<s>
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
–	I-Application
Bloodlines	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2004	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
Troika	O
Games	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Activision	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
White	O
Wolf	O
Publishing	O
's	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Darkness	I-Protocol
,	O
the	O
game	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
White	O
Wolf	O
's	O
role-playing	O
game	O
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
and	O
follows	O
a	O
human	O
who	O
is	O
killed	O
and	O
revived	O
as	O
a	O
fledgling	O
vampire	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
depicts	O
the	O
fledgling	O
's	O
journey	O
through	O
early	O
21st-century	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
to	O
uncover	O
the	O
truth	O
behind	O
a	O
recently	O
discovered	O
relic	O
that	O
heralds	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
all	O
vampires	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bloodlines	B-Application
is	O
presented	O
from	O
first	O
-	O
and	O
third-person	O
perspectives	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
assigns	O
their	O
character	O
to	O
one	O
of	O
several	O
vampire	B-Application
clanseach	O
with	O
unique	O
powers	O
,	O
customizes	O
their	O
combat	O
and	O
dialog	O
abilities	O
,	O
and	O
progresses	O
through	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
using	O
violent	O
and	O
nonviolent	O
methods	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Troika	O
's	O
32-member	O
team	O
began	O
developing	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
in	O
November	O
2001	O
as	O
an	O
indirect	O
sequel	O
to	O
the	O
previous	O
year	O
's	O
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
–	I-Application
Redemption	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Troika	O
used	O
Valve	O
's	O
Source	B-Application
game	I-Application
engine	I-Application
,	O
then	O
in	O
development	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
used	O
for	O
Valve	O
's	O
own	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
three	O
years	O
in	O
development	O
with	O
no	O
end	O
in	O
sight	O
and	O
running	O
over	O
budget	O
,	O
Activision	O
set	O
a	O
strict	O
deadline	O
for	O
completion	O
,	O
and	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
was	O
released	O
incomplete	O
in	O
November	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Released	O
in	O
competition	O
with	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
several	O
other	O
titles	O
,	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
sold	O
fewer	O
than	O
80,000	O
copies	O
during	O
its	O
initial	O
release	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
considered	O
a	O
poor	O
performance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
its	O
original	O
release	O
,	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
received	O
post-release	O
support	O
from	O
fans	O
,	O
supplying	O
unofficial	O
fixes	O
and	O
re-adding	O
unused	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
sequel	O
,	O
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
–	I-Application
Bloodlines	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
is	O
in	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bloodlines	B-Application
is	O
an	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
optionally	O
presented	O
from	O
the	O
first	O
-	O
or	O
third-person	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Before	O
the	O
game	O
begins	O
,	O
players	O
create	O
a	O
male	O
or	O
female	O
vampire	B-Application
character	O
by	O
selecting	O
a	O
vampire	B-Application
clan	O
and	O
configuring	O
available	O
points	O
in	O
three	O
areas	O
—	O
Attributes	O
,	O
Abilities	O
,	O
and	O
Disciplines	O
(	O
vampiric	O
powers	O
)	O
—	O
or	O
by	O
answering	O
questions	O
,	O
which	O
create	O
a	O
character	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
select	O
one	O
of	O
seven	O
vampire	B-Application
clans	O
:	O
the	O
powerful	O
Brujah	O
,	O
the	O
decadent	O
Toreador	O
,	O
the	O
insane	O
Malkavian	O
,	O
the	O
aristocratic	O
Ventrue	O
,	O
the	O
monstrously	O
deformed	O
Nosferatu	O
,	O
the	O
blood-magic-wielding	O
Tremere	O
,	O
or	O
the	O
animalistic	O
Gangrel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Melee	O
combat	O
is	O
third-person	O
,	O
with	O
access	O
to	O
weapons	O
such	O
as	O
