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[PolishQ]

Wait, there will be a physical release?

http://the-witness.net/news/2015/12/entering-the-home-stretch/

We’ve had some people asking us whether there will be a physical retail release of The Witness. It’s seeming likely, as we have been in talks with a couple of parties for a while about that possibility. *However*, it looks like if there is a retail release, it won’t happen until a little bit after the digital release. The reason is just that we need all the time we can get up until the release date in order to get all the finishing touches into the game; but because of the lead-time involved in physical manufacturing and distribution, we would have to freeze the game right about now in order to have it on store shelves for the release date. *Or* we could delay the digital release date in order to wait for the physical. But I don’t see a good reason to do either of those things. I would rather just focus our energy on making the game as good as we can make it, and a retail version can lag behind by a little bit.

 

[Auctopus]

Obviously meaningless opinion as I haven't played yet but I think I'd rather have had no VA and just exploring puzzle solving.

Also, I feel like I'm gonna be completely disconnected when I hear Ellie on the other end of a phonograph.

 

[Pachimari]

Little disappointed at no music

Whoa there's no music in the witness?

Really? Nothing to set the atmosphere or the mood? Guess I'll need to play my own in the background.

 

[PolishQ]

Really? Nothing to set the atmosphere or the mood? Guess I'll need to play my own in the background.

Watch the "Long Screenshot" videos they've released and you'll get an idea of how atmosphere and mood can be set through environmental sounds.

 

[MidnightHour]

Game looks great, love the colours.

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

Obviously meaningless opinion as I haven't played yet but I think I'd rather have had no VA and just exploring puzzle solving.

Also, I feel like I'm gonna be completely disconnected when I hear Ellie on the other end of a phonograph.

She may try to sound different from a 13 year old for this game. Then again, maybe she was hired to play a younger person again because she was so good.

 

[GribbleGrunger]

Really? Nothing to set the atmosphere or the mood? Guess I'll need to play my own in the background.

It will have been designed that way for a reason. You owe it to yourself to at least experience the game for a few hours in the way Blow intended.

 

[Despera]

Not sure I get this... so does the game have no music, or is it just Terra Deva clarifying that she's only lending her voice to the game and not her music?

Edit: I guess it's pretty clear that she's saying that there's no music in the game. This... is interesting.

 

[Pachimari]

It will have been designed that way for a reason. You owe it to yourself to at least experience the game for a few hours in the way Blow intended.

I will do that. For some reason I didn't even think of setting the mood through sound effects lol. Of course I'm gonna play this the way Blow wants it to be played.

 

[More_Badass]

It will have been designed that way for a reason. You owe it to yourself to at least experience the game for a few hours in the way Blow intended.

Yes, in one of his dev blogs, Blow says how the whole game is designed so that if something stands out or catches your attention, it means it has a purpose. He had to remind the artists about not making things look "cool" for the sake of looking cool. So the lack of music and the focus on environmental sounds is completely intentional

 

[The Illiterati]

Not sure I get this... so does the game have no music, or is it just Terra Deva clarifying that she's only lending her voice to the game and not her music?

There is no music at all. There are also no animals on the island so there are no birds or crickets or the like either. This is all intentional.

 

[The perfect Dark]

Is this a point & click adventure?

 

[GribbleGrunger]

Yes, in one of his dev blogs, Blow says how the whole game is designed so that if something stands out or catches your attention, it means it has a purpose. He had to remind the artists about not making things look "cool" for the sake of looking cool. So the lack of music and the focus on environmental sounds is completely intentional

That's interesting. Thanks.

 

[GribbleGrunger]

Is this a point & click adventure?

No, it's a 1st person puzzle game with a hidden story.

 

[The perfect Dark]

No, it's a 1st person puzzle game with a hidden story.

Thanks, that's a shame

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

Is this a point & click adventure?

You explore an abandoned island. On this island, there are panels with little maze puzzles on them. They get increasingly complex as you progress, requiring you to pay attention to possible clues outside of the panels themselves. We don't know yet how far this idea will be extended.

 

[Alucrid]

It will have been designed that way for a reason. You owe it to yourself to at least experience the game for a few hours in the way Blow intended.

Yeah I'm fine with it since I remember little of the music front last year's games. Just had no idea it was like that

 

[toythatkills]

You explore an abandoned island. On this island, there are panels with little maze puzzles on them. They get increasingly complex as you progress, requiring you to pay attention to possible clues outside of the panels themselves. We don't know yet how far this idea will be extended.

Presumably "really fucking far" though, considering some of the crazy stuff he did in Braid.

 

[GribbleGrunger]

Yeah I'm fine with it since I remember little of the music front last year's games. Just had no idea it was like that

I reckon it will be like Journey in some aspects. On another note: Can you remember a pic someone posted up of an island and its reflection turned on its side that looked like someone praying? That should be the cover art.

