I was absolutely disinterested in their multiplayer explanation until it was mentioned that it can be turned off completely, which restored some faith.
Then I remembered that even if I have absolutely no interest and intention to ever play this online it still requires their uPlay DRM client, a UbiSoft account and activation, so it stays on my "will not buy" list for now until this is rectified.
If it's still not playable offline, I'm not interested in new expansions.
Then again, the story and characters in Diablo 3 are just ... no, so realistically speaking in the meantime I wouldn't even be interested in this if it was playable offline.
I'd rather spend some more hundred hours playing Grim Dawn instead or replay Titans Quest again. (or Diablo 1 and 2, Torchlight 1 and 2, Nox, ...)
Well, since I already own all of the original ones, I'd say I want to buy just that same, re-polished game collection (if it's DRM free) for around 25 EUR tops and you can keep those gimmicks that will only end up collecting dust in a cabinet anyways.
I think this means I'll be waiting for the "normal" edition then.
@Hakkology You should decide for yourself, but from what I've seen and read - no, it's not.
Here's a ArsTechnica review that's just been published : http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/02/review-thief-reboot-should-have-stayed-hidden/
If the developers have at least half a brain, they'll allow modding so at least the community can save this fiasco.
If you value your love for the Thief franchise, save yourself the trouble and just buy / replay the "Thief Gold" edition you can pick up for 10 USD on GoG or play "The Dark Mod" which is a free Doom Engine mod / total conversion. (or buy / play Dishonored instead)
The Mantle API won't save this game though, besides, if it runs on Consoles it most definitely runs better on PC anyways unless the developers simply half-heartedly port it over. (or one tries to play it on a 8+ year old PC)
Saw the gameplay videos - 5 hour linear walkthrough with absolutely braindead guard AI, filled with cutscenes and illogical NPC behavior.
Might pick it up for 5 EUR in a Steam sale though because it doesn't have extra DRM and maybe it's playable or at least mod-able by then. (that's all I can give them for doing such a piss poor job with the Thief franchise)
They could just skip Mantle all together and bring it to OpenGL / Linux instead to be SteamOS ready.
Game release in the article reads "December 31, 2099". I think that's a valid estimate for this to become any interesting.
They should put the CryEngine and all the 3D models they have to good use and release an awesome, offline playable singleplayer MechWarrior campaign in which you can also exit the cockpit to fight on foot and board other mechs and such and also add vehicles, tanks, drones, gunships, etc. The multiplayer was boring and a constant grind in always the same handful of maps to unlock other mechs and new equipment so I just stopped somewhere halfway through the beta because of lack of interest and anything meaningful to do.
Too bad they shushed the MechWarrior Living Legends mod team away because they were miles ahead of them with way more interesting concepts. (and vehicle, plane and foot combat)
But hey, it's free, you just have to resist the urge to speed up your tedious grind process with real world money, because even if you do, it's just more of the same.
The new layout will take some getting used to, that's manageable.
The new site however is damn slow, takes forever to load each page, eats bandwidth for breakfast and as if that's not enough, all videos seem to default to play automatically.
It sure does need further refinement, tuning and improvements. (but it's "pretty")
@quakke You named the 3 companies of which I haven't bought a single thing over the past 7 / 8 years and I'll be glad to be part of their downfall.
Instead, various indie developers received all that money and it was a much better investment, because they're offering a vastly superior experience. (feature complete, replay value, mod support, no DRM, ...)
Nobody will miss Activision, EA and UbiSoft, I just hope their investors go down with them, otherwise they might infect other publishers and developers with their "here's some money now do as we please" and "i wash your back, you wash mine" methods.
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