Boarding and Exiting animations in Planetside 2

[Volw]

Originally Posted by Gandhi

I can see why this would be one of the first things to go on a tight budget, character animations are always a lot of work especially when they have to be done for dozens of vehicles. Will be interesting to see how this pans out if you can get into and out of vehicles instantly, I guess with the lack of vehicle hacking and faster pacing it's not so much of a problem anymore.

It's not only animations, it's vehicle interior next to door/hatch as well.

[Goku]

Please leave this in. Between the reason for the hacking of other vehicles would cause them to go above budget among others it sound like SOE is cutting way too many corners. Don't make the boat sink on launch due to a crappy budget and a early release when its still in Beta. SOE already saw what happened to Vanguard Saga of Heroes.

[Volw]

Vehicle animations are hardly a critical feature of PS I'd say ...

[moosepoop]

animations really add to the immersion factor, and the critical goal of any MMO is immersion.

[Goku]

Originally Posted by Volw

Vehicle animations are hardly a critical feature of PS I'd say ...

Always good to have unique features to your game to make it not look like the same old thing. Plus I love getting the jump on crews repping their vehicles and killing them while I am in my Van. Instant hop ins will totally ruin that and any sense for finding a proper rep spot.

[dachlatte]

Originally Posted by Lithious

...Even if the whole game gets delayed a few months its totally worth it!

but seriously....boarding and exiting animations? there are much more important things to worry about

[Volw]

I'm not saying I don't like vehicle animations - I think they're great. But let's be real here. Matt already said they are too expansive to implement and it does make sense.

Adding interiors and animations to all of the vehicles in game would probably push the release date by at least a month. Also, lets not forget Galaxy itself requires no less than a dozen of animations and interior pieces. We also don't know how much the mods will modify the appearance and possible doors/hatches.

So yeah - sure they're cool but I won't kill myself over no having them. There's plenty of cooler things they can do with development time instead of doing this.

[LZachariah]

Little nuances like boarding-vehicle-animation add a VERY important element of realism and tangibility to the universe. The more these absences occur, the more this feels like a low-grade GAME rather than a living WORLD. For instance, to parallel, when we switch weapons in Planetside 2, do they just appear in our hands? Probably not- our avatar holsters one and draws another. When we teleport/fast-travel to a location, do we just appear in that new place? No- we are hot dropped via a pod and crash land to the DZ. These details are VERY important and deeply enriching. Even if people do not declaratively notice that they are happening, the will subconsciously feel MUCH more immersed in the world. Inversely, if these nuances are omitted, even the people who don't declaratively notice their absence will feel less captivated and engaged in the world; it will feel more hollow and insubstantial.

It is very important to keep elements like this. We need vehicle-boarding animations.

~Zachariah

[DviddLeff]

I loved them in PS1, but I don't want them in PS2.

Why?

I want you to retain a first person perspective as much as possible to make the sense of immersion that much greater. So rather than it cutting to third person you see your guy open the hatch and slide into the seat, then start up the vehicle.

[basti]

Originally Posted by DviddLeff

I loved them in PS1, but I don't want them in PS2.

Why?

I want you to retain a first person perspective as much as possible to make the sense of immersion that much greater. So rather than it cutting to third person you see your guy open the hatch and slide into the seat, then start up the vehicle.

That actually means you do want them in PS2, just not be forced to Third person but rather keep your camera where your eyes would be. Like that, sounds cool.

And i also want those animations rather than "hit E and be instantly in the vehicle". its such a cool uniquie aspect of planetside that even adds to the gameplay. If you have ever been a cloaker behind enemy lines, and you happen to see a enemy tank driving by, stopping close to you and those 2 guys jumping out to repair, then you know what im talking about. You sneak up, boomer/knive/beamer one, the other one lacks dark light and jumps into the vehicle to be save. Without the animation, you could miss that easily because he would just dissapear into the vehicle.

[Gandhi]

Originally Posted by basti

And i also want those animations rather than "hit E and be instantly in the vehicle". its such a cool uniquie aspect of planetside that even adds to the gameplay. If you have ever been a cloaker behind enemy lines, and you happen to see a enemy tank driving by, stopping close to you and those 2 guys jumping out to repair, then you know what im talking about. You sneak up, boomer/knive/beamer one, the other one lacks dark light and jumps into the vehicle to be save. Without the animation, you could miss that easily because he would just dissapear into the vehicle.

We could fix this by automatically broadcasting a loud "I'M GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE" voice macro

[Logit]

Originally Posted by INIDominus

Really should be kept, not because of its aethetic, but for its influence on gamplay. As has been stated: instant vehicle control would have a negative effect.

This.

I understand they are trying to speed up every aspect of the game, but it seems they are doing it at the cost of features from the original people enjoyed.

For example, sanctuaries. Was it really THAT much of a hassle to spawn in sanc and fly/drive to a WG?

[Jennyboo]

I like it therefor hope they keep it

[Vancha]

Originally Posted by basti

That actually means you do want them in PS2, just not be forced to Third person but rather keep your camera where your eyes would be. Like that, sounds cool.

Oh hell yes...Getting into a vehicle in first person. This must happen.

[Leyxa]

Good riddance, I say. Their influence on gameplay was usually to pull me out of the action and make me curse at how long they were taking. Unless the camera transitions were smoother I'd be happy they're gone. An engine ignition noise could fill the gap if you wanted a similar effect, i.e., delayed vehicle start-up. A SFX implemented delay would have the advantage of not feeling so much like the player has lost control of his avatar and increase the idea that the player is acting through his avatar on a tank that is separate to his avatar.