katanas	B-Operating_System
and	O
sledgehammers	O
for	O
melee	O
combat	O
,	O
or	O
pistols	O
,	O
crossbows	O
,	O
and	O
flamethrowers	O
for	O
firearm	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
More	O
physical	O
vampires	B-Application
can	O
enhance	O
themselves	O
to	O
become	O
fast	O
and	O
lethal	O
killers	O
or	O
summon	O
spirit	O
allies	O
to	O
attack	O
their	O
foes	O
;	O
others	O
can	O
mentally	O
dominate	O
their	O
targets	O
to	O
force	O
their	O
cooperation	O
or	O
render	O
themselves	O
invisible	O
to	O
hide	O
from	O
detection	O
;	O
and	O
others	O
can	O
boil	O
their	O
opponent	O
's	O
blood	O
from	O
afar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
ability	O
Blood	O
Buff	O
(	O
which	O
temporarily	O
upgrades	O
physical	O
abilities	O
)	O
is	O
common	O
to	O
all	O
vampires	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Blood	O
is	O
a	O
primary	O
currency	O
in	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
,	O
used	O
to	O
activate	O
Disciplines	O
and	O
abilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Violating	O
the	O
masquerade	O
five	O
times	O
draws	O
the	O
ire	O
of	O
vampire	B-Application
hunters	O
and	O
loses	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
has	O
humanity	O
points	O
,	O
representing	O
the	O
vampire	B-Application
's	O
humanity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
actions	O
cost	O
humanity	O
points	O
;	O
a	O
low	O
humanity	O
score	O
alters	O
available	O
dialog	O
options	O
to	O
become	O
more	O
aggressive	O
and	O
increases	O
the	O
chance	O
of	O
entering	O
a	O
frenzied	O
state	O
and	O
embarking	O
on	O
a	O
killing	O
spree	O
when	O
the	O
vampire	B-Application
's	O
blood	O
is	O
low	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
masquerade	O
points	O
,	O
losing	O
all	O
humanity	O
points	O
ends	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
vampire	B-Application
becoming	O
a	O
mindless	O
beast	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
–	I-Application
Bloodlines	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
in	O
four	O
areas	O
of	O
21st-century	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
:	O
Santa	O
Monica	O
,	O
Hollywood	O
,	O
Downtown	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
,	O
and	O
Chinatown	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
the	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Darkness	I-Protocol
,	O
the	O
game	O
depicts	O
a	O
world	O
in	O
which	O
vampires	B-Application
,	O
werewolves	O
,	O
demons	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
creatures	O
shape	O
human	O
history	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
code	O
binds	O
the	O
vampires	B-Application
to	O
maintain	O
their	O
secrecy	O
(	O
forbidding	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
vampiric	O
abilities	O
in	O
front	O
of	O
humans	O
)	O
and	O
avoid	O
unnecessary	O
killing	O
(	O
to	O
preserve	O
the	O
vampire	B-Application
's	O
last	O
shreds	O
of	O
humanity	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
vampires	B-Application
are	O
divided	O
into	O
seven	O
clans	O
of	O
the	O
Camarilla	O
,	O
the	O
vampire	B-Application
government	O
,	O
with	O
distinctive	O
traits	O
and	O
abilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
clans	O
are	O
loosely	O
united	O
by	O
their	O
belief	O
in	O
the	O
Camarilla	O
's	O
goals	O
and	O
opposition	O
to	O
the	O
Sabbat	O
:	O
vampires	B-Application
who	O
revel	O
in	O
their	O
nature	O
,	O
embracing	O
the	O
beast	O
within	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Anarch	O
Movement	O
is	O
a	O
faction	O
of	O
idealistic	O
vampires	B-Application
opposed	O
to	O
the	O
Camarilla	O
's	O
political	O
structure	O
,	O
believing	O
that	O
all	O
vampires	B-Application
should	O
share	O
power	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
character	O
of	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
,	O
whom	O
the	O
player	O
controls	O
,	O
is	O
an	O
unnamed	O
fledgling	O
vampire	B-Application
who	O
is	O
transformed	O
at	O
the	O
start	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
belongs	O
to	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
clans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
fledgling	O
is	O
employed	O
by	O
Sebastian	O
LaCroix	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Andy	O
Milder	O
)	O
,	O
prince	O
of	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
 '	O
vampires	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
fledgling	O
