Who is this game for?

[Outchaosing Cthulhu]

Why does this exist? Who is the target audience? This is not a troll post, i'm just trying to understand.

This "franchise" is old enough to be largely irrelevant to most gamers, except for its die-hard fans (like myself). Meaning that if you were to revive it, your target audience would be people who want a true spiritual successor to the original, with similar mechanics and style. But this sequel seems to be an entirely different game made for an entirely different audience, who would have no connection to the Bloodlines IP.

Then why make it at all? Or at the very least, why say this is a sequel to Bloodlines? The fans of the original are not gonna buy it, and potential newcomers would think this is a sequel, and not having played the original, would probably not want to jump in since they would assume they would miss out on the prequel's story. I just don't get the decision.

[🍈Little Goblin🍈]

sequel is just like gambling '' bet everything / lose everything''

[virel]

The hater, as always, signed for everyone, I want, for example.By the way, the original was not a success at the start; on the contrary, it was criticized; it became a cult film after a while.

[Calandir]

Their target audience are potential new fans. This game is not for VTMB fans. It's the classic case of trying to get ''everyone'' to buy your game, and in result, nobody will.

Also keep in mind that ''fans'' of original VTMB are not such big group, and it's not profitable to make game just for them.

[Outchaosing Cthulhu]

Originally posted by virel:

The hater, as always, signed for everyone, I want, for example.By the way, the original was not a success at the start; on the contrary, it was criticized; it became a cult film after a while.

Yes but you are not a "diehard fan" of the original. I am not signing for you, don't worry.

[Outchaosing Cthulhu]

Originally posted by Calandir:

Their target audience are potential new fans. This game is not for VTMB fans. It's the classic case of trying to get ''everyone'' to buy your game, and in result, nobody will.

Also keep in mind that ''fans'' of original VTMB are not such big group, and it's not profitable to make game just for them.

Yes exactly. The original was never a success, and only became a cult-classic due to the efforts of one individual who made the unofficial patch. It makes it that much more baffling. I largely agree with both of your points. But I think a game truly faithful to the original that manages to deliver on the promise of the first game on a grander and more robust scale could sell well in a post BG3 environment.

[virel]

Originally posted by Calandir:

Their target audience are potential new fans. This game is not for VTMB fans. It's the classic case of trying to get ''everyone'' to buy your game, and in result, nobody will.

Also keep in mind that ''fans'' of original VTMB are not such big group, and it's not profitable to make game just for them.

Yes, they are trying to make a good game, the Chinese room is a good studio after all. However, you are right about the number of fans of the first part, for some reason they think that there are so many of them, although more than 20 years have passed already.

[virel]

Originally posted by Outchaosing Cthulhu:

Originally posted by virel:

The hater, as always, signed for everyone, I want, for example.By the way, the original was not a success at the start; on the contrary, it was criticized; it became a cult film after a while.

Yes but you are not a "diehard fan" of the original. I am not signing for you, don't worry.

And again, I like the first part, it was quite a good game, it was just that nostalgia doesn’t cloud my eyes and I can praise the new.

[Azman_Dew]

Originally posted by virel:

Originally posted by Outchaosing Cthulhu:

Yes but you are not a "diehard fan" of the original. I am not signing for you, don't worry.

And again, I like the first part, it was quite a good game, it was just that nostalgia doesn’t cloud my eyes and I can praise the new.

What exactly is there to be praised ? What makes this worthy of the name Bloodlines ?

It has nothing in common with the original other than the name. Even if by some miracle it turns out to be a decent game on it's own, it's still not Bloodlines in any shape or form.

Maybe there's some market for a generic Dishonored clone with vampires, but calling this Bloodlines is just shameful and the fans will not stand for such mockery.

[Calandir]

Originally posted by virel:

Originally posted by Calandir:

Their target audience are potential new fans. This game is not for VTMB fans. It's the classic case of trying to get ''everyone'' to buy your game, and in result, nobody will.

Also keep in mind that ''fans'' of original VTMB are not such big group, and it's not profitable to make game just for them.

Yes, they are trying to make a good game, the Chinese room is a good studio after all. However, you are right about the number of fans of the first part, for some reason they think that there are so many of them, although more than 20 years have passed already.

I want the best for the studio and this game. I hope it will be great. Nobody should wish for bad games, that's just Anti-Gamer behaviour.

