How to make less earn more? [Dark Messiah of Might & Magic]<\/h1>\n

Over the past few years, a fashion for “investigations” has appeared in the Russian segment of the Internet (and in the last year, game publications began to sin with this). I don’t really want to miss popular love to exclusives. Therefore, I want to present my new investigation about the business model and the principle of development with the early Arkane, and to reveal the theme of the \u201cobjective criticism of the video game\u201d that exciting me (I hope you too). Other similar works can be found in my blog.<\/p>\n

This blog is a textual adaptation of a video that will be attached below. If your eye is nicer than the text, then you can see it just below the video, but I recommend a video format.<\/p>\n

Video version of the blog<\/p>\n

In the process of preparing the material, I entered into discussions with various players criticizing the game Dark Messiah<\/b>, who constantly told me that “There is nothing strange, the game on the engine Half-Life 2<\/b> Made<\/i>“. Here I see the problem distorted judgment<\/b>.<\/p>\n

First, let’s talk about engines<\/b>, More precisely, let’s recall the games that came to the same engines to see how different there are projects that use the same basic software<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Game engine<\/b> – basic computer game software. The separation of the game and the game engine is often vague, and the studios do not always draw a clear border between them. But in the general case, the term “Game engine<\/b>“Is used for the software that is suitable for re -use and expansion, and thereby can be considered as the basis for the development of many different games without significant changes.<\/p>\n

As a rule, game engines are specialized in the framework of the computer games genre. So, the engine designed for two -dimensional fighting<\/b> in the boxing ring, it will be significantly different from the engine for mass Multi -user<\/b> Games, shooter<\/b> from the first person or Strategies<\/b> In real time. But at the same time, the engines have significant common parts – all Three -dimensional games<\/b>, Despite the genre, they require the interaction of the player through the keyboard, the gamepad and\/or mice, some form of three rendering<\/b>, indication products, as on windshield (for example, printing text on top of a graphic image), sound system and much more. So, the engine Unreal Engine<\/b>, Despite the fact that it was designed for shooter<\/b> From the first person, successfully used to create games in many other genres, such as a third -person shooter GEARS of WAR<\/b> or adventure role -playing game Grimm<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Game engines<\/b> – This is a huge set of software solutions, which eventually create magic. Each separate solution can be made in the form of another independent engine<\/b>. For example, for physics and drawing in the game Half-Life 2<\/b> The mentioned graphic engine is responded HAVOK<\/b>, which was also used in the racing simulator Test Drive Unlimited<\/b> 2007. Moreover, the moment is interesting that in Half-Life 2<\/b> used only HAVOK PHYSICS<\/b>, while TDU<\/b> used the entire spectrum of engineering solutions from the Irish company.<\/p>\n

For sound<\/b> individual engines are also responding. For example, c Cyberpunk 2077<\/b> The same engine is responsible for the sound as in Kingdom Come – Deliverance<\/b> – Wwise<\/b>. In general, this is the most popular sound solution that is now used in the predominant majority of games. And often technologies of one engine can Link<\/b> With technologies of others. For example, in games with opponents under the control of artificial intelligence, these work of the sound engine can be used to adjust behavior AI<\/b>. Let me give you an example: developers from Crowbar Collective<\/b> in work on the mod Black Mesa Source<\/b> Modified the mechanism of the sound engine so that the Normal map for the sound landscape was one of the orientation methods for opponents.<\/p>\n

I have collected too many examples to illustrate the technical basis of the video game, but the last example will reveal to us a variety of projects that could be implemented on the same BY<\/b>.<\/p>\n

In the interval between 2011 and 2013 on a licensed engine from the company Crytek<\/b> The following products were sold:<\/p>\n

Star Citizen<\/b> – 2011, endless space multiplayer sandbox<\/b> With the most enormous development budget.<\/p>\n

Beamng Drive<\/b> – 2012, experimental automobile sandbox<\/b>, in which the system is recreated in detail Destruction<\/b> car.<\/p>\n

Fibble – Flick ‘N’ Roll<\/b> – 2012, Mobile<\/b> Arkada in which you are memorized from Angry Birds<\/b> you put the ball into a flight on a special track with movements.<\/p>\n

