The Witcher 3

[Flawless]

Some details:

• World supposedly 20% bigger than Skyrim's
• 30-40 minutes to cross world on Horseback
• New streaming technology (CDRED Engine 3)
• Geralt's memory is restored
• No chapters/acts
• Dude is DONE fighting for everyone else
• Everything from solving MYSTERIES to slaying monsters
• Coming out on "all top-of-the-line" consoles - I'd say that confirms next-gen is in. (the cover says as much)

Game Informer cover:



...

[jfsolo]

Re: The Witcher 3

This is a must buy for me, but I do hope that they revamp or a least modify the combat. Although I got use to it, IMO, it lack intuitiveness and fluidity. This made it not fun at all. The story, characters, quests, and graphics, I'm not the slightest bit worried about.

[Flawless]

Re: The Witcher 3

More:

• 2014 release, PC and next-gen
• Design philosophy has changed due to the open world structure. So narrative comes in three forms:
  
  Lowest level: free form activities like crafting, monster slaying, and questing.
  
  Next level: Political situation of Nilfgaardian invasion is resolved through a core plot line for each area. These areas? Skellige, Novigrad and No Mans Land!
  
  Final level: Geralt's main plot line, his search for his loved ones, and the chase of the Wild Hunt.

Monster Hunting:

• Clues build up information (like a Bestiary perhaps?)
• Books garner information about monsters
• Townsfolk provide information
• Potions and such are important
• Time of day and other conditions affect where monsters appear, and their abilities

• Critical strikes in areas that matter depending on how much you learn about said monster.
• You can disable a vampires poisoning attack by hitting its venom gland or skewer both its hearts with a thrust attack (instant kill).
• Monsters drop loot like unobtainable alchemical and crafting ingredients for unique potion, mutagen and item crafting. Provides income as well.
• Enemy AI completely rebuilt, scripted bosses out
• Environmental combat 'contributions' (a dozen types of interactive objects) - Wasp hive irritated using Aard.

• Magical signs retooled
  Igni = new flamethrower effect
  The magic tree advancement allows secondary sign forms ie. Igni and a 360-degree blast
  Yrden = small trap can be modified into a larger field that slows any enemy

• Other trees, Swordsmanship and Alchemy
  New strikes under Swordsmanship, boosts like improved stamina and parrying
  Mutation mechanic under a different development path
  Not much information given about Alchemy path, other than it being based on potions

• Horse could be used to access long term stash, as well as Inns
  Team aware of frustrations of inventory management in The Witcher
  Committed to a less tedious process

• Crafting critical to maximize Geralts potential, but weapons and armor can be found in many ways.
  Players can customize their crafted weapons with some components, ie, monster scales for leather in armor.

• Each armor piece has unique appearance, new cloth simulation tech.
  Barber is in from the get go. Dyeing hair is out of the question, White Wolf.

CD Projekt RED has provided the screenshots you see here from its current in-game assets running on its Internal PC development hardware. However, the renderer - the part of the engine that translates the game files into what you ultimately see on screen - is still in development and will boast significant improvements by the time The Witcher 3 ships. "Right now you see the game in the old renderer, but it's going to be taken to a truly next level," says gameplay producer Marek ZSiemak. In particular, the developers tell us that skin shaders and the dynamic lighting model will be markedly more advanced in the final version.

...

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8gIsYuPIKco" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Leon]

Re: The Witcher 3

I just blew my mind and came in my pants.

CANNOT WAIT!

[Goffs]

Re: The Witcher 3

http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/02/05/the-witcher-3-wild-hunt-revealed-an-open-world-rpg-bigger-than-skyrim/

yikes Bigger than Skyrim and based on the Witcher universe? I'm down...but eh...I hope I don't end up playing it for a bit like I did with Skyrim and then not touch it for months...

[Flawless]

Re: The Witcher 3

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be the last Witcher game

CD Projekt RED has officially announced the title of their next upcoming game: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (VIDEO). Further, they've announced that this, the ultimate game in the series, will also be the final Witcher game from the studio. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt combines CD Projekt RED's trademark decision-based storytelling flair with a living open world larger than any other in modern RPG history.

"The captivating and nonlinear story of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt takes place in a rich, truly open world environment. A world which is thrilling to explore, full of daring adventures, momentous quests, memorable characters, and unique monsters. Players will freely travel through woods, lakes, mountains, cities, and villages. Each region is inhabited by distinct populations with their own customs, legends and problems. The world of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is 30 times bigger than The Witcher 2," said Adam Badowski, head of the studio.

"Imagine playing a dark fantasy game with the same great nonlinear story as in the previous Witcher titles, but now told in a world you can explore freely with no artificial boundaries. The war-ravaged world is so huge that to reach further places you will need to ride a horse or sail a boat to get there. A world where your choices have truly epic consequences. From the development side, this goal is extremely demanding. Our team had to make significant design changes and our tech had to be rebuilt. But we believe that this will lead to a completely new level of nonlinearity and a whole new, richer gaming experience. As a gamer, I would love to play this kind of RPG and I think this is what many players are waiting for. This is our dream come true at CD Projekt RED, and we hope it will be the same for you!" adds Badowski.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the final episode of the award-winning RPG series and the last part of the legend of Geralt of Rivia. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the most robust and breathtaking game ever created by CD Projekt RED. Open world free-roaming exploration is an adventure in itself as the player will gallop through war-ravaged lands, sail misty waters and track down dangerous beasts for money. An improved combat system will allow players to feel like a real monster-hunter, a witcher who uses his superior senses and fighting skills to survive in a dark fantasy world--while he embarks on a quest to save his loved ones. The new core mechanics of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt immerse the player in the experience completely, with no Quick Time Events, only intuitive RPG gameplay.

