Gothic 3 Magazine Scans

[Liquidize105]

Well, it's actually a 6-page 'Gothic III' preview from the current issue of German gaming mag Gamestar (http://www.gamestar.de/cgi-bin/heft.mpl), but Gothic Vision (http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/index.php?page=home) was given permission (to my awe) to publish it online.

So for we Yankees and the likes, some eye candy (http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/index.php?page=artikel_gsg3preview) is in order.

Thanks RPG. (http://rpgdot.com/)

[EvilBob46]

Lookin' good, although the article apparently mentions that the actual gameplay mechanics are not in place yet and most of this is still just an extended technical demonstration.

[LilAbner]

Dare ya to call someone from anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line a "yankee."

[Liquidize105]

You're the one to talk, Maryland didn't even secede.

[Heretic Machine]

You know, the original Gothic was considered abandonware for a while... I'm guessing the developer started telling the community that they were still selling it. Not sure where they're selling it though <.<

[ldi222]

The original Gothic is awesome though and in some ways more interesting than part 2. I cant wait for this title.

[ElectricMonk]

hot damn this looks nice

if you would have shown me that when the 3d card was first coming out i don't think i could understand how it was possible to do graphics like that

[Klade]

Point of history, Maryland wanted to secede but Linkon illegally jailed the govt so they couldn't vote on it. He did it so that Washington D.C. wouldn't be surrounded. To this day the Southern end of Maryland is basically bible belt while the northern end tends to be more liberal (exceptions exist of course).

[Kelegacy]

I started Gothic 1 twice...and both times my saves were erased (my error, and switched over to a new computer and abandoned them) so...do I need to finish the first one to play the second in terms of story? I know I'm doing myself an injustice for even contemplating leaving the 1st game in the dust, but I have wanted to play the sequel for a long time. I just dont think I can start it all over again without being bored...at least at first.

[F3nyx]

Wow... that's like the next next-generation. Amazing. The art looks much more unified and realistic than Oblivion's.

[ldi222]

I havent gone very far in the first one yet but I completed the 2nd one and Ill say there are a lot of similarities between the two. I dont think you would be missing much by starting the 2nd one and then perhaps going back to the first one before part III comes out.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

That is amazing looking.

[Liquidize105]

I started Gothic 1 twice...and both times my saves were erased (my error, and switched over to a new computer and abandoned them) so...do I need to finish the first one to play the second in terms of story? I know I'm doing myself an injustice for even contemplating leaving the 1st game in the dust, but I have wanted to play the sequel for a long time. I just dont think I can start it all over again without being bored...at least at first.
You have got to lend it to me!

And you sure can. I think Gothic2 actually made it possible for me to play Gothic.

[steve]

Lookin' good, although the article apparently mentions that the actual gameplay mechanics are not in place yet and most of this is still just an extended technical demonstration.

Yeah, in the original Gamestar print magazine most screenshots were marked as being rendered by a graphic application and not the actual ingame engine (which crashed and wouldn't run at that time). This basically applies to 80% of the screenshots being shown.

[SlamDunk]

I've talked with a Gothic 3 dev in May and he said it is in-engine stuff (everything you see on the pics is in-game material) but most of the pics are composites.

Here's the screenshot texts translated (thanks to a Shacknews member):

Picture translation

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/images/artikel_gamestar/info.jpg
Where are these pictures from?
Gothic 3 doesn't yet exist in any playable form. It wasn't until the Games Convention that Piranha included NPCs into the game world. None of the screenshots show actual gameplay, they've been made with a graphics-program and in-game assets. Screenshots like those give the player an idea of the final product, but do not (have to) represent the final product. Part of the screenshots in the article were sent to us by Piranha Bytes [...]. The other pics are from the Game Convention version.

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/gallery.php?dir=artikel_gsg3preview&pic=seite29.jpg
This screenshot from the version of the Games Convention shows the current status of the Gothic graphics engine.