And these are all the games made on the engine Cryengine 3<\/b>. They are completely different both visually and gameplay. At first glance, there is nothing in common, but a fiery motor beats in the chest Crysis<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Visual difference between projects<\/p>\n

Visual difference between projects<\/p>\n

Visual difference between projects<\/p>\n

Visual difference between projects<\/p>\n

I hope that such a clear example made you an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat “Game engine<\/b>“. Now go directly to comparison Half-Life 2<\/b> And Dark Messiah of Might & Magic<\/b>, because I have a lot of questions for the latter.<\/p>\n

Comparison with Half-Life 2<\/h2>\n

Let’s start with obvious differences<\/b> Games from each other. That the first is striking? Naturally, their design. Conceptually, both games are different as possible. Half-Life 2<\/b> – This is a game about a near future in which alien invaders destroy the majority of the world’s population, and survivors plant their dictatorship using alien technologies. In files with the content of the game in the classification of materials, you can even find such a category as “Combine<\/b>“. These are textures of alien metal, models of outlandish bioonic aircraft, etc. Dark Messiah<\/b> In turn, it is a game in a fictional fantasy world, where orcs, elves and gnomes live with people. There is nothing to do with alien invaders in the design. And surrounded by various architectural solutions are used. IN Half-Life 2<\/b> All environment is built on aesthetics social. block<\/b>, and in Dark Messiah<\/b> – These are white -stone castles that seemed to be transferred to the game straight from Middle -earth<\/b>.<\/p>\n

General Pattern<\/b>, which I find between games in their design is about the same biom<\/b> around. The events of one and the other game seem to occur on the very same Black Sea<\/b> The coast that I once walked Victor Antonov<\/b> (game designer of games like Half-Life 2<\/b> (Valve<\/b>) And Dishonored<\/b> (Arkane<\/b>)), collecting refrain for Half-Life 2<\/b>, But the similarities end in this. There are no common in the game Asset<\/b>. Even in places where it would be possible to save time for texture drawing, Dark Messiah<\/b> Uses original content. For example, the carpet pattern that can be found along the path from City-17 is different from what we can meet in Dark Messiah of Might & Magic<\/b> (although, where you can reduce an hour of work of the artist, it is in such trifles). In general, in the course of studying content from the game, I saw that even the file structure of packages is different from Half-Life 2<\/b>. Most likely the guys from Arkane<\/b> Only the source code of the engine left Source<\/b>, And all the assets Half-Life 2<\/b> were removed from the branch.<\/p>\n

Otherwise, both games are twin brothers<\/b>. Basic Mechanics<\/b> Both games literally repeat each other, otherwise a little unique that can be found in a gameplay Dark Messiah<\/b> – This is either an adaptation of code Half-Life 2<\/b>, either the simplest lines of this code, imposed on top of all the sets of the functions that were in it. In order to understand how sad the situation is I will tell you about two aspects that are in the game. Along the way I need to explain to you a few more terms that are used in programming. The first of them will be the term “function<\/b>“.<\/p>\n

So my friends discuss how to realize a change in the sound of a shot depending on the completeness of the clip. This is a visual demonstration of the most important matan that is used to design functions.<\/p>\n

Function<\/b> In programming, or subprogram<\/b> – A fragment of the program code, which can be addressed from another place of the program. The address is inextricably linked with the name of the function first instructions<\/b> (operator), included in function<\/b>, which is transferred to control when addressing the function. Function<\/b> can accept Parameters<\/b> and must return some meaning<\/b>, Perhaps empty. Functions<\/b>, which return an empty value, often called procedures<\/b>. In some programming languages, the announcements of functions and procedures have different syntax<\/b>, In particular, various Key words<\/b>.<\/p>\n

PS is a dry explanation of the term from Wikipedia, but if you know how large programs work, it is quite possible to visualize this explanation in a whole picture. Next, we will wait for a simpler (but applicable only to video games) explanation.<\/i><\/p>\n

Every code<\/b>, which you can enter in the game console<\/b> – This is the same “function<\/b>“Or her parameter<\/b>. The result that you see in the game after its introduction is the result of the changes that this function causes. For example, to enable the regime debugging<\/b> and access to editing indicators of other functions you enter “Sv_chets 1<\/b>“, Where the unit is the developer mode switch, and zero by the switch. And let’s see the example when the same functions are used as in Half-Life 2<\/b>, So in Dark Messiah<\/b>. We need to find technically the same processes that are found in both games. For me, this general function has become Gravi-gun<\/b> from one and spell telekinesis<\/b> From another.<\/p>\n

