Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2

Varik · 19-06-2019 4:31pm

Judge rules it was specific, not general usage.

Trademarks all still in effect and renewed this year, you want gangrel in your RPG you write a cheque to White Wolf but if you want dietary pills then you need the wrestler one.

Zillah · 19-06-2019 10:31pm

Varik wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybopB0_4Abk

Fascinating: if you look closely you will see that they've hacked in a solution to the earlier apalling combat incompetence: the game locks on to opponents in close quarters combat now. No way that's part of their roadmap - it would be deeply unpleasant to play in first person; I wager anything they saw the awful reaction to the last video and whipped up this build for damage control.

The build number in the top left is the same so maybe it's just a setting that was enabled, I dunno, but something funky is going on.

I think I'll ignore this game for now and see what the story is in six months.

Varik · 20-06-2019 1:58am

Most of the videos would have been captured around same time for each site, doubt they changed anything just overly strong auto aim on controller. Seems weaker on guns and non existent on some of the powers.

Also for the werewolf game, main character is called cahal from the Fianna tribe, they're will be vampires and probably a lot of bad accents and pronunciations

Subtitles on and dialogue audio off maybe.

Dyr · 20-06-2019 9:55am

Varik wrote: »

Most of the videos would have been captured around same time for each site, doubt they changed anything just overly strong auto aim on controller. Seems weaker on guns and non existent on some of the powers.

Also for the werewolf game, main character is called cahal from the Fianna tribe, they're will be vampires and probably a lot of bad accents and pronunciations

Subtitles on and dialogue audio off maybe.

That French company that are making the Werewolf game don't look like they're any great shakes. Expect Garbage Tier gameplay.

Varik · 20-06-2019 12:57pm

Bambi wrote: »

That French company that are making the Werewolf game don't look like they're any great shakes. Expect Garbage Tier gameplay.

Not saying it'll be good or great, but they made the styx games and the original of orcs game. Probably the least compliment I can give but they seem competent.

Zero-Cool · 22-06-2019 8:30pm

:pac:

From Paradox Community Lead: "Hey people, I got some precisions from our team in LA about the setup of the press demo you've seen shared since this morning (full gameplay demo of ~20 min). Those demos are hands-off, it's a Paradox person playing the game, the journalist is making the decisions like choosing the thinblood discipline or dialog options, but not holding the pad (despite some claims I've seen that people actually played the game). I'll ask you to assume all lack of skills or bad melee gameplay is caused by our team on the floor of E3 being super exhausted
On a more serious note, as soon as we have time to do and publish one, we'll have our own clean recording of the demo shared on the official accounts, and we promise it'll be played by someone who's good at punching people while remaining in front of them "

Earthhorse · 24-06-2019 7:03pm

Original was a great game; one of the greatest I’ve played in fact.

Can’t imagine the sequel will come close to matching it but will probably end up getting it nonetheless.

Zero-Cool · 11-08-2020 8:05am

Delayed again, this time to 2021.

https://twitter.com/VtM_Bloodlines/status/1293064749157167105?s=19

Sephiroth_dude · 11-08-2020 10:22am

Not surprising really.

The White Wolf · 11-08-2020 10:32am

A while off being as bad as the Cyberpunk lads but they're getting there.

Earthhorse · 11-08-2020 11:44am

Isn't it better that they stall and release a better product?

The original release date always seemed quite aggressive to me.

Skerries · 11-08-2020 11:55am

considering the gameplay looked broken in the original gameplay videos it's better they spend time on it

The White Wolf · 11-08-2020 11:58am

Earthhorse wrote: »

Isn't it better that they stall and release a better product?

The original release date always seemed quite aggressive to me.

They were ambitious with the release date which didn't give me confidence in the first place.

Icyseanfitz · 11-08-2020 2:56pm

2020 and everything within it can fcuk right off

Retr0gamer · 11-08-2020 3:20pm

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

2020 and everything within it can fcuk right off

Even with this delay it's already been a cracking year for videogames..... and catching up on the backlog.

Skerries · 11-08-2020 4:59pm

yeah gaming is on the major rise due to lockdown
$10.9B in the first quarter in the US which was a record only to be beaten in the 2nd quarter this year at $11.6B

Xenji · 11-08-2020 7:39pm

Give it all the time it needs, the original was basically an unfinished buggy mess on release that was only salvaged years later by community patches.

Earthhorse · 11-08-2020 7:50pm

It wasn't that bad. A patch shortly after release fixed most of the major issues. The fan releases fixed more and readded dropped content.

I think the problem these guys will have won't be with bugs but matching the playability of the original.

TheRepentent · 11-08-2020 7:54pm

Xenji wrote: »

Give it all the time it needs, the original was basically an unfinished buggy mess on release that was only salvaged years later by community patches.

yeah a bit of a rough diamond. I played it but not sure if I could go back to it now.

Xenji · 11-08-2020 8:22pm

Earthhorse wrote: »

It wasn't that bad. A patch shortly after release fixed most of the major issues. The fan releases fixed more and readded dropped content.

