CD Projekt going seriously overboard on The Witcher: Enhanced Edition

by Kevin Kelly { Aug 11th 2008 at 11:15PM }

Judging from this screenshot, you can see where some of the *ahem* enhancements are going. CD Projekt is pouring a lot of time and effort into The Witcher, which came out almost a year ago. They're adding new animations, new NPC models, fixing all of the dialogue translation problems, squashing bugs, and "increasing load times by 80%." The question is, will people pay attention to a game that came out last year?

GameCyte has a full interview with project lead Maciej Szczesnik who talks about the changes they've made. They caught a lot of flak over the poor translation of the game from the original Polish into English, and now they've re-recorded over 5,000 lines of dialogue along with all of the other upgrades and fixes. You can hear the difference between the old audio and the new audio pretty clearly by clicking on those links, but frankly... they just sound like different readings/voices to us. How does the plot change by hearing someone shout "Quick! To the laboratory!" any differently?

The new edition, which comes out September 16th, includes two audio CDs, a making-of DVD, an official game guide, a short story from the author of the book that the game is based on, and a map, and it retails for $49.99. However, if you're previously purchased the game, it's a free download. Hey, we're all for free stuff.

Tags: CD-Projekt, Dialogue, Enhanced, Enhanced-Edition, RPG, The-Witcher, Witcher

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

edgore @ Aug 11th 2008 11:27PM

Everyone knows that if this were a *serious* game it would be "lab-ore-a-tory".

Also, what is up with changing the redhead to mousy brown? Hot redheads were the only reason to play the game...I'm told.

Saria the Cat @ Aug 11th 2008 11:37PM

Hey, there's nothing wrong with brunettes! Unless they look like that. So I see your point.

WRE @ Aug 12th 2008 12:57AM

I think his point was that the "hotness" gene in redheads is incredibly recessive and, therefore, worth noting. Conversely, the same gene in brunettes is fairly dominant and thus occasions fewer coments.

edgore @ Aug 12th 2008 1:17AM

Actually, I haven't played the game, but my (red headed) girlfriend may have mentioned that all the girls in the game were redheads. Once. Maybe twice.

I have no quarrel with brunettes though; some of my best friends are brunettes.

John @ Aug 12th 2008 2:02AM

Redheads aren't always hot...

I am referring of course to those suffering from gingervitis

Ihavepants @ Aug 11th 2008 11:30PM

I bought it last year, and I'm buying it again to support what they're doing, even though I can get all the new digital content for free.

It's not like the game is unfinished as is, they're just making it alot better.

Saria the Cat @ Aug 11th 2008 11:36PM

*sigh* Clearly no one with breasts worked on this game. Seriously, I know it's hard to graphically capture natural breasts, but those just look gross. This is why inexperienced young men are confused when they find out that real breasts aren't big, hard, unmoving melons filled with silicon. And anyone who has big breasts knows that a little top like that would do nothing to hold them in.

Ihavepants @ Aug 11th 2008 11:42PM

But yes, sexuality was kind of silly in this game. The rest was awesome though.

Obie @ Aug 11th 2008 11:46PM

Wow, you posted a boob comment before everyone else.

I am sure that is some kind of sign....whoa...4 flaming horses just ran by my window....hmmm, weird.

Tiptup300 @ Aug 11th 2008 11:58PM

Quick! To the laboratory!

DigTheDoug @ Aug 11th 2008 11:58PM

You have a problem with a corset not realistically being able to support breasts that size, but not with it having an magical enchantment that protects the wearer against super-fire-sword attacks?

Jacksons @ Aug 12th 2008 12:01AM

And of course, eyes are immediately drawn to the ridiculous looking breasts. I like boobs as much as the next guy, but there's a limit before it becomes awkward.

Saria the Cat @ Aug 12th 2008 12:15AM

@DigTheDoug: On that same note, if you were playing a fantasy game, wouldn't you want the best-looking breasts you could possibly have? Since it's fantasy and you can do whatever you want and all.

But I see your point. ;P

Thatoneguy64 @ Aug 11th 2008 11:40PM

HOW DARE THEY IMPROVE THE GRAPHICS!

RAWRAWRAWR

Obie @ Aug 11th 2008 11:42PM

So basically they are making the game what it was supposed to be in the first place? Oh well, I am sure the 5 people that bought it will appreciate it. ;)

Einhanderkiller @ Aug 12th 2008 12:03AM

The Witcher sold over 600,000 in 3 months, and should be well over a million by now. :)

And the game was fantastic when it launched. It just had long load times, which were fixed with patches. This Enhanced Edition was made in order to please fans; you don't see many developers doing something like that.

