Analyzing Bloodlines 2 with industry experts: "To learn how to make games in other genres, you need to go through a lot of trial and error"
At the end of the month, industry experts gathered once again for the deconstruction show “What’s the Game?”. This time, the focus was on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, which, despite numerous issues, is still recommended not only for playing but also for studying from a game design perspective.
The special guest of the broadcast was Evgeniy Maleev, Business Director of Xsolla USA. He joined hosts Aleksandr Semenov, Head of the Media Unit at WN Media Group, and Maksim Fomichev, an independent expert and former producer of the upcoming RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn.
The discussion began with the game’s budget. There is no precise data on how much Paradox has spent on Bloodlines 2, but Maleev speculated that over the course of development it could have increased 3–4 times — due in part to the pandemic, studio changes, delays, and other issues.
All these factors inevitably influenced the final appearance of the project. Some mechanics had to be cut, and the developers probably just didn’t have enough money for many aspects. As a result, certain elements of Bloodlines 2 outside of the storyline and narrative are perceived as rudimentary.
The experts gave stealth mechanics as one of the examples. “The problem with combining stealth and first-person action is that in Bloodlines 2, stealth works only as long as the player wants to engage with it. The game doesn’t punish you for failing stealth, and knocking heads is far more fun and dynamic than playing sneakily,” explained Fomichev.
A similar situation exists with world exploration, which essentially boils down to collecting items and drinking NPCs for blood points. The storytelling doesn’t motivate you to explore since all the narrative and plot of the game are concentrated in the quests.
Despite these problems, Bloodlines 2 includes interesting and unconventional solutions — such as the aforementioned blood hunting mechanic — which could inspire other developers. “If you’re a game designer working on a similar game, play ‘Vampires’ — there are many original mechanics, much of which is either rarely encountered in games of this genre or not at all,” noted Fomichev.
Both experts named the plot as the main advantage of Bloodlines 2. It's the narrative that propels the player forward and motivates them to complete the game. “Despite a lot being cut, the game feels cohesive. Most importantly, I want to keep playing, I don’t get bored. The story, presentation, characters, the world — given the budget they had, it turned out well,” shared Maleev.
Fomichev noted that Bloodlines 2 has a good foundation, and over time, The Chinese Room and Paradox, if they wish, can rectify the initial perception of the game, improving its rating from “mixed.” However, the correction and refinement of mechanics depend on the budget, specifically the effectiveness and feasibility of spending resources on it.
Paradox has not yet announced the initial sales of Bloodlines 2. In any case, Maleev believes that such a company should be financially supported and their other games purchased to receive more experimental and interesting projects.
“To learn how to make games in other genres at the level Paradox can make 4X strategies, you need to go through a lot of trial and error. Like any corporation, Paradox allocates money to projects from the collective fund of profitable games. The smaller this fund, the less likely the company will continue experimenting,” Maleev summarized.
“What’s the Game?” is a monthly show airing on the WN Academy educational platform. The latest broadcast is already available to watch on the platform. Additionally, after registration and attending the first broadcast, access to the archive of all previous episodes is granted.
The next “What’s the Game?” session, dedicated to The Outer Worlds 2, will take place on November 29. If you haven’t been to the broadcasts before, you need to register via the link (others will receive a reminder about the new episode).