Update #10 - Characterization with Chris Avellone
Today's Project Eternity update is shorter and sweeter than usual (at least on the text side), and instead is a fun video from Obsidian's creative director, Chris Avellone. In the video, Chris talks about birthdays, gratitude for fan gratitude, his one really @$!$ messy desk, and some extrapolation of characterization in Project Eternity.
The video is a follow up to his Project Eternity and Characterization blog post over on the Obsidian forums from a few days ago. We encourage you to check it out first if you haven't already, particularly if the process of character design interests you, and then watch the video!
Our next update coming this weekend. Oh, and for those of you who might not know, we successfully hit the $2.0M stretch goal, so chillaxing (that is, chilling and relaxing, in elvish) with some of your favorite companions in your player house is now one more thing you can do in the game!
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Obsidian-AMD Loot Bag (US. ONLY). The Loot Bag contains an AMD Processor donated by our incredible friends over at AMD, a signed Obsidian game (not Project Eternity), and a random assortment of Obsidian loot such as pens, coasters, t-shirts, game patches, doodles, etc. The AMD Processor is an A10, does not have a heat sink attached, and will be shipped OEM style. The Loot Bag includes everything in the $250 tier level too. Since we are shipping computer parts, we can't ship outside the USA with this one.
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The Ultimate Pledge Pack. We really want to thank you for your generous pledge in person. You will receive an INVITE TO THE OBSIDIAN PROJECT ETERNITY DEVELOPER LAUNCH PARTY + AN INVITE TO COME PLAY A GAME AT OBSIDIAN. You and a buddy get to party with the game developers at Obsidian and get a behind the scenes tour of the Obsidian office. You get to have a once in a lifetime opportunity to play a board or pen and paper game of your choice with Chris Avellone, Tim Cain, Josh Sawyer, and Feargus Urquhart! You must be able to pay for travel and accommodations to the Obsidian office in Irvine, California for the party and game day. You will receive everything else: The Complete Kickstarter Obsidian Pack ($500 reward tier) + 10 EXTRA DIGITAL DOWNLOADABLE COPIES OF PROJECT ETERNITY to gift your friends and family + DESIGN AND NAME AN NPC + DESIGN AN EPIC WEAPON + CUSTOM PORTRAIT. You also get the top tier WATCHER FORUM BADGE.
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Comments
Creator Marceror on October 4, 2012
Hmm, my previous post seems to have disappeared. So once again, does any know what her class is? I'm thinking priest.
Creator Pierre, Endless Paths guide of the ∞ on October 1, 2012
A lady with a real armor. Good work !
Creator Gavin on October 1, 2012
Wow, I really did not expect there to be a point to the camera waving and then I started noting how everything he was saying synced up with where the camera had waved over too. I really enjoyed it, neat use of space.
Creator Bryy on October 1, 2012
@Streamlock,
That is completely offensive.
Creator Streamlock on September 30, 2012
Good lord, does Avellone always sit at his desk doing his best Stevie Wonder impression, or only when he's capturing video?
Creator Fredrik Lundgren on September 29, 2012
@Павел Ліпніцкі: Housing can be done well or it can be just be implemented for the sake of having a house. The housing in BG 2 actually was interesting. I even liked the housing in Oblivion (And Daggerfall, even if it was mainly my boat I interacted with) even if it was very simple. But then again I am one of those people that likes playing The Sims. Not that I am suggesting that they turn this in to the Sims. But I do hope they put a bit of though behind it because it could add to the game experience if done right.
Creator Lill-Beate Nymoen on September 29, 2012
Thumbs up :D
pluss... nice firefly characters! ;)
Creator Momiji Mii on September 29, 2012
That's a really great armour for a female character. Well done! Glad I pledged for this game. :D
Creator Steven on September 28, 2012
I loved how the camera swayed left and right and imagining Chris' head doing the same.
Creator OHM on September 28, 2012
Love the female armor design. Looks very nice having a realistic tone to it!
Creator Matt Kerr on September 28, 2012
Please no more shakey cam!
