hacking - Page 2

Coliostro · 2002-12-31, 06:10 PM

I gotta agree with Dio on this one. If Hacking was something other than hitting a button and watching a meter I might actually be interested in it too. It could be as simplistic as 4 or 5 spinning dials which you have to stop at a certain point in each of their spins. Simple, and self-explanatory, but more interactive than just the click of a button.

Warborn · 2002-12-31, 06:13 PM

It's a distraction from the action. While you're waiting for the little bar to move down, you're also hoping that nobody is about to walk around the corner and blow you away. Trust me, that little bar moves slowly when you're in hostile territory, if you know what I mean. Wanting to make Hacking more complicated is like having your guy shoot his rifle take several steps: One to take the safety off, one to raise the weapon to his shoulder, another to make him aim, and a last one to fire. It's more interactive, but it misses the point. Hacking isn't suppose to be fun and iteractive. Being a Hacker is suppose to be fun and interactive. Opening a door with a hacking tool is simply part of a bigger picture.

�io · 2002-12-31, 06:16 PM

It could be as simplistic as 4 or 5 spinning dials which you have to stop at a certain point in each of their spins.

You ever play Dead to rights by any chance??

I agree if hacking is just a button click and a meter i won't be as interested as i was. I'll probably let someone else spend certs to watch a meter go down.

Anyhoo that's all for me, don't feel like debating another issue with Warborn.

Warborn · 2002-12-31, 06:17 PM

Well, you'll understand when you play it.

Coliostro · 2002-12-31, 06:21 PM

I played Dead to Rights for a little bit but that was just a general example of a puzzle game that's been used in a ton of video games. I call it a developer fall back puzzle.

I disagree with you Warborn. I think part of the excitement about being a hacker should be the action of hacking. You shouldn't have to worry about that guy coming around the corner. That's why you have a squad. Unless you're trying to take a base by yourself those guys should be covering your ass while you hack into the system.

Warborn · 2002-12-31, 06:30 PM

I disagree with you Warborn. I think part of the excitement about being a hacker should be the action of hacking. You shouldn't have to worry about that guy coming around the corner. That's why you have a squad. Unless you're trying to take a base by yourself those guys should be covering your ass while you hack into the system.

And you said earlier:

It could be as simplistic as 4 or 5 spinning dials which you have to stop at a certain point in each of their spins.

Just how much excitement do you expect to get out of hacking? It may be mildly interesting at first, but once you do it 100 times, would you honestly care if you had to do a puzzle every time you wanted to open a door? Would it really be more interesting than standing there for 10 seconds watching a little bar fill?

Coliostro · 2002-12-31, 06:35 PM

It really depends on the puzzle. If it's one repetition versus another I'd probably opt for seeing what's going on around me. But if there are 100's of different quick and simple puzzles to make hacking entertaining as well as usefull I'd much prefer that. They aren't going to put them in of course because that's just one more thing to push the release date back. However, maybe it's something they'll consider in the future and make an option for hackers. I'm not saying you should have to do puzzles if you don't want to I just think it would be more fun and keep a hacker interested longer than just the timer.

Warborn · 2002-12-31, 06:46 PM

Like, say, an epic game of tic-tac-toe to wrestle control of an installation to your Faction's colours?

Omega · 2002-12-31, 06:50 PM

Actually I think little puzzels like that would improve the life of the hacker making it just that much more interesting. I'm not saying they need to have puzzels like that one in Onimusha 1. YES you know which one I'm talking about with the water rising and you drowning 15 times in a row. I fucking hate that puzzel.

But maybe some simpler ones that won't just have the hacker going in and pressing a button that would just be lame.

Justin

�io · 2002-12-31, 06:52 PM

Perfect situation would be just as i suggested for the auto-landing. Have an option where u can disable it so those who want to stand around can and those who want to actively hack can also.

Warborn · 2002-12-31, 06:54 PM

But maybe some simpler ones that won't just have the hacker going in and pressing a button that would just be lame.

I agree, and thankfully it won't work that way. There's the whole process of actually getting inside the installation alive, which isn't as easy as it sounds, and then you have to do your job without running into an enemy soldier, or if you do run into one, dispatching him quickly or otherwise avoiding him. Seriously guys, it's not just a cake walk all the way to the control points. The life of an Infiltrator-Hacker will be perilous, and there'll be a lot of other things to entertain you apart from playing a game of red-light green-light with a door to make it open.

Coliostro · 2002-12-31, 06:55 PM

No, something far less complex than tic tac toe Warborn. Actually, there's another option. They could make hacking extremely difficult. They could make it so you have to take an actually test before you can even get the cert and give you puzzles as difficult as the one Omega is talking about. You could bring several squads with you to take over a base and if none of your hackers can figure out the puzzle they can't take it over. Just a thought.

Warborn · 2002-12-31, 07:07 PM

No, something far less complex than tic tac toe Warborn.

So they'd be puzzles which have virtually no chance of you being unable to figure out then, yes? And, again, would that really be very entertaining? How long before it becomes monotony? If the puzzle is child-like in its simplicity, it's more an annoyance than engaging and entertaining.

Actually, there's another option. They could make hacking extremely difficult. They could make it so you have to take an actually test before you can even get the cert and give you puzzles as difficult as the one Omega is talking about. You could bring several squads with you to take over a base and if none of your hackers can figure out the puzzle they can't take it over. Just a thought.

You have all these guys who just fought through a bloody battle, all charged with adrenaline, only to find out that none of the Hackers can be the AI at Mahjong. I dunno, it might appeal to a certain group of players, but I can tell you, I'd be pissed if I were on the attacker's team.

And I can say with certainty that challenging puzzles most definitely do not fit the theme of Planetside. You capture a base with 20% tactics, 80% bloodshed. There's no place for puzzle solving ability in a MMOFPS, unless the puzzle is "How do I take out the defenders guarding the stair well leading up to the last control panel?".

Coliostro · 2002-12-31, 08:14 PM

You may be right about some of it. It was just a thought anyways. I still think there should be the option of puzzle solving for the hacker. Maybe he'll want the extra atmosphere.

The difficulty is actually finding a level of difficulty that isn't a no brainer but it doesn't take Steven Hawking to solve it either.

bliksta · 2002-12-31, 08:17 PM

rofl... how can a puzzle be related to hacking.. I think this thread is stupid and holding down a button to hack seems fine to me. This is an action game not a god damn final fantasy game or whatever you guys want it to be.