It looks a little different than it did a few years ago? There’s been radio silence since Paradox started over with the new devs. This game has had a really troubled production, I think Paradox has been trying to get it off the ground since 2015. Now it’s being done by The Chinese Room, most known for Dear Esther and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs.

Bloodlines is one of my favorite games of all time, so I’m trying to stay optimistic that the devs also hold it in high regard and will try to make a worthwhile sequel. The gameplay from this new trailer looks a little clunky and weird, but maybe that’s ok. VTMB never had great combat in the first place. The dialogue, writing, and vibes are where it’s at. Looks like there will be gliding around and parkour stuff? Might be cool.

Anyone looking forward to this game? There’s even a release window, Fall of 2024, but this game was supposed to originally release in March of 2020, so don’t hold your breath.

  • thisonethatone [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    1 year ago

    I know someone who worked on this before the project was overhauled for the umpteenth time. They told me that one of the leads from the og game was fired for his bizarre fixation about his ex wife, and slipping 2000’s Era jokes and boomer anti-ex wife jokes into his script.

    Also, the game just wasn’t fun.

    • axont [she/her, comrade/them]@hexbear.netOP
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      1 year ago

      Wait, was the og you’re talking about Brian Mitsoda? He was the lead narrative designer and (as far as I know) the only veteran from the first game who worked on the sequel. He got fired around 2020, also apparently has a thing with his ex-wife.

      Didn’t realize he was an asshat, but it makes sense. There’s sometimes a creepy dudebro vibe in the first game.

      • thisonethatone [he/him]@hexbear.net
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        1 year ago

        👃 👈

        The man has a problem with women, especially his ex wife.

        Bloodlines is an incredibly hard game to get right. Everyone on the team is passionate, but the priorities are split. Younger writers trying to collaborate with Gen X gamer veterans.

  • HiImThomasPynchon [des/pair, it/its]@hexbear.net
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    1 year ago

    Asian vampire lady featured prominently in the trailer

    West Coast city divided against itself

    This is just gonna be European Vampires vs Kuei-Jin yellow peril bullshit from the last game isn’t it?

    • axont [she/her, comrade/them]@hexbear.netOP
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      1 year ago

      Yeah, as much as I love the first game, I can’t deny two things: It’s racist and it’s too horny. Despite taking place in Los Angeles, there’s only one Latino character with a name: Nines Rodriguez. And the last third of the game is a literal yellow peril plot with scary Asian vampires who can’t be trusted by anyone. And they all talk with racist stereotypical accents. Allying with the Kuei-jin is one of the worst endings too.

      spoiler

      The Anarchs and Camarilla will all attack you on sight if you ally with the Kuei-jin, and then you’re betrayed anyway and you’re thrown into the ocean.

    • axont [she/her, comrade/them]@hexbear.netOP
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      1 year ago

      Brian Mitsoda was a narrative designer on the previous dev team, he was the lead writer of the first game. But who knows how much of his work is left over in this new iteration.

      This is something I desperately want to be good. I love the WoD setting and I don’t think it’s been given much of a fair shake in games.

      • viva_la_juche [they/them, any]@hexbear.net
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        1 year ago

        Yeah I remember there was some issues between him and whoever calls the shots I guess so I’m kind of expecting a lot of his work to be redone but I suppose we’ll see

        I’m right there with you, the og is one of my fav games and vtm was the first ttrpgs I ever played. Fingers crossed but usually games that have been in development hell come out kinda half baked. I’m cautiously optimistic tho

  • GenderIsOpSec [she/her]@hexbear.net
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    1 year ago

    If I had a nickel for every time I watched a bloodlines 2 trailer for the first time and was promised it would come out in a year I would have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but its weird that its happened twice.

  • AssortedBiscuits [they/them]@hexbear.net
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    1 year ago

    This game is going to either suck horribly or be so far from what the first game was about that it would be a sequel in name only. Decent chance it will both suck horribly and be so far from what the first game was about that it would be a sequel in name only.