Dumbing down for consoles... grrr... - by Raj
Raj on 2/10/2009 at 00:42
Ok... SO... Deus Ex is my favorite non-thief game of all time... so I went out and pursued the Playstation 2 version. Hey, more of a good thing can't be bad, can it?:rolleyes:
But... what they call, "Deus Ex: The Conspiracy: A Deus Ex Game" is really, really different from the computer version. I say it's "dumbed down" because the maps, the controls, the inventory, the options, are all much inferior to the computer version.
Then... I got to thinking...
You know... I think a similar thing happened with Deus Ex II: Invisible War. It, too, seemed to have much less flexibility, complexity, and subtlety than the original Deus Ex.
SO... I started wondering if they were thinking of a console version of Deus Ex II all along when they were designing the game.
AND THEN... if this is true... I have deep fears for Thief 4.
I really suspect it will be a disappointingly "dumbed down" version of the Thief series we know and love, solely for making it more amenable to the console market.:tsktsk:
I already think they are going the entire wrong way with the whole "modernization" thing. The middle age thing was essential and totally COOL!!:ebil:
But... beggers can't be choosers I guess.:erm:
But if you all had a choice of whether to get a game that was designed for the computer and then adapted to consoles, or a game designed for consoles and then adapted for computers... which would you choose?:confused:
[Mods: Can I post a similar post in general discussion because this question is perhaps larger than just a T4 issue?]
Bakerman on 2/10/2009 at 01:01
Quote Posted by Raj
I really suspect it will be a disappointingly "dumbed down" version of the Thief series we know and love, solely for making it more amenable to the console market.:tsktsk:
TDS much? :p
I reckon this is a valid fear, though some have pointed out that today's consoles are much more capable in terms of the level sizes they can handle, having HD for HUDs, etc. But there's still the issue of having to fit everything onto a controller. I guess today's controllers do have more buttons, but I'm still dubious.
Queue on 2/10/2009 at 01:10
Unfortunately, the console market is the lion's share. So it stands to reason that we'll have a "dumb-downed" Thief 4 as they will be aiming for that market share. Gotta remember, companies develop games to make money (the whole reason to make something is to sell it--just the way it works), and making money usually means either targeting the lowest common-denominator (for low-brow entertainment) or going with what all the kids are in to (like console games with plenty of inane sub-missions).
jtr7 on 2/10/2009 at 02:47
I hope the advent of Hi-Def televisions will allow the HUD, font choice and size, and in-game power-ups (crystals) and gear, to be smaller and more reasonably sized, and not glow and/or sing, or be in large frames to help the player find them on the screen. I hope weapons don't streak in the air, things that don't usually sparkle or glow stop sparkling and glowing, and all the other excessive visual cues and hand-holding go away. For console players who aren't using monitors or LCD/Plasma televisions, have to sit back away from the set, and sit in lit living rooms, Thief[ 4/I] will have all the negatives that come from making it easier for those players to see the game world they are playing in. With a monitor, a player can fire an arrow at a pixel of an AI, see a one-to-four pixel diamond, and find elemental crystals that aren't glowing and singing.
Raj on 2/10/2009 at 04:35
Well I'm so glad you folks know what I'm talking about and that I'm not just suffering from Burrick breath.
Of course we'll have to wait and see.:erg:
And... as for me... I'm buying it no matter what.:rolleyes:
But I really wish they would concentrate on a good computer game first, then the console ports as an after thought (rather than the other way around).
But then again... you guys are right on and my hopes will most likely be damned by the almighty dollar.
Was the classic SS1 profitable?
I'm sure T1 was...
... it was the cool triangular box, right?:p
Bakerman on 2/10/2009 at 07:24
Quote Posted by Queue
Unfortunately, the console market is the lion's share. So it stands to reason that we'll have a "dumb-downed" Thief 4 as they will be aiming for that market share.
Sad truth. I wish it would have been possible for a smaller studio to get their hands on the Thief licence, one that would focus on making a great game, not on padding their wallets.
Here's to the indie revolution! In my dreams :p.
Quote Posted by Raj
Was the classic SS1 profitable?
I'm sure T1 was...
I really don't know, but I'd guess that back then consoles were less major industry players? Piracy was also less of a problem for PC games, etc.
Melan on 2/10/2009 at 07:41
Also, those wishing for a true-to-its-sources thieving experience may wish to check out The Dark Mod, whose release is supposed to be a few weeks from now. It surely won't have the graphical polish of Thief IV, and will not be an official Thief game, but the sort of approach to stealth gaming that Thief had will be there. From what has been said, it is also a solid level-building platform, so a steady stream of fan missions may be expected.
ASHASSIN on 2/10/2009 at 11:55
Indeed, the Dark Mod and the continued output for thief FMs.
The console community really does not know what it is missing. If Thief 4 turns out to be crap, well, us original taffers will still have hundreds of fan created missions to retreat back to! ;)
New Horizon on 2/10/2009 at 13:41
Quote Posted by Melan
From what has been said, it is also a solid level-building platform, so a steady stream of fan missions may be expected.
Dark Mod is 'first and foremost' a level building platform. 1.0 Beta will indeed be released in a couple of weeks with a training mission and 3 downloadable FM's.
fett on 2/10/2009 at 14:45
Quote Posted by Raj
I already think they are going the entire wrong way with the whole "modernization" thing.
This is a myth leftover from the ISA days.
