Divinity Original Sin
Latest
‘Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition’ comes to the iPad
The title has been rebuilt from the ground up using Apple's Metal APIs.
Best of the Rest: Sinan's picks of 2014
ATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris. Dark Souls 2 I've been known to perch on treetops with many a RPG, but even by my standards this was a makeout-heavy year. Four of my five picks are of the role-playing variety, and I've put more than 250 hours into that quartet alone. 2014 was a super-solid time for the genre, and that's evidenced by the sheer range of RPGs in my Best of the Rest. The only place to start this round-up is Drangleic. It was always going to take something truly special for Dark Souls 2 to stay out of its predecessor's shadow, at least for me. We are, after all, talking about following on from my game of the last decade. That proves a challenge too far for From's sequel, despite the many tweaks and additions it brings to the table. Crucially, Dark Souls 2 diminishes that sinking-into-quicksand helplessness, that sense of being lost, in every sense of the word. It is still there, but just that significant bit less so. Yet Dark Souls 2 remains an all-encompassing adventure like few others this year. It draws from both Dark and Demon's Souls to juxtapose a deep, foreboding world against an elegant simplicity of swords, shields, dungeons and big bad monsters. There are more pretenders to the throne now, but Dark Souls 2 still stands out as an idiosyncratic, unpredictable experience. For all my criticisms I plowed at least 100 hours into the world of Drangleic, and I'll be back on the plow when Dark Souls 2 hits PS4 and Xbox One in April.
Buddy up with Divinity: Original Sin's two new companions
New DLC for Divinity: Original Sin is available now for free, giving players two new companions to recruit into their heroic entourage. The duo are ranger Bairdotr (left) and mute rogue Wolgraff (right), and you can access them by downloading the DLC on Steam or updating the game on GOG, and then starting a new game from scratch. Larian describes Bairdotr as a curious and loyal archer who's on a quest to safely return the kidnapped druid of the Homeforest. As for Wolgraff, he's not so altruistic: "Dark Sourcery deprived Wolgraff of his voice when he was but a kid, and with it his dream of becoming a Source Hunter. Refused by the Order, he grew up to become a rogue, stealing from the rich and giving to... just himself actually."
Divinity: Original Sin moves half a million copies
Throwback PC RPG Divinity: Original Sin has sold over 500,000 copies since its launch in June, developer Larian Studios announced today. Pitching its project as a return to the genre's roots, Larian surged past its Kickstarter goal last year, more than doubling its initial funding target. Founder Swen Vincke notes that Divinity: Original Sin buyers "mostly" arrived via Steam, with 10 percent of sales coming from retail channels. "'Break even' has been reached, our debts have been paid and we are now in the profitable zone," Vincke wrote. "While not all of the money is for us as we had private investors on board, the game did sufficiently well for us to envision funding our next endeavors with it, meaning we're pretty happy about its performance." [Image: Larian]
Joystiq Weekly: EA Access, Divinity: Original Sin review, The Last Of Us revisited and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. EA announced EA Access this week, a monthly or yearly service that gives subscribers a digital library of games from the publisher's catalog. PlayStation Plus and Games With Gold are comfortable ideas at this point, but for such a substantial publisher to start their own service on a console without making any hardware themselves? That's pretty interesting. Hopefully we won't see a flood or other publishers launching competitors for PlayStation and Xbox's services, though. Paying one monthly fee for Netflix and maybe two monthly fees for video games is manageable, but if the console space starts feeling crowded with subscription services, we can imagine the sense of value will be continually reduced with each additional arrival. Then again, we could probably stomach one more if Nintendo cooked up something for the Virtual Console... There's way more to this week than pondering our breaking point for monthly subscription fees though. Capcom, Sony and Nintendo had earnings reports, Homefront: The Revolution got adopted by Deep Silver's parent company, and PlayStation Now entered its open beta. It's all waiting for you after the break!
Divinity: Original Sin review: Old-school absolution
Divinity: Original Sin is an unashamed timewarp, a beast unrestrained in dragging old-school RPG values into the modern day. The concessions it makes are often by-products of the things it pursues, qualities like agency, depth and challenge. The game is so loaded with depth that, like an inventory-laden hero, it's almost crippled by it, teetering over the abyss of complexity and perplexity. What keeps Original Sin grounded is turn-based combat that's consistently a joy. Its symbiosis with the sheer scope of the game raises the whole thing to heady heights that harken back to another age.
Joystiq Streams: Divinity Original Sin pumps up our RPG bonafides [UPDATE: Relive the stream!]
