Risen - Feb Release for X360 in NA

[Dhruin]

Deep Silver sends word the X360 version of Risen will launch in February in North America:
DEEP SILVER TO PUBLISH RISEN® FOR XBOX 360 IN NORTH AMERICA

HERMOSA BEACH, CA - January 18, 2010 – Deep Silver, the games label of Koch Media, a worldwide producer and distributor of digital entertainment products, announced today that RISEN® will be published for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in North America this February. RISEN features an epic story with over 60 hours of exploration and adventuring.

RISEN is a massive, open-world RPG where every decision counts and every action continuously shapes a player’s reputation. In a medieval setting, the game begins with the player shipwrecked on an island in turmoil, rocked by mysterious ruins rising from the ground. Players will battle dangerous creatures yet the promise of ancient treasures will lead them on an adventure where they must choose to align with either the native Rebel faction, or the mysterious Order and its Inquisition. Only then will they determine just what is truly happening on the “forbidden isle.”

“We’re incredibly excited about RISEN and the opportunity to publish it in North America,” said Geoff Mulligan, Chief Operating Officer at Deep Silver. “What we bring to market is a deep, immersive RPG that Xbox 360 gamers have been clamoring for. RISEN is going to start off this year for RPGs in an amazing way.”

RISEN features a seamless streaming environment that players can explore however they choose, using intuitive controls designed to make exploration and combat easily accessible to both RPG fans and newcomers alike. The game’s central story can be experienced in different ways, depending on the in-game decisions players make.

RISEN is being developed by Piranha Bytes and scheduled for release in February 2010. For more information visit risen.deepsilver.com (http://risen.deepsilver.com).
More information. (http://www.rpgwatch.com/show/newsbit?newsbit=14218)

[Anderson]

Woo! Finally! I thought I'd have to import the poor thing.

I needed a little good news after the Monday I just had. Yay! :D

[JDR13]

I didn't realize it hadn't been released over here yet...

[Gorath]

I hope everybody knows by now to get this on PC if your computer can handle it. And most should be able to.

[Anderson]

I didn't realize it hadn't been released over here yet…

Yeah, they held it up because the distribution deal they were getting during the 2009 holiday season wasn't very good.

I hope everybody knows by now to get this on PC if your computer can handle it. And most should be able to.

I would if I played on PC, but I'm going to suffer through the 360 version. I looked up the Metacritic average a moment ago. 58. Ouch. That's a good 20 points less than the PC average (77). Maybe at least the US version will be the beneficiary of some of the patchwork.

I seem to have an ability to enjoy these flawed, low-rated Euro RPGs — assuming I get them at a bargain price. I plan on picking it up for about $20 later this year. Same plan for Div 2.


Now I'm just waiting to hear about Venetica...

[txa1265]

Well ... hopefully by the release they will have cleaned up the bugs more.

[JDR13]

I seem to have an ability to enjoy these flawed, low-rated Euro RPGs — assuming I get them at a bargain price. I plan on picking it up for about $20 later this year. Same plan for Div 2.

I assume you mean used copies?

[Anderson]

I assume you mean used copies?

Yes, unless the cost of a new copy drops fast and low. Which I suppose it might. I expect the price to drop rather rapidly, given the minimal buzz, the niche market, and the lousy reviews.

I've recently discovered the joys of playing cheap games. As a rule, I seem to enjoy them much more than the ones I pay $60 for. I don't expect much from a $15 game, and I am usually pleasantly surprised at how much fun I can eek out. I can overlook all sorts of technical problems at that price. And I'm playing them later, after all the opinionating has died down, so it's just me, lowered expectations, and a cheap game.

[JDR13]

I've recently discovered the joys of playing cheap games. As a rule, I seem to enjoy them much more than the ones I pay $60 for. I don't expect much from a $15 game, and I am usually pleasantly surprised at how much fun I can eek out.


Heh heh, since getting my PS3 2 weeks ago, I've already purchased 6 games, all of them what I consider top PS3 titles, and the most I've paid so far is $24.