So, telekinesis<\/b> from Dark Messiah of Might & Magic<\/b> – This, without exaggeration, Gravi-gun<\/b> from Half-Life 2<\/b>. From the point of view of logic, this is understandable, both features allow us to transfer and with great force to throw various objects and bodies of opponents. It is absolutely logical to just take and modify both tools without touching the function that is responsible for their performance. But how to really understand that this is the same function? Thanks to her parameters<\/b>. The parameters \u2018are screwed to telekinesisPhyscannon_minforce<\/b>‘ And ‘Physcannon_maxForce<\/b>\u2019Who are responsible for how the objects from gravity guns<\/b>. If if you raise the values \u200b\u200bof these parameters, then it begins to behave like a charged Gravi-gun<\/b> From levels in the citadel Half-Life 2<\/b>. Default parameter \u2018Physcannon_mega_enabled<\/b>\u2019, Apparently, remains turned on and when the parameter is changed from 0 to 1, nothing happens. This parameter c Half-Life 2<\/b> changed the parameters of the throw and the maximum weight of the raised items after visiting the weapon scanner of the Alliance. But small changes in the function \u2018Physcannon<\/b>\u2019Still there were, and a new function has appeared\u2018mm_telekinesi_coEFF_DAMAGE<\/b>\u2019, Which, as already can be seen from the name, is responsible for the factor of damage from the hit by an abandoned object, because the charged Gravi-gun<\/b> tritely killed opponents when touching the flying Ragdola<\/b> with them. In general, all innovations in Dark Messiah<\/b> marked with the post \u2018mm_<\/b>\u2019At the beginning of the name of each function or file. Thus it is more convenient to navigate in the branch Repository<\/b>, and refer to your innovations in the engine.<\/p>\n

Initially playing the game, I noticed that Ragdole<\/b> zombies disappear with the same Particip<\/b>, which draws in Half-Life 2<\/b> When killing charged Gravi-gun<\/b>. Moreover, if you play with the parameters, then the murder of exactly the body of one enemy in this case Vansch is<\/b> another and launches that very animation with dissolution. All this is a legacy Half-Life 2<\/b>. Exceptions are moments when the function is launched “The enemy knockout<\/b>“. It is clumsy on top of the main code of the game.<\/p>\n

Well, in order not to be very distracted from the story, I will quickly tell the explanation by the term “Particles<\/b>“.<\/p>\n

Particle system<\/b> or Particles<\/b> – This is used in computer graphics<\/b> a way to represent objects that do not have clear geometric boundaries<\/b> (Various clouds, nebulae, explosions, steam jets, train from missiles, smoke, snow, rain, etc. p.). Particle systems<\/b> can be implemented both in two -dimensional and three -dimensional graphics. Usually generated by special mechanisms that create complex effects by entering numerical function<\/b> In this mechanism. That is, the mechanism does not use textures, models or sprins. For greater clarity, I suggest you separately get acquainted with the term \u201cnoise of Perlin\u201d.<\/p>\n

Okay, it was just weapon<\/b>, And you can imagine that Each sword<\/b> – This is rewritten mount<\/b>, A onion<\/b> – This is very slow crossbow<\/b>. But the game has its own inventory<\/b> and many raised items that were not in Half-Life 2<\/b> (more precisely they were, but after the rise we did not edit them)! There is one more cunning<\/b>, which struck me for the depths of my soul, and the essence of this cunning of this cunning “prompted me”Give<\/b>\u201d, Which throws us an object in the inventory, but first we need to reveal in more detail the last term -\u201cClassifier<\/b>“.<\/p>\n

Classifier<\/b> – Systematic scroll<\/b> named objects<\/b>, Each of which is in line with Unique code<\/b>. Classification<\/b> objects are made according to the rules for the distribution of a given sets<\/b> objects on subset<\/b> (classification groups) in accordance with the established signs of their difference or similarity. It is used in automated control systems and information processing.<\/p>\n

