting a vampire and you know it has a poison gland because from reading a book, you can spend Witcher focus to strike the gland and take away one the creature's special attacks. If you go in recklessly the fight will be tougher.

They are currently working out how they want the system to function. One idea is a VATS like system (personally I think they mean more like the adrenline system of the W2). The other is a special move you do in the flow of combat.

-Imports. PC this should be easy, but they are unsure how it would or if it will work on consoles.

-Mentioned about wanting to improve inventory again.

-Working hard on no loading screens. Also they wanted to get rid of the slow moving through doorways loading, they had in the 2nd game.

-Approx 50 hours for the main quest. 100+ including side quests.

-You still need to drink potions before battle BUT you can choose when to activate the potion's effects. Witcher's control their metabolism so you can decide when you start processing certain agents.

-From the Russian site Igromania: The combat is somwhere in between the one of The Witcher 2 and the one of The Witcher 1. It is slower than in The Witcher 2, and requires more thought. The number of different strikes and combos increased fivefold, and they heavily depend on timing. If you press the button a second earlier, Geralt will strike in one way. A second later, in a different way. And the developers said that, citing them, "Geralt will no longer turn his back on foes".

-They want to make the combat less of a slasher. The roll is out because they felt it was abused. Pirouttes are in.

 

[ArenCordial]

New interview with Rock, Paper, Shotgun that I found pretty good. Its a 2 parter. 2nd half will be up tomorrow.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/201...the-witcher-3s-open-world-beards/#more-144278

My favorite part

RPS: In other interviews, you’ve noted that you’re paying close attention to the strengths and weaknesses of worlds like Skyrim. How so, though? Where do you think Bethesda and others most need to improve?

Michał Platkow-Gilewski: It’s hard not to mention Skyrim, but I believe that our approach to our game is totally different. What they created was an open-world RPG. What we’re doing is a story-driven RPG set in an open-world environment. For us, the most important aspect of the game is always the story. And by “story” I mean not only what’s happening, but also the choices and consequences, the moral gray areas, the good or bad characteristics of the NPCs that make them believable. After you meet them, you’ll remember who they are and why they do what they do. All that is the most important thing for us.

 

[KaOTiK]

New PC Gamer article gives a first look at some stuff.

http://www.pcgamer.com/previews/the-witcher-3-first-look/

 

[Carfax83]

New screenshots from a digital magazine! This game is going to be dope! The best single player CRPG experience ever devised by the mind of man!

Concept Art:

 

[smackababy]

Yeah, I am buying this. CDPR can pretty much shut up and take my money.

 

[HeXen]

I tried to like Witcher series, good graphics is all I can really say about it.

 

[Carfax83]

I tried to like Witcher series, good graphics is all I can really say about it.

Different strokes for different folks I suppose. While some people love the Elderscrolls series, I don't care for them.

Personally, I think the Witcher series are amongst the best RPG games ever made, and these games are responsible for turning am obscure, small Eastern European game studio into a AAA developer. They have everything, graphics, gameplay, story, and very memorable characters.

The Witcher 3 will be the pinnacle of CDPR's ambitions, and on a technical level, will feature DX11, PhysX, 3D Vision and an open world format with no loading screens or breaking points.

What more could you possibly want?

 

[Ideophobia]

I need to play Witcher 1-2 this summer. Hopefully my 7970M can handle it.

 

[Bateluer]

The Witcher 3 will be the pinnacle of CDPR's ambitions, and on a technical level, will feature DX11, PhysX, 3D Vision and an open world format with no loading screens or breaking points.

Thats the holy grail of the CRPG, open world with a tight story and characters. If CDP pulls it off, they can say they've done something that NOBODY else has ever done.

I need to play Witcher 1-2 this summer. Hopefully my 7970M can handle it.

That'll handle both games just fine.

 

[Carfax83]

Thats the holy grail of the CRPG, open world with a tight story and characters. If CDP pulls it off, they can say they've done something that NOBODY else has ever done.

Yeah, CDPR made a wise decision by not supporting current generation consoles for the Witcher 3.

There's no way the Xbox 360 or PS3 could run the Witcher 3; just not enough memory to play a game that is that wide open and with such heavy graphical fidelity.

It will be really interesting to see what the PC specs are going to be for this game. I'm thinking 4GB minimum of system memory, and about 8 recommended. 2GB minimum of VRAM as well, with 3 or more recommended.

If they want to make it fully contiguous as they say, it's going to need a lot of memory.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Different strokes for different folks I suppose. While some people love the Elderscrolls series, I don't care for them.

Personally, I think the Witcher series are amongst the best RPG games ever made, and these games are responsible for turning am obscure, small Eastern European game studio into a AAA developer. They have everything, graphics, gameplay, story, and very memorable characters.

The Witcher 3 will be the pinnacle of CDPR's ambitions, and on a technical level, will feature DX11, PhysX, 3D Vision and an open world format with no loading screens or breaking points.

What more could you possibly want?

Leaving out the freaking QTEs would be nice. Nothing breaks the immersion more for me than to be into the world of the game and suddenly have button mashing combos start flashing on the screen.

Not to mention I suck at them!!

Anyway, I have to admit as well that I am one of the apparently minority that has tried to like the game but just cant really get into it. I got the first game and quit playing, and dont plan to restart. I just hated the combat that much.

I just restarted the second game now, trying to get back into it. Maybe I was expecting too much, but it just seems like another RPG to me. The controls and inventory seem rather clumsy as well.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I need to play Witcher 1-2 this summer. Hopefully my 7970M can handle it.

I am playing W2 on a HD7770 at decent settings, so you should have no problem. I have a lot of the eye candy turned off of course, but it still looks great. I maxed out a lot of the settings just to see what it looked like, and honestly, I could see very little difference.

Strange thing is, even though I am getting around 40fps, and no real big dips, the game looks nice, but just doesnt seem smooth. When the character is moving, it just seems jerky, even when the FPS is around 40.

 

[Stringjam]

I wish they would offer a 1st person camera. Just seems a lot more immersive to me, and one of the reasons I really like Skyrim. I like to look through the eyes of the character, not over his shoulder.

 

[Ideophobia]

I wonder how the 7970M will handle W3?

 

[Racan]