Why “Biggest and Most Ambitious” Divinity: Original Sin 2 Chose Crowdfunding

Just as it did with the first Divinity: Original Sin, developer Larian Studios will raise funds for the game’s just-announced sequel through the crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter. Now, Larian’s top boss has explained why the Belgian game developer is taking that route instead of pursuing a traditional publisher relationship.

In a blog post, Larian founder Sven Vincke said the first Original Sin "wouldn’t be the game it was" without the feedback and input from fans on Kickstarter and Steam Early Access. As such, Vincke said it is of paramount importance for Larian to take a similar approach with the sequel.

"Without having that same community on board, I think it’s going to be very hard for us to achieve the goals we have with Divinity: Original Sin II," he explained. "And so we’ll do our very best to convince them to back us once again. The result at the end will be so much better if they do."

What’s more, it sounds like there is a lot riding on the game. Vincke called Original Sin II the studio’s "biggest and most ambitious" RPG ever, adding that the project will either "sink us, or go on to be remembered as our best game ever."

The Kickstarter campaign for Original Sin II will go up on August 26, and for now, Larian is not discussing specific details about the game and how it will expand upon its predecessor. But Vincke did tease that the game "goes beyond" anything that’s been do in the turn-based RPG genre today.

Some Kickstarter games are announced as concepts only, but Larian already has a playable prototype that it will bring to PAX Prime later this month in Seattle.

Also in the blog post, Vincke addressed the commercial reasoning behind Larian’s decision to make Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and how development on that version–due out later this year–affects Original Sin II.

"By now, the investment we did in D:OS EE is beyond what most would consider reasonable, both financially and in terms of time we’ve been putting in," he said. "But, other than allowing us to perfect the game which I think always make commercial sense, the work that is being done on D:OS EE would in any case still have had to be done for D:OS 2. So it’s not as if we haven’t been moving forward. On the contrary, all the money we’re investing in D:OS EE is also investment in the tech that’s powering D:OS 2. And the tech can do a lot.

"Put simply, if you were to compare what we’re doing to what Bioare did back in the day with Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II, D:OS 2 is to be our Baldur’s Gate 2."

Vincke also talked about the risks associated with Kickstarter; after all, not every project is a success. He admitted that there is no guarantee that Original Sin II will find an audience.

"If we were to fail, I guess that will mean we’re on the wrong track, and that we would have to return to the drawing board," he said. "It would be a real pity if that happens, but there’s no certainties in life, and perhaps we’re completely wrong about this. But that too would still be valuable feedback."

Finally, Vicke clarified that Larian is investing some of its own money into Original Sin II, noting that the studio already has the budget to do "cool stuff." But the company is hoping to go further and make "very cool stuff" for the game with the money raised on Kickstarter. A funding target has not been announced.

Original Sin launched for PC in June 2014 and went on to win GameSpot’s PC Game of the Year award. The Enhanced Edition refinements are also coming to PC for free.

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Super Mario Maker’s Creation Tools Take Nine Days to Fully Unlock

Super Mario Maker gives you a bunch of editing tools to make Mario levels. But don’t expect to be able to use all of those tools as soon as you pick the game up. Nintendo revealed today that you’ll have to play the game on nine different days to fully unlock the entire toolbox.

In a new video overview of the game, Nintendo revealed that some tools are linked to the amount you play the game. So, as you play more, you’ll unlock more items and methods to make the levels. In the video, a caption states, "Selection of tools and game styles expand the more you play." The narrator then explains that, when you first begin playing the game, you’ll only have access to "the essentials."

To unlock more, you’ll have to play at least five minutes with the initial toolset. Then, the game will queue a few more items to be unlocked the next day. This process takes place over the course of nine days–so, for you to unlock every tool, you’ll have to play for at least five minutes on nine different days.

In the video, the narrator explains, "To the uninitiated, [the game] may seem a little daunting." It seems, then, that Nintendo wants to make the introduction to the game smooth and not overwhelming.

Super Mario Maker launches on September 11 for Wii U. It lets players make levels using the visual style of four different Mario games: Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U.

What do you think of the process of unlocking tools over time in the game? Let us know in the comments.

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Video Game “Smart Ring” Controller Revealed

Startup Titanium Falcon Inc. announced this week that it has completed the design for its "smart ring," a new video game controller that the company thinks "will change the way users play games forever."

To make the ring a reality, Titanium–founded in 2014–is looking for support from fans. The company will launch a crowdfunding campaign through Indiegogo later this month with a goal of $300,000.

Titanium is hoping to sell the smart ring, which it’s calling "Talon," for "no more than $100."

But how does it all work?

"By using Bluetooth Low Energy technology and 9-axis motion control sensor, Talon smart ring could connect with any smart device (phone, tablet, smart TV, smart watch, PC/MAC, or VR headset), and the ring will convert users’ hand gestures to appropriate input for the game or application," Titanium said.

The Talon, which is less than 3.8m thick, features two action buttons, and should be compatible with games across a variety of genres, including shooting, racing, and sports. Titanium CEO and founder Guo Juan said in a statement that the Talon controller could have major implications on gaming overall.

"Currently, in order to play motion-controlled games, consumers must purchase all the expensive hardware: TVs, Wii, Xbox, or Kinect are just a few of them," Juan said. "We believe our touch-less and motion controlled smart ring will change the way users play games forever."

Earlier this year, Oculus VR unveiled its own unusual controller for the Oculus Rift, called Oculus Touch. The company is also making further investments in the virtual 3D hand-tracking space.

What do you think of this new video game ring controller? Share your thoughts in the comments below. More information about Talon and Titanium is available on their website.

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