IGN's look at Stranger. New pics and full first official movie.

[Dualist]

Check it out guys!

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/539/539879p1.html

[Majic]

Wicked.

*goes off to read*

EDIT: I like the mention of future map areas. Mountains, streams, forests. Everything will be so purdy.

[Oddsville]

Awsome article, and some nice new screens! Good find.

[Al the Vykker]

Its awesome to finally see a movie for it since I couldnt download the actually opening Video or when Lorne played through a demo.

[Alcar]

Dammit. Dualist, you seem to report everything before me or anyone else here. Anyway, yes, the article was quite good. I especially like the ongoing evolution of the author's mindset towards Oddworld. By the end of the article he's a changed man, and for the better

The images are great too. Though I'd be happier if the ugly IGN logo wasn't watermarked at the bottom. As for the video, I've already seen the content it contains, but it's cool non-the-less to see it again.

Alcar...

[Wil]

Well spotted, Dualist. OddBlog has already independantly updated, but well spotted all the same. The video - yeah, it works! - is georgeous. It showcases some absolutely stunning scenery, and everything looks so dark and theatrical. The screenshots are good, too. The environments continue to look magnificent, and the quality excellent (though I continue to see how large-scale graphics are being prioritised over small-scale details). I still despise the idea of having a healthbar, spotted meter and radar, but at least they're done tastfully, unlike the pop-up Live Ammo menus and bounty selection screen we've seen so far. Character design continues to annoy me despite Douglas Perry's statement that the characters are less annoying than previous ones (looks like OWI failed in their sole explanation of why Clakkerz are just fat chickens, then), but it is good to see industry insiders supporting Stranger, especially as they claim to have disliked Munch's Oddysee.

[Scrubs]

Yep the video is cool, and the way Strangers' crossbow snaps open is snazzy! I also took a dislike to the HUD, especially the health meter.
Gotta say though the environments look great.

[Esus]

HUD looks great, from the pause menu to the health meter, to the radar. Reminds me of Abe's Oddysee. Lovely pictures but I havn't seen the video yet.

[atusiya@]

Thank you Dualist!!!

[Jacob]

Yeh. New screens and preview...thingy. Go over to IGN. Mo'fo.

[Wil]

It's already been spotted, Jacob. I'll integrate this seemlessly with the existing thread.

Thanks anyway.

[Nate]

you play the cowboy drifter Stranger, a large toad-like creature who walks and stands on two legs

what's this guy been smoking? I mean I can kinda understand why Munch was once described as a fish but Stranger as a toad?

Is there a level of free membership to IGN? Or can someone maybe (just maybe) email the vid to my GMail account?

[Dualist]

Thanks everyone, although I do have a quick question. I heard IGN talking about that if an enemy has 4 stars over his head, he is ready to be vacuumed. But in the screens some enemies have had 1 or 2 stars. I didn't read all the article, mostly becuase the eurogamer.net was like IGN's article but just visiualizing it in movie and Lorne's talking...so I don't know if IGN mentioned it.

I did hear IGN mentioning that Stranger was still undergoing major developments and this was, I believe, more of a teaser to show the press on Stranger. So there is plenty of time to polish the graphics to make it as good as it gets, and crushing any bugs and fine tuning the gameplay and story.

Nate - Yes the video is free, select the Windows Media Player option at their site. ( Go here: http://media.xbox.ign.com/media/568/568699/vids_1.html Then find the one that says "320 x 240 (3.9MB)". Click it becuase it is a link, and it should pop up.)

Alcar - Heh I was suprised to not see you or Max report it on this forum. You guys get news as soon as they arrive. No joking. That's why I like coming here, get latest Stranger news without waiting weeks for news websites to update. :P

Another thing Alcar, I made some images without the IGN logo on it. Just cropped them. If anyone can do a better job, then by all means go ahead and do so.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...0231343581.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...0231332181.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...0231327641.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...0231322491.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...0231318111.png

EDIT: Looks like Photbucket re-sized those pics. I'll get the original bigger ones up at a different host, but any 56k's should take the links above becuase they aren't that big in size.

[oddguy]

Whoa! Son of a B!

I feel real dumb for even trying to get the MOV video I made from off G4TechTV on Oddworld-Web. Obviously the IGN one is waaaaaay better than mine. Oh well, I guess I can stop e-mailing G4.

