The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

sharaleo · 2015-05-14T22:04:10.000Z

lordkosc:

My word, that is an exceptional piece of render/cgi work.

Angrycoder · 2015-05-14T23:04:38.000Z

sharaleo:

My word, that is an exceptional piece of render/cgi work.

That uncanny valley? It’s been crossed.

TurinTur · 2015-05-14T23:50:11.000Z

Elhokar:

Yeah, but there will always be people who say "but why does this fantasy game/book/whatever have to mirror (enter particular misogynistic trope here) exactly?

Yes, someone always use that argument. An argument I find very stupid (and of course, Gies used in a tweet, why I’m not surprised).

“There are orcs and elves and trolls, so it doesn’t make sense to use ‘it’s realistic’ as argument for x!!” (being x whatever issue in the game). “The game doesn’t have to be racist or sexist or xxx!!”

Yes, it’s a videogame, it’s a fictional setting. They could have done a carebear-cartoon-like setting if they wanted. Or a wild west-fantasy mashup. Or not make a rpg and make a Tetris clone. It’s a videogame.

But The Witcher isn’t about that. The Witcher is a dark, gritty fantasy world which, despise having a Lodge of Sorceress and and elves and dwarves, it has a very realistic “vibe” in how the normal people live and think, very much like people of Eastern Europe at 1250. And I don’t it was chosen that way by pure random chance, it’s intended. Hell, the original short stories are very much in the style of “what if a fantasy world would be like ours?” using real world famous folk tales as base.

Brad_Grenz · 2015-05-14T23:51:15.000Z

triggercut:

Unless I misread the blog from Chiemelarz, that’s pretty much what he said in response.

I think that’s what some of my problems with his review are about. It’s one thing to say “This is a violent world that creates terrible situations for women.” It’s another to say “The people who made this hate women, and are the enemy. Still, those skyboxes. 8/10.”

The problem is Gies is incompetent as a reviewer. His ability to recognize and understand thematic elements and create a coherent reading of a work is about as sophisticated as the MPAA’s ratings board. “Well, I saw a booby and some blood and supernatural scares!” That wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t also paired with a pathological need to prove his feminist bonafides. The result is a review that errs on the side of wagging a finger out of a fear of being on the wrong side of any controversy irregardless.

triggercut · 2015-05-15T00:01:16.000Z

Brad Grenz:

The problem is Gies is incompetent as a reviewer. His ability to recognize and understand thematic elements and create a coherent reading of a work is about as sophisticated as the MPAA’s ratings board. “Well, I saw a booby and some blood and supernatural scares!” That wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t also paired with a pathological need to prove his feminist bonafides. The result is a review that errs on the side of wagging a finger out of a fear of being on the wrong side of any controversy irregardless.

That’s kind of my takeaway as well, but I felt a little too fanboyish about saying it. So I’m glad you did, and I’m glad you said it that well.

TurinTur · 2015-05-15T07:29:32.000Z

Kotaku has done a pretty decent beginner’s guide

Kotaku

A Beginner’s Guide To The World Of The Witcher

Good news: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a really cool game. Bad news: It’s dense and complicated as hell, and requires you to keep track of a ridiculous number of people, places, and concepts. Don’t worry: I’m here to help.

Telefrog · 2015-05-15T08:11:45.000Z

Brad Grenz:

The problem is Gies is incompetent as a reviewer. His ability to recognize and understand thematic elements and create a coherent reading of a work is about as sophisticated as the MPAA’s ratings board. “Well, I saw a booby and some blood and supernatural scares!” That wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t also paired with a pathological need to prove his feminist bonafides. The result is a review that errs on the side of wagging a finger out of a fear of being on the wrong side of any controversy irregardless.

I don’t think he’s incompetent as a reviewer. His review explained what he did and didn’t like about The Witcher 3. As long as a reviewer explains why he felt a certain way about a game, I think he’s done his job. The fact that what he perceived as misogyny disturbed him is as valid as me not giving a shit about the same issues if I were to play it. I got an icky feeling when BioShock Infinite had me slam a skyhook into a cop’s face. You may not have had the same reaction, but that’s why it’s an opinion.

You can certainly criticize his eloquence or lack thereof, but I think his review statements hold up. And, of course, let’s not lose site of the fact that he didn’t slam the game and give it a 3 or something.

lordkosc · 2015-05-15T08:28:01.000Z

Video popped up on GAF, its in German, but apparently is a PC version on ultra @ 1080p with HBAO+ and hairworks running.

Looks damn good.

Gorath · 2015-05-15T08:44:25.000Z

The vlogger says the video was recorded at an nVidia event in Munich on May 13th. Ultra setting, GTX 980. He was very impressed with the graphics.

lordkosc · 2015-05-15T08:47:54.000Z

yay Translations! :D , Thanks Gorath!

Gorath · 2015-05-15T08:55:31.000Z

lordkosc:

yay Translations! :D , Thanks Gorath!

Other more or less intersting bits:

The vlogger is a MP shooter guy. So he doesn’t compare W3 to other RPGs because he thinks that’s not stuff he feels qualified to talk about.
Another uncommented video is coming soon.
At the event the participants could choose between several different nVidia based PC configurations. He chose the one most similar to his home PC, to be better able to put things into perspective.
He mentioned that the parts he saw looked very different from each other. A lot of diversity.

hepcat · 2015-05-15T09:41:38.000Z

sharaleo:

My word, that is an exceptional piece of render/cgi work.

I was under the impression they were using real life actors and then overlaying that with CGI. Is that not the case? Because if not, then yeah…that’s fantastic CGI work.

Nezz · 2015-05-15T09:58:26.000Z

lordkosc:

and hairworks running.

Finally we have the technology to make every scene look like a shampoo commercial!

Gendal · 2015-05-15T10:07:05.000Z

TurinTur:

Kotaku has done a pretty decent beginner’s guide
http://kotaku.com/a-beginner-s-guide-to-the-world-of-the-witcher-1704506152

The Law of Surprise? I don’t remember that one from the previous two games but it sounds like lots of fun. Why isn’t Geralt constantly invoking it?

sharaleo · 2015-05-15T10:08:06.000Z

Nezz:

Finally we have the technology to make every scene look like a shampoo commercial!

The technology has existed since 1988, but has been too powerful to wield.

Soul-Glo.jpg400×600

Nithrakis · 2015-05-15T10:29:08.000Z

The Wticher 3 @ 4k Ultra Settings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NASfzt1C7aY Don’t forget to change your Youtube quality.

Looks amazing. Too bad my video card can’t handle it.

triggercut · 2015-05-15T10:30:48.000Z

Gendal:

The Law of Surprise? I don’t remember that one from the previous two games but it sounds like lots of fun. Why isn’t Geralt constantly invoking it?

Geralt hates surprises.

instant0 · 2015-05-15T10:35:40.000Z

Hmm, looks like the CE will arrive on Monday. Says it is clocked at 7 Kilogram, must be a lot of shrink-wrap.

Telefrog · 2015-05-15T10:35:48.000Z

You could get a gooseberry pie, or a new pair of pants, or a lifelong commitment to raise an adopted daughter. Yeah, I can understand the drawbacks.

rhamorim · 2015-05-15T10:36:36.000Z

So the Penny Arcade guys read the Polygon review…?

Penny Arcade

Penny Arcade - Comic - Universals

Videogaming-related online strip by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins. Includes news and commentary.