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[Mictlantecuhtli]

I'm just gonna leave this here. It may be cracked, but its relevant.

Read number 3
If street lights and and other tech ends up controlled wirelessly, (probably not that big of a stretch) then someone could easily do something like this.

We're surprised he didn't send the mayor all around the city solving clues to piece the password together like the goddamned Riddler.

Best way to end any article about anything, ever. I almost spit my coffee all over my desk.

This game looks incredible, aside from it being Hollywood's version of hacking and such. But oh well, that leaves for plenty of cool to happen, so I'll forgive it.

I need to know if the video was scripted though. That's almost like a fundamental question now, since I have no idea if the game will be as dynamic as that situation is, and if it is, that will make me cry. If not.. Well, it's just another GTA with hacking included. Which wouldn't be bad, but still a letdown. I need to know what causes this pileup [especially that neat part with the guy not wanting to leave his wife as antihero is pulling him out of the car -to continue a firefight-], damnit, even if I have to buy this.

[nenjin]

Also point 2...who says its a standard phone of any sort? Its likely a device that is connected to the mainframe via network connections of whatever sort

No one says, but the Windows 8 look of it sure does want you to THINK it's a normal phone.

As for the mainframe thing, meh. We're firmly in the realm of "details aren't important anymore" now. A place where everything is run by a mainframe but you still hack secondary systems like they're autonomous.

[Draco18s]

$50 says it turns into a rail shooter by the time it's released.

[nenjin]

Would you have called Assassin's Creed 2 an on-rails game? Because if they're taking anything from AC, it probably will have fewer rails than more.

[Draco18s]

Would you have called Assassin's Creed 2 an on-rails game? Because if they're taking anything from AC, it probably will have fewer rails than more.

Invisible Rails are still rails.

That is, scripted sequences are not organic and narrow down the player's set of choices to meaningless quibbles.  If we take the demonstration video as an example:

Main character shorts out a security camera...and a dozen phones.  My initial reaction: "Wow, how does nobody notice that everyone's phone went dead?"  Followed by "Why wasn't the big screen TV/sign shorted out too?"

Cut scene followed by "find the employee."  Who was it?  The woman the camera focused on in the cutscene.  BIG SURPRISE.  She's also the only person carrying a clip board.  What about the phone call?  We heard the whole conversation despite the fact that a) she was already on the phone before we were given the objective and b) the player 'wasted time' scanning other patrons.

What happens next?  Security closes in with "45% hostile intentions" despite the fact that the phone call seemed to indicate a more passive response.  E.g. if the player never attempts to leave the building, security will not attempt to harm you (afterall, they're only supposed to prevent you leaving, as Mr. Bossman wants to see you and you want to see him).

So he escapes outside anyway and causes a massive pileup next to the gas station.  Looked totally scripted.  While I've seen a softbody collision engine for vehicles that looks absolutely amazing, I don't think they're using it.  That, and no one is dumb enough to go "hey a green light" and not wait for the cars going in the cross direction to exit the intersection.  Likewise in reverse, if you see a green light and cars in the intersection you tend to slowdown.

And then guys pull out automatic rifles from no where.  Wait a minute, I thought this was a stealth/hacking game?  Where'd the guns come from, seriously?  Why such a high level response?  If you knew that the player required this level of response (that you'd bring machine guns to an art installation and risk the PR backlash) why did you let yourself get involved in an 8 car pile up and start a firefight?  Wouldn't have calling the cops been a better idea?  Or a helicopter?

[Mictlantecuhtli]

This all falls under the rule of cool, my friend. It doesn't need to make sense. Those were generally my thoughts during the video, well, that and *oh nice rain*. I need to know if it WAS unscripted though, because AI reactions like that are absolutely great if they're dynamic. Dear god.

[nenjin]

Invisible Rails are still rails.

