Author Topic: The indie games are here. (Orb Screens) (Read 10620 times)

ShyGuy · « **on:** May 31, 2006, 10:44:40 AM »

From an early PC build.

http://wii.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=6914

commence the hating, you haters.

Kairon · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2006, 10:52:01 AM »

Where everyone sees sub-par screens, I see amazing potential. For the first time I have the belief that these guys have the necessary talent and skill to come out at the end of a very long tunnel with a finished product!

Before this, all they had was talk. Now they're starting to walk.

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2006, 11:07:50 AM »

What's to hate? They did a good enough job with the early screens. The game would look excellent on the Wii.

But the real question is and has always been: how does it PLAY?

Louieturkey · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2006, 12:49:28 PM »

IMO, FFX looks better than this, which means they can push it a lot further. I'm hoping this is very early screens and that they are going to push the look further. I've always thought an FF/Zelda hybrid type game would be really fun to play. I'm rooting for this game to succeed and be the game it sounds like they are hoping to make. I just hope they make it look better. I'll still buy if it doesn't if the game plays like I want, but looking better wouldn't hurt at all.

The Omen · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2006, 12:49:58 PM »

I dig the look. Can't wait for more of these types of titles.

Magik · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2006, 12:51:02 PM »

Yep, the gameplay is definitely something the audience needs to know about.

I'm trying to not hate on these guys, but the graphics on those pics are downright dreadful. They look like first-gen PS1 games.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2006, 12:59:15 PM »

What's happening here is similar to what happened to Geist -- they're not Nintendo, Square, Capcom, etc... Don't be surprised they don't have the budget and graphic experience to compete with the current visual standards.

Artimus · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2006, 01:27:13 PM »

Clearly the graphics are terrible 1998 PC type, or so, but it's an early PC build. it is nice to see something concrete though!

mantidor · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2006, 01:29:32 PM »

yeah, at least this game looks like something thats going to be real, not like sadness.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2006, 01:36:35 PM »

I think if anyone wants to make an indie game and actually make some money with it the ideal approach is to use an intentionally non-traditional art style. That way any obvious low budget graphics are "hidden" by a stylish design. Something like Katamari Damacy for example doesn't have cutting edge graphics. But the style looks deliberate so it works.

With this game the lower quality graphics are incredibly noticable because of the style they're going for. Clearly they're going for a style that somewhat looks like real life. The female character for example is obviously supposed to be attractive but ends up looking like Lara Croft on the Playstation. If they went with something more arty in their design then they could get away with that quality of visuals. There's a subtle difference between ugly game and stylish game.

Wackman · « **Reply #10 on:** May 31, 2006, 02:00:54 PM »

sorry, these screens make me sick. really awfull. and it looks boring as hell. Not to diss the producers but what are they trying to do here??

Svevan · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2006, 02:01:02 PM »

My main gripe with these screens is that they look generic and boring. Graphical quality or no, it looks like a mediocre gameplay experience.

RiskyChris · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2006, 02:40:20 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
I think if anyone wants to make an indie game and actually make some money with it the ideal approach is to use an intentionally non-traditional art style. That way any obvious low budget graphics are "hidden" by a stylish design. Something like Katamari Damacy for example doesn't have cutting edge graphics. But the style looks deliberate so it works.

With this game the lower quality graphics are incredibly noticable because of the style they're going for. Clearly they're going for a style that somewhat looks like real life. The female character for example is obviously supposed to be attractive but ends up looking like Lara Croft on the Playstation. If they went with something more arty in their design then they could get away with that quality of visuals. There's a subtle difference between ugly game and stylish game.

The KD style IS deliberate, because the PS2 can't push 1000 items on screen with any degree of complexity.

