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Arenanet is here with another new blog post today, this time on the opening cinematics that people experience after creating a new character.
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Once a player has chosen a character, class, and name, the first experience you have with the story of Guild Wars 2 is the opening cinematic.
Some of you may be thinking: “A cut scene? Skip, skip! Where’s the gameplay?” But hold on there! These gorgeous cinematics aren’t just a warmed-over reiteration of the box text; they tell the history of your chosen race and set the stage for the grand drama that’s about to unfold. Plus, the opening cinematic offers you a chance to see the concrete results of your character’s history and personality choices. We wrote them for you!
Some of you may be thinking: “A cut scene? Skip, skip! Where’s the gameplay?” But hold on there! These gorgeous cinematics aren’t just a warmed-over reiteration of the box text; they tell the history of your chosen race and set the stage for the grand drama that’s about to unfold. Plus, the opening cinematic offers you a chance to see the concrete results of your character’s history and personality choices. We wrote them for you!
Read the rest of the blog post here
And with this blog post, we also get 3 videos, one for each of the races that were playable in the last two Beta Weekend Events. If you haven't played the previous Beta Weekend Events and have not seen the opening cinematics for the Human, Norn and Charr races and you would prefer to see them in game then of course, you shouldn't watch these videos.
Comments
#1 Puddin Cheeks
Vanguard Scout
Posted 18 July 2012 - 07:04 PM
Watching all of these videos is just making me more impatient for Aug 25th to get here.
I've read through countless info and speculation threads and am twiddling thumbs in furious anticipation.
This is how i have been since BWE#1
#2 Makovorn
Sylvari Specialist
Posted 18 July 2012 - 07:43 PM
I must say, they've tweaked these cinematics a whole lot over the past 2 years it seems - especially in terms of sound. I think your individual sound sliders determines the balance (i.e. sound effects vs. music), however the music seems way too soft in these previews. The sound effects are very pronounced, but it really needs that extra oomph and emotion that only music can provide.
Pity they don't do an audio premix and set it exactly right. With only 3 permutations per cinematic, it could only result in max 15x small 2 minute mixes. It just feels like it needs compression. It needs more pump!
Gosh, I still get goosebumps hearing Claudia Christen in that (most excellent) norn cinematic intro. I remember hearing it the first time during the 2011 GDC, and oh, it's still so glorious. What I wouldn't give to have a replay system (or something akin to a scrying pool) in GW2 just to re-watch these masterpieces of art. Come on ArenaNet, make it so!
#3 7thCylon
Seraph Guardian
Posted 18 July 2012 - 08:07 PM
#4 Beorn The Berserker
Vanguard Scout
Posted 18 July 2012 - 08:33 PM
#5 Shiren
Vanguard Scout
Posted 18 July 2012 - 09:07 PM
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Personally I've watched all my cinemeatics (and was dissapointed that the sylvari one was hidden in the videos this week and held back from this blog post - it's the only reason I bothered to read the blog article) when creating a character, unless it was one I'd seen before. I guess this blog post is mostly targetted at the uninitiated masses.
#6 Tenicord
Seraph Guardian
Posted 18 July 2012 - 09:32 PM
#7 Archduke
Seraph Guardian
Posted 18 July 2012 - 09:38 PM
#8 Bahadur
Vanguard Scout
Posted 18 July 2012 - 09:46 PM
Heh, i got the exact same vibe from this blog.
These videos are readily available in a lot of places, Anet making a blog about them seems to scream "please watch it! Why you no watch?
#9 Milennin
Vigil Crusader
Posted 18 July 2012 - 09:50 PM
I kind of wish I would have time to watch them when the game releases... but I'll have to rush to reserve some names.=/ I hope there'll be a cinematic replay feature ingame, cause I do love these intros.
Yes, the female norn intro is way too awesome. Totally my favourite.
#10 Doctor Overlord
If you hate MMOs....
Posted 18 July 2012 - 10:06 PM
I guess I'm like those people who don't look at the calendar pictures before each month arrives.
#11 Dexwyn
Sylvari Specialist
Posted 18 July 2012 - 10:11 PM
I feel the same way about the Charr cinematic--get a shiver down my body every time he says "... we have killed out Gods." Can't even describe the feels I get at the rest of the video... Honestly, the writers don't get enough credit for these intros. Everyone focuses on the sound/music and the visuals, but the writing is seriously deadly.
I scratched my chin a little at this bit, though:
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In the second part of the cinematic, we illustrate the player’s past history, their outlook on life, and which Spirit of the Wild—Bear, Snow Leopard, Raven, or Wolf—they feel the most affinity for.
I remember the latter half of the cinematic talking about whether you'd chosen Strength/Cunning/Instincts, but I don't recall anything about spirit choice. I wonder if that's something they're changing!
#12 Vahkris
Vigil Crusader
Posted 18 July 2012 - 10:20 PM
I guess I'm like those people who don't look at the calendar pictures before each month arrives.
Aren't you in the beta?
Just so you know, the videos only actually show about half of the intro, which only describes the history of the race. The parts where it branches according to your choices aren't there.
No, the spirit choice is in there already. People may tend to choose similarly, though (Strength and Bear, for example, or Cunning and Raven/Snow Leopard), so they can look like they're only one of the choices. If you choose Cunning and Bear you'll find it very easy to see the point it switches. They don't actually state "I chose this spirit", it's more flavorful text, but whichever you chose will be animated in the scene.
#13 Ramei Arashi
Golem Rider
Posted 18 July 2012 - 10:26 PM
#14 Vahkris
Vigil Crusader
Posted 18 July 2012 - 10:52 PM
Sounds like they're going to show them in a later blog. Question is, will it be before or after the BWE?
#15 Psydrome
Vanguard Scout
Posted 18 July 2012 - 11:07 PM
Story is one of the most important parts of a game for me.
#16 Amannelle
Legend of the Norn
Posted 18 July 2012 - 11:40 PM
#17 Dexwyn
Sylvari Specialist
Posted 18 July 2012 - 11:45 PM
Gotcha.
#18 MXCL
Fahrar Cub
Posted 19 July 2012 - 12:30 AM
#19 Vapor
Sylvari Specialist
Posted 19 July 2012 - 02:08 AM
#20 Doctor Overlord
If you hate MMOs....
Posted 19 July 2012 - 03:39 AM
Just so you know, the videos only actually show about half of the intro, which only describes the history of the race. The parts where it branches according to your choices aren't there.
It's good to know the videos only show the history part of the races, I guess they're safe to watch.