18 replies to this topic

[Victor Morson]

So, Seismic Sensors are pretty cool as they are. They are effectively an Aliens motion tracker for a 'mech more than the name implies, but I'm OK with that.

However, they are missing the thing that made the Aliens tracker so iconic: The Pinging sound, that changes as more pings are detected.

Honestly, having a mild* audio ping every time something blips would help the pilot notice when the sensor is picking stuff up, so it's helpful from a UI perspective - on top of the atmosphere of hearing "Ping.. pingping.. Piiingpiiingpiiing" as enemies start massing on the edge of your sensor..

* I keep saying mild because obviously noone wants their audio drowned out with tons of pings in a brawl, where as something to blend in with the other cockpit noises is what I mean.

tl/dr: Add some ping sounds to the Seismic Sensor for atmosphere & user friendliness.

[Nexus Omega]

I think this would be a Fun addition, Long as I can Turn it OFF (It will annoy someone)

[Lefty Lucy]

For "rule of cool" I absolutely support this.

For gameplay balance, I absolutely do not. It's already incredibly powerful, but having to divert your attention to your mini map to use it, even if only momentarily, is at least mildly limiting. Getting an audio cue to check your mimimap would make it too good.

[Strum Wealh]

Seismic sensors - that is, seismometers - are purely passive systems; they do not "ping" at all.

By contrast, the Motion Tracker is "a high-powered ultrasound scanner that uses doppler-shift discrimination to filter out moving objects from its stationary background".
in other words, the Motion Tracker is a really fancy sonar or sodar system - a completely different type of sensor - which has to send out (ultra)sonic pulses/"pings" and listen for the echoes in order to function.

[Exilyth]

I support this suggestion.

[Macheiron]

Strum Wealh, on 26 May 2013 - 01:39 PM, said:

Seismic sensors - that is, seismometers - are purely passive systems; they do not "ping" at all.

By contrast, the Motion Tracker is "a high-powered ultrasound scanner that uses doppler-shift discrimination to filter out moving objects from its stationary background".
in other words, the Motion Tracker is a really fancy sonar or sodar system - a completely different type of sensor - which has to send out (ultra)sonic pulses/"pings" and listen for the echoes in order to function.

It's cool that you know all that, but that isn't what the OP was talking about. This is purely a Ui effect, meaning that the device has a small speaker that alerts the pilot when the seismometer gets a reading from a non-friendly.

[Cannibal713]

Why would seismic sensor make any sound? It isnt like an active sonar (like some old submarine war movie), it is more like a passive one. It would make no emissions, only detect vibratations. Please dont add more useless, nonsensical and possibly distracting sounds to the game. If you want to add sounds, make them ones that would serve a purpose.

[Strum Wealh]

Macheiron, on 26 May 2013 - 06:22 PM, said:

It's cool that you know all that, but that isn't what the OP was talking about. This is purely a Ui effect, meaning that the device has a small speaker that alerts the pilot when the seismometer gets a reading from a non-friendly.

The thing is, the OP is very clearly mistaking the seismic sensor for something it's not ("So, Seismic Sensors are pretty cool as they are. They are effectively an Aliens motion tracker for a 'mech...") and asking for the seismic sensor to take on characteristics of the thing that it is not ("However, they are missing the thing that made the Aliens tracker so iconic: The Pinging sound, that changes as more pings are detected.").

The OP is asking for a sonar ping from a sonar system from another game/franchise, to be applied to a non-sonar (and, in fact, purely passive and non-transmitting) sensor system.

By contrast, what you're talking about - basically, a proximity alarm - is a wholly separate issue from what the OP is asking for, and one that can be tied to sensors other than (or in addition to) the seismic sensor (such as the radar-based ARPA and MARPA systems used on real-world maritime craft).

[Mechteric]

Just as others have said they are a passive system, so it makes little sense for them to be making noises. Their appropriate nerf should come in the form of decreasing its detection range, hopefully based on weight. Maybe even make it so it only detects when you are standing still (reason: local interference).

[RenegadeMaster]

Victor Morson, on 25 May 2013 - 12:28 AM, said:

So, Seismic Sensors are pretty cool as they are. They are effectively an Aliens motion tracker for a 'mech more than the name implies, but I'm OK with that.
However, they are missing the thing that made the Aliens tracker so iconic: The Pinging sound, that changes as more pings are detected.

