Mailbox: Eric Newman and Heroes V

Angelspit · Unread postby **Angelspit** » 06 Aug 2007, 19:39

Just got some mail from my friend Eric Newman, former artist at 3DO and New World Computing, who's been <a href="/https://www.celestialheavens.com/newsar ... arch">very enthusiastic</a> (since the 2005 E3) with Ubisoft's revival of the Might and Magic franchise:

<i>"I just wanted to let you know I finished Heroes 5. I like it. I think its everything we wanted to do for Heroes 4 but could not do because we had 3DO telling us we couldn't (we had to stay 2D). I have to say I commend the artists for really capturing the essence of heroes and expanding it way beyond. The characters are extremely detailed and enticing for a heroes game. The map screens look gorgeous. I'd wished we had the opportunity to create something on that level."</i>

His suggestion for more lively towns has been made by many other fans before and will, hopefully, become a reality someday:

<i>"I would have still liked to see people in those town screens, they look like ghost towns. I had always dreamed of a heroes adventure that had an aspect of a dialog system akin to the old school lucasarts titles that would change the fate of the game, but in the end I know the fans mostly want to take their armies into combat. The one thing I felt missing from the combat in heroes 5 was the combat grid that made movement choices very strategic. It almost plays out more like final fantasy now. That revival of King's Bounty looks like it plays more like heroes. The other thing would be the cinematics, its something we prided ourselves on at NWC for a time. They took a little bit of a backroad for heroes 5, but I would like to see them come back again for a future iteration of the game. Send my regards to the community and that I am very happy that they finally received a game worthy of a following."</i>

After three and a half years, Eric left CafeFX to work for a VisualFX/Animation studio called SnowBallVFX in Israel. I wish him the best of luck.

If you would like to take a look at the original page visit this link:
https://www.celestialheavens.com/1186429143

Corribus · Unread postby **Corribus** » 06 Aug 2007, 19:47

Speaking of Kings Bounty, will CH be supporting that game (an official forum, news, etc.) since it's sort of like an adjunct of Might and Magic??

arturchix · Unread postby **arturchix** » 06 Aug 2007, 20:11

It has nothing to do with Might and Magic, AFAIK.

Angelspit · Unread postby **Angelspit** » 06 Aug 2007, 20:27

I could create the forum and set up the info section as long as people are willing to fill them up. But besides a little news coverage, I won't have time to do much.

Zamolxis · Unread postby **Zamolxis** » 06 Aug 2007, 21:02

Sigh... The old M&M vs HoMM story...

As a Heroes fan, for me the new KB:TL has ten times more to do with the KB-HoMM universe than DMoMM will ever do. As pointed out even by Eric Newman in the interview, to a limited extent it might even have some elements more Heroes-like than H5.

But in the end it's all a matter of perspective and one can't do much about people's choices & tastes. ;-)

Corribus · Unread postby **Corribus** » 06 Aug 2007, 21:12

Well... I wasn't really asking you to do it - more just curious if there were pre-existing plans. It doesn't make much sense if the new KB game has nothing to do with HOMM, but since the original was sort of a HoMM prequel, I thought maybe the new one would be related in some distant fashion...

Darmani · Unread postby **Darmani** » 06 Aug 2007, 21:26

I think the fact that he's so happy with HV is closely related to the fact that he's an artist.
Edited on Mon, Aug 06 2007, 17:26 by Darmani

Corribus · Unread postby **Corribus** » 06 Aug 2007, 21:28

I'm happy with H5 and I'm not an artist.

Akul · Unread postby **Akul** » 06 Aug 2007, 21:56

I'm also happy with H5 and I'm NO WAY an artist.

Ethermancer · Unread postby **Ethermancer** » 06 Aug 2007, 22:53

I'm (mostly) happy with H5 and -- plot twist -- I AM an artist.

I don't appreciate the insinuation that our opinions will inherently skew every time we encounter lovely visuals. Note, for instance, that Newman registers a few quibbles with the feel as combat as well as the quality of the cinematics. He's also keen on what's more Heroes-like about KB than H5, as Zalmoxis says. He's clearly not just speaking as an artist, but as a developer and a gamer as well.
Edited on Mon, Aug 06 2007, 19:03 by Ethermancer

Daystar · Unread postby **Daystar** » 07 Aug 2007, 00:08

I agree about lively towns, but if badly programed won't people fall off the academy?

Elvin · Unread postby **Elvin** » 07 Aug 2007, 00:35

Well the town is not moving around and I'm sure most people are pretty good at not falling over their balcony.

Vlaad II · Unread postby **Vlaad II** » 07 Aug 2007, 06:05

>The other thing would be the cinematics, its something we prided ourselves on at NWC for a time.

What is he talking about? LOL

Akul · Unread postby **Akul** » 07 Aug 2007, 07:56

That they never made such stupid things like cinematics I presume.

Orfinn · Unread postby **Orfinn** » 07 Aug 2007, 13:04

Finally a person from the good ol' NWC who also see that H5 is a worthy and great game addition to the franchise

Alamar · Unread postby **Alamar** » 07 Aug 2007, 13:56

-- For a game 6 years ago I think that it wouldn't have been a smart decision to got hog-wild on 3D interfaces without at least a 2D backup so I'm with 3DO on that decision. I.E. if you can't have 2 interfaces then stick with 2D.

-- The art is indeed very nice and with a few exceptions I generally like it and think that it did capture the H2 feel quite well.

-- I agree that more lively towns [like HoMM1] would have been appreciated.

-- I'm all for adding in RPG aspects to maps ... go for it!! I'm not sure I'm wild about implementing that as something that's required on all maps though.

-- I enjoyed NWC's & 3DO's campaign cinematics much more than Nival's. I will admit that the opening game cinematic [as opposed to the campaign] was very nice to look at.
Edited on Tue, Aug 07 2007, 09:58 by Alamar

CloudRiderX · Unread postby **CloudRiderX** » 07 Aug 2007, 15:17

"It almost plays out more like final fantasy now"

True, but FF is fun.

"Finally a person from the good ol' NWC who also see that H5 is a worthy and great game addition to the franchise

"

H5 is plenty worthy for the series, but I don't know about that second part...

People in towns would be good, but they should also get rid of the 360 degree rotation, or at least not base each town off of it. I much prefer old-school towns in that regard.

(@angelspit: I thought when he said "he just finished H5" and "there's everything in it that we wanted to do for H4" that he was working on TotE with Nival. The way he says it makes it sound like that. Silly me.)
Edited on Wed, Aug 08 2007, 08:24 by CloudRiderX

Angelspit · Unread postby **Angelspit** » 07 Aug 2007, 16:12

CloudRiderX wrote:That's only because he made the game. Everyone who is involved in making a game thinks its amazing.

Err, Eric did *not* work on Heroes V. His last game was Heroes IV.

Daystar · Unread postby **Daystar** » 07 Aug 2007, 16:25

The 3D rotation is a good concept. I mean, who ever heard of a town where the City hall was sitting at the back, and then all the houses were on only one side? I mean, if its on a mountain yeah, but most cities in HIII were'nt. The 360 degrees makes the game feel more realistic, and the concept is cool.

Orfinn · Unread postby **Orfinn** » 08 Aug 2007, 13:51

Indeed it is, but I feel it a bit obselete to search around and highlight the buildings I want to visit when I have the shortcuts down to the left and right...

The Heroes Round Table