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Torment: Tides of Numenera Kickstarter by InXile [Complete; $4.3 million funded]

Violet_0

Banned
I thought this was the 4 million stretch goal but this is already included.

it's kind of vague, I think
"We’ve been carefully evaluating the costs and trade-offs, and it looks like a 2D pre-rendered graphics approach may be possible."
I'm not entirely sure if it's already decided, could still be a stretch goal
 

Perkel

Banned
Well shit. This is amazing news.

I am happy about collaboration between Obsidian and Inxile. This would mean that modding community will be strong.
 
it's kind of vague, I think
"We’ve been carefully evaluating the costs and trade-offs, and it looks like a 2D pre-rendered graphics approach may be possible."
I'm not entirely sure if it's already decided, could still be a stretch goal

I read it as a we will absolutely do it if we can, we won't if it is too expensive, but we aren't going to promise anything because we don't know if we can deliver. I kind of don't expect it as a stretch goal because of that. But 4mns might make them say fuck it, we got this. Who knows.
 

Dennis

Banned
Technology Collaboration with Obsidian

As you know, we’ve been working on Wasteland 2 in Unity and will be implementing Torment in Unity as well. Meanwhile, about 20 minutes away, Obsidian Entertainment is creating Project Eternity, also in Unity. Though there are major differences between our games, there are also similarities as all are RPGs built in the same engine. As many of you have suggested, it only makes sense that we collaborate where we can.

We are happy to announce that inXile and the great guys over at Obsidian have reached an agreement to share tools and technology when it makes sense. This will allow both companies to be more cost-effective on these projects, allowing your pledges to go further in terms of creating art, content, gameplay, and game polish. Vive le classic RPG revolution!

Ah yes, the tech-wizards at Obsidian!



Another Major City

You’ve already seen Sagus Cliffs, which will be a major hub in the game. As part of an upcoming Stretch Goal, we’ll be adding the Oasis of M’ra Jolios as another prominent city location. Here’s Andree Wallin’s concept, Dust and Water, of this complex and bizarre urban ecosystem (wallpaper versions will be available soon at our website):

A gigantic dome of water shimmers in the middle of a vast desert, seemingly impervious to the cruel rays of the sun's heat. Curved obelisks from another age rise from the sands to cup and surround the bubble like gentle fingers.

This impossible oasis is home to numerous kinds of water-breathing abhumans. Some sport fins for legs like merpeople, some wear flippers for hands, while others appear almost human, being marked with only a dorsal fin from their head to their waist. No two are quite the same. Indeed, some are immigrants from far away, come to this aquatic utopia through strange pathways in reality.

But humans live here too, mostly for trade or work. They use various numenera to breath underwater – implantable gills, breathing apparatuses, portable air bubbles, and so forth. A town of air-breather buildings has grown up around the outside of the dome. These air-breathers are reliant on the dome, as most of their food (and all of their water) comes from within, but they make a good trade in the unique foods, animals, and textiles grown under the water. And of course visitors can find multiple shops in the air-breather town that will provide the varied numenera they need to enter the dome themselves.

Aw yiss



Some Words on Graphics

I’ve advertised that we’d say more about graphics this week. The most popular Stretch Goal request from you, our backers, is for 2D pre-rendered graphics, which would mean that Torment would have a fixed, isometric camera with 2D backgrounds. A primary disadvantage is that this approach requires a longer, and therefore more expensive, pipeline for art assets, but its advantages are numerous:

The same basic feel as classic RPGs (such as the Baldur’s Gate series and Planescape™: Torment) in terms of camera and environments
Environments will have a more “painterly” look, allowing us to more closely represent our concept pieces
By designing the art for a fixed camera view, every scene will look its best
System requirements will be lower
Because we are using a 3D engine, characters, effects, and some environmental props would still be modeled in 3D. This allows them to be changed dynamically during play (a 3D box could be opened, for example) and enables us to still adapt our Wasteland 2 pipeline and underlying systems (such as for character animation).