's	O
travels	O
through	O
the	O
vampire	B-Application
world	O
bring	O
them	O
into	O
contact	O
with	O
other	O
undead	O
creatures	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
deformed	O
information	O
broker	O
Bertram	O
Tung	O
,	O
the	O
anarch	O
Smiling	O
Jack	O
(	O
John	O
DiMaggio	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
dissociative	O
Voerman	O
sisters	O
,	O
Jeanette	O
and	O
Therese	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Chinatown	O
is	O
controlled	O
by	O
the	O
Kuei-Jin	O
,	O
Asian	O
vampires	B-Application
led	O
by	O
Ming-Xiao	O
,	O
who	O
do	O
not	O
require	O
blood	O
and	O
consider	O
themselves	O
superior	O
to	O
the	O
other	O
vampires	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
begins	O
with	O
the	O
player	O
character	O
,	O
an	O
unnamed	O
human	O
,	O
being	O
killed	O
and	O
resurrected	O
as	O
a	O
fledgling	O
vampire	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
LaCroix	O
tasks	O
the	O
fledgling	O
with	O
investigating	O
a	O
docked	O
ship	O
,	O
the	O
Elizabeth	O
Dane	O
,	O
for	O
information	O
about	O
an	O
Ankaran	O
sarcophagus	O
rumored	O
to	O
contain	O
the	O
body	O
of	O
an	O
Antediluvian	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
oldest	O
and	O
most	O
powerful	O
vampires	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
arrival	O
would	O
herald	O
Gehenna	O
,	O
the	O
vampire	B-Application
apocalypse	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
Grout	O
's	O
mansion	O
,	O
the	O
fledgling	O
sees	O
Nines	O
leaving	O
and	O
discovers	O
Grout	O
's	O
remains	O
in	O
the	O
mansion	O
with	O
vampire	B-Application
hunter	O
Grünfeld	O
Bach	O
,	O
who	O
denies	O
involvement	O
in	O
Grout	O
's	O
death	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Believing	O
that	O
Gary	O
,	O
the	O
Nosferatu	O
chief	O
,	O
has	O
stolen	O
the	O
sarcophagus	O
,	O
the	O
fledgling	O
is	O
sent	O
to	O
Hollywood	O
to	O
find	O
him	O
;	O
after	O
locating	O
a	O
captured	O
Nosferatu	O
for	O
Gary	O
,	O
he	O
reveals	O
that	O
the	O
Giovanni	O
vampire	B-Application
clan	O
stole	O
the	O
sarcophagus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
locked	O
sarcophagus	O
is	O
returned	O
to	O
LaCroix	O
's	O
tower	O
,	O
and	O
Beckett	O
,	O
a	O
vampire	B-Application
scholar	O
,	O
tells	O
the	O
fledgling	O
that	O
the	O
only	O
person	O
who	O
can	O
open	O
it	O
has	O
been	O
abducted	O
by	O
Bach	O
to	O
lure	O
LaCroix	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Each	O
ending	O
has	O
Jack	O
watching	O
from	O
afar	O
with	O
the	O
mummy	O
taken	O
from	O
the	O
coffin	O
and	O
the	O
enigmatic	O
taxi	O
driver	O
who	O
transports	O
the	O
fledgling	O
between	O
locations	O
,	O
who	O
says	O
,	O
"	O
The	O
blood	O
of	O
Caine	O
controls	O
our	O
fate	O
...	O
Farewell	O
,	O
vampire.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
of	O
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
–	I-Application
Bloodlines	I-Application
began	O
at	O
Troika	O
Games	O
in	O
November	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Troika	O
approached	O
publisher	O
Activision	O
with	O
its	O
idea	O
;	O
Activision	O
suggested	O
using	O
the	O
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
license	O
used	O
a	O
year	O
earlier	O
in	O
Nihilistic	O
Software	O
's	O
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
–	I-Application
Redemption	I-Application
,	O
which	O
had	O
experienced	O
sufficient	O
success	O
to	O
merit	O
a	O
sequel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
that	O
time	O
,	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
game	I-Application
engine	I-Application
was	O
being	O
built	O
by	O
Valve	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Troika	O
chose	O
Source	B-Application
for	O
its	O
facial	O
animation	O
and	O
lip-synching	O
system	O
since	O
it	O
wanted	O
players	O
to	O
speak	O
to	O
the	O
characters	O
face-to-face	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
the	O
engine	O
was	O
in	O
development	O
with	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
and	O
Valve	O
's	O
own	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Troika	O
was	O
working	O
with	O
unfamiliar	O
code	O
and	O
tools	O
,	O
forcing	O
it	O
to	O
write	O
code	O
to	O
compensate	O
for	O
the	O
unfinished	O
engine	O
and	O
with	O
only	O
a	O
single	O
source	B-Application
of	O
technical	O
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Troika	O
developed	O
a	O
lighting	O
system	O
to	O
create	O
distinctive	O
,	O
moody	O
