Planetside Theme of the Week: BackStory!

[basti]

http://www.planetside2.com/news/oct10BackstoryIntro.html

WOOHOO!

[Raymac]

Right on. Now we need one of those "In a world..." trailers with The Voice.

[Talek Krell]

Cool.

[Geist]

Nice, really looking forward to it. Hopefully they fleshed it out a bit more, as the story for PS1 was incredibly intriguing, albeit very, very vague.

[CrystalViolet]

I've been curious if PS2 will have any cinematic elements this time around. Obviously not during game play, but a nice well done intro video might be a good way to set the mood for new players. Might be worth asking in the twitter QNA.

[LZachariah]

Thank you, Basti! Are you going to set up another round of Basti's Twitter Questions List?

(that phrase is actually really fun to say out loud).

~Zachariah

[Graywolves]

Right on. Now we need one of those "In a world..." trailers with The Voice.

In a world, where the women are men and the children are FBI agents....

[Bags]

Good, now when I go to tell my FPS playing friends about the game I can tell them about the story. And get instantly told to shut up about that crap.

:(

[Graywolves]

I enjoy the story and love learning lore of fictional universes.

But I don't think it's something that a bi-weekly update should be devoted to....
You pretty much expect the story to already be there.

[Bags]

Story should be revealed much later, IMO. We want meat, not salad.

[Accuser]

I've been curious if PS2 will have any cinematic elements this time around. Obviously not during game play, but a nice well done intro video might be a good way to set the mood for new players. Might be worth asking in the twitter QNA.

I always thought PS1 could have used something like this:
Battlefield 2142 intro cinematic

A high-energy video featuring the best music of the game, briefly showing the circumstances of the battle, introducing the features of all the vehicles, and showcasing the special and unique elements of gameplay.

[Crator]

Hmmm, not sure I saw anyone wanting the backstory so much, but ok. We really didn't have one in PS1. But ya, would have been nice to get some in-game footage.

I can't imagine what types of questions we could think up.

[Captain B]

Maybe they'll flesh out or drop some clues as to outfits customizations that are in tandem with the storyline? I'm really hoping for some pirate love ever since they mentioned the NC has some amongst their ranks. That'd be a cool air outfit theme.

[TheHalekTheory]

holy mother of god....this is what i have wanted out of planetside more than anything else

[NapalmEnima]

The only thing I might find interesting is:

The new screenshots that'll be pepered throughout the chapters... Mostly scenery I'd imagine... Maybe a good look at some of the bases?
Some info on how the empires differ from one another.

[Raymac]

Story should be revealed much later, IMO. We want meat, not salad.

Aww don't be so cynical. The story lays the foundation of the game. It's like building a house. Nobody sees the concrete foundation, but you can't have all the cool features in a house without the foundation.

To people new to the Planetside universe (hmmm that's catchy) this will help lay the ground work for the answer to "wtf is planetside?" And for us veterans, it's cool to add depth to the reimagining of the Planetside universe (damn that really is catchy, I should coin that)

Basically, get the story out of the way first so you can spend the rest of the time focused on gameplay. Or as you put it, eat the salad course before the main course.

[BorisBlade]

Sadly this isnt like a normal MMO, the story has almost zero impact on the game. Just need to know why we are on this planet and why we are fighting, pretty simple. Sadly the story info is very boring for a game like this. Hopefully we can atleast get some new screenshots or other info.

In a game like WoW you play out the stories and they evolve so some lore is cool. You dont do that in this kind of game. They should just give the basics and save the story details for later. Although i guess they prob dont have enough done at this point to give us the info we want. If we can get some other non story info tho too, then its atleast better than nothin. :)

[IceyCold]

I'm really happy to actually have a rather in depth lore for the game. Something about having a real sense of the world in which we fight over makes the game much more interesting to me.

[Captain B]

Honestly, I would find story to be infinitely more important in PS2 than in WoW or a similar MMORPG. I mean, who the hell really reads all those quests anyway? Maybe the first 50 or so, but once you start repeating the tired old routines, it's all about the loot, and the stories aren't all that interesting anyway - not when EVERYONE on the entire game has killed Dracula and returned his heart to the vampire killer. Kinda' meaningless if you take ten seconds to consider it all.

Here, especially with the hopes of turning the game more sandbox and expansive down the road, being key to shaping the entire war effort from the beginning and who you are and what you do in the grand scope of things could be far more fascinating with some background and story to work with. For example, trade lords working for the New Conglomerate. You may start as a soldier at launch, but in a few years when space and orbital station creation and ship combat and planet takeovers and so forth are introduced, you're now galactic royalty resisting (and potentially replacing) the Republic oppression.