A famous recent example of this approach in practice is the screenshot released by Obsidian for Project Eternity last fall. We agree that it would be the best style to realize our vision for Torment and have been investigating its feasibility throughout this Kickstarter campaign.

We’ve been carefully evaluating the costs and trade-offs, and it looks like a 2D pre-rendered graphics approach may be possible. Being able to achieve this quality bar is only an option because of your great support – we are thrilled at the possibility that Torment could be as strong in its aesthetics as it will be in its storytelling and choices and consequences.

Fuck yes!

Surprised this wasn't going to be their final stretch goal push though.
 

EviLore

Expansive Ellipses
Staff Member
Technology Collaboration with Obsidian

As you know, we’ve been working on Wasteland 2 in Unity and will be implementing Torment in Unity as well. Meanwhile, about 20 minutes away, Obsidian Entertainment is creating Project Eternity, also in Unity. Though there are major differences between our games, there are also similarities as all are RPGs built in the same engine. As many of you have suggested, it only makes sense that we collaborate where we can.

We are happy to announce that inXile and the great guys over at Obsidian have reached an agreement to share tools and technology when it makes sense. This will allow both companies to be more cost-effective on these projects, allowing your pledges to go further in terms of creating art, content, gameplay, and game polish. Vive le classic RPG revolution!

nowkiss.jpg
 

~Kinggi~

Banned
Im a little disappointed in the comments made that imply the Castoff area wont actually represent the image. I mean, there should at least be an effort to recreate the area ideas presented.
 
Im a little disappointed in the comments made that imply the Castoff area wont actually represent the image. I mean, there should at least be an effort to recreate the area ideas presented.

It isn't going to be a "true" representation in the sense that you get to explore that entire area, but yes, it is the intent to recreate it to some extent. But it would be unwise to tie our design down specifically with what is de facto a first concept pass at the area. Design just doesn't work that way. We'll be iterating it for months and months post-Kickstarter.
 

Eusis

Member
It isn't going to be a "true" representation in the sense that you get to explore that entire area, but yes, it is the intent to recreate it to some extent. But it would be unwise to tie our design down specifically with what is de facto a first concept pass at the area. Design just doesn't work that way. We'll be iterating it for months and months post-Kickstarter.
Hope we get to see all the phases it goes through before the final design at least! If nothing else this is great artwork just on its own.
 

Eusis

Member
Uh, Obsidian tech collabo? Isn't that like announcing Infinity Ward writing team as a stretch goal?
They're both working with the same engine, and honestly I kind of expect inXile could easily face the same tech issues if they were involved with bigger releases recently like Obsidian was. This sounds more like bouncing stuff off each other and figuring out solutions to their problems, kind of like the bit before about Ubisoft discussing gameplay idea with one another. Except this wouldn't homogenize the games as much I hope, at least not in the same way.
 

Aselith

Member

I've no doubt that'll make pretty stuff, I've liked their art in all of their games but they've developed a rep for poor technical ability as far as making stuff work smoothly is what I meant.

However, Eusis makes some solid points so we'll just hope for the best.
 

Onemic

Member
With 2D prendered graphics being the base doesn't that mean that environments will be completely static and not interactive compared to 3D or using a tileset?
 

Violet_0

Banned
With 2D prendered graphics being the base doesn't that mean that environments will be completely static and not interactive compared to 3D or using a tileset?

I can't think of any top-down 3D RPG that doesn't also have a static game world. The Neverwinter games? Dragon Age? Where's the difference?
 

Labadal

Member
With 2D prendered graphics being the base doesn't that mean that environments will be completely static and not interactive compared to 3D or using a tileset?

Project Eternity will not be completely static. I guess you've seen the waterfall screenshot from PE. In 10 days, they will show it off with waterfall animation and stuff.
 

Onemic

Member
I half expect my computer to explode in my face the moment I launch the Project Eternity.exe

Aren't their technical shortcomings mostly due to being rushed by their publisher on pretty much all games they've developed? I know they were rushed on SWOTOR.
 

Taruranto

Member
Holy shit, every time i open this thread this game gets better and better.

