Planescape: Torment for a new audience

[Vetala]

this game for me hands down the greatest WRPG story ever made. For JRPG it was Xenogears

Now, what if Planescape is release this year instead of '99 but with modern graphic, 3D, hires, and whatnot but still have the same mechanics, gameplay, char build, combat. Will it still cater to a new audience ?

 

[New Troll]

Nope, cause slow-paced combat is unfortunately dead. Such a shame. I still prefer turn-based too.

 

[Wayneguard]

Why would it need 3d? I am of the persuasion that RPGs like dragon age that are openly trying to reclaim the feel of bg and planescape and whatnot shouldn't even be in 3d. 2d prerendered backgrounds with detailed sprite characters can look photorealistic with modern technology.

 

[Hiphophippo]

First off, I agree with both the wrpg and jrpg icons presented. I'm just not sure that game is skewed towards today's audience. It's so text heavy (and awesome) with such slow paced combat (which is still awesome).

I would argue that the game is still perfectly playable and enjoyable to anyone with a serious interest in the game.

*note*

I'd still play the shit out of an updated Planescape. Always been my favorite tabletop setting.

 

[thecoreyhlltt]

Why would it need 3d? I am of the persuasion that RPGs like dragon age that are openly trying to reclaim the feel of bg and planescape and whatnot shouldn't even be in 3d. 2d prerendered backgrounds with detailed sprite characters can look photorealistic with modern technology.

ah! thank god, someone who feels the same about 3d games as myself! i never thought i'd live to this day

 

[mrhateful]

Why would it need 3d? I am of the persuasion that RPGs like dragon age that are openly trying to reclaim the feel of bg and planescape and whatnot shouldn't even be in 3d. 2d prerendered backgrounds with detailed sprite characters can look photorealistic with modern technology.

I completely agree, however I would like an updated interface selecting spells is mind boggling badly designed.. Also combat text(with rolls like in NWN2) would be nice.

Actually just give us planescape with interface from nwn2 and I am all set to go.

 

[lacktheknack]

I wanted to play Planescape: Torment, but my bloody computer wouldn't let me. Then they took it off of Gametap.

So I'd play it. I'd play it to death. If you made it 2D, anyways.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Ah Xenogears. ^^

Anyway, yes, Torment would be lovely if it were updated. I like the idea of using NWN2 engine or something similar, although I imagine a number of semi-modern WRPGs of a D&D bent could work as a platform.

The main issue is the voice acting. All that text would turn into a massive VA budget. It would, of course, be awesome, but probably not feasible. Which is sad.

You know, there has to be a market for less-voiced, more text-ed RPGs out there. So many games would benefit from more story and dialog if only they didn't need to pay for voice acting.

 

[Tethalaki]

I wanted to play Planescape: Torment, but my bloody computer wouldn't let me. Then they took it off of Gametap.

So I'd play it. I'd play it to death. If you made it 2D, anyways.

http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/planescape_torment

I personally love Planescape: Torment, putting it into a new engine with full voice acting would be great; though it's hardly required to really enjoy the game.

 

[lacktheknack]

I wanted to play Planescape: Torment, but my bloody computer wouldn't let me. Then they took it off of Gametap.

So I'd play it. I'd play it to death. If you made it 2D, anyways.

http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/planescape_torment

I personally love Planescape: Torment, putting it into a new engine with full voice acting would be great; though it's hardly required to really enjoy the game.

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Now if only I had ten dollars... damned unemployment...

 

[AlternatePFG]

It could work definitely, but I think that there could not be voice acting, or at least not a ton of it. Way too much money to do all that voice acting.

I really wish I finished Planescape, but two corrupted saves later, each about around the same point and pretty far into the game, pretty much made me give up and move on after awhile.

 

[The Madman]

Could work, though I can't see it ever becoming a big hit... then again a lot of people tend to overlook that it was never a bit hit to begin with. Game barely broke even apparently sales-wise. Which is a shame because it's a bloody brilliant game. In another topic just the other day I was gushing about it!