[Anderson]

PS3 owner now? That's good. I plan to pick one up eventually, too, although dumpster diving on the 360 will probably keep me busy for a while.

Which games did you pick up?

[JDR13]

Which games did you pick up?

Lets see..

Resistance: Fall of Man
Resistance 2
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Metal Gear Solid 4
Silent Hill: Homecoming
Valkyria Chronicles
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection

I stand corrected, I've purchased 7 games so far.

Resistance 1, Uncharted, and MGS4 were used, but are in new/mint condition, the rest were new/sealed. I bought those 3 titles used because I wanted the original black label releases, which are no longer produced. I prefer not to have "Greatest Hits" versions.

[Thaurin]

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Oh, fun! Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is even better. Great-looking games, too, with a fun story.

[Anderson]

Yeah, Uncharted 2 is one of the two games that is really tempting me to get a PS3 (the other being Heavy Rain). I love those sort of Indiana Jones action-adventure games, and UC2 is winning GOTY awards everywhere.

That's a good set of games, JDR. It'll keep you busy. In fact, that's my only problem with cheap games. I tend to accumulate more of them than I really have time to play.

You've got White Knight Chronicles coming in February, then Final Fantasy XIII in March, too, as I'm sure you know.

[JDR13]

Oh, fun! Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is even better. Great-looking games, too, with a fun story.


That's next on my list. :)

[Kostaz]

Back on Risen
RISEN is being developed by Piranha BytesDoes that mean that the PBs are working on the XBOX360 version now?I remember that some other company did the port.

[JDR13]

Back on Risen Does that mean that the PBs are working on the XBOX360 version now?I remember that some other company did the port.



According to Wikipedia..

Piranha Bytes itself developed the Windows version, which was released on October 2, 2009, along with the European version of the Xbox 360 port. The Xbox 360 port has been outsourced to an experienced external console team under the close supervision of Piranha Bytes. The North American version of the Xbox 360 port has been delayed to "early 2010".

[Kostaz]

I think that company's name was WizardBox or something,I'm just curious about what the PBs are working on.Cause I can't see them working on the X360 NA version.

[Anderson]

According to Wikipedia..

I don't understand why they'd have to farm out the US 360 port to a separate developer, if they already had an English version developed in-house. Seems like it would be a simple matter, to adapt the English version for the US market.

Personally I hope that Wiki entry is accurate, since it means the US port might be somewhat better than the Euro port.

[Gorath]

I don't understand why they'd have to farm out the US 360 port to a separate developer, if they already had an English version developed in-house. Seems like it would be a simple matter, to adapt the English version for the US market.
There can be several reasons.
Because it's not a simple matter.
Because they don't have the know-how.
Because their team is too small for two projects at once.
Because they want to concentrate on their core competency.

Personally I hope that Wiki entry is accurate, since it means the US port might be somewhat better than the Euro port.
What makes you think there will be a difference between the two version?

[Anderson]

What makes you think there will be a difference between the two version?

A combination of their poor sentence structure and my limited reading comprehension. "Piranha Bytes itself developed the Windows version, which was released on October 2, 2009, along with the European version of the Xbox 360 port" can be read to mean that PB, in addition to developing the Windows version, also developed the European version of the 360 port. That's how I read it. Then, I assumed the North American port was the one that was outsourced.

So I assumed they were talking about two different 360 ports, one developed by PB for the Euro market, and the other outsourced for the North American market. Hence my confusion: why not just slide the English Euro port over to America? And my assumption that there would be a difference: two different developers, two different outcomes.

But never mind, it's all a misreading.

[JDR13]

Here's a graphical comparison between the 2 versions for anyone who's interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx6Fcdyii8E&feature=related

The Xbox version seems to hold up well against the PC. The lighting and shadows are noticeably better on the PC, and the foliage looks a tad better as well, but overall It looks better than I expected it to look on the Xbox.

[Anderson]

The US 360 port is improved over the Euro port, according to IGN.
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/106/1063293p1.html

It's said to be an improved version over the one already available in European territories, and I had a chance to check it out briefly to get a sense of how it was running and how it controlled. The initial verdict? It looked pretty good.

