Why was Indar chosen?

[julfo]

Let me start by saying a few things to protect my ass when the flamers arrive.
1) I am not a level designer, nor have I ever been a level designer. I am unlikely to ever be a level designer. Thus, I know nothing about the process of level design; the problems, difficulties and what makes certain aspects easy or hard.
2) I am not complaining. I am simply curious. I have 100% confidence that the devs know what they are doing and I am not professing to know better.
3) I love Indar anyway.
4) I searched for similar topics before posting this.

With that out the way, the reason for my thread: Why did the developers choose Indar as the (at least thus far) "flagship" continent of Planetside 2? We've just seen a screenshot of Esamir and I think the unanimous view is that is is a thing of pristine beauty. In comparison Indar is, in my opinion at least, not as pretty nor as awe inspiring as Esamir, perhaps simply due to the fact that Indar is a desert and, well, deserts are barren wastelands. Usually. Seeing this screenshot of Esamir rekindled my massive excitement for PS2 which died down slightly after the many Soon's and whatever.

So I just wondered why Indar was chosen over Esamir or even Amerish as the main face of Planetside 2 thus far. Was it an easier, less time-consuming continent to create? Or was it simply the fact that the Devs started on Indar first? Do the devs prefer one continent over another?

I can see that maybe Amerish would appear slightly too similar to other current FPS's, such that new players might be turned off and think "ooh this is just another BF3" or whatever. Maybe Indar is the least similar to current games.

What do you guys think? Which continent do YOU prefer?

Edit: It seems some people have missed my point. I wasn't concerned that Indar is barren or w/e. Quite frankly, I don't care whether it is covered in rainbows and lollipops. I was purely wondering why it was Indar specifically that was chosen as the main continent to be shown pre-beta. If it was the first to be developed then I would furthur ask why it was chosen over Esamir or Amerish?

These questions are completely benign!

[BlueSkies]

Erm... the whole cont isn't desert.

You might recall we've seen parts of it that have grass and trees.

[lolroflroflcake]

They flipped a three sided coin, Indar won.

[Hamma]

There are tons of lush areas on Indar we just haven't seen them as often. The devs utilized the area around Zurvan more than anything which is a desert like area. Possibly because it was the first one to be polished I'd assume.

There are areas with rolling green hills and trees as well.

[julfo]

Erm... the whole cont isn't desert.

You might recall we've seen parts of it that have grass and trees.

Indeed I do recall. Nevertheless, the main part of the continent, and indeed the part we have seen the most of, is desert. The devs are calling it "the desert continent". The playerbase also. This is what it is known as. Like I said anyway, I wasn't complaining or criticizing.

[Sabot]

It's not the least similar, that's for sure. The last decade have yielded sooo many desert shooters because of the war.... I'd guess it was the first one they started making, so it's the one that's largely finished.

[julfo]

It's not the least similar, that's for sure. The last decade have yielded sooo many desert shooters because of the war.... I'd guess it was the first one they started making, so it's the one that's largely finished.

This is the conclusion I am automatically drawn to as well.

[cHaM]

Because it's probably the continent that is the most complete. You're seeing screenshots from T-Ray of Esamir and Amerish only recently, which means they're still being worked on.

[PvtHazard]

My guess is maybe they started working on Indar first before Amerish or Esamir ,and it's probably the most complete of all the continents as of right now.

[ZaBa]

Esamir is a white barren wasteland with a mountain in it.

[SpcFarlen]

You read from left to right. Indar is on the left. They made Indar first. Seems legit to me.

[GreatMazinkaise]

Indar is The Badlands + Nagrand... not entirely barren desert. Excellent choice of color palette.

[julfo]

You read from left to right. Indar is on the left. They made Indar first. Seems legit to me.

Eh? Why is Indar on the left? E comes before I. Unless I missed your point. :doh:

[PrISM]

I was expecting Cyssor to be the only continent with the TR/VS/NC footholds at Wele, Orisha and Leza, respectively.

[Solidblock]

A desert is incredibly barren which leaves the developers with a clean pallet if you like for modding the look and feel of a desert with canyons, lake beds, arches and mild savannah like shrub land. Indar is a continent left to the mercy of the artists, because you can interpret a desert in many different ways, the Sahara, Calahari and Gobi desert are incredibly different to one another and have different features.