illumination	O
for	O
the	O
nighttime	O
setting	O
,	O
a	O
particle	O
system	O
for	O
the	O
special	O
effects	O
accompanying	O
the	O
vampire	B-Application
Disciplines	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
cloth	O
system	O
for	O
clothing	O
flow	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Source	B-Application
lacked	O
its	O
later	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
(	O
AI	B-Application
)	O
coding	O
,	O
and	O
Troika	O
's	O
code	O
worked	O
poorly	O
with	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Troika	O
developed	O
the	O
story	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
inspired	O
by	O
White	O
Wolf	O
's	O
Time	O
of	O
Judgment	O
novels	O
about	O
a	O
vampire	B-Application
apocalypse	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bloodlines	B-Application
story	O
was	O
accepted	O
as	O
canonical	O
by	O
White	O
Wolf	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
game	O
serving	O
as	O
a	O
prequel	O
to	O
Time	O
of	O
Judgment	O
and	O
including	O
characters	O
from	O
the	O
White	O
Wolf	O
game	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Jack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Troika	O
co-founder	O
Jason	O
Anderson	O
's	O
research	O
on	O
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
source	B-Application
material	O
and	O
fansites	O
found	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
main	O
attraction	O
was	O
character	O
interaction	O
and	O
involvement	O
in	O
the	O
vampire	B-Application
societies	O
,	O
not	O
statistics	O
and	O
powers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
initially	O
found	O
that	O
by	O
adhering	O
too	O
closely	O
to	O
the	O
White	O
Wolf	O
source	B-Application
material	O
rules	O
for	O
guns	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
effectiveness	O
of	O
a	O
shot	O
is	O
determined	O
in	O
a	O
contest	O
between	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
skill	O
and	O
the	O
opponent	O
's	O
defense	O
,	O
the	O
firearms	O
seemed	O
broken	O
;	O
the	O
player	O
would	O
not	O
hit	O
where	O
they	O
aimed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
chose	O
to	O
follow	O
a	O
single	O
character	O
to	O
aid	O
the	O
immersion	O
,	O
creating	O
the	O
isolation	O
of	O
a	O
vampire	B-Application
unable	O
to	O
trust	O
any	O
other	O
character	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Director	O
Leonard	O
Boyarsky	O
considered	O
the	O
animation	O
system	O
important	O
in	O
the	O
team	O
's	O
choice	O
of	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Troika	O
had	O
ignored	O
first-person	O
engines	O
due	O
to	O
technical	O
limitations	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
low	O
polygon	B-General_Concept
count	I-General_Concept
and	O
limited	O
texture	B-General_Concept
memory	I-General_Concept
,	O
as	O
the	O
technology	O
improved	O
,	O
it	O
thought	O
it	O
could	O
create	O
a	O
real-time	O
action	O
game	O
without	O
sacrificing	O
the	O
immersion	O
and	O
story	O
of	O
a	O
role-playing	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Troika	O
tried	O
to	O
stay	O
as	O
close	O
as	O
possible	O
to	O
the	O
White	O
Wolf	O
rules	O
while	O
reducing	O
the	O
number	O
of	O
abilities	O
and	O
disciplines	O
to	O
those	O
relevant	O
to	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Activision	O
introduced	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
May	O
2003	O
,	O
but	O
in	O
October	O
,	O
Valve	O
experienced	O
a	O
security	O
breach	O
in	O
which	O
hackers	O
stole	O
the	O
source	B-Application
code	O
for	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
breach	O
required	O
new	O
security	O
implementations	O
for	O
the	O
engine	O
,	O
delaying	O
both	O
games	O
;	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
was	O
postponed	O
until	O
early	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Until	O
May	O
2004	O
,	O
Troika	O
and	O
Activision	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
feature	O
a	O
multiplayer	O
component	O
and	O
modes	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
team	O
of	O
vampires	B-Application
against	O
a	O
team	O
of	O
vampire	B-Application
hunters	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
upgrade	O
characters	O
between	O
rounds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Source	B-Application
multiplayer	O
code	O
was	O
in	O
its	O
infancy	O
,	O
increasing	O
its	O
development	O
time	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
idea	O
was	O
