News: UES Interview with Matt Higby

Hamma · 2013-01-29, 02:02 PM

http://www.planetside-universe.com/n...higby-2943.htm

DirtyBird · 2013-01-29, 02:24 PM

VS get the jelly legs animation? we can only hope!
I'm sure teh TR and NC would vote highly for that.

Rendering, cant wait til they do something with that.
I think that and the flashing screen of eye aids are my biggest issues.

Those top reinforcement options for deployment will work better after some of those XP rules and defensive mods to towers etc are in after the patch.

Thanks for taking the time to do the interview Hamma & Higby.

(PS2 webdevs, Briggs needs API data pushed out to PSU thx!)

ShadetheDruid · 2013-01-29, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by DirtyBird

VS get the jelly legs animation?

Next up on the list of complaints: "VS are OP because they get the crazy legs animation."

ringring · 2013-01-29, 02:36 PM

About the running animation, I wonder if he read my comment that the VS had to mince!

However...... I think the DEVS should seriously manage some expectations about the tunnels.

If people get what they are apparently going to get and that's it, they'll go ape.

People are expecting and hoping for an underground infantry area that can be fought in not a defending empire only passageway.

If that is simply a first pass before they're done properly then please say so before the mob gather their pitchforks and burning brands and match on SOE Towers!

Say, you're going to do right right with a later iteration. Please.

Second point. Matt talked about changing psychology of spawn camping by removing the xp award. This won't work, for one thing people are still rewarded by getting a kill that pads your stats. Even if you follow PS1's example and have 'qualifying kills' it still won't work because it didn't in ps1.

Which is not to say that dynamic XP is not a good idea, because it is and it's not to say that spawn camping is a bad idea because it isn't for gameplay reasons.

Phantomdestiny · 2013-01-29, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by ringring

About the running animation, I wonder if he read my comment that the VS had to mince!

However...... I think the DEVS should seriously manage some expectations about the tunnels.

If people get what they are apparently going to get and that's it, they'll go ape.

People are expecting and hoping for an underground infantry area that can be fought in not a defending empire only passageway.

If that is simply a first pass before they're done properly then please say so before the mob gather their pitchforks and burning brands and match on SOE Towers!

Say, you're going to do right right with a later iteration. Please.

Second point. Matt talked about changing psychology of spawn camping by removing the xp award. This won't work, for one thing people are still rewarded by getting a kill that pads your stats. Even if you follow PS1's example and have 'qualifying kills' it still won't work because it didn't in ps1.

Which is not to say that dynamic XP is not a good idea, because it is and it's not to say that spawn camping is a bad idea because it isn't for gameplay reasons.

from what i understood right now tunnels are here to help people defend the base by using them as fast travel/defending positions. However i also understood that if the concept goes well then maybe underground/tunnels areas for the attacker can be implemented : think the tunnels entries under the amp station in esamir but bigger .

Rockit · 2013-01-29, 03:24 PM

I am going to bite my tongue about these "fluff" animations but just barely. So vehicle entry/exit animations were considered unnecessary but empire specific run animations aren't?

SturmovikDrakon · 2013-01-29, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by Rockit

I am going to bite my tongue about these "fluff" animations but just barely. So vehicle entry/exit animations were considered unnecessary but empire specific run animations aren't?

the former slows down gameplay. the latter would help with target identification.

I disagree with that though. Could have gone the Halo way, where you can already control the vehicle while you're getting in

Rockit · 2013-01-29, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by SturmovikDrakon

the former slows down gameplay. the latter would help with target identification.

I disagree with that though. Could have gone the Halo way, where you can already control the vehicle while you're getting in

Well I believe Matt's view was that these run animations add a level of immersion. Ah whatever, do what they want to do. My 16K SC ain't going anywhere anytime soon.

Mox · 2013-01-31, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by SturmovikDrakon

the former slows down gameplay. the latter would help with target identification.

I disagree with that though. Could have gone the Halo way, where you can already control the vehicle while you're getting in

What a bullshit.

DirtyBird · 2013-01-29, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Rockit

I am going to bite my tongue about these "fluff" animations but just barely. So vehicle entry/exit animations were considered unnecessary but empire specific run animations aren't?

haha this is true.
Seeing as the animators have time on their hands for some fluff, perhaps those vehicle entry/exit animations might get another look in.

Running animations wont do much until the rendering is fixed anyway.
If you cant see them from across the road it wont matter what animation they have

Hamma · 2013-01-29, 03:37 PM

He said enter/exit animations. Get him!

Rockit · 2013-01-29, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by Hamma

He said enter/exit animations. Get him!

Yeah well you'll really love me when I say they might need to consider some form of 3rd person infantry. I never thought I would say it but I miss the hell out of that from PS1. It was reinforcing to see my char progression (and now you can throw in the run animations) as part of my personal immersion and ownership of my char.

Tatwi · 2013-01-29, 03:38 PM

Needed more Adrienne and less Higby's hair, but otherwise a good video. That could be my weather worn scalp talk out of jealousy though. Who knows. Still would like to know if Infiltrators will ever get gear that is not a skin suit, but that's me, always focusing on the big picture, the serious issues.

Glad you and Jenny had fun.

**Higby** · 2013-01-29, 03:49 PM

Animations are only a part (and not even the hard part) of doing vehicle entrance/exit animations. We'd have to literally redo the art for all of the vehicle models, attachments and textures to support it, repacking and atlasing the texture sheets,etc. It would take a couple months of dedicated work from a few different people to do. The limitation is not really about animator time, run animations are 100% animator time.

SturmovikDrakon · 2013-01-29, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Higby

Animations are only a part (and not even the hard part) of doing vehicle entrance/exit animations. We'd have to literally redo the art for all of the vehicle models, attachments and textures to support it, repacking and atlasing the texture sheets,etc. It would take a couple months of dedicated work from a few different people to do. The limitation is not really about animator time, run animations are 100% animator time.

Thanks for answering!

But it makes me wonder why the art team decided to go in this direction in the first place, not future proofing at least. It's just one of those immersion factors that is sadly missing.

I didn't see any noticeable hatch on the Prowler or the Magrider either, how do the drivers get in there anyway? :P