Why do SOE keep adding generic weapons into the game?

EVILoHOMER · 2013-04-07, 06:03 AM

I haven't played since December and I wont do because I found the weapon and base design to be boring. I keep getting emails on updates and every time it's loads of weapons that look exactly the same as before, only they have slightly different stats. It's so boring and at this rate in a few years there will be thousands of guns, all looking and playing the same.

Isn't the whole point of new content for it to be different? I was expecting something like TF2, instead we have programmer art weapons. I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case and SOE has moved the artists on.

Seriously TF2 PS2 up and let players make the weapons and submit them, they'd do a better job, it would free up resources and maybe then I'd get the underslung MCG, instead of hundreds of weapons that all look and play the same.

Phantomdestiny · 2013-04-07, 06:38 AM

they just added 2 set of different looking weapons like the smg's and the faction specific rocket launchers. and why do they do it actually as nothing to do with art team work management but with optimization with 2000 different looking player model the game would just crash

Sirisian · 2013-04-07, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by Phantomdestiny

why do they do it actually as nothing to do with art team work management but with optimization with 2000 different looking player model the game would just crash

That's actually not much of an issue. If the engine has virtual texture mapping it's already streaming in the useful textures and the actual gun models are only around 30K triangles (probably around 0.7 MB of GPU memory per weapon for vertices and indexes). That and I doubt they're doing anything like instancing meaning they probably just brute force render everything.

It's really no different than say WoW where everyone has different armor and weapons. In PS2 you just have different classes with cosmetics and weapons with attachments. That and this is the same engine that will be running Everquest Next; a game that will feature very diverse player customization and equipment loadouts.

Originally Posted by EVILoHOMER

I wouldn't be surprised if that is the case and SOE has moved the artists on.

Planetside 2 is possibly just a test for Everquest next, so you're probably not far off.

Sledgecrushr · 2013-04-07, 07:24 AM

What do you mean generic? Each factions weapons has a distinct look. Then you can slap on whatever camo you want for your wespon and armor to change its color.

I dont really have a problem with the bases either. I try not to get hung up in bio lab meat grinders because running around in there for hours on end I think would get boring.

I think you should give the game a try again.

VaderDSL · 2013-04-07, 07:48 AM

It's the trade off with having a F2P system imo. They have to release new content and a lot of it to entice sales via in game currency which costs real world currency.

If we had a sub based model only, there would probably be a couple of new weapons a year.

Rolfski · 2013-04-07, 01:23 PM

They need to release guns to make money and tbh, the newer empire specific guns look a lot less generic compared to the arsenal at launch.

Having said that, I wish they would devote more time in making the current arsenal look more badass and add more customization options to it. I wouldn't even mind if they would monetize these added customization options as long as these are for looks only or can also be certed into.

Snydenthur · 2013-04-07, 01:40 PM

Can you imagine the cry on forums, if they added different weapons, more so if they added them for different factions? There would be thousands of players crying that x faction is overpowered. Or that the game is pay to win.

AThreatToYou · 2013-04-07, 02:07 PM

The new weapons, aside from the LMG & and carbine, have been very unique. That is to say, half of them have been generic, the other half notsomuch.

Still, I want more fun stuff than this. Disc launchers, exploding gel guns, flak shotguns, lightning guns, flamers, bolter cannons...

ringring · 2013-04-07, 02:41 PM

Yea, the new weapons are not the same.

Tanks find it harder now.
Cloakers have fast ttk guns.
Shotguns (pumps) one hit you.

In short the game changes with every new release. And that's a problem imho, ttk's are getting shorter and short and there is always something new waiting to get you.

How are they going to keep up this pace of change.. will ttk's keep on getting shorter or will things be nerfed and will those things nerfed be the stuff I've bought.

Maidere · 2013-04-07, 04:06 PM

Generic shooter with generic weapons. Cant see how it's wrong.

Planetside 2 is possibly just a test for Everquest next, so you're probably not far off.

Sounds about right. I think they have like 30-40 people working on the game right now, if not less.

camycamera · 2013-04-07, 09:07 PM

didn't they say they were going to add workshop support or something so people can make there own weapons? idk, i heard it somewhere.

Vashyo · 2013-04-08, 02:32 AM

Originally Posted by camycamera

didn't they say they were going to add workshop support or something so people can make there own weapons? idk, i heard it somewhere.

They adding in a way to make custom logos, but not guns...atleast not in the near future.

Wish they'd retouch some of the older models, the weapon variance is at the same level as AK47 and it's numerous variants, they're different but still share their original look.

Hamma · 2013-04-08, 05:44 PM

Short answer?

To make money, and keep supporting the game as well as make a profit. Not every weapon can be 100% unique.

Vashyo · 2013-04-08, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by Hamma

Short answer?

To make money, and keep supporting the game as well as make a profit. Not every weapon can be 100% unique.

I think they could be but it's less time-consuming to produce these variations.

Less quality, more quantity = more money

Frozenland · 2013-04-08, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Phantomdestiny

they just added 2 set of different looking weapons like the smg's and the faction specific rocket launchers. and why do they do it actually as nothing to do with art team work management but with optimization with 2000 different looking player model the game would just crash

Well, i say they should make all the weapons look more different than the others. While in motion nobody really can tell the details on the weapons, so they can make the model renders not that well, but make it look good in first person.
Also they DO need to add variety to the weapons. I am so bored of bullet-shooting weapons, ESRLs are fine, SMG are meh. After all, PS2 is a futuristic shooter, so less modern FPS and more Quake series like please.
I think they are just too worried about the balance and forgot about diversity.