Still, a text heavy minimal voice-work puzzle and narrative driven game in todays modern market? Even if it had the best damn visuals in the world, I can't see it doing terribly well. Probably just repeat the mistakes of when it was first released with terrible minimal advertising and some of the ugliest box art I've seen in ages.

Again, pity. Closest I we've got to a planescape game these days is NWN2: Mask of the Betrayer and a couple of excellent mods for NWN2. For the most part it's pretty standard fantasy fair right now, with few developers or publishers willing to stray far from the Tolkien-esq styling that has proven so popular time and time again!

 

[Hiphophippo]

I'm just not sure that game is skewed towards today's audience. It's so text heavy (and awesome) with such slow paced combat (which is still awesome).

Why do today's audience hate story and slow paced combat? Hell, '99 was just a few years after Doom, and we all know what a breathtaking story and snail paced combat system it had, huh?

That's not really what I said. I don't think the majority does hate story (quite the opposite) though perhaps the combat bit is on the money. I said what I said with regards to how the rpg industry is going these days. Moving away from the traditional and towards the visceral. I'm alright with that though.

But I'd enjoy a nice throwback from time to time, even if I had to get it from the indie scene. I respect that billion dollar game industries market towards the lowest common denominator more often than not to turn a profit.

 

[mooncalf]

I'm just not sure that game is skewed towards today's audience. It's so text heavy (and awesome) with such slow paced combat (which is still awesome).

Why do today's audience hate story and slow paced combat? Hell, '99 was just a few years after Doom, and we all know what a breathtaking story and snail paced combat system it had, huh?

Yeah but today oldschool is last year and the year before is blank stare.

 

[Zaik]

I'm just not sure that game is skewed towards today's audience. It's so text heavy (and awesome) with such slow paced combat (which is still awesome).

Why do today's audience hate story and slow paced combat? Hell, '99 was just a few years after Doom, and we all know what a breathtaking story and snail paced combat system it had, huh?

Most don't hate story unless it's pretentious as hell and you have no option to skip it. Slow combat is the actual game part of the game though, if you don't want a game you could just watch visual novels. Trying to mash the two together rarely makes anything more than a nasty gray goop.

 

[Hiphophippo]

I'm just not sure that game is skewed towards today's audience. It's so text heavy (and awesome) with such slow paced combat (which is still awesome).

Why do today's audience hate story and slow paced combat? Hell, '99 was just a few years after Doom, and we all know what a breathtaking story and snail paced combat system it had, huh?

That's not really what I said. I don't think the majority does hate story (quite the opposite) though perhaps the combat bit is on the money. I said what I said with regards to how the rpg industry is going these days. Moving away from the traditional and towards the visceral. I'm alright with that though.

But I'd enjoy a nice throwback from time to time, even if I had to get it from the indie scene. I respect that billion dollar game industries market towards the lowest common denominator more often than not to turn a profit.

But what do you mean by visceral and the lowest common denominator? Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and even non RPGs like Modern Warfare 2 have incredible stories. There are so many people out saying "3D is runing gaming! Lets go back to when you could hardly make out your charecter!" Planescape Torment and Baulders Gate was awesome, but newer RPGs aren't trash for the lowest common denominator.

They certainly aren't trash, I agree. Well mostly, not with MW2 but that's a debate for another thread. But they are made with regards to the lowest common denominator, and that doesn't have to be a bad thing. I just mean they are made to have the widest market appeal, not just for hardcore fans.

For example, I'm a bit of a PC elitist (though to each their own, I'm no ass about it) and I loved Dragon Age 2. But it was clear pretty early on that the game had been streamlined to appeal to more people. Not that I think there's anything wrong with that.

I understand what you're saying, friend. There are people that say those very things, but they don't count me in their ranks. I'm afraid you'll have to get your answers to those questions from another jaded gamer.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

What exactly makes Planetscape a torment for new audiences? Is it really hard?

Spoiler