Geralt of Rivia Coming to Monster Hunter World on Consoles in Early 2019 - MMORPG.com

Aeander

Sovrath said:

Torval said:

Scot said:

More Witcher yes, more crossovers no. Let's just be glad CD Projeckt does not own Candy Crush.

Man I was hoping you'd see this thread after the Conan discussion. This thread immediately brought to my mind, your point about the casual disregard for lore and narrative integrity.

I don't mind mashups and crossovers, when they're appropriate, for the games they're appropriate in, like Super Smash Bros.

If people want to play as Geralt fine, but I don't want to team up in MHW with Mario, Geralt, or Diablo. "McDonalds" style gaming is fine, for McDonalds types of games. Keep that fast food mentality where it belongs though.

I was going to pick the game up for the holiday, but now I think it's a pass. What I find troubling about this is how much these games can change in look and feel after release and purchase. It pisses me off when a studio totally revamps a game post launch or adds a bunch of tawdry bullshit.

But isn't there a bit of a difference?

I'm 100% in agreement that there needs to be integrity.

If this was batman or hello kitty or something way out in left field then I'd say "sure" you're correct.

But having a monster hunting game with a character who is all about monster hunting, and that the art design isn't so different, as opposed to having some sort of super hero, I can give it a pass as far as my taste is concerned.

Also, it's not like Monster Hunter games take immersion that seriously to begin with (hello, Palicos).

Sovrath

Aeander said:

Sovrath said:

Torval said:

Scot said:

More Witcher yes, more crossovers no. Let's just be glad CD Projeckt does not own Candy Crush.

Man I was hoping you'd see this thread after the Conan discussion. This thread immediately brought to my mind, your point about the casual disregard for lore and narrative integrity.

I don't mind mashups and crossovers, when they're appropriate, for the games they're appropriate in, like Super Smash Bros.

If people want to play as Geralt fine, but I don't want to team up in MHW with Mario, Geralt, or Diablo. "McDonalds" style gaming is fine, for McDonalds types of games. Keep that fast food mentality where it belongs though.

I was going to pick the game up for the holiday, but now I think it's a pass. What I find troubling about this is how much these games can change in look and feel after release and purchase. It pisses me off when a studio totally revamps a game post launch or adds a bunch of tawdry bullshit.

But isn't there a bit of a difference?

I'm 100% in agreement that there needs to be integrity.

If this was batman or hello kitty or something way out in left field then I'd say "sure" you're correct.

But having a monster hunting game with a character who is all about monster hunting, and that the art design isn't so different, as opposed to having some sort of super hero, I can give it a pass as far as my taste is concerned.

Also, it's not like Monster Hunter games take immersion that seriously to begin with (hello, Palicos).

I was going to agree (about the Palicos) but then thought about it.

They aren't immersion breaking as they are (at least from what I can tell) created in alignment with the rest of the art design.

I would say they are more of an acquired taste or that some might not like the idea of a cat person companion.

They are made to be cute but that is something that is highly valued there. As my girlfriend said to me (she is japanese) "I'd rather be called cute than beautiful!"

Aeander

Torval said:

Sovrath said:

Torval said:

Scot said:

More Witcher yes, more crossovers no. Let's just be glad CD Projeckt does not own Candy Crush.

Man I was hoping you'd see this thread after the Conan discussion. This thread immediately brought to my mind, your point about the casual disregard for lore and narrative integrity.

I don't mind mashups and crossovers, when they're appropriate, for the games they're appropriate in, like Super Smash Bros.

If people want to play as Geralt fine, but I don't want to team up in MHW with Mario, Geralt, or Diablo. "McDonalds" style gaming is fine, for McDonalds types of games. Keep that fast food mentality where it belongs though.

I was going to pick the game up for the holiday, but now I think it's a pass. What I find troubling about this is how much these games can change in look and feel after release and purchase. It pisses me off when a studio totally revamps a game post launch or adds a bunch of tawdry bullshit.

But isn't there a bit of a difference?

I'm 100% in agreement that there needs to be integrity.

If this was batman or hello kitty or something way out in left field then I'd say "sure" you're correct.

But having a monster hunting game with a character who is all about monster hunting, and that the art design isn't so different, as opposed to having some sort of super hero, I can give it a pass as far as my taste is concerned.

Would Geralt be appropriate in the next Diablo or Lord of the Rings game? How about the Mario Kart crew in Forza? Guardians of the Galaxy in Star Wars? Kratos and crew in Elder Scrolls? 

Yes. No. Yes. Yes.

Sovrath

Torval said:

Sovrath said:

Torval said:

Scot said:

More Witcher yes, more crossovers no. Let's just be glad CD Projeckt does not own Candy Crush.