abandoned	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
problems	O
with	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
,	O
the	O
designers	O
found	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
scope	O
exceeded	O
their	O
resources	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bloodlines	B-Application
has	O
several	O
playstyles	O
,	O
requiring	O
different	O
interfaces	O
,	O
animations	O
,	O
and	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
for	O
stealth	O
,	O
melee	O
combat	O
,	O
and	O
first	O
-	O
or	O
third-person	O
capability	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Compared	O
to	O
contemporary	O
first-person	O
shooters	O
,	O
with	O
10	O
to	O
20	O
animated	O
character	O
models	O
,	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
had	O
over	O
150	O
characters	O
with	O
3,000	O
unique	O
animations	O
,	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
boss	O
characters	O
,	O
with	O
their	O
movement	O
styles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
scope	O
suffered	O
from	O
content	O
not	B-Device
being	I-Device
removed	I-Device
when	I-Device
necessary	I-Device
;	O
other	O
components	O
would	O
be	O
endlessly	O
refined	O
without	O
being	O
finalized	O
,	O
preventing	O
the	O
developers	O
from	O
focusing	O
on	O
other	O
parts	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Activision	O
set	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
deadlines	O
for	O
the	O
project	O
's	O
development	O
to	O
ensure	O
Troika	O
had	O
sufficient	O
time	O
to	O
effectively	O
test	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
though	O
these	O
milestones	O
were	O
repeatedly	O
extended	O
,	O
and	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
eventually	O
ran	O
over	O
budget	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2003	O
Activision	O
intervened	O
,	O
ordering	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
be	O
ready	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
the	O
next	O
few	O
months	O
and	O
even	O
advancing	O
more	O
money	O
to	O
Troika	O
to	O
complete	O
its	O
work	O
on	O
The	B-Application
Temple	I-Application
of	I-Application
Elemental	I-Application
Evil	I-Application
for	O
Atari	O
,	O
freeing	O
the	O
Troika	O
team	O
to	O
work	O
on	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
exclusively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Troika	O
delivered	O
a	O
version	O
of	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
on	O
the	O
required	O
date	O
;	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
scale	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
underwent	O
three	O
weeks	O
of	O
testing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Activision	O
decided	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
suitable	O
for	O
release	O
but	O
was	O
contractually	O
bound	O
to	O
withhold	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
until	O
after	O
the	O
debut	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
in	O
November	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bloodlines	B-Application
creative	O
director	O
Jason	O
Anderson	O
blamed	O
Activision	O
,	O
saying	O
that	O
the	O
publisher	O
took	O
the	O
game	O
from	O
Troika	O
without	O
providing	O
enough	O
time	O
to	O
test	O
and	O
polish	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
"	O
,	O
performed	O
by	O
Al	O
Jourgensen	O
and	O
Ministry	O
,	O
was	O
composed	O
and	O
performed	O
specifically	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
–	I-Application
Bloodlines	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
November	O
16	O
,	O
2004	O
,	O
in	O
competition	O
with	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Metal	B-Application
Gear	I-Application
Solid	I-Application
3	I-Application
:	I-Application
Snake	I-Application
Eater	I-Application
,	O
Halo	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
and	O
several	O
other	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valve	O
's	O
contract	O
for	O
Troika	O
's	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
engine	I-Application
guaranteed	O
that	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
could	O
not	O
be	O
released	O
before	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
could	O
not	O
be	O
introduced	O
to	O
the	O
public	O
until	O
after	O
the	O
announcement	O
of	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
over	O
eighteen	O
months	O
after	O
development	O
