Marek Interview at Pcgameworld

[Baphomet 0]

Has anyone seen this? I briefly perused the forum to see if anyone had posted this before. Apologies if it is.

The article

I found it both interesting, and heartening to know where Marek's priorities and opinions lie on the issue of the future of gaming. As they coincide on key issues with my own.

Quote[/b] ]The inexorable march toward better graphics is of prime importance to most developers. How do you feel that this irrepressible desire for progressively accomplished digital imagery will shape the future of gaming?

I am afraid that one of the problems is that people that evaluate games in the press or companies that sell games are often too busy focusing on graphics to concentrate on what actually makes a game a good game – that is gameplay – they tend rather to be impressed by short visual impressions that form their opinion as to the overall quality of a game. I’m afraid that this one sided orientation to visuals really is not very good as there are many areas in games that are as important as nice graphics. But of course, digital imagery in games still has a long way to go before we will be unable to differentiate between a movie and a game. But let’s hope that this “need†for better visuals will not entirely destroy the need for better gameplay.

Too true. I'm very glad to see that perspective coincides with my own. I kind of feel this comment appropriately describes my viewpoint on where the addon community has gone: "But let’s hope that this “need†for better visuals will not entirely destroy the need for better gameplay.

"

Only... it's already happened.

Quote[/b] ]Will there ever be such a thing as ‘total realism’, or will that be too large a compromise upon gameplay?

As we all live in ‘total reality’ it’s working and can also be fun, there’s no reason why realism in games couldn’t work well. We always believed in realism in games and we want to continue trying to build realistic games that will still provide great gameplay. But of course, realism is only one possible way to go and there are always many different avenues to explore in gaming.

Again. I'm glad to see that there's a rational mind amongst the morass of individuals decrying realism in games as something of an impossibility or undesirable.

Quote[/b] ]Are games being ‘dumbed-down’ to appeal to a more mainstream audience?

Sometimes I feel that’s true. But as there are many people who watch complex and intelligent movies or read sophisticated books it will be always possible to make successful game that are complex and smart. We simply need to make games accessible. Of course it’s not necessary to dumb down a game in order to make it accessible and appealing to more people.

I wholeheartedly agree with the question. That's just me though. But I'm glad Marek seems aware of it, and that he's not willing to sell his soul so to speak to make a few extra bucks by shortchanging what us OFP'ers have come to expect. As it stands there are few games left that I even enjoy anymore. OFP 2 will be worth buying a new system for. Definitely.

It seems funny that some of the interviews I've read have been overly diplomatic and glossed over the last question with a positive spin instead of basically coming out with it. So it's really good to know that there's still at least one company worth looking out for.

[MATRA 0]

Quote[/b] ]The sequel to Operation Flashpoint for PC is still in its first half of development and there isn’t much we want to reveal about it at this stage. Except that again it’s going to be a highly realistic and complex wargame, keeping everything that made the original so successful and adding a new visual engine, advanced physical simulation and incorporating many new ideas to enhance the experience.

Full interview: http://www.pcgameworld.com/article.php/id/303/

[shinRaiden 0]

Now that needs to be stickied someplace. Looking at the list the rest of the interviewees were pretty much talking heads, mods, and PR peoples (no offense o great and mighty Placebo-mod)

Quote[/b] ]

I am afraid that one of the problems is that people that evaluate games in the press or companies that sell games are often too busy focusing on graphics to concentrate on what actually makes a game a good game – that is gameplay – they tend rather to be impressed by short visual impressions that form their opinion as to the overall quality of a game.

Amen, hallelujah, and please pass the gravy of goodness. That's what we love about BIS.

Quote[/b] ]

Physics in games will always try to move closer and closer to real world physics. The gaming industry is still at a very early stage of incorporating ‘true’ physics into games, but one day we may see things such as real water flowing in games, real flames burning objects and the simulated destruction in games may become so accurate that for example a brick building is constructed in such a manner that when destroyed each brick responds in a correct and appropriate way to the force and magnitude of the destruction with the result being both unique and accurate. And once the destruction is simulated well, maybe we’ll use the physics for more nice and constructive games where violence is not the common way of interaction anymore.

