pymPreview, The amazing Gothic III

[pym]

--------------------------------------------
By: Piranha Bytes (http://www.piranha-bytes.com/)
Genre: Role-Playing
Release Date: somewhere during 2006 ;)
Platforms: PC
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RPG games is a very popular genre in the video games industry, with a rapidly growing fan community (including myself!!!).
Pirana Bytes made this community cheer with joy by declaring the new sequel to their great Gothic series, Gothic III

http://hozt.net/thumb/20060208183517739591.jpg (http://hozt.net/image.php?img=20060208183517739591.jpg)

Gothic III will send us into a rich, enormous and nonlinear amazing world.
The game, as its predecessors, will be available for PC.
Later on, Pirana Bytes are planning to release an XBOX version and maybe other platforms as well.
Those were the good news...
From now on, the GREAT news ;)

http://hozt.net/thumb/20060208183534706997.jpg (http://hozt.net/image.php?img=20060208183534706997.jpg)
Gothic III puts the story in the center
The philosophical idea behind the plot deals with the reasons that cause the gods to act as they do.
It will take us some time to find out the answers, since at first, we'll find out that the land was conquered by the Orcs armies.
Most humans are kept slaves and just a few rebels made it to shelter.
Of course, a lot of twists are promised, so this is just a global plot overview.
We'll be given a choice, we may choose to help humanity out of this gloomy situation or help the orcs continue their reign.
Also, we may choose not to choose... meaning live for today, act as we want and see what fate will bring.
This, naturally, assures us a very dynamic and nonlinear storyline and three different endings

http://hozt.net/thumb/20060208183546273817.jpg (http://hozt.net/image.php?img=20060208183546273817.jpg)
A few ways to get anything
All our adventures will take place in an island 3 times bigger than the world we used to know in Gothic II(Which was huge as well).
On it we'll encounter more than 1,000 :shock: different characters (2.5 times comparing to Gothic II)
The game will try to stick to reality, meaning, for example, we won't be able to buy equipment at night since the merchants go to sleep...
Don't be sure you'll be able to buy equipment as the sun shines since your reputation and your actions may make merchants refuse to sell you any goods.
For instance, if you chose to help humanity, you won't be able to stroll the streets of an Orcish town.
You may try to sneak in / fight the orcs / call other humans to help you / force a few threatening creatures into the town to frighten all citizens out of it, all in order to get what you need.
As we see, Gothic III gives us total freedom to get what we want.

A very rich and detailed world
We will have the option to use above 50 spells in a new combat system, which is promised to be simple and convenient.
Also, a nice option is the ability to use two swords in both hands.
We won't have to start from scratch, after all, after two games, we should have some abilities acquired and a reputation of some sort.
Our character will advance and improve, of course, but the developers are talking about a new advancing system which I, unfortunately, didn't find any further details on...

http://hozt.net/thumb/20060208183558381621.jpg (http://hozt.net/image.php?img=20060208183558381621.jpg)

The graphics engine was almost rebuilt from scratch in order to support the new world's dimensions and multiple characters in combat scenes. It is enough to look on the released screens to understand that Pirana Bytes made a very impressing job in that aspect. And the good news is that we don't need a super system to play it.
Creatures AI is new and improved. Animals will have a daily routine and won't attack our character on sight, only when feeling threatened.
violence and blood will be refined since the developers want the game to be playable by a vast range of ages.
About Online option, developers say they just don't have the time to develop such an option in the given schedule.

