“They rarely look up”: Predicting Where a Player Would Look Has Been a Challenge in Avowed Because It’s Hard to Know Where Their “attention is drawn”

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In less than a week, Avowed will be released (or available immediately if you’ve purchased the premium edition), and one of Obsidian Entertainment’s most fascinating development dilemmas is becoming clear. Last summer, the team disclosed their biggest obstacle in creating this first-person RPG: they can’t foresee where players will focus their gaze, and it seems that we seldom look skyward.

Although Obsidian demonstrated its ability to handle first-person perspectives with The Outer Worlds, shifting the complex lore and detailed world-building of Pillars of Eternity into this viewpoint presented some distinct challenges. Given that you have full control over what players observe from a bird’s eye view, it’s an entirely different scenario.

However, if they are permitted to casually observe an ordinary barrel as important events transpire around them, that’s a unique situation indeed.

When players would rather admire barrels than plot points

The transition from isometric to first-person perspective in the game ‘Avowed’ isn’t merely about adjusting camera angles; it’s about fundamentally reshaping how players perceive and interact with their environment. In an open conversation with Screen Rant last June, Game Director Carrie Patel revealed a significant insight that perfectly encapsulates their major finding: the profound impact of this change on player immersion.

Or problematically, they rarely look up.

This straightforward insight seems to have significantly transformed the methodology Obsidian uses for environmental storytelling. The conventional techniques of directing player focus through static camera perspectives and strategically placed pointers are becoming less effective. As players now possess total control over their viewing direction, it’s essential to think outside the box when devising solutions.

It appears that the problem goes beyond merely directing players to gaze upwards. As Patel pointed out, forecasting a player’s actions in a first-person perspective is similar to managing cats – it can technically be done, but it requires a level of skill and delicacy that might surprise you.

Comprehending which parts of the game the player will focus on, identifying areas where we can simply set up a ‘look-at’ cue, yet realizing that in a first-person game, where the player’s attention is drawn can be significantly less predictable.

The team was tasked with creating entirely fresh strategies to highlight crucial game elements for players. This ranged from discreet environmental hints to lively interactions with companions, and every narrative device required a fresh perspective. Even seemingly trivial details like a character indicating an important landmark needed careful thought—as who needs a grand unveiling if the player is preoccupied with their virtual shoes?

A make-or-break moment for Obsidian

After the unexpected closures of Microsoft’s renowned game studios, such as Tango Gameworks (creators of “Hi-Fi Rush”) and Arkane Austin (known for “Prey” and “Redfall”), the upcoming RPG “Avowed” by Obsidian holds more significance than just being their next major project. These closures have sparked concern about the future of studios that fail to meet expectations, leaving many to ponder.

However, it might not be apparent that such pressure is present when observing Game Director Carrie Patel talk about her game. Her unbridled excitement for the game “Avowed” is truly contagious, as she emphasizes novel aspects instead of potential consequences.

We aimed to inspire players to explore creatively, and we wanted them to discover and express their unique identities within the game by choosing how they play.

The team’s confidence isn’t merely superficial; they’ve invested numerous years of their expertise into tackling these distinct problems. Every solution, ranging from how characters intuitively draw your focus to the pivotal moments in the story, has been meticulously crafted to function within this fresh perspective. It’s a significant departure from the static viewpoints of Pillars of Eternity, but maybe that’s precisely what Obsidian required to grow and innovate.

Starting tomorrow, we’ll get an early peek, and very soon experience the entire release. It remains to be seen if Obsidian’s risky shift will prove successful. However, one thing that’s undeniable is their dedication to making sure players are guided correctly, even though our interest in barrels might seem a bit unusual.

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2025-02-12 18:23