The good news is that the build seemed to run well. If you compare it to another Xbox 360 version of a Western-style role-playing game like Larian Studios' Divinity II: Ego Draconis, Risen's visuals appear to be much more stable and easy on the eyes. I'm told that for this version's launch, parts of the game's lighting and environment detail were retouched and retooled. I can say more about this aspect of the game after more extensive play time.

As for the rest of the experience, there's plenty of fighting, character customization, and questing to do, and lots of interesting things to find. If the performance holds up and the controls aren't too much of an issue for the North American 360 version, this game could be a nice surprise.

Makes me happy.

[txa1265]

Excellen news, thanks for the update!

[Kostaz]

Releasing a not improved version would be suicidal,I'm still waiting for that PC patch.

[JDR13]

I'm still waiting for that PC patch.

Why? Risen is one of the most bug-free games I've played in a long time.

[Kostaz]

Why? Risen is one of the most bug-free games I've played in a long time.It is but a few issues should be dealt with,for example the translation bug in the trade window,which would confuse me had I not read about it here.There certainly are enough bugs to fix..

[Anderson]

TXB preview:

According to Thorsten Flügel—the game’s producer at Koch Media in Munich, Germany—the extra time spend on developing the North American version of Risen will bring about a number of noticable differences. Reportedly, developer Piranha Bytes put some more effort in to improve the lighting and shadows in the game, buffed up the environments (to look more realistic) and did some major work on raising the texture quality for a better overall look to the game world.

Let's hope so. I might even spring for full price on this game, if the reviews indicate there were substantial improvements.

http://previews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/2498/Risen/p1/

[Kostaz]

They should have deleted the ending ;)

[Gorath]

The quoted paragraph is marketing bullshit. PB didn't work on the Euro XBox conversion. I don't see why they should suddenly change their mind for a patch to create the NA version.
So maybe this is not the only mistake in there. ;)

At least it basically confirms a substancial patch for the XBox version is in the works.

[Anderson]

Are you saying Thorsten Flügel lies? Take it back! Take it back now!

Sounds to me like they're saying PB did some spit & polish work on the NA version. Why isn't that plausible?

And even if it's not PB polishing the turd, hey, who cares, as long as someone did it.

[Gorath]

Sounds to me like they're saying PB did some spit & polish work on the NA version. Why isn't that plausible?

Because PB said they didn't do a thing on the XBox conversion, and they won't do so. Creating a patch for it is Deep Silver's job.

[Anderson]

Because PB said they didn't do a thing on the XBox conversion, and they won't do so. Creating a patch for it is Deep Silver's job.

Ok. I had never heard the "They won't [ever] do so" part.

Again though, I'm not really sure it matters too much who did the improvements. The important thing is that they are done.

How significant they are — that is another question.

[Anderson]

Here are some videos of the 360 NA port:

http://www.youtube.com/user/GameBansheeDotCom

Remember to shift to 720p.

A guy who played the Euro port says the visuals look substantially improved, compared to that version. Still looks pretty flat to me. I know it's all about the gameplay, but still, if you're sandwiching a game between Mass Effect 2 and Final Fantasy XIII, you're going to have to do better than this. People aren't going to be spending $60 for this.

It's set to release in two days, and it has zero buzz. I was thinking about getting it, but it's hard to pay $60 when I know the price will drop quickly.

[Anderson]

Ok, 3 posts in a row, not sure if anyone gives a hoot besides me. But here's IGN's review of the NA 360 version. It gets a surprisingly good 7.6 (the Metacritic average for the Euro port is an ouch 57).

Closing Comments
Whether or not you'll enjoy Piranha Bytes' Risen really depends on what kind of gamer you are. Though this is a more humble and user-friendly product than Piranha Bytes' past games, it's still very much a hardcore role-playing game. If you're not willing to figure some things out for yourself and the idea of freedom of choice doesn't sit well with you, chances are Risen isn't going to mesh well with your gaming sensibilities. If you're familiar with the genre and are looking to take the next step into a mature, well-realized fantasy world, then this is it. Its combat system isn't the greatest and its pacing is inconsistent, but for those who put in the time to see all Risen has to offer, it's an experience that won't be forgotten.
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/107/1071466p1.html

I'm planning on picking it up tomorrow.