GameUJosh @ Aug 11th 2008 11:45PM

Hold on, they're "increasing" load times by 80%? That doesn't sound like a good thing.

"Now takes almost twice as long to load!"

You think that will be on the back of the box?

Haggard @ Aug 12th 2008 8:33AM

They're a polish company, probably a mistranslation.

anonim1979 @ Aug 12th 2008 12:31PM

The article in source is fixed already:

"They’d reduce the game’s lengthly load times by 80%"

Wiinterfang @ Aug 11th 2008 11:46PM

Before: ( . Y . )

After: ( . Y . )

Wiinterfang @ Aug 11th 2008 11:47PM

Before: ( . Y . )

After: ( . )( . )

Ciatrick Leodis McKelvin @ Aug 11th 2008 11:57PM

before UU
After ( O ) ( O )

Wiinterfang @ Aug 12th 2008 12:02AM

Now that's what I call an improvement.

Ciatrick Leodis Mckelvin @ Aug 11th 2008 11:51PM

I can has dem boobies???

I HAS THE WOULD...

Wiinterfang @ Aug 11th 2008 11:54PM

I like the first Rack better, I like the first character model in pretty much everything, the right background looks more crispier and clearer thought.

Ihavepants @ Aug 12th 2008 7:59AM

It's the same model, different texture.

SPAGHETTI @ Aug 12th 2008 12:00AM

she needs bigger boobs man

Ciatrick Leodis McKelvin @ Aug 12th 2008 12:02AM

She needs redder boobs

KeenCommander @ Aug 12th 2008 2:20AM

Is it just me, or do the hands look much worse in the new one? Anyways, I approve of the concept. While I'm sure it's not often financially viable - I think this is a great idea given the success of user created graphic overhaul projects.

Ihavepants @ Aug 12th 2008 3:09AM

No.

OneTopJob6 @ Aug 12th 2008 9:29PM

You know, she looks more like a whore in the first pic, what with the rouge and red dyejob and all. She looks like meh (with silicon) on the right.

caserb @ Aug 12th 2008 3:35AM

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SeriousKriss @ Aug 12th 2008 4:28AM

I really like their philosophy. They want to be appreciated by gamers by improving an already great game for free? Now that's a company I'm willing to give money to.

AwesomeTown @ Aug 12th 2008 7:33AM

I was waiting on the enhanced edition to get this game. It was because of the better Vista support and 80% improvement in load times, I swear it!

ZippyDSMlee @ Aug 12th 2008 7:45AM

This might make me buy another copy, I hate the cumbersome unintuitive controls/menus though....

Ihavepants @ Aug 12th 2008 10:34AM

If you're not using OTS... USE IT. Seriously I went into that game determined to play it from the "isometric" view but The Witcher is so much more immersive and easy to play in Over the Shoulder.

Also I like how their control system generaly is different. Plus this is CD Projekts first game isn't it?

ZippyDSMlee @ Aug 12th 2008 10:47AM

Ihavepants
tried it was still a mess, the focus on a qurky Crpg half bred of KOTOR minus the attack cueing and easy selectable powers crossed with pre RE4 onimusha/RE the control has no real immersion it kinda blows, Revenat had more advanced gameplay design as in combos you had to learn "smoothly" translated into attacks, with the simi real time dodge it seems to me they could easily implement a raise/change stats in a move or dodge to enhance combat...no you have click a twitchy mouse and near pointless dodging.... it reeks of a watery cumbersome mess that's only half done, but its a Crpg that's no worse than any other once you get accustom to the "rules" (flawed or not..)
I just hit the WTF wall I hit when my inner game nazi says no cumbersome combat=daiblo click fest clone=boring + cumbersome menus, I just quit it, the game is good and all but its not fun to play for me.

Ihavepants @ Aug 12th 2008 8:21PM

Agree to disagree then.

ZippyDSMlee @ Aug 13th 2008 5:46AM

Ihavepants
that the game is good? *hides* :P
the controls are flawed IMO the combat is weak compared to kotor.

ScottG13 @ Aug 12th 2008 8:59AM

I think this is pretty cool. I wish MORE devs would update old work. Especially stuff that sells for a while. I might pick this one up if I hit a downtime period this holiday season.

koehler83 @ Aug 12th 2008 9:22AM

There isnt any difference in the proportions of her tits at all.. All of you seriously need to get laid (and get off your natural breast high horses)

They improved lighting and self-shadowing. The fact that her cleavage happens to stand out more is an obvious result. That doesnt mean they spent all this time revamping tits.