Man I was hoping you'd see this thread after the Conan discussion. This thread immediately brought to my mind, your point about the casual disregard for lore and narrative integrity.

I don't mind mashups and crossovers, when they're appropriate, for the games they're appropriate in, like Super Smash Bros.

If people want to play as Geralt fine, but I don't want to team up in MHW with Mario, Geralt, or Diablo. "McDonalds" style gaming is fine, for McDonalds types of games. Keep that fast food mentality where it belongs though.

I was going to pick the game up for the holiday, but now I think it's a pass. What I find troubling about this is how much these games can change in look and feel after release and purchase. It pisses me off when a studio totally revamps a game post launch or adds a bunch of tawdry bullshit.

But isn't there a bit of a difference?

I'm 100% in agreement that there needs to be integrity.

If this was batman or hello kitty or something way out in left field then I'd say "sure" you're correct.

But having a monster hunting game with a character who is all about monster hunting, and that the art design isn't so different, as opposed to having some sort of super hero, I can give it a pass as far as my taste is concerned.

Mario is all about monster hunting. Lots of IPs are about finding and killing the monsters. It's a matter of thematic integrity and how seriously the game takes itself.

Would Geralt be appropriate in the next Diablo or Lord of the Rings game? How about the Mario Kart crew in Forza? Guardians of the Galaxy in Star Wars? Kratos and crew in Elder Scrolls? Those could all make tons of money I'm sure and be really "fun" for people who don't care about thematic integrity, but it would cheapen the experience and ruin the fun for those of us who do. Most games have enough trouble maintaining a decent narrative.

If the game was strictly single player then it could be avoided, but since it's online the obvious idiocy will ensue and that ruins the feel of the game for me. For me, the fun is the immersion into the game world and the bombastic crossovers ruin that.

I can't disagree about crossovers in a multi-player game ruining the experience for others (though I think a game actually having multi-player with strangers is the first step to ruining the game for others) but the art design for Geralt and "what he is" is more congruent with Monster Hunter World than Mario would be.

And since it's a fictional world but (at least to me given what I know) having a somewhat narrow lore, it's not really so out of place.

No, he would not work in any of the IP's you mentioned.

Aesthetically he doesn't fit into Diablo, doesn't fit into the Lore of Lord of the rings nor Guardians of the Galaxy or Star Wars (for obvious reasons).

He could fit into Elder Scrolls as he isn't too far off aesthetically, both are fantasy worlds.

I once had a Geralt character in an Elder Scrolls Skyrim play through. I do tend to create backstories that explain and then guide my elder scrolls play throughs.

Aeander

Torval said:

Aeander said:

Torval said:

Sovrath said:

Torval said:

Scot said:

More Witcher yes, more crossovers no. Let's just be glad CD Projeckt does not own Candy Crush.

Man I was hoping you'd see this thread after the Conan discussion. This thread immediately brought to my mind, your point about the casual disregard for lore and narrative integrity.

I don't mind mashups and crossovers, when they're appropriate, for the games they're appropriate in, like Super Smash Bros.

If people want to play as Geralt fine, but I don't want to team up in MHW with Mario, Geralt, or Diablo. "McDonalds" style gaming is fine, for McDonalds types of games. Keep that fast food mentality where it belongs though.

I was going to pick the game up for the holiday, but now I think it's a pass. What I find troubling about this is how much these games can change in look and feel after release and purchase. It pisses me off when a studio totally revamps a game post launch or adds a bunch of tawdry bullshit.

But isn't there a bit of a difference?

I'm 100% in agreement that there needs to be integrity.

If this was batman or hello kitty or something way out in left field then I'd say "sure" you're correct.

But having a monster hunting game with a character who is all about monster hunting, and that the art design isn't so different, as opposed to having some sort of super hero, I can give it a pass as far as my taste is concerned.

Would Geralt be appropriate in the next Diablo or Lord of the Rings game? How about the Mario Kart crew in Forza? Guardians of the Galaxy in Star Wars? Kratos and crew in Elder Scrolls? 

Yes. No. Yes. Yes.

It's a trick question. Like I said, thematic integrity, it either matters to you or it doesn't. And don't be afraid to bastardize the LotR IP. It's not special.

I'd love to see Micky Mouse kites in Guild Wars 2 and Star Trek uniforms in Final Fantasy 14. So many ideas to make more money. It's not only "fun", but think of all the cash shop possibilities.

You know what great idea that they haven't done? Bobblehead character models. Everyone could be their favorite bobblehead sports hero. I'd be Nolan Ryan because back in the day throwing 110 mph pitches was amazeballs.