Oh, and it's releasing at $50, not the usual $60.

[JDR13]

Give us your impression after you've spent some time with it. I think you're going to enjoy it either way.

[Maylander]

Fantastic game. Glad to see the port being playable. Hopefully the extra sales will boost PB to new heights. I'm very curious as to what they're currently up to..

[Gorath]

Ok. I had never heard the "They won't [ever] do so" part.

Again though, I'm not really sure it matters too much who did the improvements. The important thing is that they are done.

How significant they are — that is another question.

To give a brief answer to this ...
PB doesn't have the know-how. You need to a deep understanding of console tech to be able to develop on them on a high level. PB is configured for PC. Outsourcing ports is no bad thing though. Everybody does it. Even the Mass Effect (PC) port was done externally, AFAIR.

[Dhruin]

Yes, by Demiurge. Even Dragon Age for consoles had external contractors.

[Anderson]

To give a brief answer to this …
PB doesn't have the know-how. You need to a deep understanding of console tech to be able to develop on them on a high level. PB is configured for PC.

Ok, I see. I'm not a tech-savvy person, so these things elude me.

[Malk]

Now I'm just waiting to hear about Venetica…
It's bad. Writing's just horrible. Horrible. It's disturbingly bad. Much worse than Risen. You can get some fun out of it, but you can also definitely find something better to play.

[Gorath]

I enjoyed Venetica a lot. Just don't expect a deep RPG. Can't say anything about the console port though.

edit:
The reviews say the port is solid to good. Terrible textures in the beginning ... but only there. Generally stable frame rate, controls decent. The Review average is only 1% lower than on PC. (The articles read as if the gap should be a bit bigger though.)

[Anderson]

Yeah, I expect that I will like Venetica, based on what I've seen and read so far. I like the main character. I think the story sounds interesting. I like the art design and the environments. I don't mind the "RPG lite" approach if it's embedded in a good game. I'll definitely be picking it up when (if) it comes to the 360 in a language I can understand.

[Malk]

If you ask me, it's not bad because it's lite. The main character may seem interesting, but she's totally underdeveloped… And so is the supporting cast and their motives are just ridiculous, they're not explained with nearly enough depth. Dialogues usually felt like (badly written) monologues. I feel like the lead writer had some good ideas, but wasn't good (experienced?) enough to properly develop them. I really don't mind when a game doesn't bother with the story and just focuses on combat, but Venetica tries and epically fails (that's something I can't stand). Also it's hack & slash all the way. Exploring dungeons can be fun, but seriously, there are a lot better older RPGs out there.

Gorath, have you played the German version? Maybe the English one would be better if it had a proper translation.

[Gorath]

Yes, I played the German version.

It's fine if you don't like it. Some of the actions by support characters are indeed explained in a laconic way. And while I think the writing and the script are good IMO, there are 2-3 scenes which sound like a soap opera (for example the dialog after the fight against this one important chick).

I don't think the combat is hack & slash, but definitely full of action and a bit repetitive. It's nearly impossible to hack yourself casually through more than 2 opponents. The choice of weapons, armour and spells makes a huge difference.

[Malk]

Well, RPGs consisting mostly of combat are hack and slash in my book.. By hack and slash I didn't mean it was like Diablo or something. But I agree, fighting was fun at times, only it was too easy, I didn't really need any skills or magic… And rolling didn't always work, so I've never used it (not that I needed it anyway). Bosses were pretty good, on the other hand. Cleverish.

Btw, I finished Venetica the other day, so I bought The Saboteur… And man, it's awesome, it feels like Dostoyevsky when compared to Venetica. But ok, to each his own, I guess..

[Anderson]

But ok, to each his own, I guess..

Indeed. I just hope I get a chance to try it out eventually.

You know how sometimes you just get a feeling that you'll enjoy a game, even if you don't know a whole lot about it, and even if it might be flawed or peculiar or something other people might turn up their nose at? I have that feeling about this game.