I think the problem these guys will have won't be with bugs but matching the playability of the original.

I think it came out about two months after release and 3 days before Christmas day, I remember trying to give it another whirl then and still running into plenty of issues, not game breaking but still plenty of bugs and weird graphical issues.

Varik · 11-08-2020 8:50pm

Xenji wrote: »

I think it came out about two months after release and 3 days before Christmas day, I remember trying to give it another whirl then and still running into plenty of issues, not game breaking but still plenty of bugs and weird graphical issues.

I'm pretty sure it was like the week after, the devs were all let go before the game came out and did it in their own time and unpaid.

Dyr · 11-08-2020 9:38pm

Xenji wrote: »

Give it all the time it needs, the original was basically an unfinished buggy mess on release that was only salvaged years later by community patches.

Do you remember the release of the original?

Xenji · 11-08-2020 9:39pm

Varik wrote: »

I'm pretty sure it was like the week after, the devs were all let go before the game came out and did it in their own time and unpaid.

Looking back it came out about 5 weeks after release, I always thought the game actually came out in October not November.

https://uk.ign.com/articles/2004/12/22/vampire-the-masquerade-bloodlines-patch

Xenji · 11-08-2020 9:49pm

Bambi wrote: »

Do you remember the release of the original?

I remember looking forward to it as 2004 was a very slim year for new PC rpgs, I plan on playing it again with the community patches before this gets released.

Dyr · 11-08-2020 9:58pm

Xenji wrote: »

I remember looking forward to it as 2004 was a very slim year for new PC rpgs, I plan on playing it again with the community patches before this gets released.

Right, cos it was actually the former devs who put out a patch to fix the performance issues a few weeks after it was released, after that it wasnt unfinished or buggy, just a bit janky and rough around the edges. They cut a few levels out due to time constraints but it deffo wasnt unfinished

The community patches and mods came much later.

Varik · 12-08-2020 12:44am

Xenji wrote: »

I remember looking forward to it as 2004 was a very slim year for new PC rpgs, I plan on playing it again with the community patches before this gets released.

Might be better to just leave it.

I've replayed a few times over the years but the last time i did the rose glasses really wore off, the hospital and hotel were really showing their age to the point they lost all atmosphere. Makes me think of contemporary reactions to the likes of the original doom.

Potatoeman · 12-08-2020 11:40am

I got it a few months after release. It was broken, after you kill the vampire hunter and go to leave that area, it crashes. I didn’t have internet where I was living at the time, it was a complete hassle. One of my favourite games but does explain the low review score. How it holds up depends on what you are willing to tolerate graphically, I still play dungeon keeper 2 every few years and this. The GOG release has the fan patch, steam one is broken since release.

Retr0gamer · 12-08-2020 11:52am

Varik wrote: »

Might be better to just leave it.

I've replayed a few times over the years but the last time i did the rose glasses really wore off, the hospital and hotel were really showing their age to the point they lost all atmosphere. Makes me think of contemporary reactions to the likes of the original doom.

I still think the Original Doom games still look great. It's for me one of the few perfect games that will never not be fun. Games get to a point where they don't really age anymore.

As for the original Vampire, once you get over the graphics there's still a lot to admire. You aren't playing it for the slick presentation and gameplay but for the actual role player which is where the game really excels. Compare it to contemporaries like Mass Effect and they look so basic in their role playing and quest design compared to Vampire and it offers so many unique classes that completely change your approach to the game.

Earthhorse · 12-08-2020 4:53pm

I agree with Doom still being playable to this day. I played it in my teens, again in my early twenties and again in my late twenties and it was worth it every time. Didn't matter to me that graphics had moved on, the feel was still right.

The graphics in this new game look technically better than the original but they also look sort of shiny and clean in a way that doesn't suit the theme. Still, like I said before I will probably get it and play it. When it comes out.

Varik · 12-08-2020 6:22pm

Didn't mean doom wasn't playable or fun.

I meant that at this point neither of you need to play with the lights on for the horror bits. Originally I found the hotel and hospital scary, last time i play the scariest thing was how often I got caught on stuff

The White Wolf · 14-08-2020 8:05pm

I never played the first game but I am a fan of the Vampire genre. I'd be curious to know how RPG it is? I would like a game comparable to the Elder Scrolls games where it's not what you would call an action RPG.

Basically I like to relax playing my RPG without having to sweat profusely about having to learn how to get past a ridiculously difficult Boss before progressing. Looking at you Dark Souls.

Just want a dialogue/story first type of game.

Earthhorse · 14-08-2020 8:15pm

I've not played Elder Scrolls so can't say but in terms of dialogue and choice the game is really top notch. Lots of choice about what side quests you do and how you approach them. It's sort of what the game is famous for.

In terms of bosses only the end of game one gave me huge trouble and around mid game there's a sewer section that outstays it’s welcome.

The White Wolf · 14-08-2020 8:21pm

Earthhorse wrote: »

I've not played Elder Scrolls so can't say but in terms of dialogue and choice the game is really top notch. Lots of choice about what side quests you do and how you approach them. It's sort of what the game is famous for.