I must admit i wouldn't have bet much on this kickstarter initially, and i'm so glad i was wrong. Now i'm even more hyped for this than Project Eternity. The art is simply... wow.
 

Data West

coaches in the WNBA
It's been a couple days...

When's another CRPG gonna get announced? I mean all we got's Wasteland 2, Eternity, This, Shadowrun Returns, Divinity?

I'm ignoring that Ultima thing until I see more.
 
Technology Collaboration with Obsidian

As you know, we’ve been working on Wasteland 2 in Unity and will be implementing Torment in Unity as well. Meanwhile, about 20 minutes away, Obsidian Entertainment is creating Project Eternity, also in Unity. Though there are major differences between our games, there are also similarities as all are RPGs built in the same engine. As many of you have suggested, it only makes sense that we collaborate where we can.

We are happy to announce that inXile and the great guys over at Obsidian have reached an agreement to share tools and technology when it makes sense. This will allow both companies to be more cost-effective on these projects, allowing your pledges to go further in terms of creating art, content, gameplay, and game polish. Vive le classic RPG revolution!

I think Derrick01 got a boner.
 

Zukuu

Banned
It's been a couple days...

When's another CRPG gonna get announced? I mean all we got's Wasteland 2, Eternity, This, Shadowrun Returns, Divinity?

I'm ignoring that Ultima thing until I see more.

Age of Decadence - October 2013
Arakion - December 2013
Avadon 2: The Corruption - Fall 2013
The Banner Saga - November 2013
Blackguards - Q3 2013
Chaos Chronicles - Summer 2013
Dead State - December 2013
Eschalon: Book III - Summer 2013
Expeditions: Conquistador - Soon?
Grim Dawn - August 2013
Kenshi - Currently in Alpha, unknown final release date
Legend of Grimrock II - Probably 2014
Meriwether - November 2013
Might and Magic X: Legacy - September 2013
Underrail - 2nd Half 2013
Knights of the Chalice 2 tba
Frayed Knights 2 tba
+
Shadowrun
Wasteland 2
Divinity
Project Eternity
Witcher 3
Torment: Tides of Numenera
 

Midou

Member
Age of Decadence - October 2013
Arakion - December 2013
Avadon 2: The Corruption - Fall 2013
The Banner Saga - November 2013
Blackguards - Q3 2013
Chaos Chronicles - Summer 2013
Dead State - December 2013
Eschalon: Book III - Summer 2013
Expeditions: Conquistador - Soon?
Grim Dawn - August 2013
Kenshi - Currently in Alpha, unknown final release date
Legend of Grimrock II - Probably 2014
Meriwether - November 2013
Might and Magic X: Legacy - September 2013
Underrail - 2nd Half 2013
Knights of the Chalice 2 tba
Frayed Knights 2 tba
+
Shadowrun
Wasteland 2
Divinity
Project Eternity
Witcher 3
Torment: Tides of Numenera

Hopefully there is a mega thread at some point, I know some will slip through the cracks when they all come out. :p
 
Age of Decadence - October 2013
Arakion - December 2013
Avadon 2: The Corruption - Fall 2013
The Banner Saga - November 2013
Blackguards - Q3 2013
Chaos Chronicles - Summer 2013
Dead State - December 2013
Eschalon: Book III - Summer 2013
Expeditions: Conquistador - Soon?
Grim Dawn - August 2013
Kenshi - Currently in Alpha, unknown final release date
Legend of Grimrock II - Probably 2014
Meriwether - November 2013
Might and Magic X: Legacy - September 2013
Underrail - 2nd Half 2013
Knights of the Chalice 2 tba
Frayed Knights 2 tba
+
Shadowrun
Wasteland 2
Divinity
Project Eternity
Witcher 3
Torment: Tides of Numenera

HOLY SHIT
 
:O

We have passed 60,000 backers (counting both Kickstarter and PayPal). Here is the Sixth Fathom of the Castoff's Labyrinth. What twists and turns will the Castoff's mind take next? 3000 more backers or 2400 more likes for this Facebook page to find out.

168534_620162867999241_1887645159_n.png
 
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