Simply put. You lay out your socks and panties in a box in color, form factor and ability to maintain heat. So you will always know where to get the right one. The car also needs to be known exactly where to get this or that file.<\/i><\/p>\n

In any video game, all of it Content<\/b> – This is huge database<\/b> models, textures, scripts, sounds and animations. At each point in time, the game should be able call<\/b> One or another Content<\/b> and in pre -given conditions use<\/b> his. For different ones objects<\/b> Different Classifiers<\/b>, And these Objects<\/b> will have their own unique identifier<\/b>. Different Classifiers<\/b> can turn to general databases<\/b> or have your own unique. Everyone has Classifier<\/b> will be their own functions<\/b>, by which he is managed. For example, an inventory in a role -playing game is a vivid example of a classifier. Moreover, the inventory can be different. For example, in the engine Gamebryo<\/b>, on which were created Fallout<\/b> And TES<\/b> from the company Bethesda<\/b>, was common identifier<\/b> items for inventory player<\/b> And NPC<\/b>, And also for cabinets<\/b> And chests<\/b>. This problem was solved in the most clumsy and creamy way – under each NPC<\/b> in the game, as well as under player<\/b>, was closet<\/b> with all wearable objects, because adding a new classifier to an already confusing system is more difficult than just finding a good crutch.<\/p>\n

But this is the problem, in Half-Life 2<\/b> No inventory. There are only 6 cells<\/b> weapons and nothing else. Guys from Arkane<\/b>, Like the guys from Bethesda<\/b>, approached the issue creatively and found no less filigree way to add this Classifier<\/b>. IN Dark Messiah<\/b> There are also notorious Cells<\/b> for weapons and items of inventory. For both games, it is general and changed only its design and the ability to change objects in places cells<\/b>. Where did all the items that are in the game get? The developers were given the general call function<\/b> For the console.<\/p>\n

IN Half-Life<\/b> You can Spread<\/b> Any item or NPC<\/b> Through the team “Give<\/b>“, For example “Give NPC_alyx<\/b>“, Which materializes Miss Vance<\/b>. IN Dark Messiah<\/b> This command will look like “mm_npc_create_ [entity_id]<\/b>“. There are not so many characters in games, therefore it is easier to take out a few NPC<\/b> In a separate one Directory<\/b> file system, and at the same time all the files required for them, because for the command Give<\/b> The game is assigned the classifier of objects. That is, the same classifier is designed for two different things in both games. And due to the fact that it is problematic to attribute different parameters to entities, all the food that treats the protagonist Dark Messiah<\/b>, Being different objects in the surrounding world (bread, berry juice, piece of meat, etc.) in the inventory turn simply into \u201cI’m going<\/b>“. And because of this, Finta with NPC<\/b> I had to put all the animations for the characters in a separate data package, which we will not see in any other games at Source<\/b>.<\/p>\n

In general, as I understand it, the developers had to endure NPC<\/b> Separately, also because the engine has restrictions<\/b> on the caused entities. The problem is that the game is made as 32-bit<\/b> The program and cannot use more 3GB<\/b> memory, otherwise she Collapses<\/b>. Because of this, the restrictions in the game can be loaded no more 4096 entities<\/b>. IN Half-Life 2<\/b> In fact, one classifier for all entities.<\/p>\n

The game also has pumping system<\/b>, But here everything is simple. There are standard parameters of all variables<\/b> The player is functions<\/b>, who change these variables<\/b>. It’s like changing the level HP<\/b> u Gordon Freeman<\/b> or plus the level of damage to his weapons. That is, everyone skill<\/b>, which can be studied is a separate function<\/b>. There are even separate caused functions that these parameters edit – “mm_player_skills_ [entity_name]<\/b>“.<\/p>\n

Independent game or mod?<\/h2>\n

In the end, it turns out that in the game from original<\/b> content created only a few functions for elements gameplay<\/b> and a bunch of models and ascets. The game generally has little original. Plot? He is not an original work Arkane<\/b>, and was written by the Russian studio Nival Interactive<\/b> As part of the game Heroes of Might & Magic v<\/b>. Technical side? As we found out above, this is the same Half-Life 2<\/b>, A couple of years before Dark Messiah<\/b>.<\/p>\n