Larian Studios will never say die! More than a decade on from Divine Divinity, the studios remains committed to old-fashioned PC RPG style. Adventures in the magical kingdom of Rivellon do not need streamlined first-person shooting and aggressive Facebook features in 2014! Quests performed for the Council of Seven need not be augmented by pre-order exclusive DLC! This is turn-based role-playing the way grandma and grandpa used to like it back when you were just a twinkle in SteamOS' eye. Joystiq Streams is ready for a learning experience so we're diving blind into Divinity: Original Sin starting at 4PM EST on Joystiq.com/Twitch. Not only that, but we have a few copies of the game to give out too. Here's how it's going down. Anthony John Agnello will jump head first into Divinity to create a character and learn the ropes during the stream pre-show at 3:30PM EST. Alexander Sliwinski, a Divinity vet, will join him to help. Then both brave souls will wander into Rivellon starting at 4PM EST on Joystiq.com/Twitch. The chat's open all day so pop in and give us tips on how to play. Joystiq Streams broadcasts every Tuesday and Thursday at 4PM right here and at Twitch.tv/Joystiq. [Images: Larian Studios]
Divinity: Original Sin returns to the naughty step until June 30
Larian Studios delayed Divinity: Original Sin by 10 days today, citing the need for a few more finishing touches before the game can ascend out of Steam Early Access. Now Original Sin is to launch fully for Windows PC and Mac on June 30, and by then it'll include a limited range of voice-overs thanks to the extra time. A Linux version remains due at a later date. Original Sin takes the RPG series into a new world of turn-based combat, and friends will be able to experience it across PC and Mac versions. As revealed last month, the game's online two-player co-op works cross-platform while Steam cloud-saves are supported too. [Image: Larian Studios]
Take a peek at Divinity: Original Sin Collector's Edition
Need cloth maps to go with your RPGs? Divinity: Original Sin's Collector's Edition will weave you a pretty picture of the world of Rivellon on June 20, the day fans move on from Early Access and begin clicking through the finished game for PC and Mac. If you've already got enough fictional universes pinned to your wall, there's still a fair amount of stuff in the box: beyond two Steam keys for Original Sin, there's a key for Divine Divinity and Beyond Divinity, a soundtrack CD, recipe cards to assist with crafting in Original Sin, a two-sided poster, a pouch of dice, a themed pack of playing cards and stickers. The related press release notes there are only 1,500 Collector's Edition sets left, so if you're interested, ponder the $94.99 bundle over at Larian Studios' Vault. [Image: Larian Studios]
And lo, Divinity: Original Sin doth launch fully in June
Divinity: Original Sin launches in full on June 20, marking a return to PC screens for Larian Studio's RPG series - with a little help from its friends. A Mac version is also on the way at a later date. The game that came up with Sin before Final Fantasy X, SiN and the Bible (ok, maybe not) is currently on Steam Early Access, where Larian's been steadily inundating it with updates. There are a few more additions on the way today, with Larian including everything from "much cooler treasure" to in-game chat and 135 new music tracks. If you're interested, there's still plenty of time to join the Early Access club ahead of June's launch, but it will set you back $40. Original Sin is set long before the events of the original 2002 game, Divine Divinity. That heritage is echoed in what Larian's promising to be a "back-to-the-roots" RPG adventure, albeit with the more modern touch of online and local drop-in/drop-out two-player co-op. [Image: Larian Studios]
Divinity: Original Sin enters beta following 'massive' update
Crowdfunded PC action-RPG Divinity: Original Sin has entered beta following the release of a "massive" gameplay-expanding update, developer Larian Studios announced today. Divinity: Original Sin joined Steam's Early Access program in January, offering a preliminary look at its open-world cooperative campaign. Today's update introduces more than 400 new features and gameplay tweaks, including new character talents, skill trees, enemies, and environments. Divinity: Original Sin is available from Steam for $39.99 during its Early Access period. [Video: Larian Studios]
Co-op roleplaying game Divinity: Original Sin arrives this Spring
Larian Studios' latest high fantasy epic, Divinity: Original Sin, is now slated for a Spring release, and to whet players' appetites, the developer has issued the above trailer, titled "Spring Is Coming." According to a press release issued by Larian, the Spring launch window will allow the developer to utilize more of the feedback it has received from the game's Kickstarter backers, as well as those playing the game's Early Access incarnation. "Divinity: Original Sin features a huge and reactive RPG world with unparalleled 2-player co-op, and Larian is taking the time necessary to make it right and polished," the developer stated. If you'd rather not wait a few nebulous months to dig into Divinity: Original Sin, there's still time to join the Early Access test. While there is a $40 cost of entry, Larian claims that the Early Access game will continue to receive content updates and bug fixes for the foreseeable future. [Image: Larian Studios]
Divinity: Original Sin now on Steam Early Access
After drawing in more than $900,000 on Kickstarter, Larian Studios' prequel to Divine Divinity, Divinity: Original Sin, is ready for a bit of open-world questing on PCs via Early Access. While buying in will grant you the full game once it's finished, Divinity's Early Access page estimates the current offering to be "the first 15 hours of the game." It also suggests that those looking for something representative of the final version's content and polish should pass on the Early Access version, which is meant to allow players to "influence development" with feedback. Sounds reasonable! The page also notes that while Larian will be updating the game regularly, save games will "not be compatible between versions." Sooo maybe don't get super attached to any adventures you start until Divinity's final version is released. Of course, the final version will include an RPG maker, so you could just get familiar with Divinity's mechanics and then make your own adventure. Larian is encouraging all participants to share their thoughts concerning balancing, bugs and potential improvements on Divinity's discussion board. If you're interested in helping or just itching to venture through the first chunk of the game, $39.99 will get you an Early Access copy. You can also go for the $59.99 double pack and try out the Early Access multiplayer with a friend.
