News: Fan Faire Q&A Part 2

[Grimster]

Originally Posted by Hamma

In short, PlanetSide 2 won't totally revolve around bases.

I think this defiantly is a step in the right direction and I find the approach they are taking in PS2 quite interesting.


I can't wait to get more info on this.

[LostSoul]

I'm pretty sure that they already covered AI, and that it won't be in the game initially but they would be looking at implementing it for "empire wide events" such as an alien invasion.

To be honest, i'm quite liking the way they are approaching this.

I'm digesting all the new information, keep it up PSU!

[basti]

Ohhh, good stuff. They actually tried the exact same idea for planetside during alpha, but they scrapped that rather quick because they couldnt get the AI and the pathing right.

[texico]

I was a little confused about the classing system.

Any news on if we're still going to see PlanetSide's inventory system in PS2? I could carry around a backpack full of beamers because I wanted to.

Seriously though, it would be a major shame if that went. I don't like the idea of having a gun glued to me with a pre-determined clip (even if that was somehow upgradable).

I'm in two minds about third person. I felt a sense of security having it; then again it causes major frustration for stealth game play (I suspect the cloakers will be loving this). Too many times you'll approach healing infantry from behind with SS only to see them jump up and start shooting, like they have an extra sense.

It's a shame to see the Sanctuary go but it won't effect gameplay much. I think they could have jazzed the concept up a bit. 98% of each sanctuary was depressingly deserted for all of PlanetSide's lifespan. Just having stuff going on on the actual land --Opening tutorials, "virtual reality", perhaps a vast display of up-to-date tactical information, visuals and stats, together with a larger pop and a smaller island -- it might have been a nice place to cool off, do some non-combat stuff (screenshots, video footage, outfit and squad recruitment, etc) and so on. Perhaps pretty pointless I guess, but a nice little touch if it didn't require much effort.

I'm largely excited and impressed. I don't want to make negative assumptions too quickly either; missions could be cheesy, or they could be implemented spectacularly and organically.





I really hope they don't screw up sniping mechanics though. Perhaps the most well-balanced aspect of the game.

[Livefire]

3rd person for infantry absolutely should be gone 3rd person for fighting aircraft maybe but non shooting ground vehicles like driving a tank with no driver gun absolutely should be in game. I use to organize and run tank columns all the time, this would be a total mess if the drivers don't use third person view we would specifically train are tank drivers to always drive in this view otherwise they would be hitting and running over friendlies all the time. Either give ground vehicle drivers third person view or give us HEAD TRACKER free look and A TRIPLE HEAD VIDEO CARD CAPABLE GAME or you will have friendly infantry pancakes surrounding every heavy vehicle that suppose to be supporting there little ground pounding buddies in the game. Its Your choice SOE!

[Lazza]

I'm glad 3rd person is out... after all it's the genre is MMO "FPS"... as long as everyone is playing with the same rules i don't see the problem.

[1Shotwonder]

I don't like the sound of classes it seems like they will be taking away from custom load outs I won't be able to have my mcg and my medical applicator :/ I don't like this at all its all about the load outs and if that's gone I think it will be pretty gay I want to hear more on this class stuff. Also the third person I will miss its not like you could do much with it but was a nice thing to have but it is an fps after all still sucks though.... can't wait to get more info. Have millions of questions in my head and can't wait for the info to answer them

[Bags]

Originally Posted by 1Shotwonder

I don't like the sound of classes it seems like they will be taking away from custom load outs I won't be able to have my mcg and my medical applicator :/ I don't like this at all its all about the load outs and if that's gone I think it will be pretty gay I want to hear more on this class stuff. Also the third person I will miss its not like you could do much with it but was a nice thing to have but it is an fps after all still sucks though.... can't wait to get more info. Have millions of questions in my head and can't wait for the info to answer them

Q: If I have heavy assault(example) will I be able to heal myself at all, or am I 100% dependent on a medic / engineer??
[Self healing]
Matt: you'll probably have at least some capacity to heal yourself, but this is something we're actively designing and iterating at the moment.

Originally Posted by Matt

Matt: We're definitely still in the meat of the development cycle, which means that more passes are being done on art, systems, balance, particles, etc.
- the cert system is really, really free-form. You can be as specialized or generalized as you want to be. If you want to put all your advancement time into Reavers you can do that, and you'll have a more maneuverable, durable and powerful vehicle with plenty of options for secondary weapons and fun gadgets. If you want to spread your certification across lots of different things and be more of a jack of all trades, go for it.
- The flight mechanics are a lot more realistic than the flying camera PS1 vehicles. We're using PhysX for all our vehicles.

Originally Posted by Matt

hat you're describing is basically what we're doing. You can switch classes, loadouts, etc situationally. Either when you respawn or at equipment terminals.
-I agree the ps1 had a great system, we're definitely keeping the spirit of that system in ps2. What you won't have is a dude that looks like a medic rolling around with a rocket launcher, or a light assault dude with a jump jet who also can use a chaingun.

[Livefire]

Just in case any of you don't know what head trackers are or triple head here is a couple awesome vids, it is the future of gaming and totally salving the zero peripheral vision problem you have when playing a game on a single computer screen. SOE better make PlanetSide2 support this with no 3rd person view anymore.

[Bags]

Headtracker would be such a niche market. No way to justify wasting dev time on that.

[Livefire]

Originally Posted by Bags

Headtracker would be such a niche market. No way to justify wasting dev time on that.

Head tracker works with any game that has free look in it i.e all modern fps games that PlanetSide 2 has to compete with.

[Volw]

Originally Posted by Livefire

Head tracker works with any game that has free look in it i.e all modern fps games that PlanetSide 2 has to compete with.

There's no free look in any of the modern FPSes.

The only FPS I can think of that uses head tracking to full extent is Arma 1/2 ... which is a sim really.

[1Shotwonder]

@ Bags thanks ... well hopefully they stay true to the roots I want to have the same customization and openness to have what load out I want.... now I dont know all about the jetpacks and what not obviously there will have to be limiting with things as such but I do hope they keep the good things of planetside similar in part 2

[Livefire]

Originally Posted by Volw

There's no free look in any of the modern FPSes.

The only FPS I can think of that uses head tracking to full extent is Arma 1/2 ... which is a sim really.

Battle field 2 has free look not as infantry soldier but as any vehicle pilot (fly a jet and move the top hat on your joystick you can look in all directions out your cockpit canopy). which is as I said the only time its real important. Battle field 3 will also have free look and it will be enhanced from the second one, also it will be one of the most competitive fps's fighting for planetside's players being it comes out in October.

[Bags]

Nobody is not going to buy planetside because it doesn't support some useless gimmicky crap that less than 1% of 1% of gamers will actually own. Also, why would you want to look away from your monitor? Makes no sense.