In terms of bosses only the end of game one gave me huge trouble and around mid game there's a sewer section that outstays it’s welcome.

Hoping that and it's suquel can be saved easily? :pac: Really not good at the pressure moments. Just want to explore and enjoy it at my own pace.

Earthhorse · 14-08-2020 9:04pm

There's a quicksave.

Potatoeman · 14-08-2020 9:55pm

The White Wolf wrote: »

I never played the first game but I am a fan of the Vampire genre. I'd be curious to know how RPG it is? I would like a game comparable to the Elder Scrolls games where it's not what you would call an action RPG.

Basically I like to relax playing my RPG without having to sweat profusely about having to learn how to get past a ridiculously difficult Boss before progressing. Looking at you Dark Souls.

Just want a dialogue/story first type of game.

That what a lot of the original fans are worried about, a generic, rng generated missions open world game with little dept. The original was character/story oriented and the replayability was based on the character and the specific skills they had also the path they choose. So it’s less overall content but more open to different options in a replay. Less missions more varied content. Though for mass market appeal, it’s not what most games go for.

Mr Crispy · 19-08-2020 6:07pm

I posted this in the general news thread, but should have put it here too really.

Bloodline 2's narrative lead Brian Mitsoda (who was head writer on the original game) and creative director Ka'ai Cluney have been fired. Mitsoda has no idea why he was sacked, according to RPS, saying he had never been lead to believe his work was lacking, or that the recent delay was anything to do with the narrative side of things.

Alexandre Mandryka (Far Cry, Assassin's Creed among others) is taking over as "creative consultant". All sounds a bit off.

Dyr · 19-08-2020 6:14pm

Mr Crispy wrote: »

I posted this in the general news thread, but should have put it here too really.

Bloodline 2's narrative lead Brian Mitsoda (who was head writer on the original game) and creative director Ka'ai Cluney have been fired. Mitsoda has no idea why he was sacked, according to RPS, saying he had never been lead to believe his work was lacking, or that the recent delay was anything to do with the narrative side of things.

Alexandre Mandryka (Far Cry, Assassin's Creed among others) is taking over as "creative consultant". All sounds a bit off.

F*** all sympathy for Mitsoda, you lie down with dogs like these they'll turn on you eventually

Absolute ****show and only trading on the original games reputation.

Temptamperu · 19-08-2020 6:51pm

Bambi wrote: »

F*** all sympathy for Mitsoda, you lie down with dogs like these they'll turn on you eventually

Absolute ****show and only trading on the original games reputation.

What did he do?

Varik · 19-08-2020 8:11pm

Maybe they're really going all the way to replicate the original game, you know by firing everyone before release.

Potatoeman · 20-08-2020 9:28am

I’m going to wait and see. I’m not getting my expectations too high. It’s good it’s delayed, from the footage they need to fix the combat. It looks great though, which is a good start. I’m not expecting the voice acting to be as good as the original either. I really like the character sheet in the original but I doubt that will make it back.

Varik · 28-10-2020 12:11am

Game has had some more firing and some more hirings. New hire announced today was a writer from Mass effect Andromeda.

Zero hopes for this game anymore, will wait a few months or however long until I know it's not a heap of ****e.

Zero-Cool · 28-10-2020 12:35am

Wow.... They are not good credentials. Only cared about 1 character in the whole of Andromeda and skipped all chat from the 2nd planet on. Compared to Mad Effect Trilogy where i loved most of the characters and never skipped anything.

ERG89 · 28-10-2020 1:46am

Varik wrote: »

Game has had some more firing and some more hirings. New hire announced today was a writer from Mass effect Andromeda.

Ah the "Sorry, my face is tired from dealing with everything" guy.

Potatoeman · 28-10-2020 10:38am

Thing is, the writing is done at this point. The combat looked jankey But the graphics looked good so if they get someone on to push it out the door with better combat it might not be that bad.

Dyr · 28-10-2020 1:23pm

Varik · 06-12-2020 3:08am

Second half 2021 apparently.

Varik · 23-02-2021 9:24am

And the dev has been kicked by publisher.

Mr Crispy · 23-02-2021 9:35am

Paradox's website is down for "scheduled maintenance", but they released a statement reading;

We have now chosen to postpone the release of [Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2] further, and we will not be launching the game in 2021. We have also decided that Hardsuit Labs will no longer be leading the development of Bloodlines 2, and we have started a collaboration with a new studio partner to finish work on the game. This has been a difficult decision, but we are convinced that it is the right way forward to do the game justice.

Blimey. They've also stopped taking pre-orders.

Zero-Cool · 23-02-2021 9:44am

Man, wtf is happening behind the scenes!

recyclops · 23-02-2021 9:47am

Id say all studios are really struggling to get anything across the line with Covid and publishers will need to find developers they can trust to get it over the line as polished as possible especially after the negative response to Cyberpunk ( may or may not have been covid related).

Games on new consoles are going to be very thin on the ground sadly.

Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2

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