Borderlands

[Angel of Sorrow]

I haven't really seen any mention of this game, and it's coming next month so I felt obligated to make a thread for it because honestly, I feel Gearbox is doing an excellent job on this game and they deserve praise for it. Borderlands is a FPS game laced with RPG elements and a drop system similar to Diablo.

Borderlands takes place on the planet Pandora which was said to have vast resources, kinda like a 'futuristic goldrush'. So many companies gathered to this planet and set up colonies to start mining the planet. Come to find out, the planet didn't have much like they thought any anyone who had the money to leave the planet did, leaving the rest of the population in chaos and lawlessness.

Seven years later, Pandora's long orbit changes winter into spring and the creatures begin emerging from hibernation. You, play as one of four characters, each with their own reasons for traveling to the planet. Roland, a former soldier. Mordecai, a specialist in sniping. Lilith, a once human turned Siren and Brick, a massive man who uses not only guns, but his fists to fight.

The game features 4 player [drop in, drop out] CO-OP in which anything your character earns, whether it be experience of weapons while you play with friends, you bring back to your single player game. It also features one spectacular feature.

Gearbox, built an AI mechanic known as the 'Gearbuilder' which they fed manufacturer names, many different gun parts and a ton of other stuff and let it run wild resulting in over 3 million guns, with some reports saying 17 million! All of which are randomly generated in game to find similar to Diablo.

Honestly, there is so much about this game that I can't type it all up. But I gotta say, they seem to be going all out for this game and I can't wait to get it in my hands. It'll be coming out in October on the 20th for PS3, 360 and of course, the PC. I'll leave you guys with some links to watch, feel free to enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdBFWti6mkg
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/gc-09-borderlands/55047
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=876X30YznqE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWtZjR8mz9c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwSopF-AuL4

[Tyr]

I too am looking forward to this game but I would like to try it out before I buy it, I have some concerns about it.

[Angel of Sorrow]

I love you, I really do. I was becoming disappointed that no one on this forum bothered to post. May I ask what your concerns are, I might be able to answer some of them.

Also, if you're interested, I have all the characters skills.

[hoffmandu]

I dig the the world, and I dig the super amount of potential loot. Makes for a unique experience.

Now, the real question is content. Will it hold our interests for more than a week? If so, I'm in.

Also, I'm a bit nervous about the amount of archtypes; 4? 17 million potential weapons and there's 4 characters? I hope it works, because a well done Mad Maxish experience could lead to a powerful sequel MMO.

[hoffmandu]

Also, if you're interested, I have all the characters skills.

Post 'em!!!

[Tyr]

I love you, I really do. I was becoming disappointed that no one on this forum bothered to post. May I ask what your concerns are, I might be able to answer some of them.

Also, if you're interested, I have all the characters skills.

Well the billzillion guns thing, truth be told I've seen that before in Alien Syndrome, and it wasn't that great of a game, so I'd like to know more about what exactly the random weapon generator entails. Also I still haven't seen enough about the game to make up my mind. I too would love to see the character skill set so please post.

[Angel of Sorrow]

Also, I'm a bit nervous about the amount of archtypes; 4? 17 million potential weapons and there's 4 characters? I hope it works, because a well done Mad Maxish experience could lead to a powerful sequel MMO.

Yes, there is four characters. But each have three skill trees that allow them to specialize in certain areas. So Brick, he can be a Brawler and do a ton of damage with Berserk. Or he can play as the teams Tank and take his pounding like a beast. Or maybe you would rather play Blaster and be great with rocket launchers. So in my mind, there is 12 and any combination of each tree. If I want to be a Brawler/Tank [which I will make], I could.

Now, you add in all of the different class mods there are, for example there is a Skirmisher Class Mod for Brick that increases his melee and his teams melee. It also gives him extra points in a couple of his skills. There is also a Commano Class Mod for Roland that makes him even better with shotguns. There is also different shields and grenade mods too. Shields that heal or let off an explosion as a defense mechanism and grenades that explode and then turn into more grenades that also explode.

Well the billzillion guns thing, truth be told I've seen that before in Alien Syndrome, and it wasn't that great of a game, so I'd like to know more about what exactly the random weapon generator entails.

Basically, they made an AI program to procedurally makes each of the weapons, class mods, grenade mods and shields. It's also used for the enemies you face as well, just not on a large scale like the guns. There are quite a few hand crafted guns that the developers specifically made and added to the game as well, so they are not all random.

What they did was add in tons of information to the 'Gearbuilder' including:

Company names: Hyperion, Jakobs, Atlas, Tediore, Vladof, Dahl, Maliwan and S&S to name a few. Each with their own distinct styling. For example, Jakobs likes using wood [which is rare on Pandora apparently] stocks for their guns.

Materials: Wood, composites, plastics, metal, alloys, ect. I can't recall all of the materials Randy Pitchford mentioned in one of his interviews.

