Paul Weaver interview + 3 new screenies

[van_HellSing PL]

http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/...r-Interview/p1

Paul Weaver: Ion Storm uses a shared technology base and the core engine was used for both Deus Ex: Invisible War and Thief: Deadly Shadows. They are really very similar and the only real differences that required additional work was to support the third person mode, as well as the enhanced AI in the game and the different tools that Garrett uses in the game.

Oh great. Now I want to say something ugly...

Speaking of ugly, that rooftop pic looks like an amaterur Quake1 map

[Paajtor]

What's wrong with this screenshot, apart from being just a jpg?
Looks very much like roofs to me...what more would you want it to look like?


You guys keep surprising me...been reading that interview blindfolded?
I find it an excellent interview, and makes me wanting the game even more.

[Paajtor]

P.s. no personal attack there, VanH.

[van_HellSing PL]

Well, I'm lazy so I'll just quote SneaksieDave on that:

As for the new city shot, I've got mixed feelings. On the one hand, it's ...hm... wait. I'm having trouble coming up with a solid compliment. I guess one could assume that the city stretches for miles around that bend, but I doubt it. A shame they kept the skyline out of the pic. To go to the other hand, it is blocky/Quake-y as has been stated, the textures are suffering from some bad tiling and repetition, and I don't know, it just doesn't look terribly interesting. There certainly is not much in the way of traversable areas, if you think about it. A ledge or two, but I don't see the skyways of old, the limitless possibilities of adjoined flat rooftops and balconies. And you just know those windows can't be opened or broken. Aesthetically, I think that slanted shack roof down below throws the whole shot out of whack.

Um, yeah...

*goes quiet to avoid further nitpicking*

edit: I wouldn't even consider your post being a personal attack, I'm not touchy enough

[Paajtor]

You know why I said "you guys..."?
I'm new to the Thief-series, and don't suffer from any experience with prequels, which maybe would have made me just as suspicious as "you guys".

But what I do know, is that ThiefDS looks 100x better than 1 and 2.
Sure, it's not only the looks that makes a game, but imagine this same level on Thief1/2 graphics...

I'm really glad I get the chance, to experience a Thief-game that uses modern graphics/physics/sounds-engines!
7 years ago, I didn't have a computer, and when Th2 was out, I wasn't aware of it ( happens, lol).
But now this superb ThiefDS comes along, and just in time for me...no doubt my pc will present me a gorgious gameplay, and a great way to have something else just for myself to escape into, besides my normal multiplayer worlds.

I've read all complains about ThiefDS, but I don't really care...there's more than enough for me on the positive side.


The "slanted shack roof down below": it's a typical way of how towns were build back then.
Lots of stuff was added long after the initial building was completed, and in those days, ordinary people didn't care much about aesthetics.
It's made out of slates.

[Peter Smith]

I'm with you Paajtor. I don't see anything wrong with it. Blocky? I don't see it. But then, I am not too hung up on graphics. T1 and T2 have been fine with me. Check out some of the Fan Missions (FM's) like Sterlino's latest. I would play T3 without any improvement in graphics. Obviously there is plenty of improvement in T3, which is so much the better.

Paajtor, you need to go buy T1 and T2 and play them. T3 will be more spectactular looking, but it is doubtful that the game play could be much better. Anyway, when you have finished with T3 and wonder what to do next, you can start on the 400 or so Thief FM's.

[Guineapiggy]

1 - You guys find problmes in these shots that are freakin' invisible. 'Blocky' seems to be a buzz word for 'crap compression and resolution drop but we'll complain anyway.'

2 - I think one thing you seemed to miss that is quite siginificant to me is that this is said to be THE LAST EVER THIEF GAME. Maybe I'm wrong but it's hard to read any other way. In a way, I'm relieved, I guess, it means at least it won't get dragged through the mud like so many painfully drawn out series'.

3 - It says it uses Deus Ex 2 TECHNOLOGY FEATURES, not style. Okay? We already damn well knew that.

4 - The interviewer is a clueless muppet who has never played Thief before, (See 'What are these keepers?' and 'Water arrows are new' comments.)

5 - I'm seriously looking forward to the new AI.

6 - You guys have been putting a bad face on things but the way it seems to be is this:
A - Garret getting a little tougher
B - Guards getting MUCH smarter
C - Definitely ghostable but 'very hard' according to reports.
D - Third Person View

Am I the only person who sees a desire to replicate certain features from the HITMAN series? Okay, whilst, point taken, Thief is not Hitman, it means at least there's a chance we're not getting another IW type dog.

[van_HellSing PL]

If you look closer, you will notice I'm generally rather optimistic these days. But this review had some points I did not like. End of story.

That said, maybe I'll say what i like in the interview.

For example the enhanced AI. I really look forward to that.

And I like the other two screenshots, especially the first one, with the closeup of Garrett - the light/shadow play on his face is really great, and the textures work nice too.

[Paajtor]

Originally posted by Guineapiggy

4 - The interviewer is a clueless muppet who has never played Thief before, (See 'What are these keepers?' and 'Water arrows are new' comments.)

That's exactly why I like the interview.

[Lake]

"I can see my house from here."

[Tenkahubu]

I'm new to the Thief-series, and don't suffer from any experience with prequels

But what I do know, is that ThiefDS looks 100x better than 1 and 2

What's happening to this world?

[Squid]

UM...... couple of notes.

That's actually a very good interview. The questions are exactly what I would expect from someone who is trying to introduce the Thief world to a new audience. He covered all the bases he needed to with his interview. For someone new to the franchise, like it is presumed most Xbox players will be, this interview is a very good introduction to the series.

Regarding the screenshots... nice pic of Garrett close up, the roofscape may not be truly representative of the whole game... and the mine? shot is very nice. Note that we may not have to have flat roofs in this game, Garrett may be able to scramble over a sloped roof much easier than he could in the previous games.

And we've always known, since Thief: Dark Project, that the series was always conceived as a trilogy. I personally want the chance to explore this world setting much, much further, so I hope the series continues in some fashion.

Squid

[Paajtor]

Originally posted by Tenkahubu
What's happening to this world?

Hey, I've seen screenshots of all 3 games...
Being only screenshots, still it's sufficient to give an idea about graphics quality.

The experience I lack, is from a different kind.