 

[Fess]

No, it's a 1st person puzzle game with a hidden story.

And with a crazy twist I assume, Braid's ending was like something from a Nolan movie.

 

[UserNameStolen]

Anyone know what the price will be?

 

[GribbleGrunger]

And with a crazy twist I assume, Braid's ending was like something from a Nolan movie.

I've never played Braid but I've heard great things about it.

 

[Dominator]

Physical release? Looks like I'm waiting.

 

[dEvAnGeL]

Obviously meaningless opinion as I haven't played yet but I think I'd rather have had no VA and just exploring puzzle solving.

Also, I feel like I'm gonna be completely disconnected when I hear Ellie on the other end of a phonograph.

because VA always do the same voice, because david in TLOU sounds just like drake or Joel sounds just like delsin.....

 

[darkinstinct]

Remember when this was a PS4 launch window game? Time sure flies this gen. Even if the game should suck (it won't) he would get a sale out of me because Braid was so great.

 

[Pachimari]

I really disliked Braid when it first came out. But I want to give it another go.

 

[SmiteOfHand]

I have not been following super close but noticed this is what is listed as the 'cover art' on wikipedia. Had not seen this before. I dig it.

 

[Nozem]

Looking forward to this. I predict lots of 10/10 reviews.

 

[Mikef2000]

Never played Braid, but I love everything I have seen about this game so far. The art direction, concept, mysterious plot. Instant purchase for me.

 

[oatmeal]

That's a pretty awesome poster. The clouds forming the puzzle piece for the coast line.

 

[ricen-beans]

That cover looks boss

 

[mauaus]

looks gorgeous but the game is just not for me. Would love more games with this artstyle though

 

[Coded Heroin]

This is the downloadable game I bought my PS4 for! The world is just a beauty. I absolutely loved Braid and believe in Blow's vision.

 

[toythatkills]

That's a pretty awesome poster. The clouds forming the puzzle piece for the coast line.

I mostly love how it's "upside-down."

It's a phone wallpaper if ever I saw one

 

[HStallion]

I have not been following super close but noticed this is what is listed as the 'cover art' on wikipedia. Had not seen this before. I dig it.

God Damn I do love when they choose great box art for games not that I was expecting a scruffy white dude with a buzz cut holding a gun over his shoulder for this games cover, this is still better than expected.

 

[OnionPowder]

That's an older poster, but it if ends up being the box art that'd be amazing. I love the small puzzle hidden in the rock.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Presumably "really fucking far" though, considering some of the crazy stuff he did in Braid.

Tagging in case someone is going in so blind they have avoided the trailers.

Spoiler

The puzzles move out of the panels and into the game world before long.

 

[toythatkills]

I want to read that because you quoted me but I am going in as blind as possible, haha

 

[GhaleonEB]

I want to read that because you quoted me but I am going in as blind as possible, haha

It alludes to things that are shown in the trailer in the OP. If you've seen it, you're fine. If you're avoiding it, stay away.

 

[Remembrance]

That poster makes it abundantly clear (to say nothing of the secret image in the trailer) that the water and reflections will be a major part of the puzzles.

That's the part where I wonder how far he will take it - it can't just be hidden images in the reflections everywhere.

 

[Auctopus]

because VA always do the same voice, because david in TLOU sounds just like drake or Joel sounds just like delsin.....

Her normal talking voice sounds like Ellie and so do a lot of other performances. Nolan North and Troy have a lot more range.

 

[Blanquito]

This is killing me. 12 days.

 

[Archurro]

This is insane that this is coming out. I remember hearing Blow talk about this game in 2010. This is easily one of my most anticipated games of all time.

 

[Ashler]

I haven't been this excited for a game coming out in years. Can't wait to start playing it.

 

[More_Badass]

Game was revealed in 2009
http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/698006/jonathan-blows-next-game-is-called-the-witness/
http://www.destructoid.com/braid-creator-s-new-game-is-the-witness-142653.phtml

"will be released...in late 2011"

Here's some gameplay from a 2010 build:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN4q2dtxkHk

 

[TheExhaustedWalrus]

This is one of my most anticipated games probably ever. I really hope it doesn't get delayed but with no real info about pricing yet I'm getting afraid.

 

[TheCarrotKiller]

It is amazing how far the game has come since 2010, and to think it's mere weeks until we get to play it...!

 

[Hip Hop]

Oh,

had no idea it was coming to PC day one.

I might actually get it then. I've been interested about it here and there.

 

[J-Skee]

It will have been designed that way for a reason. You owe it to yourself to at least experience the game for a few hours in the way Blow intended.

Sounds like something to play with the headphones on.

 

[More_Badass]

PAX 2010 vs PSX 2014 (first tutorial/puzzle)
https://giant.gfycat.com/YawningCapitalAnemonecrab.gif