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/gallery.php?dir=artikel_gsg3preview&pic=seite30.jpg
The majority of the cities in Gothic consist of wooden huts. The stronghold Geldern, with its massive stone houses and stone walls, is one of the largest cities in the land.
(text within picture, clockwise, starting at the top left)
-Board structures, like this roof, don't consist of textured areas, but of individual boards. This increases the level of detail.
-To give the edges of houses a believable look when looking at them from the side, the stones at the edges have been modeled individually.
-The polycount for the player figures has increased from 1.500 to 15.000. The faces benefited the most from this.
-Just like the predecessor, the third Gothic allows the player an unmatched far-sight (???) over the landscape. Far away mountains can be reached by foot.

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/gallery.php?dir=artikel_gsg3preview&pic=seite31_05.jpg
Versatile architecture makes cities convincing

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/gallery.php?dir=artikel_gsg3preview&pic=seite31_06.jpg
Character models are made up of 15 thousand polys.

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/gallery.php?dir=artikel_gsg3preview&pic=seite31_07.jpg
The Gothic engine can also do HDR

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/gallery.php?dir=artikel_gsg3preview&pic=seite31_01.jpg
The Gothic Engine, developed by Piranha Bytes, counts on high poly counts to deliver a high level of detail. Compared to Gothic 2, the polycount has been increased by five or six times. The graphic designers modeled catwalk boards, stone heaps and picket fences individually, instead of using textured areas.

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/gallery.php?dir=artikel_gsg3preview&pic=seite31_02.jpg
The world and its cities will be lighted by a dynamic day and night change. The concept of "Ambient Occlusion" darkens rooms and areas that are not directly illuminated. That's why it's less bright under trees (independently from shadows). Splices and cracks let in sunlight, a very atmospheric effect. All larger buildings, and all people within have dynamic shadows.

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/gallery.php?dir=artikel_gsg3preview&pic=seite31_03.jpg
The result of this is a living and believable world, just as the first to parts of the series, only much more detailed. Piranha improved the animations, as well. NPCs can abort actions now, or combine two actions in one smooth motion. Up to date hardware is a prerequisite. The hardware hunger is going to be proportional to gothic 3s level of detail.

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/gallery.php?dir=artikel_gsg3preview&pic=seite32_01.jpg
The citizens of the cities have daily routines. Blacksmiths make weapons, guards patrol.

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/gallery.php?dir=artikel_gsg3preview&pic=seite32_02.jpg
Hoards of Hornhammers roam through Myrtana, which will attack of flee as a group.

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/gallery.php?dir=artikel_gsg3preview&pic=seite33.jpg
This small mountain path leads up to the city of Gotha. In Gothic 3 nature really looks like nature.

http://www.cx-digital.com/gothic-vision/gallery.php?dir=artikel_gsg3preview&pic=seite34.jpg
Predators prefer to attack as a pack. The improved AI is suppose to even challenge the most experienced heroes.

[JudasGoat]

I've never played either Gothic or Gothic II, but I've read so many people here go on and on about it that I can't help but be interested. Problem is, I can't find a copy of the damned thing anywhere. Gothic II yes, but I'm an anal completist and would like to finish the first before the second. Is anyone selling a copy of this?
(Btw, I checked the manufacturer's site and it's only available in German.)

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

[Liquidize105]

Play #2 first. I'm looking for 1 myself. Still looking.

[mister_slim]

Pretty and cohesive. Nice work.

[Voodoo]

I've got Gothic 1, but I've not played it for more than about 20 minutes. I couldn't get a hang of the interface. I had purchased it the same day as I got Morrowind.

http://diablo.sytes.net/ccannon/Gothic_1.jpg

[ldi222]

You interested in trading or selling that Voodoo?

[Liquidize105]

I'm trading him, Idi you don't need 2 copies.

[Voodoo]

After all the huh-bub I am going to attempt to try it again. Maybe there was something I missed. If I end up making it available for trade, I'll post in the forums.

[SlamDunk]

Good decision Voodoo ;)

See you in a few weeks, have fun in the land of Myrtana :P

[Liquidize105]

Well aren't you a kill-joy? Let my hopes up and everything. :mad:

Enjoy I guess :D

You know what they say, they keep you waiting longer when they know you want their parking space ;)

[Voodoo]

Don't worry. I will know real quick if this game is for me or not. I was raised on Ultima RPGs and I have heard that Gothic is open just like the Ultimas. We'll see... I'll keep you all updated.

[JudasGoat]

Good deal, Ace. I therefore trust your opinion. DON'T LET US DOWN! Vaya con Dios.