Oh...and that Douglas guy was the same dude that pissed some of us off by saying some rather unfair comments about OWI. I'm glad he changed his mind. It's great to know that Stranger is good enough to turn some heads. I don't think I've heard one negative comment from those who played.

Oh...and I think the displays are great. From the bounty selection screen to the loading one. I love zem all! Vwaha!

-oddguy

[Alcar]

Wha-hey! Dualist! You saved me doing those shots. *kisses* You wouldn't believe how many images I've had to manipulate, find, overlay, and piece together in the past few days. It's a great help

As for why you posted it earlier: I was at school while it was posted, and Max would have been asleep People from the US have an advantage in regards to Oddworld information. Yet we have no current Oddworld fansites (online, or regularly updated) that are owned by an American. The closest thing is oddguy for Oddworld-Web. Which is a big advantage

Alcar...

[Shell Man]

Did anyone notice this? At about 47 seconds, when Stranger grabs the paper off the table and turns, look at the wall behind his right shoulder. Look familiar?

[Wil]

Great work with the altered images, Dualist. I think that earns you a mention on OddBlog.

Well spotted, Shell Man. It actually seems quite blatent, but I'd never spotted it before. I also noticed the spikes on Blisterz Booty's nape, and the dilapidated stone buildings in the background of BB chasing Stranger. The stamp on the paper says:

Pay out
JAIL
Bounty Store

[Incognito]

Did anyone notice this? At about 47 seconds, when Stranger grabs the paper off the table and turns, look at the wall behind his right shoulder. Look familiar?

Well spotted, Shell Man. It actually seems quite blatent, but I'd never spotted it before.

What is it exactly that looks familiar?

[Wil]

It's the background from the X-Factor video storyboards, with the wooden pigeonholes behind the desk. Notice that the creature behind the desk is a Clakker and not a Vykker.

[Fuzzles!]

Aaah excellent...I'm so excited...thanks! And great catches everybody!!!

[Sekto Springs]

Whoa! Son of a B!

I feel real dumb for even trying to get the MOV video I made from off G4TechTV on Oddworld-Web. Obviously the IGN one is waaaaaay better than mine. Oh well, I guess I can stop e-mailing G4.

I told you on MSN that something bigger and better would come up. I told you it was a waste of time. But nobody ever listens.

The screens look okay, but the movie no longer impresses me.

[Shell Man]

It's the background from the X-Factor video storyboards, with the wooden pigeonholes behind the desk. Notice that the creature behind the desk is a Clakker and not a Vykker.

Actually it's that green wall padding throughout the beginning of Munch's Oddysee. Uless you were talking about the same thing then, nevermind.

I just find it wierd that they would use that specific wall texture in such an environment, although maybe they buy their walls from the same distributor.

[Wil]

Ah, now that is well spotted, and somewhat strange. I think the padded walls in Vykkers Labs are meant to give the place a kind of Mental Asylum feel, but their use in the jail kind of follows along the same lines. They're not used in the cells themselves, though. Maybe it's that if the inmates get rowdy and kick the Clakker into the wall, it's padded for him.

[Scrubs]

Did anyone notice how weird BB looks without his hat on(when he's in the cell) he has got 1 little red thing poping out of his head (i can't make out if he has two!)

Its a shame they have got rid of gamespeak, but i guess they don't need it seen as its not a puzzle game.

[Shell Man]

I'd say it's a lump on his noggin from Stranger.

[Capri]

The video is awesome. Is there any news on who the second steef (Stranger is a steef, right?) is? He's the one who looks all tribal. And another thing, what are those yellow things with the big eyes?

I've been out of the loop for awhile. :P

[Shell Man]

I'm going to assume the other one is just Stranger without his hat and vest.

The yello guys are some kind of salimander-type native race, like shorter Mudokons.

[Oddish]

I love the the images! So fresh, it's much better when there good qualty screenshots.

I'm going to assume the other one is just Stranger without his hat and vest.

The yello guys are some kind of salimander-type native race, like shorter Mudokons.

I don't know what you mena about the other stranger, but those littlr yellow thinks look more like baby clakkerz to me.

Great banner shell man! Did you do the drawing of the steef yourself?

[Shell Man]

Yeah, I did. Those Ain't baby Clakkerz by the way, they're natives.

[Oddish]

What are navites doing in a industral town, unless their wildlife or pets.

I was wrong, there was no burning town, it's flames to be used for something (on the roof tops)