I suppose that's the role-player in me talking, though.

[Hamma]

I'm not extremely thrilled about this particular theme but I am hoping there will be some new assets or tidbits sprinkled in.

[Bags]

Aww don't be so cynical. The story lays the foundation of the game. It's like building a house. Nobody sees the concrete foundation, but you can't have all the cool features in a house without the foundation.

To people new to the Planetside universe (hmmm that's catchy) this will help lay the ground work for the answer to "wtf is planetside?" And for us veterans, it's cool to add depth to the reimagining of the Planetside universe (damn that really is catchy, I should coin that)

Basically, get the story out of the way first so you can spend the rest of the time focused on gameplay. Or as you put it, eat the salad course before the main course.

I know, but I want to be able to get people psyched for the game asap. As of right now I have ten beautiful screenshots that don't show off much of anything, a decent sized fight trailer, and the promise that it "will totally be awesome I swear" to give to people. Story won't get people psyched for a shooter!

I really couldn't give a damn about the story, though.

[SKYeXile]

BRING ON THE 4TH PILLAR!

[Graywolves]

I know, but I want to be able to get people psyched for the game asap. As of right now I have ten beautiful screenshots that don't show off much of anything, a decent sized fight trailer, and the promise that it "will totally be awesome I swear" to give to people. Story won't get people psyched for a shooter!

I really couldn't give a damn about the story, though.

Some people find story very important. But it's not a huge factor in an FPS. I doubt we'll see anyone ever say "I do/don't play the game because of the story."

[Bags]

Some people find story very important. But it's not a huge factor in an FPS. I doubt we'll see anyone ever say "I do/don't play the game because of the story."

None of the people I'm trying to get psyched about the game will give a damn about a story in an MMOFPS.

[cellinaire]

None of the people I'm trying to get psyched about the game will give a damn about a story in an MMOFPS.

Better than nothing, anyway =)



and remember the days when the dev team had gone radio-silent for about.. well half a year? This is bi-weekly stream of infoz man. We shouldn't wait too long. Let's have a bit o' patience :lol:

[Sirisian]

This should be interesting. I wonder if the backstory will bring in any secrets we've never heard about that they're adding to spice things up.

End the first one with like "The battle had gone on for longer than anyone knew. Until sensors picked up something in deep space..." dun duh dun.

[Bags]

I guess this IS better than silence.

[xSlideShow]

Well it is an MMO... So some back story would be nice. ^.^

Gives me something to show people.

[Traak]

I can do The Voice really well.

He
was an NC pilot

She
was a Terran Republic Skyguard driver

Together
they gave birth to a Vanu AA MAX warrior

Neither was expecting the mayhem that ensued...

[Talek Krell]

Maybe it will just be a matter of asking the right questions? The story forms much of the game's base, so what can we ask them on Friday to needle them into releasing interesting info?

[Captain1nsaneo]

Guys! We're forget the best part about backstory! Insults and burned down villages! For a quick example, the TR could call the NC "You Sraosha whore!" and it will be commonly known that at Sraosha back at the start of the war the NC sent members to 'entertain' some TR generals who they killed in their beds. To the VS the NC could be "The Defilers of Numerioth" where Numerioth is the translated name of a dig site that was wreaked. These places are all ingame on the map, labeled, and tie the world a little bit more together.

Flavor text for each of the bases will probably happen and I think it would be awesome if the stories for each bases weren't static but would have addenda for particularly epic fights that took days to play out. That way later you can talk to your outfitmates about the epic fight that happened and the base itself will back you up.

[Aaron]

Some of you almost take the back-story as detrimental to the game. It doesn't take anything away from it. For a lot of people it adds a sense of "purpose" to the war. I'm more then happy that they're sharing this with us. No, it's not much to show your friends; however, it is an ideal aspect for someone who will be immersed in the game.

[MasterChief096]

If you don't like backstory and lore you can just giiiiiiiiiiiiiittttt ouuut!

[Brusi]

Can't fucken wait.

Anyone here pretending that a game without fluff is just as good as one with a well developed universe and backstory is retarded.

I also think it helps new players to identify with their character and the empire that they choose. Along with character progression and good community, i rekon it also helps to keep players loyal to their empire.

Obviously... gameplay and balance is a much larger piece of the development pie.