Badowski continued, "People may ask if this is really going to be the last Witcher game. Yes, it is. Why? Because we believe that we should end the series on a high note. Technology has progressed to where we can finally tell the story the way we want, with the visuals we want, in the world we imagined. This will be the ultimate fantasy RPG experience, and while we're hardly out of stories to tell, we believe it's time for us to look to new worlds and new horizons to keep pushing the boundaries of what we can create."

For all of those who have never experienced the adventures of Geralt before, this will be their last chance. The game will be accessible all players--those who are fans of the series and those who just love RPGs--thanks to availability on all major high-end platforms and an introduction designed to smoothly introduce all those who visit the world of the Witcher for the first time."

The game will be released in 2014 simultaneously on all high-end platforms. Making use of the same remarkable art direction from The Witcher 2 combined with the support of in-house technology--the recently-announced RPG-oriented REDengine 3--The Witcher 3 will take full advantage of the technical capabilities of modern hardware and will set a new standard for RPG visuals.

[CMH]

Re: The Witcher 3

They trynna make me buy a next gen console on release!

Must be patient.

But game sounds amazing and I can't wait to play it in like 2016.

[mgoblue678]

Re: The Witcher 3

Very excited about this. One of the games that should showcase what the more updated hardware will be capable of. Personally I am taking a wait and see approach next gen, to see if I want to go the console or PC route. Specifically I want to see what next gen is capable of with games like this.

[jfsolo]

Re: The Witcher 3

They trynna make me buy a next gen console on release!

Must be patient.

But game sounds amazing and I can't wait to play it in like 2016.

Open world RPG, with great characters, story, and dialogue too? Patience for me is out the window. This is definitely a "system seller" game for me.


Add these little tidbits to the mix.

improved combat system

no Quick Time Events

scripted bosses out

Yep, NuXBOX here I come.

[Leon]

Re: The Witcher 3

Day 1 Purchase, guaranteed. And screw the next-gen consoles, this Witcher deserves the best a PC can provide.

I seriously wish all game devs are like CD Projekt RED. Currently THE best out there, IMO.

[Goffs]

Re: The Witcher 3

OOH YEAH!

From gameinformer enjoy!

http://imgur.com/a/TsvIV#6

Spoiler

[Leon]

Re: The Witcher 3

^

Nice. And these screens are running on the older engine still! Can't wait for in-game pictures of the new engine running.

[MachoMyers]

Re: The Witcher 3

Looks like I'll be upgrading my PC next year!

[Flawless]

Re: The Witcher 3

Comparing The Open World Of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Watch the video interview to hear the game's director and lead quest designer talk about converting the world of The Witcher and what lessons they have learned from games like Skyrim, Fallout: New Vegas, and Assassin's Creed 3.

Some Notes:

• "Everyone in this studio plays Skyrim" - team is a fan of open world games.

• Lessons learned from Skyrim: you need to care about immersion in the game.

• "Skyrim was generic". Disliked the way Skyrim handled quests, where NPCs would never really acknowledge what you accomplished or did. You'd have a generic set of quests and that's it. The team feels that quests should be unique and NPCs should acknowledge the things you've done for them.

• Felt this is where The Witcher 2 succeeded: choice and consequence. You got to see how your quest choices impacted the lives of NPCs, and you can speak to them about it, whether they're angry or happy.

• "(Skyrim) didn't have very good characters". Tried to remember and name five different characters from the game and couldn't.

• Thought exploring in Skyrim was great, but the story and characters were generic. So they want to learn from Skyrim how to best make an "open world". Make sure they have huge vistas, but plenty of adventures and stuff to do.

• Vistas are important. Notes the sensation of leaving the first dungeon in Skyrim and seeing the mountains and towns in the distance, delivering a feeling of a huge world to explore. Vistas need to deliver the feeling that you can explore things in the distance.

• Acknowledges the challenge of blending a cinematic experience and cutscenes with freedom of adventuring, not making boundaries. Always an issue with story driven games.

• Notes Fallout: New Vegas: thought it had a really good story and open world without too many cutscenes, but felt something was missing. Thought it might be caused by the tools, or something else, but whatever it was it shows that it's a big challenge to blend the two.

• Notes Assassin's Creed III: felt there was always something to do in the main quest, but trying to hunt down side quests always lead to generic stuff, and that hurt the immersion of the world.

[CMH]

Re: The Witcher 3

They pretty much broke down every issue I have with Sandlot games and why I end up getting bored playing them.

If Witcher 3 finds a way to deliver the joy of a finite linear storyline adventure with an open world, I'll be a happy man.