ThePerm · « **Reply #13 on:** May 31, 2006, 03:17:01 PM »

one of the problems with them is they are spreading themseleves too thin. They have three projects, but apparently they are only working on orb. Orb doesn look that great. I wish i knew more about how the game played..cus i could join the level design team..and i wish i knew more about the story, because i could join the art team.

slacker · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2006, 06:07:51 PM »

I don't know what to think of it. It looks ok, but its obvious that there isn't much gameplay shown in those screens. The game looks very early. I guess at this stage, graphics is really secondary as the main game engine is being developed around a very minimal environment. I hope they make it it into a good game. I absolutely agree with Ian on the graphic style. If they don't have the graphical expertise, its best to use an artistic style to for the graphics. I personally would rather have stylize graphics when playing a fantasy-like game. It makes the whole unrealistic elements that much more immersive. We need more indie developers to succeed to re-invigorate the industry greatly as the cost of producing graphically appealing games continue to spiral upward and make publishers even more risk-averse.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #15 on:** June 01, 2006, 03:10:32 AM »

IMO, FFX looks better than this, which means they can push it a lot further.

Yes but FFX was made by a huge team. There is no way an indie dev could even approach that.

It DOES look sub-par (most likely bad artist(s)) but it's understandable that it doesn't look like FFX.

Caliban · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2006, 07:34:41 AM »

If you guys go to GoNintendo.com, the guys from CrossBeam have an explanation for the images to look so crappy.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #17 on:** June 01, 2006, 09:07:38 AM »

It says right there: early PC build.

I think that evaluating the game based on these shots is ridiculous. All these shots are meant to do is say, "Look, we have SOMETHING done!"

vudu · « **Reply #18 on:** June 01, 2006, 09:09:41 AM »

Since Americans are lazy, I'll help out.

Crossbeam Studios explains Orb screenshots

Quote
Essentially these screens had to be completely made in about 24 hours (the time approx. from server crash to screens being released) because all of the art was gone, save for like Simique or Maron, which everyone has copies of on staff. But we promised you guys screens, and come hell or high water, we were going to get screens to you

Magik · « **Reply #19 on:** June 01, 2006, 10:30:28 AM »

They are idiots for even promising screens in the first place.

All they needed to do was just tell everybody that their server was down and pics would come later. Things would have been fine if they just said that.

NWR_pap64 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 01, 2006, 11:02:42 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Svevan
My main gripe with these screens is that they look generic and boring. Graphical quality or no, it looks like a mediocre gameplay experience.

And there we go passing judgement over a game that isn't even finished...

I won't deny that the game looks pretty generic, but we don't even know how the game is going to PLAY. The game was just recently revealed and it probably won't be released till a year after the Wii's launch. That means that they will STILL be working on this game while Nintendo is watching over them like a hawk, meaning that there is the chance that the game will recieve a major overhaul by the time it is released...

So please, for once, stop passing judgement on games based on early demo stuff and wait till the game is finished.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #21 on:** June 01, 2006, 11:38:31 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Svevan it looks like a mediocre gameplay experience.

How are you deducing that from these screens?

I don't see an interface, combat, puzzle-solving elements, character interaction, or anything which actually constitutes gameplay so I fail to see how you can determine ANYTHING about the gameplay based on these screens.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #22 on:** June 01, 2006, 12:36:12 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
Quote
Originally posted by: Svevan it looks like a mediocre gameplay experience.

How are you deducing that from these screens?

I don't see an interface, combat, puzzle-solving elements, character interaction, or anything which actually constitutes gameplay so I fail to see how you can determine ANYTHING about the gameplay based on these screens.

He's "up there" with a particular 2001 issue of Game Informer.

Svevan · « **Reply #23 on:** June 01, 2006, 07:34:35 PM »

You guys win - I think the game looks boring, no defense for my other words.

Avinash_Tyagi · « **Reply #24 on:** June 01, 2006, 11:00:09 PM »

You know, even though the screens look bad, i'm glad that quite a few indie/new devs are finding their way to the Wii as their console of choice, it indicates to me that nintendo's plans with the Wii are working.

News:

Author Topic: The indie games are here. (Orb Screens) (Read 10620 times)