[Bags]

Anyone here pretending that a game without fluff is just as good as one with a well developed universe and backstory is retarded.
.

Curious, who is saying this?

[NCLynx]

So no webcast? Backstory is cool I guess

[Raymac]

I know, but I want to be able to get people psyched for the game asap. As of right now I have ten beautiful screenshots that don't show off much of anything, a decent sized fight trailer, and the promise that it "will totally be awesome I swear" to give to people. Story won't get people psyched for a shooter!

I really couldn't give a damn about the story, though.

Slow your roll.

We'll get plenty of screenshots and plenty of video.

It's still early in the marketing cycle, and you don't want to start off fast and taper off at the end. Besides, they are still in the middle of making the game, so they are probably limited on what's even ready to show the public. I mean in the last webcast they had just seen the super-amazing clouds themselves.

I think it goes without saying that an MMO like Planetside needs a backstory. Is it the main reason people will play? Of course not. But it's still an important element.

Think of it like a book. First we got the cover (art), now we get the preface (backstory). We haven't even gotten into the "meat" of the book yet, so just enjoy the ride, dude.

[Bags]

plenty of video.

Not enough to convince anyone to give a shit.

[Raymac]

Not enough to convince anyone to give a shit.

Premature worries, man. Plus, if you don't think SOE is releasing enough video, you can make as many as you want in beta.

[Bags]

I'm just trying to get people psyched and it's not working... for example, I showed one friend that trailer, and he was like "meh". Then I mentioned PS2 is going to be sort of like a bigger Battlefield and he was all over it until I told him that there was only that trailer.

[HELLFISH_88]

I hope they stay true to the original plot. Sporkfire spoke a bit about it back in the days of old. It is said that while the New Conglomerate really instigated the war; it was the Vanu who actually started it. Apparently the New Conglomerate were heavily involved in playing side's to their favor and instating conflict amongst the 3 factions. It is also said the Vanu fired the first shot against Terran's and in the ensuing chaos the New Conglomerate took the opportunity to secede

[Raymac]

I'm just trying to get people psyched and it's not working... for example, I showed one friend that trailer, and he was like "meh". Then I mentioned PS2 is going to be sort of like a bigger Battlefield and he was all over it until I told him that there was only that trailer.

Well of course. That trailer was like pre-alpha. Nobody is even getting hit by any of the projectiles. You don't want to show off something that is half baked. Just have patience. We have plenty of time to get the hype machine rolling. Like I said, just enjoy the ride. They are only going to make Planetside 2 once.

[Graywolves]

Just show people more stuff when it comes.

[Brusi]

I'm just trying to get people psyched and it's not working... for example, I showed one friend that trailer, and he was like "meh". Then I mentioned PS2 is going to be sort of like a bigger Battlefield and he was all over it until I told him that there was only that trailer.

I have to agree with you on that point bags... i'm even having trouble getting some ex PS players excited about PS2!

[Talek Krell]

I have to agree with you on that point bags... i'm even having trouble getting some ex PS players excited about PS2!
I'd say you're both jumping the gun a bit. Let marketing get to the point where they're comfortable trying to pull in people from outside the core fan base before trying to do it for them.

[SKYeXile]

what we need is random clips of video forming no impression of the game bar its graphics, but that's ok since you have the mind of peanut, we then need to splice that with something catching that toolbags and wankers love, sung by somebody maintream, possibly jay z. we then can add mix that together, get the video splicing with the beat, end in some large explosion, fade to the PS2 symbol....and done.

[Tikuto]

I want to read some Andy McNab - PlanetSide2. :D

Yeah this goin to be satisfying...

[CutterJohn]

Anyone here pretending that a game without fluff is just as good as one with a well developed universe and backstory is retarded.

If the game needs fluff and story, sure, thats important. I don't think pvp games benefit very much from them. They generally don't hurt, unless they make some stupid gameplay/balance decisions for the sake of the RP, but they also don't generally help all that much either. Lots of mighty fine games have nonexistent or completely inconsequential stories and plots.

Backstory in PS2 will be as inconsequential as in PS1. You can glean no information from it. You can't use it to guess the enemies objectives or determine some psychological weakness. Its just there. Sure I enjoyed reading the PS manual. The backstory was 10 well spent minutes on the toilet. Completely irrelevant though.

[Captain B]

Wait, the VS started the war? I thought the NC did, technically, through several years (or even generations) of rebellion and riots and guerilla insurgency under the name Liberty's Call (or whatever it was), prior to the council forming the NC??

