Steam and GOG sales

[Tawmis]

Several Adventure games - including a majority of Sierra Games is currently on sale.

https://www.gog.com/en/promo/2023_click_to_adventure

[Tawmis]

Get NWN:EE free.
https://gaming.amazon.com/neverwinter-n ... e52d825c51

[Rath Darkblade]

Heh. That would be easier if I had (or wanted) an Amazon membership ... and more importantly, if I hadn't already played NWN:EE a great number of times ...

(Seriously. I played this game so many times, each time with a different class -- and also tried for the prestige classes, like Arcane Archer, Shadow Dancer, Weapon Master, Blackguard, etc. etc. etc.)

I still have a copy of this game. For its age, it is an amazing game - the first RPG to be entirely in 3D. (I wouldn't recommend the original campaign, though).

[Tawmis]

Heh. That would be easier if I had (or wanted) an Amazon membership ... and more importantly, if I hadn't already played NWN:EE a great number of times ...
(Seriously. I played this game so many times, each time with a different class -- and also tried for the prestige classes, like Arcane Archer, Shadow Dancer, Weapon Master, Blackguard, etc. etc. etc.)
I still have a copy of this game. For its age, it is an amazing game - the first RPG to be entirely in 3D. (I wouldn't recommend the original campaign, though).

The NWN:EE is the Enhanced Edition that Beamdog (folks from Bioware) put out and continue to update. It's still NWN, but they've done a lot to pretty it up.

[DeadPoolX]

The NWN:EE is the Enhanced Edition that Beamdog (folks from Bioware) put out and continue to update. It's still NWN, but they've done a lot to pretty it up.

Unfortunately, the models are still so low-poly that even better textures doesn't do much to improve the visuals overall.

[Rath Darkblade]

I wasn't sure what "low-poly" means, so I looked it up:

High poly and low poly are two kinds of 3D model design, referring to the number of polygons used to create the model. High-poly models can be used for close-up shots that show intricate details, while low-poly models are best for long-distance shots where fewer details matter.

(According to Better Than Studio, "The Difference between high-poly and low-poly shots).

So, yes - the 3D models in NWN are not meant to be seen in close-up. Unfortunately, the camera pans on a model whenever you talk to that character. Then again, the original NWN was released in 2002; everything was different then, not just graphics.

The original NWN was great, especially in terms of moddability. NWN2 was ... "interesting" (i.e. inferior, in my not-so-humble). I doubt we'll ever see NWN3 -- or is Baldur's Gate 3 also NWN3 (in spirit, perhaps?) -- but you never know.

[DeadPoolX]

The definition you found is for graphics that are purposefully made to be high-poly or low-poly based on usage. I'm talking about older 3D models that might've been considered high-poly at the time, but today are eyesores.

For instance, GK3. Those graphics weren't amazing even back then, but they looked pretty good overall for the state of 3D graphics at the time it was released. Looking at GK3 today, those models look extremely low-poly to the point of barely resembling human beings.

NWN's character models look almost as bad as GK3's character models, which is why I think NWN looks awful today despite whatever improved textures might be applied.

Interestingly enough, 2D graphics tend to age better, or even 3D that's made in a stylized fashion instead of attempting to look "realistic."

[notbobsmith]

Interestingly enough, 2D graphics tend to age better, or even 3D that's made in a stylized fashion instead of attempting to look "realistic."

It is funny how that works, and it's probably the reason why there are a lot of retro-pixel games. Gold Rush 2 was a good example of this. Somehow the AGI graphics of the original look better than the poorly done 3D of the sequel.

[Rath Darkblade]

Sorry to resurrect this, but just wondering: are the "Return to Monkey Island" graphics also an example of "stylized" 3D graphics? I've seen some examples, and read some opinions of them, both for ("A brave new step!") and against ("It looks HORRIBLE!") etc.

Personally, I like Monkey Island very much. So I'm not sure what to think. I'll probably get the game at some point, but I was just wondering.

[notbobsmith]

Sorry to resurrect this, but just wondering: are the "Return to Monkey Island" graphics also an example of "stylized" 3D graphics? I've seen some examples, and read some opinions of them, both for ("A brave new step!") and against ("It looks HORRIBLE!") etc.

Personally, I like Monkey Island very much. So I'm not sure what to think. I'll probably get the game at some point, but I was just wondering.

I haven't played it, but from videos it certainly looks stylized to me. Everything seems to be made out of these simple geometric shapes but very cartoony which fits the overall tone of the game series. As for whether you like it or not, that is a matter of opinion. I personally like it. Like I said it fits the tone of the game and it has a very distinct style. And, like DPX said, it will age much better than a game with "realistic" characters as technology advances and the character models become more and more dated.

[Tawmis]

GoG has some sales now...

Thief: Definitive Collection (yes, not a Sierra game, but it was a fun game) - for very cheap (I have the stand alone of 1, 2 and 3... so may pick this up since it's less than $5)...
https://www.gog.com/en/game/thief_definitive_edition

Lands of Lore 1&2: https://www.gog.com/en/game/lands_of_lore_1_2
Lands of Lore 3: https://www.gog.com/en/game/lands_of_lore_3

LSL 1-6: https://www.gog.com/en/game/leisure_suit_larry
LSL 7: https://www.gog.com/en/game/leisure_sui ... e_for_sail

The Longest Journey (not Sierra, but amazing - I need to finish this one day)... https://www.gog.com/en/game/the_longest_journey

Goblins 1 - 3: https://www.gog.com/en/game/gobliiins_pack

Star Control 1 and 2: Not Sierra, but a fun game (though I never beat either one)... https://www.gog.com/en/game/star_control_i_ii

And some of the classic (non Sierra, also) D&D games...
Deathkeep: https://www.gog.com/en/game/deathkeep
Dragonstrike: https://www.gog.com/en/game/dragonstrike
Silver Box Classics: https://www.gog.com/en/game/silver_box_classics

Ken & Roberta's Colossal Cave: https://www.gog.com/en/game/colossal_cave