[sylphaen]

I was expecting Cyssor to be the only continent with the TR/VS/NC footholds at Wele, Orisha and Leza, respectively.

If a Gunuku island set-up could come back, I wouldn't mind it...
:whip:

[Neurotoxin]

I bet only T-Ray knows.

[Symmenix]

Eh? Why is Indar on the left? E comes before I. Unless I missed your point. :doh:

metaphor broseph

[Trip]

Let me start by saying a few things...

a good question. I see your point. Im thinking maybe it was the easiest so they started first on it. Then again why does the footage center around the desert areas, surely there are more spectacular areas to awe the audience.

[Ohaunlaim]

I would guess several reasons...

1. A desert has less foliage needing to be placed so it can be finished quicker than other maps. As its mostly about terrain, you can also display draw distances better when at ground level. As well, there are few trees to block the amazing day/night cycle and clouds.

2. Indar has a foliage laden (albeit not heavily) area allowing for the eventual display of trees and green to prove its there without having to introduce another continent.

3. Desert has little in the realm of weather where other areas might seem suspiciously empty without rain/snow storms after a while. This also allows for Indar to be shown early, before weather is finished.

4. Green/jungle/forest/etc areas are always a favorite among FPS players so it is probably a good idea to save that revelation for major announcements like beta or such.

[KTNApollo]

SOE wants to appeal to the CoD/BF3 kiddies who like their grey/brown shooters.

/thread

But seriously, problably a three-sided coin.

[GreatMazinkaise]

SOE wants to appeal to the CoD/BF3 kiddies who like their grey/brown shooters.

/thread

But seriously, problably a three-sided coin.

I know you're not being serious, but Indar is orange, not grey/brown. PS2's color palettes shares more similarities with WoW than it does any recent shooters (barring T:A maybe). This is a good thing since bright colors pop and are pleasing on the eye.

[Landtank]

SOE wants to appeal to the CoD/BF3 kiddies who like their grey/brown shooters.

/thread

But seriously, problably a three-sided coin.

There is no grey on Indar, and what brown there is is used very well. It's most reddish dirt/canyons, dried up tan/white seafloor, and green oasis.

Plus this term CoD/BF3 kiddies is getting so old, I just played CoD today and had a blast, you should try the survival mode.

[Yutty]

i assume they were just doing the continents that that everyone flocks to in ps1, currently. I recall only really being on the same 2 continents every time i pop back in.

[TheMozFather]

They could've picked Indar, Amerish and Esamir out of a hat. :)

[DSxGIIR]

Indar seems to be a new Oshur.

[VODistar]

I think its because water is broken in the game - or not where they want it to be. Indar has no water...

[Tsunami]

eenie meanie minie mo.

[OnexBigxHebrew]

Edit: It seems some people have missed my point. I wasn't concerned that Indar is barren or w/e. Quite frankly, I don't care whether it is covered in rainbows and lollipops.

I don't think its fair of you to start an entire thread with implicative questions just say that you think that a continent should have been chosen because it was 'awe inspiring' compared to the barren visuals of the other, and then edit to say that you don't care what the continent looked like at all.

I don't think people here missed your point so much as you failed to express it. :huh:

Either way I think that you can find a AAA nightime screenshot somewhere in indar that is just as high quality. One key position SS doesn't mean that the whole map will automatically be beautiful everywhere (though I'm sure it will be ;))

[Canaris]

Indar is The Badlands + Nagrand... not entirely barren desert. Excellent choice of color palette.

Maz used a wow reference to try to explain something in PS2, under the Auraxis treaty article Ref~ 1748 B He must be catapulted for his crimes.
Sorry rules are rules!

Indar is just a play on letters which as someone pointed out earlier just means Oshur ;)

[MrKWalmsley]

Maz used a wow reference to try to explain something in PS2, under the Auraxis treaty article Ref~ 1748 B He must be catapulted for his crimes.
Sorry rules are rules!

Indar is just a play on letters which as someone pointed out earlier just means Oshur ;)

Damn it you beat me to it git!

[Eyeklops]

I think its because water is broken in the game - or not where they want it to be. Indar has no water...

Very good private, you get a cookie. I would guess that 99% of the reason is stated above. They don't have water working in the engine yet. Indar is a desert continent, so not having any water seems natural.