began	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2004	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
scheduled	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
spring	O
2005	O
,	O
partially	O
to	O
avoid	O
competing	O
with	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
the	O
competitive	O
Christmas	O
period	O
,	O
before	O
Activision	O
moved	O
the	O
date	O
to	O
November	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Layne	O
worked	O
with	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
artist	O
Tim	O
Bradstreet	O
for	O
a	O
day	O
to	O
provide	O
the	O
poses	O
chosen	O
by	O
Activision	O
to	O
represent	O
Jeanette	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
posters	O
,	O
clothing	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
items	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
,	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
initial	O
release	O
sold	O
72,000	O
copies	O
and	O
earned	O
approximately	O
US	O
$3.4	O
million	O
in	O
sales	O
,	O
below	O
Troika	O
's	O
other	O
games	O
,	O
Arcanum	B-Application
:	I-Application
Of	I-Application
Steamworks	I-Application
and	I-Application
Magick	I-Application
Obscura	I-Application
(	O
234,000	O
units	O
,	O
$8.8	O
million	O
)	O
and	O
The	B-Application
Temple	I-Application
of	I-Application
Elemental	I-Application
Evil	I-Application
(	O
128,000	O
units	O
,	O
$5.2	O
million	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
comparison	O
,	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
release	O
competitor	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
had	O
sold	O
6.5million	O
copies	O
by	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bloodlines‍	O
relative	O
failure	O
contributed	O
to	O
the	O
demise	O
of	O
Troika	O
Games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shortly	O
after	O
its	O
debut	O
,	O
most	O
development	O
staff	O
were	O
laid	O
off	O
;	O
the	O
remaining	O
staff	O
tried	O
to	O
patch	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
and	O
develop	O
game	O
concepts	O
to	O
secure	O
funding	O
to	O
keep	O
Troika	O
in	O
business	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2013	O
,	O
Mitsoda	O
said	O
that	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
was	O
released	O
at	O
"	O
the	O
worst	O
possible	O
time	O
-	O
most	O
people	O
did	O
n't	O
even	O
know	O
we	O
were	O
out	O
...	O
fans	O
and	O
the	O
Troika	O
 [ developers ] 	O
are	O
always	O
going	O
to	O
wonder	O
what	O
the	O
game	O
could	O
have	O
been	O
like	O
with	O
another	O
six	O
months.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Boyarsky	O
noted	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
impossible	O
to	O
know	O
if	O
the	O
fixes	O
would	O
have	O
made	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
more	O
successful	O
or	O
if	O
it	O
would	O
have	O
remained	O
a	O
niche	O
product	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
fans	O
have	O
created	O
unofficial	O
patches	O
to	O
address	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
technical	O
problems	O
and	O
restore	O
missing	O
and	O
incomplete	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
–	I-Application
Bloodlines	I-Application
received	O
a	O
mixed	O
response	O
,	O
with	O
reviewers	O
praising	O
its	O
writing	O
and	O
presentation	O
and	O
criticizing	O
its	O
technical	O
problems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
scale	O
and	O
variety	O
of	O
choice	O
and	O
effect	O
was	O
highlighted	O
by	O
reviewers	O
as	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
greatest	O
success	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
variety	O
of	O
clans	O
,	O
with	O
specific	O
dialog	O
options	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
specific	O
reactions	O
from	O
other	O
characters	O
,	O
each	O
with	O
their	O
own	O
clan	O
loyalty	O
and	O
bias	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
VideoGamer.com	O
opined	O
that	O
at	O
its	O
best	O
,	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
stands	O
among	O
the	O
greatest	O
RPGs	O
of	O
the	O
preceding	O
five	O
years	O
,	O
although	O
its	O
technical	O
problems	O
should	O
be	O
remembered	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
compared	O
it	O
to	O
other	O
successful	O
role-playing	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
Fallout	B-Application
,	O
Star	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
:	I-Application
