PlaneShift

Gameplay => Wish list => Topic started by: stevenw9 on February 27, 2007, 12:55:51 pm

Title: A Large List
Post by: stevenw9 on February 27, 2007, 12:55:51 pm: Right well, since there is no suggestion department I figured i'd post this here. Now please, don't look at me badly because i'm pointing many things out. I am only doing so to bring awareness to anyone that possibly may be unknowing or are just not looking at something yet. I'm in no way trying to be rude nor trying to rush any sort of production. I also have some graphics suggestions, I -know- that gameplay comes way before graphics but unfortunately not all of the world has the same views. Besides that, eye candy is nice no matter how much you favor gameplay. :D

... phew, got that bit out of the way. Now first I will post my suggestions on how to improve systems by change, the next section will be requests on how to improve current systems.

[Suggestions]

"Please Run Your Updater" - That notice in blue text is REALLY annoying. I see it every time I log on. Does this mean people can even attempt to play without updating!? I've seen many many MMORPGs out there and I believe it is a necessary evil to force and update check. Now the question pops up, how do we check the version if all the mirrors aren't up? Well doesn't PS run on Fragnetics? There should be a version file stored there where the updater can check and see if it's up to date indeed BEFORE running through the mirrors. This can stop future problems as well as removing that stupid annoying blue text. THANKFULLY I noticed that the version number cannot be 'hacked' or 'edited' from the game itself.

MOTD - Okay, the text in this textbox gets screwed up allot and i'm pretty sure it doesn't get fixed due to processes that need to be done in order to change it. My solution? Well along with the required update feature you can slip a textbox over that updater for news. Instead of the current MOTD system, in place of it can be an expanded Tips section for more detail. A simple encrypted textfile can be used from the server itself. While the updater checks the version update it can also check the news to see if there are any updates. These system can be quite fun :D

Static Skybox - Edit - No clouds it seems from a messege posted.

POLYGONS!!! - Edit - Polygons are not a problem, sowwy. :)

Maps and their Glitches - I see allot of glitches and screwed up alignments. I really want to suggest how to do this more accurately but unfortunately I have no info what so ever on how it's done. If a dev can help me understand how it works, i'm sure I can give a solution to this ever evolving issue. Those checker boxes and slight areas where the screen becomes a blur of graphics really kill the immersed feel.

Trees - Edit - SpeedTree is too expensive.

The Turfs/Terrain - Not the best in the world, but this is something I actually may be able to help with! Atleast certain ones... now i've shown off a couple of example turf/terrain images before and i've gotten some nice comments. Truthfully, i've never done any sort of work with an MMORPG, however I would like to speak with the current person who handles the terrain graphics. I would very much love to compare my graphics with that person and possibly assist with their creation, editing and submission to the person who actually impliments them into the game. PlaneShift is an open source project as i've noticed, but there's no way i'm cracking that open and sniffing around to figure out how to do everything without some sort of guide. :sweatdrop: I would enjoy an e-mail if at all possible. I'll list it at the bottom of this messege incase it's not properly set in my profiles settings.

[Requests]

I only have on request... enhance the custom character creation! There's not enough hairs, hair colors, faces... and I don't even see an option to remove that stupid beard off the human looking races! I FEEL OLD! :sweatdrop: This is the sweet spot of any RPG, how far your character can be customized to be truely unique.

Again, this game has been greatly created and much effort as well as time has been put into it. I understand it isn't easy and can be very stressful at times. These are only comments so don't let them bug you, rather they are ment to be a reference on where to turn to next while planning ahead. :)

My E-mail: mortiferus_morte@hotmail.com

Note - I may edit this as I come up with more ideas.
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Krann Omins on February 27, 2007, 01:14:08 pm: [just mentioning, there is a wishlist(for suggestions) & development deliberation(for dev stuff) sections, at the bottom of main forum index.... at least i thought i saw em there...]
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: The Wandering Djinn on February 27, 2007, 01:26:21 pm: Quote from: stevenw9 on February 27, 2007, 12:55:51 pm

Static Skybox - In simple terms, the image of the sky laid out that spans the world. It seems static... way too static, I stared at it for a good 15 mins and noticed it didn't move. An easy way of having it move and look a bit better is to use a background image, which can be blue for the day and black for the night. One layer below it you can have a star system image, which is mostly see-through save for the stars. This would be activated and seen at night and can be randomly placed (with scrollability for that function to work correctly) to give a sort of 'unique' feeling every night, since stars tend not to be in the same place twice. During the day you can drop another layer below it and add random clouds (these do not have to be generated, they can be a static image with see through areas) and another layer below it with the same. This gives the 'feeling' that it's dynamic when in truth, it really isn't.

