Morning Caffeinated! -- Torchlight 2, Neverwinter, and the power of music

Ramblings and musings of occasional significance to the Shacknews audience. This is the morning edition for September 12, 2012. Topics include: Torchlight 2 should fill the Diablo 3 void for some players; Neverwinter's mod tools are intriguing; and Planetary Annihilation is in the home stretch. Wake up, scrubs, it's the Morning Caffeinated!

John Keefer

September 12, 2012 8:40 AM

Good morning, Shack. We'll kick the morning off right with an "I was wrong." I had speculated in yesterday's column that the new Obsidian game teased on their site was Dungeon Siege 4 based on the icon of a dragon eating its tail surrounding the number four. But it was indeed a countdown timer Obsidian is using to prepare for an announcement sometime on Friday. Speculation now revolves around a new IP, based on some Xs and dots embedded in the source of the page. No more guessing for me, but if I do turn out to be right, I will gloat later. * * * * * Steve attended PAX Prime for Shacknews earlier this month and came back with some really interesting previews for Torchlight 2 and Neverwinter. While I never played the original Torchlight, I have been following the sequel closely because of all the Chatty buzz about it. While Diablo 3 has gotten more buzz, there are those that seem adamant that Runic's action-RPG will be a better game all around. The developer said the game has been done for awhile, but it was making sure all the pieces fit together nicely (hopefully a better version of "polish mode"). Of course, the added time gives that certain other RPG time to lose some momentum. Neverwinter is another game I have been watching, mainly because of my fascination with Forgotten Realms and the old BioWare RPGs. Developer Cryptic Studios is planning to allow users to generate their own content, giving players tools to change existing monsters and even build their own story. I remember toying with the Aurora toolset in the original Neverwinter Nights, trying to recreate an online experience of some of my favorite Dungeons & Dragons campaigns I DM'd back in the day. The tools seemed a tad complicated for a programming novice such as myself, but I finally did get a short scenario working. It sucked and I gave up. Hopefully, Cryptic's tools won't be quite so ... uh ... cryptic. * * * * * The Planetary Annihilation Kickstarter is winding down and it looks like they have enough momentum to make it to the Galactic War goal of $1.8 million. They also unveiled the the $2 million stretch goal of a full orchestral score, but I doubt that will happen. It's a shame, too, because the original Jeremy Soule music for Total Annihilation was so fantastic that it really added to the battles and mood of the game. I know Howard Mostrom is on top of the music for Uber, and has a good feel for what Soule did (based on what I heard in their Kickstarter video), but nothing beats a full orchestra. Oh, and +sing would have been a nice little perk. * * * * *

Black Mesa gets Greenlit

Valve has revealed the first 10 titles to get on Steam via Greenlight, each having gotten sufficient fan approval to earn prime real estate in the online store. Black Mesa is among the selections, an appropriate choice given the subject matter and buzz surrounding the long-awaited game. The game was already going to be popular, but it will be interesting to to see how much better it will do with the added visibility when it hits this week. Good luck and congratulations to the creative teams. * * * * * Random bits & Quick hits: I know you love Weekend Confirmed, but if you haven;t checked out the Gamers After Life podcast, please do so. It's got that certain je ne sais quoi that Shackers should find appealing ... Andrew is really down on Resident Evil 6. I don't think I've ever seen him so frustrated and disappointed by a game ... You have to give BioWare credit for trying to keep the content churning in Star Wars: The Old Republic. I know they have too much invested to let it drop, but every six weeks for major content is pretty ambitious. Not sure it will be enough to staunch the flow of players abandoning ship, though. Flashback: I have a lot of fond memories Dungeons & Dragons, including my level 7 Barbarian needing to roll a 100 to survive a 90-foot plunge into a shallow moat from the top of a keep (AND SUCCEEDING). What D&D-based computer game recreated the enjoyment of the pen-and-paper experience best for you?

Access all of Shacknews' features or hot topics quickly: Community Spotlight -- Late Night Computing -- Morning Caffeinated! -- Release List -- Shacknews Daily -- Weekend Confirmed -- What are You Playing? -- Where are they now -- Reviews -- Previews -- Editorials -- Interviews

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September 12, 2012 8:40 AM

John Keefer posted a new article, Morning Caffeinated! -- Torchlight 2, Neverwinter, and the power of music.

Ramblings and musings of occasional significance to the Shacknews audience. This is the morning edition for September 12, 2012. Topics include: Torchlight 2 should fill the Diablo 3 void for some players; Neverwinter's mod tools are intriguing; and Planetary Annihilation is in the home stretch. Wake up, scrubs, it's the Morning Caffeinated!
- Keefinator
  
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  September 12, 2012 9:12 AM
  
  It's ALIVE! Come participate in today's RPG flashback.
- Rehevkor
  
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  September 12, 2012 9:16 AM
  
  I bumped my Planetary Annihilation pledge from $15 to $100. I never played TA. Am I addicted to Kickstarter?
  - Haxim
    
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    September 12, 2012 9:21 AM
    
    PA is going to be great. lord cecil is going to be busy for the next year.
    - Rehevkor
      
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      September 12, 2012 9:29 AM
      
      I mostly did it because the yellow t-shirt is sexy as fuck. And because the whole concept reminded me of reading the Commonwealth Saga, specifically the spread of the Primes after the barrier came down. Now I can spread my own destructive life-hating sentients across the galaxy!
    - Keefinator
      
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      September 12, 2012 9:30 AM
      
      Yay lord cecil, but I am sad that the $2 million stretch goal may not happen. If the $1.8 million goal had been announced sooner, it might have had a chance :( Wonder if PayPal has increased much from the $30,000 originally stated ....
  - BeowolfSchaefer
    
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    September 12, 2012 9:34 AM
    
    Alright, fuck it. I'm in
    - Keefinator
      
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      September 12, 2012 4:52 PM
      
      Good for you! If this turns out like the original TA (with some upgrades) I know I'll be really happy.
  - Mecha Tofu Pirate
    
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    September 12, 2012 4:55 PM
    
    I originally wasn't going to fund this because I already funded too much stuff. Yesterday I went in for $50.
    
    I'm so weak
- one random winner
  
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  September 12, 2012 9:18 AM
  
  Looking forward to TL2 and NW's mod tools. If they're extensive enough it would be really cool, that was the reason so many people were so enthralled with the original NWN and in a FTP MMO it's plain exciting.