Knights	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Old	I-Application
Republic	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Elder	I-Application
Scrolls	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
Morrowind	I-Application
,	O
Planescape	B-Application
:	I-Application
Torment	I-Application
,	O
Baldur	B-Application
's	I-Application
Gate	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Deus	B-Application
Ex	I-Application
;	O
Eurogamer	O
described	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
as	O
Deus	B-Application
Ex	I-Application
with	O
vampires	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
appreciated	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
rewarding	O
exploration	O
outside	O
the	O
main	O
story	O
,	O
and	O
The	O
New	O
York	O
Times	O
and	O
GameSpy	O
praised	O
its	O
"	O
wonderfully	O
imaginative	O
"	O
missions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
narrative	O
was	O
considered	O
deep	O
,	O
successfully	O
using	O
White	O
Wolf	O
's	O
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Much	O
of	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
criticism	O
focused	O
on	O
technical	O
problems	O
when	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
undermining	O
the	O
game	O
experience	O
or	O
making	O
it	O
unplayable	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
called	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
poor	O
,	O
often	O
causing	O
enemies	O
to	O
rush	O
at	O
an	O
armed	O
player	O
,	O
fire	O
at	O
them	O
from	O
too	O
great	O
a	O
distance	O
to	O
be	O
effective	O
or	O
become	O
immobilized	O
while	O
waiting	O
for	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
next	O
attack	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
noted	O
that	O
stealth	O
broke	O
the	O
AI	B-Application
,	O
allowing	O
traps	O
to	O
be	O
triggered	O
and	O
leaving	O
the	O
assailants	O
standing	O
still	O
,	O
unable	O
to	O
locate	O
a	O
hidden	O
player	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpy	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
Engine	I-Application
was	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
greatest	O
weakness	O
;	O
although	O
the	O
RPG	O
aspects	O
were	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
strong	O
suit	O
,	O
features	O
of	O
the	O
Source	B-Application
Engine	I-Application
,	O
such	O
as	O
first-person	O
shooting	O
,	O
were	O
where	O
it	O
stumbled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reviewers	O
called	O
it	O
poor	O
,	O
clumsy	O
and	O
unsatisfactory	O
,	O
complaining	O
that	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
favors	O
melee	O
combat	O
;	O
firearms	O
were	O
weak	O
,	O
unwieldy	O
and	O
slow	O
,	O
even	O
for	O
characters	O
specializing	O
in	O
guns	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2004	O
,	O
IGN	O
named	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
the	O
Best	O
PC	O
RPG	O
of	O
that	O
year	O
and	O
GameSpy	O
called	O
the	O
"	O
Ocean	O
House	O
Hotel	O
"	O
quest	O
the	O
Level	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Computer	O
Games	O
Magazine	O
nominated	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
for	O
its	O
2004	O
"	O
Best	O
Writing	O
"	O
award	O
;	O
the	O
award	O
went	O
to	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bloodlines	B-Application
is	O
considered	O
a	O
cult	O
classic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2009	O
,	O
an	O
article	O
in	O
Rock	O
,	O
Paper	O
,	O
Shotgun	O
declared	O
:	O
"	O
The	O
sense	O
of	O
sorrow	O
comes	O
from	O
the	O
realization	O
that	O
there	O
's	O
nothing	O
like	O
 [ Bloodlines ] 	O
on	O
the	O
horizon	O
...	O
why	O
should	O
there	O
be	O
so	O
few	O
games	O
like	O
this	O
?	O
</s>
<s>
Oh	O
right	O
,	O
because	O
it	O
's	O
so	O
very	O
hard	O
to	O
do	O
...	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
games	O
comparable	O
to	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
is	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
great	O
tragedies	O
of	O
our	O
time.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2010	O
,	O
The	O
Escapist	O
called	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
a	O
flawed	O
masterpiece	O
which	O
could	O
have	O
been	O
a	O
genuine	O
masterpiece	O
with	O
more	O
time	O
,	O
money	O
,	O
and	O
staff	O
;	O
although	O
great	O
games	O
may	O
inspire	O
awe	O
,	O
it	O
instead	O
created	O
a	O
devoted	O
fan	O
base	O
which	O
continued	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2006	O
