I just wanted to give everyone a quick update on the status of the Sanctum v3.2 update, as well as some news that may be of interest to readers of my blog.
Between the demands of my job, vacation, managing the AME, and some other projects (see below), my schedule has gotten very busy in recent weeks — and that has unfortunately delayed my efforts to get the Sanctum update posted for general release. I have only a few remaining tasks to finish before I can upload it, but unfortunately my available time is still going to be very limited for the next few weeks. Hopefully when some of the smoke clears from my “real life,” I should be able to finally get it completed and online by the end of the month.
The very talented Estelindis has graciously offered to develop some high quality custom NWN head models for the Sanctum update. We’ve been collaborating for a few weeks now on how to get the look just right for the various characters, and the results are truly amazing (if I do say so myself). Robin (both genders) and Orion are basically done, and Diana is currently in development as well. Here’s a link to a screenshot featuring (female) Robin’s new head and the use of the Romantic Animations Suite. Este, thank you very much for your fantastic work on this!
Although sworn to secrecy until recently, I can now also reveal that I’ve been a participant in the beta test for the Dragon Age Toolset since early this year — and I was invited to travel to Bioware HQ in Edmonton last week to participate in the Dragon Age Toolset Builder’s Event. I plan to blog at more length about that amazing experience when I have time — but for now, to see what it was all about check out the posts on the Bioware Blog here and here. I’ll only say for now that from what I’ve seen, the tools that Bioware is making available for Dragon Age are going to change the landscape of RPG modding. I’m very excited about it. Although I’m still committed to finishing “The Miracle Worker” in NWN1, I’m now giving serious consideration to completing Part III of the Sanctum Saga — The Alliance — in Dragon Age.
Thanks again to everyone for your patience and interest!
Cheers,
Andarian
Ah real life, can get in the way of the important stuff!
I’m a big fan of the new heads. It makes a difference not having to see the same head I’ve seen in the last however many modules I’ve played.
How exciting to be part of DA:O beta test. Despite the recent advertising, I think it has the making of a great game and I certainly understand why you might like to get in on the ground level, now I just need a machine that can play it.
Forever Morning: thanks for your feedback! I’m a big fan of the new heads too. 🙂
I’m curious what you mean by “despite the recent advertising” for DA, though. I ask because while I haven’t had time to follow it, I have heard that some of it had a very violent tone, and that that has been brought up as a serious criticism. I think it’s a catch 22: when you build a game for a broad commercial market, you have to try to appeal to as many players as possible to make it profitable — and that kind of thing appeals to many potential buyers. However, and although I can’t be specific, I do think that while DA will accomodates and is sometimes being marketed to such players, it’s not “targeted” to them — meaning that it will provide a game that appeals strongly to both to H&S and Role Players.
While I’m at it, here’s part 3 of the Bioware Blog on the Builder event:
http://blog.bioware.com/2009/07/13/dragon-age-toolset-builder-event-ii-p3/
I think that part 4 will go up today, and will feature our challenge projects. (Hint: our team did the one about the cat. ;))
Here’s one of the recent trailers I had in mind. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e46Z7iFljk
As an adult female, I’m used to not having games targeted at me, but this trailer made me feel excluded. I did not like the tone either. It was not the violence itself that felt wrong, but that it was violent without context. To me, it made the game seem shallow. It also felt like it was trying so hard to be “cutting edge” and “cool” it came across as the complete opposite. All it needed to complete the effect was a cheesy Hollywood voiceover saying, “this ain’t your Dad’s RPG” to complete the effect.
I think you’re right, that the purpose of the ad was to appeal to a demographic that might not usually play RPG’s, and I suppose I hope it works and lots of people buy the game, as it seems like a game that has the potential to appeal to many people. Yet, I guess I feel that it just wasn’t a good ad, regardless of who it was aimed at and if that was all I’d seen of the game I wouldn’t be interested.
So there’s the long reason I haven’t liked recent ads :). However, it is of course just one series of ads, with many months of advertising still to come, and already the recent press previews appear to be aimed at promoting story aspects of the game, I just don’t like it when a game I’m interested in advertises itself in a way that makes me cringe!
Wow, Tony, thanks for the kind words! I’m delighted to see that screenshot using the Romantic Animations. 🙂
Este, you’re very welcome! The kind words are well deserved. 🙂
All: Well, I’m back from vacation, and after catching up on some things at work and home, I should be able to get back to posting the Sanctum update. I’m doing my final playtest now. Still hoping to get it done for around the end of the month. *fingers crossed*