What’s Next for Bloodlines 2

[Baalzamon85]

Okay, so you're back to insulting foreign names as something that "sounds ridiculous to most adults." Once again, this is a feelings based argument and it's not even an argument you can prove.

I'll tell you exactly what I told the other guy. You're welcome to not like the name "Phyre." You like what you like. You're absolutely entitled to that. But say that. Say that you just don't like it because of completely arbitrary emotions. Don't make up a story about it not having any roots or that's it's just some teen Twilight name like you were saying earlier.

You're back to pretending context doesn't matter.

Brad Pitt would generate a lot of snickers in Sweden because his name meant Brad Cock in Swedish, did we ridicule his culture by laughing about it? No that's ridiculous, some names just sound funny or wierd in other languages, it's normal and happens all the time.

Phyre is cringe because they chose something on purpose that has a double meaning in English, they thought that was cool most other people think it's lame and sounds like Twilight fanfiction.

 

[Jia Xu]

You're back to pretending context doesn't matter.

Brad Pitt would generate a lot of snickers in Sweden because his name meant Brad Cock in Swedish, did we ridicule his culture by laughing about it? No that's ridiculous, some names just sound funny or wierd in other languages, it's normal and happens all the time.

Phyre is cringe because they chose something on purpose that has a double meaning in English, they thought that was cool most other people think it's lame and sounds like Twilight fanfiction.

Is there Twilight fanfiction with a character explicitly named "Phyre?" If the answer is no, then it doesn't sound like that. You keep making things up to justify a completely emotional argument.

Same thing goes for Brad Pitt in Sweden. You just keep making stuff up because you can't handle that Phyre is a historically appropriate name for someone who was born hundreds of years ago.

Cope!

 

[Baalzamon85]

Is there Twilight fanfiction with a character explicitly named "Phyre?" If the answer is no, then it doesn't sound like that. You keep making things up to justify a completely emotional argument.

Same thing goes for Brad Pitt in Sweden. You just keep making stuff up because you can't handle that Phyre is a historically appropriate name for someone who was born hundreds of years ago.

Cope!

What? There is not a single person on this forum that is engaged with cope more than you. You are obviously incapable of understanding what I'm writing so this discussion is pointless.

 

[Bigg Tocc]

Don't feed the troll, don't waste your time with this it's never worth it he's already ridiculing himself quite well.

 

[Jia Xu]

What? There is not a single person on this forum that is engaged with cope more than you. You are obviously incapable of understanding what I'm writing so this discussion is pointless.

Everything I say is based on evidence, not emotions. I don't have to cope. You've degraded into incredibly weak personal attacks because you can't challenge the evidence I post or provide any counter-evidence.

It's just a video game. Chill out.

 

[Phibs]

Greek names are incredibly common all over Europe. One of the most common Anglo-French names, even to this day, is Sophia/Sophie (which is Greek for wisdom).

The Greek etymological root is kinda obvious isn't it? The root is Pyr which we use even in English for all kinds of things related to fire like Pyromania. Pyrotechnics, etc.

Listen, you're welcome to not like the name "Phyre." You like what you like. You're absolutely entitled to that. Just don't be like the other people pretending this is some teen edgelord name. It's objectively not true.

Not to be ungrateful for your generous dispensation there, but even IF phyre (not pyr - which I myself mentioned) were a greek/armenian name that's kinda besides the point ultimately, it sounds like an edgelord name.

As I said, there's weird anglo names( Humbert, Ottilie and such) that if chosen would just aesthetically feel odd or cringe to contemporary audiences. No amount of historical backlog would make that otherwise. There is virtually endless old/ancient names of various cultural spheres available. Why this one? Just pick one that doesn't sound like a 90s hot topic line. Should not be hard. Even unisex Armenian ones (Nairi, Sevan).

Anywho. To be perfectly honest, I sorta dislike naming player chars to begin with. It kinda sorta worked for redemption but it was also very limiting.
Likewise one of the things I disliked about bl1 was the limited set of character choices. And in 2025, I'd really expect a lot more freedom instead of more constraint.
Not to even go into the issue of a voiced prot, but that'd be too much of a tangent.

 

[Dr. B]

What? There is not a single person on this forum that is engaged with cope more than you. You are obviously incapable of understanding what I'm writing so this discussion is pointless.

Do yourself a favour and not talk to this person, he is a massive troll.

 

[prismaticmarcus]

It's time to put the Phyre discussion out, I think.

Gee, talk about hijacking a thread...

 

[Anna_Gein]

TBH this soft delay was expected.

Still I am confused about the internal publishing dynamic with this game. It felt like the publishing PR was getting started for a late fall / winter release until an internal push back happened. It is hard not to think of the previous strong delay : the game appeared to be close to release then paradox delayed it and changed the developpement studio.

In any case, I hope the project will finally work. In the meantime I hope devs are left out of all PR works so they can concentrate fully on the game developpment. Gotta say, the online ambiance surrounding this game is incredibly toxic.

 

[Azar]

Still I am confused about the internal publishing dynamic with this game. It felt like the publishing PR was getting started for a late fall / winter release until an internal push back happened. It is hard not to think of the previous strong delay : the game appeared to be close to release then paradox delayed it and changed the developpement studio.