I'm not disagreeing with a lot of that, but I feel like you didn't really answer my question. To me, AC2 was rail-y but there was enough unscripted action that there were good moments, particularly when you're out in the streets causing trouble. The mission format may be what we're seeing here, which isn't too different than AC's "turn on Assassin vision to locate the target", wherein you hear some chatter, then there's a cut scene.

On rails, to me, is a closed level, mission-driven format ala Splinter Cell: Conviction or something.

[Draco18s]

This all falls under the rule of cool, my friend. It doesn't need to make sense. Those were generally my thoughts during the video, well, that and *oh nice rain*. I need to know if it WAS unscripted though, because AI reactions like that are absolutely great if they're dynamic. Dear god.

Maybe I'm jaded or something, but a movie where I get to make meaningless decisions in the main character's life ("should I use the front door or the side door?  Do I kill that guard with a gun or a knife?  Should I order a gin and tonic or a local brew beer?") in between scripted, cut scene action segments, does not fall under "rule of cool" when playing a game.  If anything, it's par for the course and required for the plot.

Having a device that disables all electronics in a 6 foot radius is cool but only if people around you fucking notice what happened.  It makes it that much more awesome when you can use it properly (that takes strategy rather than plot armor to pull off).

On the rain:
Meh.

[Mictlantecuhtli]

I'm just a bit appaled at how long the whole 'beating the security guard up' thing took, on his way out of the building. He took like 15 seconds to subdue him with his baton, while the other security guard is behind him [assumedly] and a room full of people, with noone even mentioning the epic ass whooping in the corner.

[Draco18s]

I'm just a bit appaled at how long the whole 'beating the security guard up' thing took, on his way out of the building. He took like 15 seconds to subdue him with his baton, while the other security guard is behind him [assumedly] and a room full of people, with noone even mentioning the epic ass whooping in the corner.

That too.  It was clearly a "look at how awesome our melee combat engine is!" shot.

[nenjin]

Having a device that disables all electronics in a 6 foot radius is cool but only if people around you fucking notice what happened.  It makes it that much more awesome when you can use it properly (that takes strategy rather than plot armor to pull off).

People do react in the video, although that's certainly scripted. And you can, right now, setup your cellphone to jam local signal. There's already news articles about people doing it on buses and getting in deep fucking trouble for interfering with legitimate digital traffic. So that at least is pretty real.

[Draco18s]

Having a device that disables all electronics in a 6 foot radius is cool but only if people around you fucking notice what happened.  It makes it that much more awesome when you can use it properly (that takes strategy rather than plot armor to pull off).

People do react in the video, although that's certainly scripted. And you can, right now, setup your cellphone to jam local signal. There's already news articles about people doing it on buses and getting in deep fucking trouble for interfering with legitimate digital traffic. So that at least is pretty real.

Oh, I'm not doubting the authenticity of being able to do it.  I was referring to the fact that the reactions were dumb.  It was 15 seconds of 12 people going "Hello, hello?  Are you still there?  Hello?  Hello?" (almost synchronized too).  Not a single "Damn, my phone went dead" or "My connection dropped" or "My god, you too!?"

[timferius]

I'm thinking it's a bit early to be speculating on all this. It's just a short gameplay clip of what is probably a non-finalized build, of a game that's probably at least over a year away.
To me, this is just a concept video, who knows what the final game will be?

[fenrif]

I'm thinking it's a bit early to be speculating on all this. It's just a short gameplay clip of what is probably a non-finalized build, of a game that's probably at least over a year away.
To me, this is just a concept video, who knows what the final game will be?

Except that it's very clearly presented as representative of gameplay from the finished game.

[Draco18s]

In any case, I'm going to steal something someone else said on another forum.


"Comes off as a little gimmicky in such a short video, but maybe it's pulled off well. And while five years ago, I'd be on that like ennui on a goth, right now that just isn't enough to sell me. Show me a world as immersive and fun, and a story as engaging as GTA was and I can love it, but I didn't see that in the video."

Keeping an eye on it, but not expecting great things.