News: New Planetside 2 Interview on Strategy Informer

[Tigersmith]

http://www.planetside-universe.com/n...ormer-2533.htm

Quick listing on what new stuff was said

• Social Networks - Facebook/Twitter
• Friendly Fire might not be enabled at launch
• Better Understanding on how the Resource system works
• Rail Guns!!
• Several Maps will be in the game

[Straws]

I'm interested in hearing more details on the developers' thinking regarding friendly fire. At this time, I can only assume that they can't think of a really good grief control system. Considering how it'll take less bullets to kill people in PS2, I understand why they current system is less desirable.

[Raymac]

Nice interview.
1) I really hope they keep friendly fire, however, I am curious as to how the game would look without it. Even though it takes away some of the thinking required, it may be more fun.
2) Maps are "dozens of square kms" which sounds awesome.
3) Being able to drop towers and "bunkers"! I really really love the idea of being able to set up some sort of structure other than a base or tower. For example, I always thought Dviddleff's ideas for additional structures were awesome. I know they said "post-launch" but still, that has me excited.
4) Glad they arn't focusing on "player trading and marketplaces". Might be a good addition way down the line, but I really didn't want to see it at launch. Just pure chaotic fighting.

[waldizzo]

I'm saddened by the possibility of friendly fire being disabled. While it may indeed be more fun to not get punished for people not watching where they are walking, it'll be less fun to have mass grenades/plasma/etc everywhere.

[Tigersmith]

Originally Posted by waldizzo

I'm saddened by the possibility of friendly fire being disabled. While it may indeed be more fun to not get punished for people not watching where they are walking, it'll be less fun to have mass grenades/plasma/etc everywhere.

I agree. How is this like a massive war if there is no FF

[Tapman]

I would really like it if they spent less time and resources towards balancing the weapons and vehicles, that is supposed to be our job in Beta...

[Bags]

Friendly Fire might not be enabled at launch

wat

Why have revamped grief system if no FF? Fucking retarded, everyone will just use spam weapons. Sounds like vehicle door camping will be even worse.

[FIREk]

"There are three factions that are pretty much unique - I mean they are all human, they all wear armour and have similar classes (...)."

It might just be a misunderstanding, but if it wasn't, then... Empire specific classes? :O

[DreaM]

Originally Posted by Bags

Friendly Fire might not be enabled at launch

wat

Why have revamped grief system if no FF? Fucking retarded, everyone will just use spam weapons. Sounds like vehicle door camping will be even worse.

Seems like their idea is that they get the game out A.S.A.P to make money and then continually develop the game after. Think of it like the game is constantly being made even post "launch". We're going to see a soft launch of PS2 soon, within the next few months.

[Raymac]

Originally Posted by DreaM

We're going to see a soft launch of PS2 soon, within the next few months.

I'd be pretty shocked if we see beta in the next few months, let alone a launch. Plus, they arn't going to release a half baked game, or they'd be telling us a release window already. Instead they are saying "It will release when its ready."

Now, they do have very large aspirations for this game with just an insane amount of open world features, and thats the sort of stuff that will get released over time post-launch. But it sounds like the actual launch will be a complete game with as many features as we see in Planetside 1 now.

[Tatwi]

Originally Posted by DreaM

Seems like their idea is that they get the game out A.S.A.P to make money and then continually develop the game after. Think of it like the game is constantly being made even post "launch". We're going to see a soft launch of PS2 soon, within the next few months.

If they launch it without friendly fire, they should keep it without adding friendly fire. Adding FF later on would be a change on the level of the infamous "NGE" in SWG, because it would fundamentally change the way people play the game. We all know how well changes of that sort go over for SOE in an already released product.

Friendly Fire: Either have it or don't, I don't personally care, just don't change it after launch.

[FIREk]

i don't recall anyone else posting this, but, other than reducing damage dealt through friendly fire, they could possibly implement a single player-like system for moderating friendly fire.
Basically you can't shoot if you're aiming directly at a friendly and your crosshair turns into an appropriate icon so you know what's wrong. Ideally, the system also drops your weapon a bit, to make it look all tactical, well-drilled and stuff.
Not the ideal system, won't help with grenade spam or more ballistic weapons (cannons etc) but would help with:
a) blatant, direct asshole teamkills,
b) accidentally shoving 5 rounds into the back of a friendly that just ran in front of you,
c) making intentional griefing that much more inconvenient.

And, of course, the grief system will be quite invaluable.

Originally Posted by EASyEightyEight

(...) you can't hit **** even with a shotgun while moving unless you ADS, which will slow you to a crawl.

I agree with what you're getting at, but I must disagree with this particular point. Weapons are surprisingly accurate when fired from the hip in "lolrealism" (not a very fitting name) games, even on the move. I use shotguns in every single game that has them (except for PlanetSide - the only game in which shotguns are no fun at all:P) and I have never aimed down a shotgun's sights out of common sense. I always hit what I want to hit.

[EASyEightyEight]

Shotgun was hyperbole.

Rifle use on the other hand depends on the game I guess. CoD hip fire is only accurate for the first round or two if you're crouched/prone, otherwise running and gunning you don't hit anything unless you get lucky. You don't aim, you just look in their direction and hope for the best. Can't speak for BF. Other games like Brink make nearly no difference between hip fire or ADS. Killzone 2 and 3 just make it a pseudo zoom. Regardless of ADS, your bullets spray everywhere in KZ2, and are laser tight even hip firing in KZ3.

[Brusi]

Originally Posted by FIREk

Basically you can't shoot if you're aiming directly at a friendly and your crosshair turns into an appropriate icon so you know what's wrong. Ideally, the system also drops your weapon a bit, to make it look all tactical, well-drilled and stuff.

I really like the idea of a weapons lock when your gun is aimed at a friendly target close range, and your crosshair is green... Obviously this wouldn't stop friendly fire and it would probably take a fair amount of play-testing to see how fucked it was in reality...

I love the concept though!

[morf]

I think grief would have to be revamped to have FF. Also, with increased lethality, I imagine a 4 shot burst from MA to the back of your buddy at point blank would cause a TK. Hopefully once they get live players on the game they can look at all the numbers and figure out how to make it work. But I'm thinking idiots stepping in front of you = dead idiots. I can see how it would suck if 30 percent of deaths in a heavily contested facility were TK's due to the back line firing through the guys up front