[MooK]

I was expecting Cyssor to be the only continent with the TR/VS/NC footholds at Wele, Orisha and Leza, respectively.


Uh, no. God no.

I would expect:

TR: Wele
VS: Leza/Orisha
NC: Ekera

Like it used to be.

[Firefly]

Is it just me, or has anyone else put two and two together?

IshuNDAR

[sameer]

THey are saving the best for last. Indar is boring, the only part I like are the grassy, treed areas. I hope the other continent contains lush forests.

[snaffe]

ishundar means ice dogs in Swedish, btw.

[Simokon]

@Simokon because it had the most difficult problems to solve. we knew we needed the most time working on it and we'd learn a lot making it.

from Matt Higby

So much easier to just ask the devs.

[julfo]

I don't think its fair of you to start an entire thread with implicative questions just say that you think that a continent should have been chosen because it was 'awe inspiring' compared to the barren visuals of the other, and then edit to say that you don't care what the continent looked like at all.

That's ok. You don't have to think it's fair. But I did try to be as objective as I could. Nowhere, however, did I state that one continent should have been chosen over another. I NEVER said one continent should have been chosen over another. I even said that it was only my opinion that Esamir looks more awe inspiring than Indar. It is not intended to offend anyone. I don't expect everyone to agree with me. The reason I made the edit was because people were posting with the pure intention of saying that Indar isn't only barren desert. Which wasn't the point of the thread. The thread was to discuss possible reasons for Indar being chosen as the first continent over Esamir or Amerish.

Oh, could you also please point out which part of my post was 'implicative' to facilitate less offensive posts in the future.

I don't think people here missed your point so much as you failed to express it. :huh:

Perhaps, but then, perhaps not. After I edited my post people got the general idea of the thread and a relatively healthy discussion ensued. Perhaps the fault lies with both parties?

Either way I think that you can find a AAA nightime screenshot somewhere in indar that is just as high quality.

Absolutely, and nowhere did I say anything to the contrary. Indar is a fantastic piece of artwork.


One key position SS doesn't mean that the whole map will automatically be beautiful everywhere (though I'm sure it will be ;))

And I didn't say it did ;)

Thanks to everyone else by the way for the constructive discussion :)


@Simokon because it had the most difficult problems to solve. we knew we needed the most time working on it and we'd learn a lot making it.

from Matt Higby

So much easier to just ask the devs.

But then there's no healthy discussion within the community. Besides, I dislike the idea of bombarding devs with incessant trivia when they are working their asses off to get this game out.

[XxAxMayxX]

I think they chose indar for e3 and such because they hadn't finished water effects. Because indar is a dessert it makes sence if riverbeds and such are without water.

There are tons of lush areas on Indar we just haven't seen them as often. The devs utilized the area around Zurvan more than anything which is a desert like area. Possibly because it was the first one to be polished I'd assume.

There are areas with rolling green hills and trees as well.

Yeah but the whole area still holds the them of arid. I live in colorado and the green here is lush but not as green as say ohio, from what ive seen indar is similar.

[wraithverge]

in game design, there are two levels that are almost ALWAYS done last, and this is because lets face it, they get better as the team has more practice. The first level created is usually pretty easy to spot, it has the least mechanics and is while not bad... lacking comparably usually level 3-5. The second to the last is the final level. The first is the starting level. This is why cyssor was not chosen first imo.

[Timithos]

As much as you claim and spend too much time "avoiding" flaiming, you waste even more time responding to flaming in a quote-a-holic manner to increase it. You're a Flame Fanner. I bet you'll waste even more time responding to me. DON'T! (God, I like what I wrote. That's a sig-worthy quote right there!)

A true flame-avoider makes no apologies, and is very selective in who and what they respond to.

[julfo]

As much as you claim and spend too much time "avoiding" flaiming, you waste even more time responding to flaming in a quote-a-holic manner to increase it. You're a Flame Fanner. I bet you'll waste even more time responding to me. DON'T! (God, I like what I wrote. That's a sig-worthy quote right there!)

A true flame-avoider makes no apologies, and is very selective in who and what they respond to.

lol :rofl:

[PrISM]

Uh, no. God no.

I would expect:

TR: Wele
VS: Leza/Orisha
NC: Ekera

Like it used to be.

Six in one hand, half a dozen in the other.