Divinity: Original Sin ascends past Kickstarter goal
Larian Studios' Kickstarter for Divinity: Original Sin met its $400,000 goal today, which means the Belgian studio has the funds to increase its dev team and the RPG's content. Nearly 9000 backers took Larian across the finish line, and with 17 days of the campaign left to go, eyes will turn now towards the Divine Divinity prequel's stretch goals.There are outlined stretch goals from $500,000 to $1 million, with the lower goal bringing a new area to Original Sin, while seven figures introduces impactful day/night and weather systems. The Divinity dev currently divines a November 2013 release date, but access to the game's alpha version, unlocked by a $150 pledge or more, is expected this summer.
Divinity comes to Kickstarter with Original Sin
Belgium-based Larian Studios is holding a Kickstarter for its turn-based, open-world RPG Divinity: Original Sin. The developer says it's hitting up Kickstarter to make the game, which was announced last year, the best it can be."There's a lot of potential in the game systems we've created so far, so we want to invest everything we can into pushing them further and unlocking their full potential," said Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke. "If we get the extra support from our fans now, I'm very confident that we'll be able to make something truly exceptional."The money will be used to expand the development team and increase the content found in the game. Larian is on a good track to make its goal, with (as of this writing) $164,000 pledged of a $400,000 goal and 28 days to go.
Larian Studios' Gamescom still a success despite having two PCs stolen
Divinity franchise dev Larian Studios had a successful trip to Gamescom, even though two of the company's PCs were stolen containing early builds of Divinity: Dragon Commander and Divinity: Original Sin. "The team is using backup PCs, so no issues there," Larian said in a statement issued during the show. A video montaging Larian's antics at Gamescom also captures Larian president Swen Vincke reacting to the burglary in real time."How do you feel about somebody physically stealing your games?" he's asked. "I feel very bad bad about it. I feel like I've been raped actually. It wasn't only my games that were on there, there were also personal documents on there. So I hate it. I think the person should be crucified," Vincke said, clearly still upset."There's very little I can do, I'll keep on smiling. I'll give $5,000 to whoever gets me my PC back," Vincke added. As of now, Larian tells us it hasn't gotten its hardware back, nor have any builds of the two stolen games surfaced online (at least that Larian's seen). Nor has Larian heard from the culprits. If you'd like to get in contact with the studio to offer information, shoot the devs an email right here.
Divinity theft at Gamescom unresolved, studio head hopes it was just for hardware
Swen Vincke, founder of Larian Studios, tells us he hasn't had any good leads on the two PCs, containing builds of Dragon Commander, Divinity: Original Sin and an unannounced project, that were stolen from his booth at Gamescom this week."We haven't heard anything yet and hope it's a construction worker who doesn't care about what's on the [hard drive]," Vincke told us. "Right now, the damage is just the loss of a PC – if he puts everything that was on there online, then that could be bad, depending on what happens with the builds/content of the HDD."Vincke told us a few people have emailed the company to say the games are online, but so far those reports have been false. The developer is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the return of its property.
Early builds of Divinity games stolen from Gamescom
Two PCs holding early builds of Divinity: Dragon Commander and Divinity: Original Sin have been stolen from Larian Studios' booth at Gamescom, possibly by jerks. Larian sent a press release out, seeking information on the whereabouts of the PCs and the alleged jerks who did it. To that end, the developer is offering a $5000 reward."The team is using backup PCs, so no issues there," Larian reports. This is all reminiscent of PAX 2010, when a thief attempted to copy early code for the game Breach from one of Atomic Studios' computers. That attempt ended in an arrest and, eventually, probation.
Divinity: Original Sin is a prequel to Divine Divinity, due 2013
Belgium-based Larian Studios has announced that it will release a new title in the popular Divinity RPG series, called Divinity: Original Sin. Due out in the first quarter of 2013, Original Sin will serve as a prequel to Divine Divinity, feature two main playable characters in turn-based combat, and come with co-op multiplayer and an adventure building kit that players can use to create and share content online. The game will arrive on PC and Mac. You can see more about the title on the official site, or browse through the gallery of screenshots below. Larian will be showing off Original Sin and Dragon Commander (another upcoming Divinity-based title) at E3 this year, so we'll see them up close in about a week.%Gallery-156396%
