News: SOEmote *Could* come to PlanetSide 2

[musefrog]

Sounds like the majority of people hate the idea, but some are really into it.

For example, if you like machinima, this would make any Planetside machinima ten times better (of course utilising station cash bought face-cover-less heads). Also it would make downtime during structured outfit play (hold this position till further orders) more interesting, making banter and idle chatter more fun.

So it seems like the perfect thing to be implemented some time into the game's life, as a paid upgrade for the few that want it, with a hide toggle in the UI of everyone else if they don't want to see others using it.

After all, we all want the Devs to think up and implement enough things that people will buy to support Planetside's existance, especially if it doesn't affect our game, don't we?

[Sirisian]

omg I bet that would look amazing in Forgelight. Just the lip syncing of a player talking to their squad or their head movements.

[MonsterBone]

[SniperSteve]

Would rather have entrance/exit animations. (And I really don't even care much about them)

[MonsterBone]

I would rather get tortured by lesbians then suffer through this retarded use of technology. If we have time for this how about we put in crafting or maybe water.

[Electrofreak]

Originally Posted by Bazilx

Great new idea; instead of a kill-cam, have a face-cam that shows you a 3d rendering of the characters face of the guy who killed you, so he can do stupid faces at you while you are dead, it will revolutionize the gaming industry.

This would bring "teabagging" to a whole new level.

Why is he sticking his tongue out and wagging it like that... oh.

[kaffis]

It's my assumption that if SOEmote were implemented in PS2, it would be because it wouldn't require much development labor to integrate the technology that's already been written for the EQ2 engine with the Forgelight engine and models.

It could be as simple a matter as writing an API translator to take the data from SOEmote's camera input and linking it up to the existing facial animation system, then going and mapping the reference points SOEmote uses on the existing character models. In that case, go for it, guys.

And as much as I want to stick my tongue out at my kills, if there's heavy animation work to be done, I want it to wait 'till after dis/embarkation animations, of course.

[EASyEightyEight]

You all talk like the entire team can only focus on ONE TASK at a time...

This is a really cool tech. I'd love to see my commanding officer look back at me and actually see an animated face when he's barking incoherent jargon at me.

Or at least, you know, that separate pop up window with just his head. The little mic popping up next to a squad members name just isn't nearly as cool.

[MonsterBone]

[cellinaire]

I'm absolutely fine with it. Some of you guys seem to loathe it, but does the SOEmote seriously ruin gameplay, faction balance, immersion, fun level, quality, replayability, atmosphere...etc ? No. I'd say no. Hell, why not remove VIOP and chatting as a whole, then. Will they allow us to stick our tongues out in-game? They already said they don't want this kinda thing.

It's possible that the introduction of SOEmote will make this game feel like a wee bit childish, but after they iron out the kinks and potential abuses which may or may not arise, I think it'll be rather neat addition to toy around.

And, don't waste the precious time implementing SOEmote and make continents and vehicles instead? What? Really? Talking about ordering an artist to optimize the graphics engine.

[WNxThentar]

You know what it would be useful for? Ambush situations were you can double tilt your head in a direction to let people near by know an enemy is coming. I don't see how it would hurt the game as long as you could turn it off if performance or bandwidth was an issue. But if it takes on the order of the same performance hit as voice chat then it really is a no brainer.

[Otleaz]

I'm surprised such a casual game has such an elitist following. I think this feature would be freaking amazing. It is already developed, and the people who would put it into PS2 would probably be different developers... Like the ones who actually made it. I doubt resources would be pulled from anything else.

[Sirisian]

Originally Posted by cellinaire

I'm absolutely fine with it. Some of you guys seem to loathe it, but does the SOEmote seriously ruin gameplay, faction balance, immersion, fun level, quality, replayability, atmosphere...etc ? No. I'd say no.

To be fair they think we're getting a new frog race. So when they say no to the idea they are truly believing a frog is going to be talking to them. (Really you need to pay money for that kind of customization).

Also if Everquest Next is going to get this, then you can bet Planetside 2 will have it soon enough. Can you imagine playing a video game and your friend is talking and his character's mouth is moving. For some gamers who haven't been outside that kind of realism is downright scary.

[WNxThentar]

Originally Posted by cellinaire

I'm absolutely fine with it. Some of you guys seem to loathe it, but does the SOEmote seriously ruin gameplay, faction balance, immersion, fun level, quality, replayability, atmosphere...etc ? No. I'd say no. Hell, why not remove VIOP and chatting as a whole, then. Will they allow us to stick our tongues out in-game? They already said they don't want this kinda thing.

It's possible that the introduction of SOEmote will make this game feel like a wee bit childish, but after they iron out the kinks and potential abuses which may or may not arise, I think it'll be rather neat addition to toy around.

And, don't waste the precious time implementing SOEmote and make continents and vehicles instead? What? Really? Talking about ordering an artist to optimize the graphics engine.

Well said. SOEmote is being developed for a different product but being developed in a manner so that it can be slotted into other games. Just like SOE use 1 central chat engine. You might not realise it but I can chat to you in PS1 from EQ, EQ2, DCOL, and any other SOE MMO. The PS Devs won't have to do much to implement it and SFA to maintain it.

It is like complaining that you don't think the RSPCA should save animals because the money could be better spent feeding starving children some where else in the world.

The fact is that many more people will enjoy SOEmote then a few people that have some kind of stick up their ass and never look more then a foot in front of themselves because "their worldview" is the only one that matters in their book. SOEmote will attract players to SOE games. Those players will probably pay money in various ways to SOE meaning SOE will have more incentive to make more money.

As cellinaire puts it, this isn't a feature that will break immersion for the average player. Quite the opposite. Instead of looking at a motionless face talking to you, you will see a more realistic view of what the speaker is trying to convey.

Think of this situation.
Your platoon leader is saying "Ok, Alpha squad, cover the northern door!"
and you spend a few seconds trying to orient yourself with the the compass.
or Your platoon leader says" Ok, Alpha squad, cover the northern door!" (platoon leaders head shifts in the direction of the north door)

Or think of this that can come from technology like SOEmote.

You're running along but want to look to the left. Just shift your head a bit to the left to make your head turn. Flight games have this type of function using hats but it isn't it can be painfully slow.

[cellinaire]

Originally Posted by WNxThentar

You know what it would be useful for? Ambush situations were you can double tilt your head in a direction to let people near by know an enemy is coming. I don't see how it would hurt the game as long as you could turn it off if performance or bandwidth was an issue. But if it takes on the order of the same performance hit as voice chat then it really is a no brainer.

Ouch, didn't thought of that. Cool idea. Oh, the possibilities......