Wow, so story is relevant. Let's clear it up!

[Xyntech]

I play Team Fortress 2 for the story.

[Hamma]

I'm just trying to get people psyched and it's not working... for example, I showed one friend that trailer, and he was like "meh". Then I mentioned PS2 is going to be sort of like a bigger Battlefield and he was all over it until I told him that there was only that trailer.

I can understand that - sadly gamers today are spoiled by games with massive unlimited budgets who spam out new videos/info constantly. SOE isn't going to be doing that we will see more of a windup to beta/release rather than OMGNEWVIDEO every few weeks.

[TheRagingGerbil]

Backstory is important, even more so for a PVP game.

A solid story (plus the one faction per server limit) will just give players a much greater emotional attachment to their character and their empire.

When Planetside launched all I knew was that I was NC and I hated the TR and VS. I would stop at nothing to push them off of "MY" continent or out of "MY" base. All we had then was a very loose story about my people being oppressed, yet that was more then enough.

Give the players a very in depth story and they will more likely choose an empire that they connect with emotionally rather than choosing one because they have the biggest and shiniest X.

[FuzzyLogic]

I remember yonks ago writing some fiction based around PS1. It was pretty poor but was basically proposed a starting point for each of the factions;

TR being the remnants of the military who are still loyal to the Peoples Republic who originally instigated the travels through the wormhole, working towards reopening the wormhole to bring reinforcements, crush the rebellion and return home if possible. Their name being derived from the original republic, changed to reflect their terrestrial origins. Structured as a military hierarchy.

VS leadership comprised a majority of the scientists who, after the discovery of alien artefacts, were led by the evidence that the ancients were a race of humans who seeded the rest of the galaxy via these wormholes, including earth, thousands of years ago (I'm sure that sounds familiar :P).

Somehow the lead scientist becomes convinced of his heritage as an Ancient leader, more or less forms a cult and manages to convince others of this. Eventually openly calling for the TR to leave Auraxis to them as descendants of the original race and afterwards declaring war when refused in order to steal it back. Named the Vanu Sovereignty purely for the fact that they recognise the ancients (The Vanu) as the true kings.

This is probably the weakest one because I can barely remember what I came up with. I think there were dragons at one point as the main influence for the design of the helmets and weapons.


NC were the ones who were regarded as more or less as the underclass of society, basically the manual labourers, traders, smugglers, criminals etc. Once the VS declared war on the loyalists (TR), a minor civil war broke out and from that many of these 'underclass' split off, wanting their freedom and forging something of a tentative alliance. Due to their disparate origins they called themselves the Conglomerate with one man taking charge but after some time he, being recognised as something of a dictator trying to create his own kingdom in the style of the previous Republic, was ousted and another civil war began.

A while afterwards this was finally settled when the warring sides agreed upon a leadership council representing the different trades that formed the original Conglomerate, with this worked out they reworked themselves as the New Conglomerate.

Their main goal of the war is to learn more about the wormholes and try to open one to a world other than earth where they can live away from the influence of the other factions.


I'm quite aware this is all pretty shite but hey, it was something to do at the time.

[Nobel]

I for one, am incredibly excited that they are devoting one of the weeks to the
Story.

I agree that in Planetside 1, the story wasn't very fleshed out, yet there is SOOO much depth that can be explored in one of the few Science fiction MMO's that exist, regardless if it is an FPS or RPG.

If you dont like story, fine; but there are a lot of people that do, and a story is one of the bet ways that we can see the "tone" that they are setting for the game; it also is going to give us a nice window into some game mechanics, as we will see what concepts they will be rationalizing.

I really am excited to see how they flesh out the factions backstorys and ideologies, for instance, read about the Italian Futurist Marinetti, and you see huge connections to the VS; or Mussolini's autobiography for the Terran Republic. Understanding the philosophy behind the factions, might actually change your viewpoint on why to fight for a faction.

[Mod]

Well the first part of it is up, an introduction if you will to what I hope is a LOT more to follow through this week.
http://www.planetside2.com/news/oct11BackstoryPt1.html

[Graywolves]

I'm certain if SOE had the money, they'd market this like it was the trippest shit(bet no one's heard that before/within the last 10 years).

They're doing what they can with the funds available.

[Captain B]

Well this sounds cooler than I'd thought it be. They're getting us immersed before the game's even out yet.

[Malorn]

They need to add "...but all of our STUFF was still here!" somewhere in that backstory narration for comedy nostalgia sake.