Why 3D?A question often posed by FMVfans or people who liked GK2 very much.
Well, I'll tell you: I am one of those people myself or better WAS one of those people. I'm happy to tell though that I've lost all my predjudice towards Gabriel Knight being in 3D. Right now I wouldn't be able to imagine it in ANY OTHER way, including FMV.
Oh sure! you got USED to the idea, you might think...perhaps, but I'm quite sure that's not the only reason and that's what this article is for. My goal is not to convice you to turn your back on FMV, I just wish you to give 3D a chance.
Is this yet another action/adventuregame?
Most of you already know this, but I'm repeating it once more for those who don't:
GK3 definnitely isn't an actiongame, it has about the same amount of action
in it as GK1 and GK2.
Yes, this makes Gabriel Knight 3 revolutionary, it will be the first PURE adventuregame taking place in a world of realtime rendered 3D.
But why didn't they just stick to the succesfull FMV as in GK2?
The first major reason is that Sierra will never make another FMV-game
again, it just costs to much (yes MUCH more than making it in 3D, even
counting all delays).
The 2nd major reason is that it is very limiting in INTERACTIVITY...sure it
can be done (look at all the other old adventures), but it's impossible to
get THIS level of interactivity if GK3 would use the fmv-technology.
What do you mean 'More interactivity in 3D'?
GK3 has a vast location, this means you don't travel around entire France to
solve the mystery. A vast location where things are happening wether you are
there or not.
As a fictive example, Day 1 timeblock 1 in GK3:
Gabe is in his bedroom, the game starts.
While he is in his bedroom Vittorio Buchelli is making notes in the church.
Lady Howard is doing her hair in her room.
John Wilkes is having breakfast.
Estelle is downstairs in the lounge paying for the tour.
It doesn't matter WHERE Gabe goes, the non-playercharacters do THEIR thing
in this world, independant of Gabe.
Like this, you might miss out on some stuff. (If you never make it to the
church for example, you won't know that Buchelli just found a major clue in
the mystery).
Don't be afraid; you'll get this information somewhere else eventually, but
it'll be a bit harder.
THIS is interactivity and this is what is IMPOSSIBLE in any other engine but a 3D-engine. GK3 is actually the very FIRST PURE adventuregame done fully in a realtime rendered 3D-engine. (Grim Fandango had prerendered backgrounds with realtime-rendered characters.
Now yes, some might say that there is the trade-off in the art... 3D just doesn't look so cool as FMV. But while it may disturb you with any other adventuregame, it shouldn't with GK3. Cause remember, no matter WHAT medium is used...we are eventually only playing it for the great story and profound characterportraits.
If I still haven't convinced you, my guess is that the first hour when you are playing the game you'll be
annoyed by the 3D,
but after another hour (when the really juicy plot is surfacing, and you
start to get all excited, get emotionally envolved)
you won't see the 3D characters as a bunch of polygons anymore.
they will be Gabe and Grace, alive and breathing once more..
Hope you'll enjoy it as much we'll do!