[BuffyFan2001]

I don't think even Paradox knows. This whole fiasco started when Paradox decided they wanted to go into rpgs. Rather than developing an in-house IP, they decided to buy an existing one. It turns out that CCP (creators of EVE Online) owned a shell company that they wanted to sell, so that's how Paradox got the IP. Why did Paradox buy this particular IP? Because Bloodlines 1 peaked on Steam around 2013.

After buying it, Paradox had no idea what to do with it. They canceled any remaining legacy operations and rebooted the property. They approved a new tabletop game that made controversial retcons (in one case it was a completely original game with the brand name tacked on), approved a bunch of licensed shovelware trying to cash grab, and mismanaged the development of a fake sequel to Bloodlines 1.

They might as well have just come up with an original IP for all the difference it makes. This game isn't for fans of the original. It doesn't even try to approximate the tone of the original. There was absolutely no point in Paradox buying the IP.

[FluffyPotato]

I loved both bloodlines, redemption and tabletop. I'm quite looking forward to the release of this with the hope it's good. The wonky management makes me hesitant but the current devs have given me hope with their updates. I'm waiting for reviews before I buy but that's the case for every game.

[Azman_Dew]

Originally posted by FluffyPotato:

I loved both bloodlines, redemption and tabletop. I'm quite looking forward to the release of this with the hope it's good. The wonky management makes me hesitant but the current devs have given me hope with their updates. I'm waiting for reviews before I buy but that's the case for every game.

If you loved these three, than what could possibly be giving you hope about this one ?!

Is it the lack of character creation or the complete removal of nearly all RPG systems like stats , skills, inventory, loot, weapons. Oh, but they are adding different footstep sounds for different floor materials. And environmental objects will be affected by the wind - that's always good to know.

[FluffyPotato]

Originally posted by Azman_Dew:

Originally posted by FluffyPotato:

I loved both bloodlines, redemption and tabletop. I'm quite looking forward to the release of this with the hope it's good. The wonky management makes me hesitant but the current devs have given me hope with their updates. I'm waiting for reviews before I buy but that's the case for every game.

If you loved these three, than what could possibly be giving you hope about this one ?!

Is it the lack of character creation or the complete removal of nearly all RPG systems like stats , skills, inventory, loot, weapons. Oh, but they are adding different footstep sounds for different floor materials. And environmental objects will be affected by the wind - that's always good to know.

I'm most interested in role playing an elder and it seems they are putting effort into the narrative and choices. I hope they will reconsider the character sheet but it's not a deal breaker by a long shot and it like the one thing I would consider a negative so far.

[Azman_Dew]

Originally posted by FluffyPotato:

Originally posted by Azman_Dew:

If you loved these three, than what could possibly be giving you hope about this one ?!

Is it the lack of character creation or the complete removal of nearly all RPG systems like stats , skills, inventory, loot, weapons. Oh, but they are adding different footstep sounds for different floor materials. And environmental objects will be affected by the wind - that's always good to know.

I'm most interested in role playing an elder and it seems they are putting effort into the narrative and choices. I hope they will reconsider the character sheet but it's not a deal breaker by a long shot and it like the one thing I would consider a negative so far.

Oh, they are far beyond reconsidering anything at this point.

Playing an elder is probably the only actually good idea they have which is why I was also excited in the beginning. But seeing what they are doing to the game with each dev diary, all hope is long lost.

Narrative choice is good and all , but without the gameplay systems to back it up it's still just a glorified walking sim with Dishonored elements. A point & click adventure at best. A far cry from an RPG, certainly not worthy of the name Bloodlines.

And what they have actually shown for all this time is exactly one scene with the most bland and inconsequential choices. Everything else is still lofty promises and words on paper. I highly doubt it will deliver even on that.

[grraf]

Knowing the way these few last years went id say there's a very high probability this game is one of those made for the 'modern audiences'... hope to f' i'm wrong but all the early warning signs are there and this one seems to be shaping up to be another DA Veilguard

As for why would it poise itself as a Bloodlines sequel, i'm afraid the answer is as simple as it is disingenuous: to sucker the old unsuspecting fans into purchasing it only to get themselves Veil-guarded into a modern audience oriented sermon about transgenderism&gender fluidity BS...

Hope ill be proven wrong but ill be damned if spend a single penny on it until i know that is the case... and trust me when i say theyr social media community managers banning folk for simply asking if they can play a female/if one of the playable chars is female and if so why does it look precisely like the male... does not give me one shred of hope for this title.