Firearm parts: Barrel, sights, magazine size, ect. ect. Each piece with it's own stat types that are factors into the complete gun. Like a long barrel would result in better accuracy, wider muzzle would mean a bigger caliber and mean more damage, scopes obviously. Each effect the gun differently.

Unique stats: Some weapons will have unique additions that make the gun better. Examples: the Lady Finger has a +100% critical hit damage, +47% accuracy and +48% recoil reduction. The Clipper has +100% melee damage. It'll vary from gun to gun.

Damage Types: Some guns will give the ammo used special properties including Incendiary, Explosive, Shock and Corrosive. With chances of actually lighting an enemy on fire or just plain melting their face off. Shock properties even have a better shield destroying power.

Gun Types: Each gun is separated into seven proficiencies. Pistol, SMG, Shotguns, Assault Rifles, Rocket Launchers, Sniper Rifles and Eridian [alien guns]. Each of which can be used by any character, but each character has skills that increase specific weapons [Mordecai specialty is Sniper Rifles and Pistols].

But it doesn't mean you won't find a Revolver that fires a shotgun shell. Or a pistol that fires grenades. It has such a high ability of randomness. Developers have found guns that fire electrified razorblades, rocket launchers that fire both a rocket and buckshot at the same time, a gun that actually fires rounds that ricochet and even found one that basically just locked onto an enemy for three seconds and then the guy exploded.

The combinations are apparently through the roof.

Edit: There is probably a lot more to their system then I know. I was just recalling the stuff I do know.

Also, here is a new video to watch: Gamespot Video Preview (http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/borderlands/video/6228620/borderlands-video-preview-1?hd=1) and that link to the skills. (http://gbxforums.gearboxsoftware.com/showthread.php?t=73672) Do note that basically all of the skills are passive or what they call a 'Chain Skill' [Hexagon shaped] which activated upon killing someone and can be continued [chained] as you kill more.

[Tyr]

That sounds cool, though the graphic just don't wow me the same way vats kills did in Fallout 3, still I'll probably get this game.

[Angel of Sorrow]

I guess you haven't seen a shock death yet then.
Guys face fries off, a piece of his skull cracks off and you get to watch his brain explode. I laughed hysterical the first time I saw it. I can't wait to do it in game.

[Tyr]

I guess you haven't seen a shock death yet then.
Guys face fries off, a piece of his skull cracks off and you get to watch his brain explode. I laughed hysterical the first time I saw it. I can't wait to do it in game.


Yeah...that doesn't really make me want the game.

Hey if your in to that sort of violence, then I'm sure it will be a blast. But It just doesn't sound like my cup of tea. Sure the Fallout series was gory, but it never got to that point. But still I may check the game out it cause of the promise it holds.

[Angel of Sorrow]

Fallout 3 was just as, if not more gory then Borderlands.
Don't know where you came up with that statement.

Edit: Note that the death with the art style is much more humorous then it sounds.

[Tyr]

Fallout 3 was just as, if not more gory then Borderlands.
Don't know where you came up with that statement.


Fallout 3 didn't have peoples faces burning off. The whole acid, dissolving flesh, faces burning off thing makes me queasy for some reason.


Edit: Note that the death with the art style is much more humorous then it sounds.


Ok well I guess I just have to see it then, not to crazy about it though.

[Angel of Sorrow]

Here, found the video. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfwHOdG8p34)
And to me, being able to kill someone, dismember them piece by piece and then playing with each piece is a lot worse then scripted outrageous deaths that are blatantly suppose to have some humor in them.

I guess it's a matter of opinion.

[Angel of Sorrow]

Edit: Goddamn system.

[Angel of Sorrow]

Edit: Goddamn system.

[Tyr]

Here, found the video. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfwHOdG8p34)
And to me, being able to kill someone, dismember them piece by piece and then playing with each piece is a lot worse then scripted outrageous deaths that are blatantly suppose to have some humor in them.

I guess it's a matter of opinion.

Ok that doesn't look half as bad as it sounds to me. I'm not saying I'm against gratuitous violence. I'm just not a fan of watching people slowly dissolve, it just makes me feel uneasy for some reason.

[Angel of Sorrow]

Thats understandable. I'm happy to have put your worries to rest.

[Tyr]

Here, found the video. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfwHOdG8p34)
And to me, being able to kill someone, dismember them piece by piece and then playing with each piece is a lot worse then scripted outrageous deaths that are blatantly suppose to have some humor in them.

I guess it's a matter of opinion.

Checked it out. You know it doesn't look as bad as it sounds.

I'm not against gratuitous violence mind you, Its just anything that decay creeps me out, and rapid decay, well that just creeps me out even more.

[Angel of Sorrow]

New Claptrap Webisode (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL4QNsaqnz4).
Rakk Hive punting. lol