Creator zeekthegeek on September 28, 2012
Simon Madsen: So he's the girl from Jurassic Park: Trespasser?
Creator Simon Madsen on September 28, 2012
This video is proof positive that Chris Avellone is just a floating camera with a human arm grafted onto it! Startling revelation!
Creator Павел Галякевiч on September 28, 2012
Better date sim than adolescent monster-killing fantasy =)
Creator Kira on September 28, 2012
@Павел Ліпніцкі Please, not another dating sim...That's what Bioware/Atlus do best.
Creator Павел Галякевiч on September 28, 2012
Player house - a very stupid and useless thing (like houses in TES, but TES is always been flawed game), as long as it does not relate several quests throughout the game . Ideal - something like the Normandy from Mass Effect, where you can interact with the characters and resolve any conflicts, etc.
It would also be nice if the player could start a family and to periodically visit them (but not Fable-style, hell no!)
Creator Kira on September 28, 2012
Loving the concept art, and the game mechanics do sound interesting. Please tell us more about background and story and if there is a certain alignment feature in the game, how will it affect your companions?
Creator Nick Romel on September 28, 2012
Keep the guns, broskis. I really like the trifecta of Magic, Brawn, and Technology. I think it just really gives a bit more depth to the characters.
Creator Robert Baxter on September 28, 2012
Don't drop the firearms just because a few folks don't like them. I'm personally quite fine with having an arquebus, musket, or fusil in a game where swords and magic are de rigueur.
Creator Maria Heinonen on September 28, 2012
Thanks for changing the Cadegund concept art. Seeing the boobplate in the first version made me feel very disappointed, even betrayed, and this definitely an improvement.
Creator Fiurgeist on September 28, 2012
hmm... I don't like guns in my sword&sorcery games... we'll see
Creator Da Mayor on September 28, 2012
Reading the blog post... I love the bit about Reactivity. Think you can work in the phrase, "I'm doing the best I can with this crappy Artifact Rune Blade you gave me..."?
Creator Michael Bilodeau on September 28, 2012
Wow I just want to put up my support for Armor for a female character that looks like it was designed to keep the wearer alive. I'm all for having sexy male and female characters where appropriate but if you are in a situation where you are relying on full plate to keep you alive it's probably not appropriate.
Creator Fredrik Lundgren on September 28, 2012
I agree. This armour looks a lot better. (Now that I had a look at the old one). And I guess I do not have to bring up the historical parallels with the real world and what wiki say about the subject as it has already been discussed in great detail. Though I do recommend people read about the historical era because a lot of things happens both socially and technology wise that shaped how warfare looked. I do agree fully that it does have to mimic our own history but should be consistent with is self first and foremost. Though I think is clear that they have been inspired by the 15th-16th century which I am very happy about. As such I feel the world is more consistent from what I have seen so far then many fantasy world that mixes everything without thinking of the consequences. Not to mention the lack of practicality of many fantasy style armour, weapons and gear.
Creator Christopher Hanken on September 28, 2012
I love ya Chris, but that update was brutal. From the camera to just re-reading the blog post. Was hoping for some new insight or info, maybe throw some examples in there in terms of previous game's companions. Not sure if you were stressing about showing face, but we're not gonna judge you man. We just want to feel connected to project team.
@Tobi:
Look at the PA article linked on the main page. The version of Cadegund they show there has the boob armor.
Creator Tobi (Crusader Kickstarter pls!!) on September 28, 2012
"Nice, Cadegund's armor is much better now" -> huh? did they change something?
Creator Porcupine on September 28, 2012
...also, on chillaxing at home - any chance to an Elven Axe Of Chill in the game...? :P
Ok, ok, I'll shut up now, stat.
Creator Porcupine on September 28, 2012
Suggestion for the 402 question: "actually it's meant to be 042 - the only cake I could get in a hurry formats all numbers to three digits..." (kind of a programmer in-joke, I admit). Oh wait, there's a better one: "you know what - since you don't seem to have any "1" digits, I'll need to make that as 2 to the power 0..."