You sir have won the Internets - Garth gave a shoutout to you and your awesome idea in the latest No Guts No Galaxy podcast: http://nogutsnogalaxy.net/ngng-74/

[Chaldon]

I just want it to ping when a mech is first detected. each mech. Like 'mech detected' but a simple ping.
- Jump landings dont count if they already been detected.
- Jump landings count for a notice ping if it a new detection.
- No ping if they they stop moving and start again.
- New ping if they leave range and re-enter range.

PS - Include some way to fight off aim-bots utilizing the data. We noticed an increase of its use in pug matches

[Victor Morson]

Strum Wealh, on 27 May 2013 - 06:47 AM, said:

The OP is asking for a sonar ping from a sonar system from another game/franchise, to be applied to a non-sonar (and, in fact, purely passive and non-transmitting) sensor system.

I'm honestly shocked to see so many people think that. Do you think the Aliens motion tracker Ping had anything to do with it's actual function? It was literally something added to the UI, in-universe, to alert a marine "Somethings moving up there." It has no function past that.*

* Fun fact: The official explanation for the Motion Tracker in Alien SE was that it detected air movement. However, after detecting movement past a sealed bulkhead, a character calls that explanation as wrong but no replacement explanation is ever given. Thus, there's no real official explanation for the motion tracker outside of stuff like the Aliens RPG.

RenegadeMaster, on 03 June 2013 - 02:32 PM, said:

You sir have won the Internets - Garth gave a shoutout to you and your awesome idea in the latest No Guts No Galaxy podcast: http://nogutsnogalaxy.net/ngng-74/

That's awesome, I'll have to give it a listen when I get back on my main system

Edited by Victor Morson, 03 June 2013 - 02:46 PM.

[General Taskeen]

And the Seismic should show the location, because?

Why can't it just make a sound or show a rising meter in the cockpit somewhere to alert the player instead of the silly implementation that was cooked up.

[Bhael Fire]

Yep. As long as it was subtle, like the soft "blip" currently used for new radar contacts, but slightly more distinct like a low frequency "boooomph" like something heavy hit the ground.

Or maybe just the standard submarine ping.

General Taskeen, on 03 June 2013 - 06:33 PM, said:

And the Seismic should show the location, because?\

Because computers. They tend to be able to calculate and extrapolate things pretty effectively.

[Capp]

If this change is implemented, I foresee a resulting surge in "Seismic Sensor Module is OP" threads, as then you won't even need to pay attention to the readout until it yells "Hey dummy, wake up!"

[MustrumRidcully]

Strum Wealh, on 26 May 2013 - 01:39 PM, said:

Seismic sensors - that is, seismometers - are purely passive systems; they do not "ping" at all.

By contrast, the Motion Tracker is "a high-powered ultrasound scanner that uses doppler-shift discrimination to filter out moving objects from its stationary background".
in other words, the Motion Tracker is a really fancy sonar or sodar system - a completely different type of sensor - which has to send out (ultra)sonic pulses/"pings" and listen for the echoes in order to function.

I can't hear your physics & technology lesson about my Awesome foot steps.


I think the enemy should hear a ping as well when he comes into range of a seismic sensor. [/RuleOfCool>Logic&Realism]


*) Disclaimer: I don't own any Unawesome's anymore.

[Chaldon]

Victor Morson, on 03 June 2013 - 02:43 PM, said:

That's awesome, I'll have to give it a listen when I get back on my main system

As an alternative to the official MWO server. Try the Davion Server for Teamspeak 3 @ 50.22.145.232:7345

[Dirus Nigh]

Capp, on 03 June 2013 - 10:25 PM, said:

If this change is implemented, I foresee a resulting surge in "Seismic Sensor Module is OP" threads, as then you won't even need to pay attention to the readout until it yells "Hey dummy, wake up!"

Honestly I'm quite suprised that there are not any threads already. In the very first match I used it the first thing I thought was "oh this is so cool" and "this is a little OP".

I think small just noticable sound to indicate a contact, with pitch changing on speed, weight, and distance form the mech a good idea.

I know the sesmic sensor is a passive devise. I know it is detecting tremors from the foot steps of mechs. However there is no reason that it should not give an audo signal to the pilot. It would be more intuitive. Sound effect or not, the pilot still has to look at the mini map in order to use the information.

[Terror Teddy]

Cannibal713, on 27 May 2013 - 03:58 AM, said:

Why would seismic sensor make any sound?

To warn the pilot.

Unless he is focused on his sensors and aiming at a distant target or hell, brawiing ANY cues to danger like missile alert sound or a PING from a sensor system is a good thing.

Sirens for example are used to alert people to get out of the way of emergency vehicles.

It's not the function of the sensor, but rather a function and utility for the pilot.

Edited by Terror Teddy, 05 June 2013 - 01:12 PM.