We should be able to pay to turn off other people's skins/decals

[MrBloodworth]

Originally Posted by Flaropri

Having different textures/models does not effect performance

You are wrong. Each texture file that is loaded needs it own memory space, Considering PS2 uses Diffuse, normal and specular, that's three texture per customization.

If three people are near you, and two have the normal skin, and one has a custom, that's two sets in memory.

Originally Posted by Airanuva

It's a free 2 play model. It runs off of micro transactions. If you want to nullify those transactions, you're going to have to pay a large subscription... Say, 15-20 dollars a month.

You are also wrong. Other games that sell cosmetics do just fine with the ability for the viewer to toggle them off for him. Global agenda does it, and that one title alone has funded two other games in development/just released.

[Landtank]

Originally Posted by MrBloodworth

You are wrong. Each texture file that is loaded needs it own memory space, Considering PS2 uses Diffuse, normal and specular, that's three texture per customization.

If three people are near you, and two have the normal skin, and one has a custom, that's two sets in memory.
.

Hmm I disagree. It will make maybe the smallest difference, as the textures will likely be stored in the RAM, allowing for fastest access to those files. Most textures should be pre-loaded methinks.

Anyways, I don't think there should be an option to turn off peoples customizations. I agree with Vancha though. If I pay for a skin, then I want it to be seen, that includes any advantage or disadvantage that comes along with it.

@FPClark, I guess you've never gone paintballing then. Camo helps, a lot. Especially in games where shadows matter, and Planetside 2 falls under that category. I guess the US Military should just stop developing digital camo seeing as it doesn't make any difference

[MrBloodworth]

Originally Posted by Landtank

Hmm I disagree. It will make maybe the smallest difference, as the textures will likely be stored in the RAM, allowing for fastest access to those files. Most textures should be pre-loaded methinks.

You can disagree if you want.

They go in video memory. They are disk streamed, not front loaded. Every texture that is different ( and its associated specular, and normal ) goes into memory. Even using S3 Texture Compression, unique sets take memory.

PS1 was front loaded, PS2 uses streaming.

It likely will not be an issues for most users, if they have a good memory manager in forge light, but its not something you can ignore for every user.

There is a reason they cut so much model content as opposed to Planetside one. There is a reason all the vehicles are becoming jacks of all.

[Brusi]

Originally Posted by Baneblade

Most won't buy anything.

This

The majority (something like 80%) will probably never convert to a paying player. What benefit would there be to having skins turned on?

Global Agenda is different... It's a competative session based shooter, with a social lobby. The skins(dyes) in GA were primarily for hanging out in the lobby.

I don't know anyone who left them on during a match.

[Vancha]

Originally Posted by Brusi

This

The majority (something like 80%) will probably never convert to a paying player. What benefit would there be to having skins turned on?

Identification? Being able to identify the 3 aircav that just came over the ridge as the best pilots on the server instead of some randoms is pretty damn valuable.

Also, if people buy the ability to switch off skins, they've become paying players. If 80% will never buy anything, that's 80% of the player-base that are guaranteed to be seeing your shiny cash-shop skin.

[Vancha]

Actually, maybe that's their strategy...Have everyone look terrible in leopard and zebra-print, then get people to pay to make everyone else look better (by turning off the skins).

[Sledgecrushr]

I think the zebra and leopard cammos were more just proof of concepts. I would really like to see some more of there serious stuff.

[Brusi]

Yeah, I kinda feel an option to turn off skins is too big a deal for it to be purchasable... Seems like an advantage to be able to disable skins.

The idea of using them to identify enemies is also largely useless if some have the skins off and some have them on.

The only time we used skins on in GA was when facing noobs strikeforces who did not have a uniform, and we would call targets based on dyes.

E.g. "focus fire on the idiot medic in bright pink!"

[The Kush]

How the hell has this thread not died yet?

Absolutely not. This is the dumbest idea I have seen on these forums. No one is going to buy skins if another player can turn them off. Quit trying to limit the games revenue stream. I swear there is so much crying in this thread. It's a game a little bit of customization won't kill you, and there definitely won't be an option to turn it off, otherwise buying a desert camo for a desert map would be pointless. Let's start using common sense everyone and let this thread die of into the abyss of this forum.

[Landtank]

Originally Posted by The Kush

How the hell has this thread not died yet?

Absolutely not. This is the dumbest idea I have seen on these forums. No one is going to buy skins if another player can turn them off. Quit trying to limit the games revenue stream. I swear there is so much crying in this thread. It's a game a little bit of customization won't kill you, and there definitely won't be an option to turn it off, otherwise buying a desert camo for a desert map would be pointless. Let's start using common sense everyone and let this thread die of into the abyss of this forum.

/thread

[Vancha]

Originally Posted by The Kush

How the hell has this thread not died yet?

Absolutely not. This is the dumbest idea I have seen on these forums. No one is going to buy skins if another player can turn them off. Quit trying to limit the games revenue stream. I swear there is so much crying in this thread. It's a game a little bit of customization won't kill you, and there definitely won't be an option to turn it off, otherwise buying a desert camo for a desert map would be pointless. Let's start using common sense everyone and let this thread die of into the abyss of this forum.

Maybe it's not died because both of your points have been shot down already. The OP said camo wasn't included, so you didn't even read that far?

[Dagron]

True, i saw a one liner and didn't read it, just assumed he was repeating the topic. Does that mean he only wants to turn off silly stuff?

There are a few issues with that, such as: Different people consider different things silly. Should darker/brighter shades of the empire colors, or reversing the pattern (i.e. blue parts turn yellow, yellow parts turn blue) be toggleable? What about zebra skin, since some people claim it works as camo in the snow?

I still think this would make less people buy things.


As for the memory usage, i think having different models is way heavier than skins. Buying a different helmet doesn't help conceal the player, so just because it's a vanity feature it should be turned off to increase performance?

Anyway, if the issue is performance i think it shouldn't be something they charge for. It should be included in the texture/graphics quality slider (or only be toggleable when your custom settings are at an overall low quality), so it can only get removed when your setting are already down to the crappy graphics. If you want them turned off you shouldn't be allowed to do so and keep everything else at max capacity (otherwise you're not worried about performance, you just want to remove other people's customizations).

[Trafalgar]

As long as the developers aren't second lifeing the vehicle paint (let you upload any texture for a fee) there shouldn't be noticeable overhead from camo. SL has the issue that everyone uses 256x256 textures on everything, so that it will look as good as possible, including earrings, pistol grips, bullets, semi-transparent textures (and sometimes fully transparent textures... some people are dumb), particles, you name it, and few people consider the problem of trying to fit thousands of 256x256 textures along with user-created models into VRAM in busy sims, and those who do can rarely do anything about it. For example, a 256x256 texture in 32 bpp, uncompressed, takes about 1/4 of a MB. 1000 of them would be 250 MB, which is one reason that feature is not generally found outside Second Life. If there's only something like 20 textures, that's far less, and it's not like there will be considerable added overhead for using different textures...

[The Kush]

Originally Posted by Vancha

Maybe it's not died because both of your points have been shot down already. The OP said camo wasn't included, so you didn't even read that far?

I ignored that because it is simply stupid. Why would you pick and choose what you can turn off. I know the planetside 2 devs would agree. It defeats the purpose of buying a different look if everyone can just turn it off.

[GreatMazinkaise]

Camo is also a silly tacticool affectation... but if it's in the cash shop it should be seen.

Kaiser fully supports the right of all players to look completely retarded in whatever manner they please.