Larian Studios Forums Beyond Divinity (English) Suggestions divinity 2, the 3D engine

Ok I’m starting a discussion, (perhaps only with my self? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />)
We know that @Lar mentioned sometime ago that divinity 2 used a professional state of the art 3D engine.
While the release of divinity2 should be similar to the release of an other big rpg: morrow wind 4,
competition could be though.

But we all know that the larians always tunes their games so that people with "lower" computer systems also could play the game in a decent way.

Since morrow wind will use a very high and detailed 3D engine witch ofcours require a faster system, I’m wandering if the Larians follow their old philosophy,
Our will this 3D engine one to be recon with?

I know budget is a big issue here <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" />

I don't think we shouldn't compare Divinity 2's 3D Engine to Morrowind's or Oblivion's.

I have not played Divinity, but I know it was a click-and-point game. If they are to take a cue from any game on how to do a click-and-point 3D Engine (if Divinity 2 will stay that route), I think they should look at NWN -- not for the graphical look of the game, but for stuff related to manipulating the camera. This means the zooming in, zoomin out, pitching, rotating, panning, and placing the camera anywhere you wish -- I loved NWN:HOTU's unlocked camera and how I could move it to my liking.

I'm sure Divin 2 will probably graphically look good, so I'm not worried about that too much. Most games do look good these days.

well, you have to consider that DD2 will prolly not come out in the 1st 2 years so by then most of us will have a new system. So knowing this I think that they should make a REALLY good engine that is high end and does not consider the 'lower' systems that much. I mean you have to face the fact that the greatest point of disspointment of <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" /> was the rather crappy looking graphics, and esp. for <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beyond.gif" alt="" />
We all know now that the gameplay is ok (better in <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/div.gif" alt="" /> than in <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beyond.gif" alt="" /> ) so if now the GFX can follow AND they make it 1st/3rd person (not isometric) then I think they're on the good way.

I've got more to say about this, but I'm at work now and I have a SPLITTING headache so I'm not really in the mood for it.

All I can say is that I'd like to hear sth about the Larians... maybe a sneak site of DD2 would be nice with a small FAQ....

I think if they can recreate the open-ended nature of the first game coupled with a good story and NPC interaction, then I don't really care what engine they use, as long as it works.

A similar engine to NWN sounds the most likely type to be used but if they go for a 3rd or 1st person then I think the game could take a few years to make if you want to see a decent landscape. I'd like to see a game with a complete world or land rather than one that's chopped up into little areas that can only be accessed over time and there's no way to go back.

I guess that sounds very morrowind-esque. But what if you took the first game and created a 1st person engine around it? What would it be like? Div 3D would be better than morrowind. But combat would have to change, changing the gameplay, which was part of the fun of div. Unless you used a 3rd person hack n'slash engine that could maintain all the bashing fun.

So, a 3rd person hack n slash combat model (and by that I don't mean a hack n slash game - just that's what the combat will work like) with the grandeur of an exploreable 3d landscape, and the ability to pick up or interact with all the objects (even if it's just throwing them around).

I picture the first game in that engine and I like it...but don't mind me, I can dream....can't I........... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sleepey.gif" alt="" />

My simple response : Look at Zanzarah and dive into the deep athmosphere there. Everything done with Renderware (currently used by the same team for the Settlers V ).

NWN sounds like the Engine to look at.

NWN by default supports movement by WSAD for direct movement of the character -- plus, you'd have to use the mouse, of course. So, I could see that working.


About combat, I think First Person RPG's games should look at Morrowind -- but improve it.

Make it faster for cycling through weapons/magic. And also, what would work is MORE HOT KEYS, MORE HOT KEYS!


I think I like the way combat is going to be for Oblivion. That sounds good -- I just hope there's lots of hot keys and magic/weapon cycling is MUCH quicker/easier.

By the way, I must admit that few people seem to know Renderware at all ... most replies go for well-known engines like the neverwinter unreal doom of monsters. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

What is this Renderware, if I may ask?

A 3D Engine, of course. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

Funatics made Zanzarah with it, I think Cultures as well, and they're currently using it with The Settlers V.

www.renderware.com

is it a 3d engine? because I know that Criterion (developers of Burnout 3) also have a 'middleware' called Renderware and it's sth like DirectX but more cross-platform so it makes it easier for games to make the for multiple platforms (ps2, xbox, PC, dunno about cube) at once.

so creating a game with this renderware would be very good imho.

maybe i'm talking about another renderware (didn't click alrik's link yet)

*mod* just clicke Alrik's link, so yes it is the same renderware. but I'm not sure it's a full 3D engine yet, I think you still have to create stuff on top of this renderware

Hm, maybe you're right, Viper. Since I'm no expert in 3D engines etc. I'm not fully sure.

well, I don't know everything about it, but I read about it on a gamesite the time that EA bought criterion studio's.

That was a good move from EA because now they also make money on games that they're rivals release since those rivals also sometimes use the renderware and need to pay money to Criterion/EA for using it

I see. Although I hate Monopolism in any way. EA is so big, maybe one day they buy Microsoft. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" />

Not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but... some day.

(The same day EA bought Microsoft... no <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" />)

Übereil

I dislike EA more than M$.
So, NO!!! Better not happen!

ok, this should really go in another thread, but WHY do people dislike EA?

M$ I can understand because they deliver a shitty OS, but EA delivers quality games and yes they earn a lot of money but that is because they play 'the game' correctly and smart.

if you wanna discuss this matter more, please start another thread, this is about a 3D engine

This is going way off DD2 topic, but I can answer this.

EA's done a lot of things I found as bad practices. It's not that EA makes bad games -- far from them. They do make good games. But often, they make some questionable decisions regarding their business, I think. I'll get a small list going, but this does not hit everything I can think of:
1.Sims Expansions
Seven expansions for Sims. That's a lot, which is fine -- but the thing is you're not getting much content per expansion. That's my issue. I'm sure we could've seen they do what they did w/ 7 expansions in probably at the most 4 expansions.
2.Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Expansions
Both don't add much content for their $30 pricetag, when they were released.
3.Releasing Games Too Early
I recall people complain of how bad, upon release of SimCity4 and C&C: Generals, these games ran on even high-end PC's. EA let them out too soon, obviously. Yes, EA has let a few games out too early.
4.One of EA's top guys (Vice Pres., Pres or CEO, I forgot) blasted the PC Game Market -- if that's the case, why is EA making PC games? Oh, I know: to make a buck.


Back to 3D Engines, Renderware: do many CRPG's use this?

I found this fact from their site site interesting:
http://www.renderware.com/products.asp

Quite interesting. A lot of big names there that do console and/or PC stuff.

What does this sentence mean ? I only know "to blast" from Star Wars. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> and there it's basically to destroy something.

Back to topic : If Larian was ale to build a good engine, and sell (license) it to others, they could earn some money that way as well ... but since there are several engines already out there, it would be quite difficult to do that (especially since other companies tend to "license" rather the unreal doom or the neverwinter far cry engines, because they already look good.

[color:"orange"]I only know "to blast" from Star Wars. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> and there it's basically to destroy something.[/color]

The meaning here is similar, but in a figurative manner: harsh criticism.

If I find the quote, which was from last year I believe, I remember him talking about how much the PC Market "sucks" compared to the console market. I'll see if I can find the old interview.


That would be cool if they create an amazing Engine that other companies start to want to use. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

What is everyone's fav. 2D and 3D Engines?