The area we can run around in and explore is just the 1st and upper-most level of a hollowed out stalactite known as Yliakum. Each Level is a relatively flat ring-shape. There are 7 more levels yet to be rendered in-game inside this stalactite, and each is smaller in diameter than the level above it. Yliakum the stalactite is of course hanging from the roof/ceiling of a gigantic cavern in the crust of a planet. A huge single crystal known as the Azure Sun connects the stalactite to the surface of this planet, and allows light from the star that this planet orbits, to enter the hollowed out stalactite. The base of this crystal is about 10 km above the surface of the 1st Level of Yliakum... The Skybox is the base of this crystal, so no clouds as one might find in the atmosphere of a planet such as Earth... and no stars moving across the night sky.
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: stevenw9 on February 27, 2007, 01:30:50 pm: I didn't understand what you just said, and i'm hopeing that what you just said was how you invision it working... if not... that is extremely strange and I don't understand how any of that would work correctly in theory.

P.S. THE CURRENT SKYBOX HAS CLOUDS! So how are there no clouds? It's just static looking...

PSPS - Is this really a wishlist topic though? It's what i'd like to see done to the current system not just in the final version. It's also comments and suggestions more then wishes. =/ I dunno, without a suggestion section I get confused. XD
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Eagel on February 27, 2007, 01:40:16 pm: Hi,
consider that this game is in Pre-Alpha version... so there's very, very much work to do...
and consider that is a free game, no payment, no money... all the work made by the Devs is free... Nobody pays them. So it's hard to get a quality game when your budget is $0.

Remember that WE (all the players) are testers first and then players.

I think its good you point out to all things that need some work, but be patient.

Enjoy the game. :)

EDIT: *pointing next reply*
I didn't misread your first post.... I just said that it is very good indeed that you pointed all your wishes... all that WE wishes. :D
But we have to be patient, because is so much work to Devs :sweatdrop:
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: stevenw9 on February 27, 2007, 01:42:00 pm: *points to his notices* There is a reason I stated 'i'm not trying to rush the project.' 'I understand the amount of work that goes into this game' it was to avoid replies like that. :sleeping:

P.S. I'm not trying to sound rude or anything, it just seemed you happened to have misread something is all, atleast that was my guess. (I can't send PMs)

PSPS - It DOES seem this should be in the wishlist topic. I apologise for posting in the wrong place.
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Parallo on February 27, 2007, 05:07:42 pm: There aren't clouds. [Insert your signature.]

It's a crystal.
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Idoru on February 27, 2007, 05:19:41 pm: If there arnt clouds where does the rain come from?

We have fog occasionally, isnt that exactly the same as clouds?

On earth (to the best of my limited knowledge about such things) Clouds are often below 10km, why cant clouds exist in Yliakum?

When water evaporates what happens to it? Does it condense on the cieling of the cave and then drip back down? (possibly answering my 1st question myself)
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Parallo on February 27, 2007, 05:26:09 pm: Noone ever said that colouds and condensation are nessesary for rain. There could be clouds. They must be invisable though ;)
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Idoru on February 27, 2007, 05:29:42 pm: Invisible often just means not implemented in this game ;)
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Gharan on February 27, 2007, 05:37:22 pm: Why's everything in PS compared to real-life? :lol:
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Eagel on February 27, 2007, 05:46:08 pm: Quote from: Gharan on February 27, 2007, 05:37:22 pm
Why's everything in PS compared to real-life? :lol:
I agree with that! :)
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: emeraldfool on February 27, 2007, 06:12:38 pm: Quote from: Gharan on February 27, 2007, 05:37:22 pm
Why's everything in PS compared to real-life? :lol:

What else would we compare it to?

Besides, it's not unreasonable to compare it to real life, seeing as how that's what directly influences it (as the developers happen to be from real life... presumably :P). It will always be based around - or moreso based around the alterations of - real-world material. Nobody can make something that's truly detached from reality, because everyone's a part of that reality. It's like trying to make a bronze statue out of marble. You can paint it bronze, pretend it's bronze, and do everything to make it seem like it's not marble, but it'll always be marble underneath 'cause that's all you have to work with.
Therefore, bronze-looking or not, you can always draw comparisons to other marble statues...

(Do I use complex metaphors too much? :P)
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Parallo on February 27, 2007, 06:25:50 pm: You could have used that one when we were talking about a 'rough time period' and this part of this conversation which doesn't really contribute wouldn't exist.
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: emeraldfool on February 27, 2007, 07:03:25 pm: Quote from: Parallo on February 27, 2007, 06:25:50 pm
You could have used that one when we were talking about a 'rough time period' and this part of this conversation which doesn't really contribute wouldn't exist.

I'm making a different point here. Yliakum as an actual place and time is different from Earth, but Yliakum, as a creation of man (i.e. Talad and the settings team) has fundamental similarities with Earth and reality in general. Even to say it is completely different to Earth, you're still relating it to Earth...
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Karyuu on February 27, 2007, 10:04:23 pm: SpeedTree is out of the question, unfortunately. We've taken a look at it before. Not only is there no "one time fee" below several grand, you need multiple licenses if more than one person is going to be using it. Problem solved if it's going to be Talad, but many other problems remain. I think Xordan will be able to explain better.