What technical innovations added Dark Messiah<\/b> In the engine Source<\/b>? A new way to draw light? Changes in physics? A crossed sound engine? Nothing! Absolutely nothing!<\/p>\n

In this case, I wonder what 60 employees did Arkane<\/b> for two years? I would like to quote the doctors here Brina<\/b> And ask: “”Have you created at least something?! I thought so\u2026<\/i>“<\/p>\n

Put the question with an edge: what products<\/b> created with the same approach and labor costs in the history of the engine Source<\/b>? – Original Portal<\/b>? It was originally Maud<\/b>;- Counter-STRIKE<\/b>? Again Maud<\/b>;- The Stanley Parable<\/b>? This is the game of a lower market segment and a priori cannot have technical Innovation<\/b>, and can have the initial implementation also at the level of extensive fashion<\/b>.<\/p>\n

I found the best comparison between Dark Messiah of Might & Magic<\/b> from Arkane<\/b> And the original remake Half-Life<\/b> 1998 called Black Mesa: Source<\/b> from Crowbar Collective<\/b>. The first is an independent game in which 60 people from scratch created mainly new models and textures, and the second – a modification on the engine Source<\/b>, in which from 20 to 46 developers, new models and textures also painted from scratch. They are united by the fact that both companies did not work on the script. But there is a fatal difference. Arkane<\/b> technically not changed in the engine Source<\/b> Nothing, but here Crowbar Collective<\/b> changed a lot in the engine. Artificial behavior intelligence<\/b>, A completely new system of creating persons that allows each character to have a unique face drawn by the artist. This is provided that in the game on the old technology LIP SINK<\/b> It was created automatically through a special mechanism that should remain workers after changing the system of creating these persons. As well as new cards Normals<\/b>, which create a relief on flat textures and a processed light system. Although this appeared in Stalker<\/b> First, but in Source<\/b> This was not.<\/p>\n

Let me explain even more detailed. IN Arkane<\/b> At that moment, about 60 people worked on the development of the game. Naturally, Budgets<\/b> in 2004-2006 were lower, and the expectations of the players could justify<\/b> Easy. Officially the numbers were never revealed and I did not find information on the Internet, but judge for yourself. In 2004, 84 employees Valve<\/b>, who worked on Half-Life 2<\/b>, Creating everything from scratch created a revolution. And in 2006 a little less, 60 people, studios Arkane<\/b> Spend Half-Life 2<\/b> In a new wrapper under the guise of fresh AAA<\/b>-product. Even today, a team of 60 people per game is a lot. Already in our time, when the content for a separate game needs to be created an order of magnitude more in relation to man -hours – 60 people are a big studio. For example, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice<\/b> created 120 people, although the development of content there is magnitude higher, compared to 2006. And all these people need to pay salaries. So it is formed AAA<\/b>-Budgets. But this is not scary when everything required is already in hand, and it is easy to live up to your expectations. This is the one deception<\/b>, which helps “Work less and earn more<\/b>“.<\/p>\n

Whether it spoils the game? No – it is excellent. The very fact of its existence gave us the opportunity to get unique Immersive-Sim<\/b> games that came out after Dark Messiah of Might & Magic<\/b>. We did not see and did not know how this game was created. They did not know that the reasons for its creation were a series of accidents, and that the studio Arkane<\/b> would wait for bankruptcy without this luck. They threw dust in the eyes of us, but did something beautiful. But someone was less fortunate in this. And the next time, please, do not be shit on Cyberpunk 2077<\/b>. They just were less fortunate in the development of.<\/p>\n

I hope you liked this material, and I was able to tell you something new and useful. You can say thank you through a fat like to this blog. The button is slightly lower. Meet in the next post!<\/i><\/p>\n

\n <\/div>\n\n

<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How to make less earn more? [Dark Messiah of Might & Magic] Over the past few years, a fashion for “investigations” has appeared in the Russian segment of the Internet (and in the last year, game publications began to sin with this). I don’t really want to miss popular love to exclusives. Therefore, I want […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1046],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-post","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"builder_content":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.worldrealestatenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.worldrealestatenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.worldrealestatenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldrealestatenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldrealestatenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10074"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldrealestatenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10074\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10075,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldrealestatenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10074\/revisions\/10075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.worldrealestatenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldrealestatenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.worldrealestatenetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}