Sounds like someone has been playing with way too many legos. The dreams of today are tomorrow's bricks.

Excellent find.

[shinRaiden 0]

previously posted here, but does belong here. Mod's please merge.

[ralphwiggum 6]

hmm....kinda tough call.

[Nilz 0]

Now that's what we wanted to hear.

Go BIS!

[Evishion 0]

is it me or did the guys who interviewed go very off topic when talking about OFP?

or wasent it a pure ofp interview ?

[Evishion 0]

its posted in the OFP 2 forum

[shinRaiden 0]

it wasn't an OFP interview, it was a series of interviews with dev's, industry pundits, and other people about the future course of gaming. Kudo's to Marek for being the only one to keep a level head about practical immersive gameplay (get serious people, where will you put a holodeck in your dorm?) and not selling his soul to the graphics gobblers.

That said, it doesn't exactly relate specificly to OFP2 or OFP:Xbox as this is really long term theories and prognositications about where games in general are going. BUT... this gives us a huge current insight into what stirs in Marek's mind, and what Suma and friends might be cooking up in the coder's cave of wonders. Especially physics. He didn't just gloss over that either, and there were some fairly firm (imho) commitments on engine stuff for OFP:Xbox. Now the extents of those numbers he didn't provide ballpark numbers for, but it sure sounded good.

[Evishion 0]

i liked the part when he sayd that theyr focuse more on physic's and gameplay than gfx.. good that SOME dev's still does the right thing about gameplay

[Placebo 29]

Merged the other thread into here, the interview was done around January but I guess they had to wait to compile it with ones from other people

[4 IN 1 0]

it wasn't an OFP interview, it was a series of interviews with dev's, industry pundits, and other people about the future course of gaming. Kudo's to Marek for being the only one to keep a level head about practical immersive gameplay (get serious people, where will you put a holodeck in your dorm?) and not selling his soul to the graphics gobblers.

That said, it doesn't exactly relate specificly to OFP2 or OFP:Xbox as this is really long term theories and prognositications about where games in general are going. BUT... this gives us a huge current insight into what stirs in Marek's mind, and what Suma and friends might be cooking up in the coder's cave of wonders. Especially physics. He didn't just gloss over that either, and there were some fairly firm (imho) commitments on engine stuff for OFP:Xbox. Now the extents of those numbers he didn't provide ballpark numbers for, but it sure sounded good.

in the other words:

Wanta know whats going on at the back yard of BIS?

Grab your FN2000, lets go Sam Fisher

[simulacra 0]

"first half of it's development" they announced it 18 months ago, shouldn't they have come a bit further than that?

I was hoping that we would see something from ofp2 at E3, it's been such a long wait and all we've seen in this genre is half assed games such as GR2 and R6:Lockdown

[Schoeler 0]

Hey, if the first half of development took them this long, we can infer a couple things:

1) We are getting a pretty re-worked engine and game environment.

2)This is going to be a great game far and above the original OFP.

Just tweaking the current engine and graphics would take a lot less time, so my money is on some dramatic changes.

[Gordy 0]

Hey, if the first half of development took them this long, we can infer a couple things:

1) We are getting a pretty re-worked engine and game environment.

2)This is going to be a great game far and above the original OFP.

Just tweaking the current engine and graphics would take a lot less time, so my money is on some dramatic changes.

forgot to mention it will be released sometime within next 20 years.

[hardrock 1]

forgot to mention it will be released sometime within next 20 years.

True, late 2006 _is_ within the next 20 years

[Gordy 0]

forgot to mention it will be released sometime within next 20 years.

True, late 2006 _is_ within the next 20 years

Like if they kept their previous date.

BTW.

It was an intended exaggeration.