Summary
Gothic III is one of the more ambitious RPG game about to be released soon. This game looks very very promising with a beautiful, dynamic world and many options to choose from.
All we need to hope now is for the promises to become reality and if so, I think I'll have to explain my wife and daughter where I disappear at night ;)

Other pymPreviews:
Medal of Honor: Airborne (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6099&highlight=pympreview)
Heroes Of might & Magic V (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5452&highlight=pympreview)
TimeShift (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6215&highlight=pympreview)
Hellgate: London (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6514&highlight=pympreview)
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5493&highlight=pympreview)
Unreal Tournament 2007 (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6990&highlight=pympreview)
Rise of Legends (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7384&highlight=pympreview)
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6795&highlight=pympreview)

- pym

[liqnit]

amazing game to be.
woderful preview
way to go pym

[pym]

Thanks liqnit... ;)
Worked hard on that one :)

Yup, indeed one of the most anticipated games of this year along with Heroes V and Elder Scrolls: Oblivion.

[shanewu]

I agree. Nice work. Thanks for the previews you do. :)

[zachig]

Thanks a lot pym for a wonderful preview!!! You efforts are very appreciated!!! :wink: I like your previews, keep 'em coming. :D

[pym]

Thanks guys,

I do those researches out of interest and fun.
This is really one of the best to come.
I'll keep you posted for more interesting details on this game and others to come...

;)

[pym]

As I promised, some more info on that sweet game:

As we know, fans have huge influance on a game during its development. Since they (we...) are the ones who will eventually buy it.
Piranha Bytes developers answered some interesting fans questions and that helps the waiting community to learn more about this anticipated game and how it will present itself, and it looks PERFECT!
Here are some selected answers:

- gameplay is much more freer than in previous Gothic titles. The story arc is less linear and the player can determine the order of quests to the greatest possible extend.
- membership in a guild doesn't restrict the player and it will be possible to shift allegiances as well as being a member of several guilds at once.
- many players will be relieved to hear that the dreaded keyboard controls are no more. Combat combos are easily carried out with the mouse only. You are able to perform fantastic choreographies only with the mouse. And apart from the fact that the interface already proved in complicated tasks all main functions are freely configurable.
- In combat, shields can now be used as a defence. They are ultimately indestructible but their effectiveness can be considerably lowered during combat.
- physical effects are implemented by PhysX SDK support. Player with PhysX SDK hardware will profit from higher details, but only after release via a patch.
- the Gothic Genome graphics engine supports shader versions 1.x to 3.0 and the use of High Dynamic Range Rendering (HDR) as well a normal maps. Multi speaker setups (e.g. 5.1 or 7.1) will be supported. Not sure yet if EAX 4.0 features will be added too.
- the modding community can expect to be given a modkit, but only after the initial release.

Also, to get us in the Gothic's world mood, a new soundtrack has been released for us to enjoy...
Check out here: http://download.piranha-bytes.com/gothic3/gothic3ethnomix.mp3

There is a lot to look forward to...
I'll keep us updated ;)

[liqnit]

thanks a lot
i am really waiting for this game .
but it is far in the horizon .... :cry:

[pym]

Hey all,
Gothic III updates!

Some news about the release date of Gothic III (http://www.gothic3.com/index.php?do=0970991161051111100611101011191150381 10101119115105100061051057) has been updated in the official site, looks like we will have to wait until September :shock: in order to be able to play this fantastic game.

Too bad :(

[liqnit]

September it sooooooo far from now
how can we wait that long
but we have Oblivion to make us happy

[pym]

September it sooooooo far from now
how can we wait that long
but we have Oblivion to make us happy

Yeah, I agree the waiting can be frustrating.
I am waiting for the sequel since the day I finished the second and that's too long ;)
But hey, as you said, we have Oblivion in less than a week!!!
Should keep us busy long enough ;)

[liqnit]

yes
hope i mwil manage to get a board & PSU to run it with the new card

[pym]

Although Oblivion is already out and we have a lot to explore there, there is still another amazing RPG in the background ;)

"First look" presentation for the international press.

During an exceptional 'first look' event in Germany the international press was granted a glimpse at Gothic 3's current state of development

Take a look here (http://www.gothic3.com/index.php?do=0970991161051111100611101011191150381 10101119115105100061052052)

[veltsikas]

i loved gotic 1 and 2 but this is much better...