Anyway, Happy Birthday!
Creator MonkeyShines on September 28, 2012
Did they change the boob armor?
Creator Patricia - Knightmare of ObsidianOrder on September 28, 2012
Happy Belated Birthday Chris!
Creator aandnota on September 28, 2012
Thank you for actually designing women in realistic armour.
Creator Michael Kraack on September 28, 2012
@Arseny They appear to be from https://store.qmxonline.com/Firefly-and-Serenity_c_1.html and, sadly, are sold out. They have tons of other awesome products, though. I've got the Serenity maquette and am constantly pondering whether to go all in for the Serenity Big Damn Replica.
Creator Tobi (Crusader Kickstarter pls!!) on September 28, 2012
hahaha, Jazz thanks for the clarification because I read the first post of your answer and was liek "huh?", lol, anyway, yeah, I also love the art, I'm really looking forward to the game. on the other hand I'm a little sad because in 18 days the campaign'll be over and then I have to wait for one and a half years... oh well, still got the forum ;)
Creator Tom on September 28, 2012
Actually, Jazz, demi-lancers wore half or three-quarters armor. Additionally they did not use shields or a firearm that had a stock - Cadegund is pictured with a musket as opposed to pistols. While it is true that plate armor was used in part to defend against early firearms units utilizing longer, stocked, firearms - such as harquebusiers - were limited to breast and backplates and a gauntlet for the bridle hand.
Of course this is only concept art and the setting is not historical. Still, it is at some variance to common sense and the stated technology - late medieval - by the developers.
Creator Doxy on September 28, 2012
What headset is that?
Creator Martin Kramer on September 28, 2012
Love the concept art. Oh my.
Creator Kyle Robichaud on September 28, 2012
Nice, she's going to be going in my party. As long as she's a good guy anyway. Lots of armour and guns!
Creator Jason Clement on September 28, 2012
MEEP
Creator Daniel Vandersluis on September 28, 2012
Chris uses the same keyboard as I do. Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 FTW!
Creator Tuomo Syrjä on September 28, 2012
That musket just spoils the picture. Imagine her with claymore and suddenly it's hawtness.
Creator Daniel Sobral on September 28, 2012
Please tell me this guy won't have anything to do with the camera control of the game!
Creator gandalf.nho - Weresheepjaguar Huntress on September 28, 2012
Nice, Cadegund's armor is much better now
Creator Stavros Tsiakalos on September 28, 2012
Should have replied "402? That is kind of you to say. I am 420 actually. Glad I still look young."
Or: "Haha, no. These are for my son. I'm a tad older..."
Creator Jazz -White Rabbit of the Obsidian Order on September 28, 2012
The last post was meant to start: Glad to hear it was worried that my post came off harder than I intended. No edit function balls...
Creator Jazz -White Rabbit of the Obsidian Order on September 28, 2012
@Tobi, none taken my post probably came off harder than I intended. :) I just wanted to point out that the pic was actually closer to real world history than people seem to think, and also simply because I love the look so much I want others to like it too! :)
Creator Rinu on September 28, 2012
Happy birthday, Chris. I greatly enjoyed this unique video update. Thanks.
As for characterization, I don't exactly agree with the necessity of "ego stroking" but it's not a deal-breaker or whatever. So far I like all information about concept and the new art is neat. Who would say no to a reasonably armed woman, right? :)
Creator Tobi (Crusader Kickstarter pls!!) on September 28, 2012
Jazz - no offense taken ;) maybe i misunderstood the wikipedia article. also, in the end, the game designers can do what they want within their universe and i am fine with that (as long as it's logical and consistent). and lastly, it still is just concept art, amiright!
Creator boenscraper on September 28, 2012
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MCA!!!!! <3
Creator Sashh on September 28, 2012
Happy 402nd birthday!
Creator Londo2001 on September 28, 2012
Ummm 2 mins into the video update and got completely feed up with the constant swaying of the camera...shame the other updates were good...