If you have done texture work in the past and would like to contribute, have you considered joining the dev team? If you have some reservations due to unfamiliarity with the system, I would love to help out and explain how things are done. More members are always welcome :]

Concerning polygon counts: Talad is very strict about how many polys are used where, so I doubt the FPS drops are due alone to excessive amounts of polys. It is likely a combination of several other issues. I in fact wish that we would up our poly limitations to meet those of higher-quality games, for obvious reasons.
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: stevenw9 on February 27, 2007, 10:30:25 pm: I guess if you're going beyond the realms of what's possible, and instead going to pure fantasy then it works. Still, the sky could use a few graphical touches to look better none the less. It does indeed look like clouds that aren't moving. =/ Considering there is day/night, is that the crystal moving? Is the light blocked by something? Or is there really a sun?

As for SpeedTree, ouch... really ouch. I'll hunt for an alternative to see if there's anything that can work for PS yet still not cost mucho money. :)

As for joining the dev team, I still have very little experience and I have no idea how the system works, that's why I asked to speak with the current terrain designer to have a sort of 'mentor' you know? :) Just out of spare time and to answer a few questions and give me examples of what needs to be done and blah blah blah. Nothing incredibly huge. :)
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Karyuu on February 27, 2007, 10:46:22 pm: Concerning Yliakum's sky, the explanation The Wandering Djinn gave you accurately described the world. Have you taken a look at the setting (http://www.planeshift.it/setting.html) part of the website? We live in a hollowed out stalactite, with several levels:

(http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4867/gradoni0zo.gif)

"A huge single crystal known as the Azure Sun connects the stalactite to the surface of this planet, and allows light from the star that this planet orbits, to enter the hollowed out stalactite." So, nighttime occurs as the outside planet spins around its sun. Light from the outside filters through the crystal; when there is no light outside, there is no light in Yliakum. There is no rising/setting sun, and thus the sky is a lot less dynamic than it is here on earth. I do agree that improvements still need to be made to the skybox texture.

When referring to a current terrain designer, are you speaking of the texture part, or the actual 3D maps?
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: stevenw9 on February 27, 2007, 10:48:41 pm: Texture part. And by that theory, the way we can roam around the world makes absolutely no sense considering it has a feeling of a sphere.
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Karyuu on February 27, 2007, 10:50:57 pm: Quote from: stevenw9 on February 27, 2007, 10:48:41 pm
And by that theory, the way we can roam around the world makes absolutely no sense considering it has a feeling of a sphere.

Can you explain that a bit more? I'm afraid I don't follow.

I've designed some terrain textures, although I think Talad's are used most of all. Catching him to discuss the textures may be a bit hard, but if you're really up for it, IRC is your best bet :] Are there any terrain texture questions I can answer for you here?
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: stevenw9 on February 27, 2007, 10:54:18 pm: Probably easier I catch you on IRC to discuss the terrains. As for the feeling of a sphere, when I walk around the world it feels more like a natural planet then what's depicted in that piece of art. I actually find that concept slightly displeasing but that's only because i'm not used to it yet. ;)
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Karyuu on February 27, 2007, 10:58:01 pm: The Winch building that is in Hydlaa actually sits at the very edge of the first level :] And the Bronze Doors fortress is pretty much within the actual stalactite walls. The world design will be more obvious once further maps are made available.

I'm not on IRC often, myself - you may want to try a PM or email :}
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: stevenw9 on February 27, 2007, 11:01:03 pm: Your e-mail is hidden. :( and for some reason I can't send PMs.
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Karyuu on February 27, 2007, 11:03:36 pm: My email is displayed in my profile :] What happens when you try to send PMs? You should be able to now that you have more than 10 forum posts.

*edit* Looks like I had my email set to hidden. However, there should still be a mail icon along with the others in every post.
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Idoru on February 27, 2007, 11:32:43 pm: An explanation for the 'sphere' thing, the world looking like a normal world. You have to keep in mind that Yliakum is no normal inhabitted stalactite ::) It is huge, giving the impression of a never ending world. Try going to the bronze doors region and looking up at the sky there, unless im mistaken you can see where the 'roof' of the stalactite meets the 'walls'

[EDIT]

A little off topic but:

@Karyuu, does the project ever accept submissions from people who arnt on the DEV team? Like, ooohhh, just off the top of my head, new animations for characters?
Title: Re: A Large List
Post by: Karyuu on February 28, 2007, 01:34:54 am: Idoru: I doubt you can make new animations for characters without having the original model files, and Talad doesn't like giving those out to someone who isn't on the team. So that's a rather difficult example. Usually when we have a need for something small it gets assigned to prospects, and anything else is material for contests (which we really need to have again!). Basically, art submissions are much harder to manage than code contributions. If you make a really neat item model and talk to Talad about it, he may take it - or you can pressure one of our art devs to talk to him about it for you.