It's funny because the best single player Lord of the Rings games (The Third Age and Shadow of Mordor/Shadow of War) are universally those that bastardize the lore. Probably because people do their best work when they are able to take some creative liberties.

Anyway, whether something "fits" to me is in regards to artstyle. If Geralt cameo'd in the Lord of the Rings, he would mesh perfectly with the art style and setting, and may not even be terribly out of line in regards to his capabilities. The casual viewer/anyone who doesn't know about him, would just view him as another Strider. He'd mesh even easier with Diablo. And in Monster Hunter, he meshes perfectly (and I mean perfectly) unless he starts casting Witcher signs.

Elder Scrolls already has an official Portal crossover. A Geralt crossover would be less immersion breaking.

Guild Wars 2 already has immersion breakers on par with or worse than Mickey Mouse kites. I know this line was meant to aggravate me personally, but fuck it. We already have idiots running around with noisy rainbow unicorn shortbows and plush backpacks, so go ahead and Mickey it up.

Implying that Final Fantasy has its immersion in tact. Final Fantasy 15 in particular is practically addicted to crossovers.

Guild Wars 2 has done bobblehead character models for April Fools day and it was HILARIOUS. Big head mode has been a thing in gaming for what... 20+ years now?

Aeander

Torval said:

Aeander said:

Torval said:

It's a trick question. Like I said, thematic integrity, it either matters to you or it doesn't. And don't be afraid to bastardize the LotR IP. It's not special.

I'd love to see Micky Mouse kites in Guild Wars 2 and Star Trek uniforms in Final Fantasy 14. So many ideas to make more money. It's not only "fun", but think of all the cash shop possibilities.

You know what great idea that they haven't done? Bobblehead character models. Everyone could be their favorite bobblehead sports hero. I'd be Nolan Ryan because back in the day throwing 110 mph pitches was amazeballs.

It's funny because the best single player Lord of the Rings games (The Third Age and Shadow of Mordor/Shadow of War) are universally those that bastardize the lore. Probably because people do their best work when they are able to take some creative liberties.

Anyway, whether something "fits" to me is in regards to artstyle. If Geralt cameo'd in the Lord of the Rings, he would mesh perfectly with the art style and setting, and may not even be terribly out of line in regards to his capabilities. The casual viewer/anyone who doesn't know about him, would just view him as another Strider. He'd mesh even easier with Diablo. And in Monster Hunter, he meshes perfectly (and I mean perfectly) unless he starts casting Witcher signs.

Elder Scrolls already has an official Portal crossover. A Geralt crossover would be less immersion breaking.

Guild Wars 2 already has immersion breakers on par with or worse than Mickey Mouse kites. I know this line was meant to aggravate me personally, but fuck it. We already have idiots running around with noisy rainbow unicorn shortbows and plush backpacks, so go ahead and Mickey it up.

Implying that Final Fantasy has its immersion in tact. Final Fantasy 15 in particular is practically addicted to crossovers.

Guild Wars 2 has done bobblehead character models for April Fools day and it was HILARIOUS. Big head mode has been a thing in gaming for what... 20+ years now?

The Guild Wars example wasn't to irritate you. It was to use an example you could relate to. Like I said, thematic integrity either matters to a person or it doesn't. Your examples show how in the last couple of years that has been tossed by the wayside in favor of making fast money for the lulz.

Your examples only reinforce to me how little studios care about the integrity of their gaming worlds and how recently they've wholeheartedly tossed that aside for the money. I'm sure it's fun, but it also completely ruins the narrative and any suspension of disbelief. We've traded narrative for slapstick gamification. Slapstick is funny, but not when it intrudes everywhere. These crossovers are the equivalent of visual slapstick.

Believe it or not, I'm mostly on your side. Mostly. Immersion breakers do annoy me greatly.

It's just that where I draw the line on immersion breakers is whether or not they are coherent with the greater artistic or audible style of the universe they are in. This is why, for example, I despise Yordles in League of Legends and Moogles in Final Fantasy because they are annoying and don't mesh well with the greater artistic themes. They exist to be mascots.

But if you were to take an outfit from another universe (like Assassin's Creed robes in Final Fantasy) it might actually work if such is artistically coherent with the setting. In this example, the AC robes are actually pretty similar-ish to Kingsglaive uniforms, and don't really stand out as implausible.

lahnmir

Just putting this out there but the reason Geralt would be immersion breaking in MHW isn’t because he sticks out like a sore thumb (hello Soul Calibur VI), it is because MHW is one of the most immersive games out there and anything that interrupts that is annoying. It says more about the quality of the world and gameplay of MHW then it says about Geralt really.

/Cheers,
Lahnmir