I dont think there was any kind of pre-launch PR. Thats partly why I thought delay was coming.
There was just "keep fans engaged" PR with the dev diaries, thanks to Feeona.

If you look at the topic video carefully, you can see that TCR thought they have a game version good enough for a release as they promised, but it was Paradox who said that they want TCR to spend more time on the game. It is because of this I am convinced that the game is guaranteed to launch (since it could already launch on schedule, albeit not as polished). Its just a question of when.

Pay close attention on who speaks on the video and about what:

Alex Skidmore (TCR): "The game overall is in the late production phase, where we are mainly focused on iterating and polishing"

Mattias Lilja (Paradox): "Earlier this year, Paradox reaffirmed its commitment to delivering quality games. This is especially true for Bloodlines 2. It is important game to Paradox interactive and to world of darkness.... Jointly with the Chinese Room we have decided to extend development."

Paradox decided.

My takeaways from this are simple:
- Paradox wants this to be a 'quality product'
- They are confident that BL2 can BE such a quality product.
- Because the game could already launch on schedule (at a lower quality), there is no way they are going to cancel this anymore. Nothing makes me happier. BL2 IS going to launch eventually. The wait will finally be over.

Im kinda sad that they couldnt make it in time for the 20th anniversary of Bloodlines 1, but I can live with it.

ps. The only thing I would want right now is some BL2-themed forum avatars...

 

[RagnarokCzD]

If you look at the topic video carefully, you can see that TCR thought they have a game version good enough for a release as they promised

Didnt we hear the same thing from HSL?

Just paraphrasing: "You can pre-order the game right now, it will be shipping in few months."

And i think we all remember how it ended.
Also note that pre-orders are still closed ... one could deduce that even HSL were more confident about state of their product at this point. :-/

Pay close attention on who speaks on the video and about what

I dont think this is matter of attention ...
It seems more like matter of trust.

The wait will finally be over.

Indeed ...
The only question remaining is ... if it will be worth that waiting.

 

[Feeona]

prismaticmarcus was kind enough to step in but I'll add one further thing to the thread. When someone gives an opinion that does not break the rules and you don't like it, that's not a reason to come in and call them a troll. Nor does it excuse any brigading.

Y'all are getting way too hostile and aggressive on this board; please do better.

 

[Pyoro]

Are we in the "toxic community" blame apportioning phase already? How entirely predictable.

 

[LVTrish]

I'm not remotely shocked. Sadly, I have next to no faith either. I'm moving on, but wish ya'll luck.

 

[Ingolenuru]

How about taking the time to create a character customization tool? You know, so that the face we keep seeing all of the time in game is something we like to look at based on our own tastes. Can you give us any agency at all?

 

[Azar]

How about taking the time to create a character customization tool? You know, so that the face we keep seeing all of the time in game is something we like to look at based on our own tastes. Can you give us any agency at all?

In the video itself, they showed different hairstyles for Phyre. That is already more than what BL1 had, so we can assume customization is extending further than just gender and clothes.

 

[Ingolenuru]

In the video itself, they showed different hairstyles for Phyre. That is already more than what BL1 had, so we can assume customization is extending further than just gender and clothes.

Yes, I have seen the new posts where there are some minimal customizations available. I saw them after I had posted and did some editing but I never worried about customizing my character appearance in BL1 because I played in first person from start to finish and there were few cut scenes where I had a close up of my own face. Were there any? I guess I can try a new play through to find out but I remember the cut scenes focusing on the NPC.

 

[Azar]

there were few cut scenes where I had a close up of my own face. Were there any? I guess I can try a new play through to find out but I remember the cut scenes focusing on the NPC.

No closeups. The game could be played in both first and third person views (I think that was always there and not added afterwards). There were a few third person cutscenes but none that showed a closeup of your face. The game went third person only when you were feeding or dancing.

 

[Ingolenuru]

No closeups. The game could be played in both first and third person views (I think that was always there and not added afterwards). There were a few third person cutscenes but none that showed a closeup of your face. The game went third person only when you were feeding or dancing.

View attachment 1181589

Yep. That is what I remember. BL2 is giving you close ups of your face all of the time from what we have seen. It makes a difference.

 

[Sir.Dr.X]

I am very happy to hear about the inclusion of additional endings in the game. Personally, I'm counting on non-linear gameplay in which the player can shape the ending according to the character he created. Certainly, apart from the ending of the victory one of three factions, i.e. the Camerilla, the Sabat and the Anarchs, the endings of each of the important characters we meet in Siatle and their attitude to the victory or defeat of specific factions are important. I also hope that there will be a victory option for the player, i.e. one who takes into account the fact that the player has destroyed all opposition, or/and fractions, and has become the undisputed ruler of Siatle. And, of course, the ending for evil characters, i.e. the one that takes into account that the player simply left behind only a sea of ruins, while Siatle has become a ghost town to which both mortals and immortals are afraid to go.


It would also be good to see an ending in which the player's character becomes the kingmeaker, or rather princemeaker of Siatle. This means that, standing in the shadow of the throne and exercising power in an indirect way.