,	O
PC	O
Zone	O
listed	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
the	O
seventh-best	O
PC	O
game	O
which	O
people	O
were	O
unlikely	O
to	O
have	O
played	O
,	O
calling	O
it	O
the	O
"	O
best	O
buggy	O
game	O
ever	O
released	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2011	O
,	O
Rock	O
,	O
Paper	O
,	O
Shotgun	O
called	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
important	O
PC	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
(	O
"	O
it	O
signposts	O
a	O
direction	O
to	O
a	O
future	O
of	O
games	O
that	O
we	O
were	O
denied	O
"	O
)	O
,	O
listing	O
it	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
122	O
Best	O
PC	O
Games	O
Ever	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2011	O
,	O
Official	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
Magazine	O
called	O
it	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
ten	O
PC	O
franchises	O
it	O
wanted	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2014	O
,	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
was	O
90th	O
in	O
Empires	O
readers	O
 '	O
poll	O
of	O
the	O
100	O
Greatest	O
Video	O
Games	O
of	O
All	O
Time	O
,	O
and	O
Maximum	O
PC	O
chose	O
it	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
games	O
they	O
wanted	O
to	O
be	O
remastered	O
for	O
contemporary	O
game	O
systems	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2015	O
,	O
Rock	O
,	O
Paper	O
,	O
Shotgun	O
listed	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
as	O
the	O
PC	O
's	O
19th	O
Best	O
RPG	O
and	O
15th	O
Best	O
Horror	O
Game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	O
Gamer	O
highlighted	O
the	O
haunted	O
"	O
Ocean	O
House	O
Hotel	O
"	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
high	O
point	O
of	O
unexpected	O
horror	O
"	O
,	O
comparing	O
it	O
to	O
the	O
Shalebridge	O
Cradle	O
level	O
from	O
Thief	B-Application
:	I-Application
Deadly	I-Application
Shadows	I-Application
(	O
2004	O
)	O
and	O
Ravenholm	O
from	O
Half-Life	B-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
2004	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
November	O
2004	O
interview	O
,	O
Boyarsky	O
said	O
that	O
although	O
the	O
team	O
would	O
like	O
to	O
pursue	O
a	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
sequel	O
,	O
the	O
decision	O
was	O
Activision	O
's	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Before	O
their	O
closure	O
,	O
Troika	O
had	O
begun	O
development	O
of	O
a	O
workable	O
prototype	O
based	O
on	O
another	O
of	O
White	O
Wolf	O
's	O
tabletop	O
role-playing	O
games	O
,	O
Werewolf	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Apocalypse	I-Application
,	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
universe	O
as	O
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Boyarsky	O
,	O
the	O
prototype	O
was	O
one	O
small	O
area	O
built	O
using	O
assets	O
taken	O
from	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
,	O
and	O
allowed	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
play	O
as	O
a	O
werewolf	O
,	O
or	O
a	O
human	O
capable	O
of	O
turning	O
into	O
one	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Paradox	O
Interactive	O
obtained	O
the	O
rights	O
to	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
in	O
2015	O
,	O
following	O
their	O
purchase	O
of	O
White	O
Wolf	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
–	I-Application
Bloodlines	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
announced	O
in	O
March	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
Seattle	O
,	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
2	I-Application
casts	O
the	O
player	O
as	O
a	O
fledgling	O
thinblood	O
vampire	B-Application
with	O
relatively	O
weak	O
abilities	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
turned	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
masquerade-violating	O
"	O
mass	O
embrace	O
"	O
of	O
humans	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
L.A.	O
by	O
Night	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
aftermath	O
of	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
,	O
and	O
featured	O
many	O
returning	O
characters	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jason	O
Carl	O
–	O
otherwise	O
responsible	O
for	O
the	O
Vampire	B-Application
:	I-Application
the	I-Application
Masquerade	I-Application
metaplot	O
,	O
including	O
elements	O
of	O
Bloodlines	B-Application
–	O
acted	O
as	O
storyteller	O
for	O
the	O
show	O
.	O
</s>
