5 replies to this topic

[Helmer]

Decided to NOT steal Aegis post about a Demo Recording feature (Great idea btw) and post this in here. It does go hand in hand with the demo recording feature..

Coupled with the request for a Demo recording feature I know myself ,and many other have mentioned it, but a Dedicated Spectate mode would be nice. Games that are in, or are currently breaking into the ESports scene all have dedicated Spectate modes for announcers and for crowds to watch.
A Dedicated spectate mode gives just enough information that is neccessary for the viewer without being overly complex. Basic stats of both teams, the individual being spectated , etc etc.

If I remember correctly they actually had a Mechwarrior ESport sometime in the 90s using the Vitrual Worlds pods. I remember thinking then how cool it was, and if had just been implemented correctly (and the world a bit more gamer friendly) it could have been big.

Mechwarrior, IMHO, has always been visually appealing and easy to graps at first, but has ALOT of underlaying depth that appeal to many of us. It's games like that that make for great watching. The first time you watch a match it's not terribly difficult to decipher whats going on, and the terminology is vaguely familiar. But there is enough depth to keep it interesting for more experiences gamers/fans.

The EVO fighting game leagues have it very similar. They're fighting games. Easy to watch. Guy A is beating up Guy B. Fairly easy to grasp initially. But the strategies involved and differences in players/characters is honestly rather deep.

Starcraft is a bit harder to approach as a spectator. Granted on the outset the idea of "Build up your base and attack the other guy" is fairly easy to grasp, there isn't that much action from the outset. Unless , of course, you are a fan and then knowing build orders and attack strategies becomes interesting. That's where good broadcasters come in. They convey information needed to new watchers.
And we all know StarCraft is HUGE.


MWO has the potential to be huge as well.

I know it's not high priority now, but would love to see it within the first year or so.


Cheers.

[00dlez]

Sounds like you want Duncan Fischer's job....

[plodder]

I have been plodding through my vacuous mind, pondering this and that. One thing I thought would be nice, thinking of only a Solaris venue, that I would use c-bills I earned to watch whoever was in the ring. If it was a talker like me, I would go to seem him fail. If it were a famous fella like Big Al, I would wanna watch him crush his opponent. I like your idea more if I am understanding you right. You could watch a whole battle, the intricate dance of victory and destruction. Watch the game tape, just like a commander would a real battle, learn, implement, expound. I would pay c-bills for that too. I like it free better though. (Saying I would pay c-bills just shows how much I like it)

Edited by plodder, 19 March 2012 - 05:34 PM.

[FACEman Peck]

It would be nice to have dedicated servers and the ability to spectate others freely, just you have to be in a neutral zone, you can't switch back and forth all the time, etc.

[Kaemon]

As far as the Esports thing goes, I'm kinda meh, I think the MekTek Solarus thing will own that and to even try to compete may be a wasted effort...

That being said...

Can we have a choice of spectator modes? Like 'Ride Along and 'Rail Bird' for example?

In previous games the 'Ride Along' is an interesting way to see how other people play the game, more of a single player's tactical decisions, where as the 'Rail Bird' would be the command level view (maybe even with the ability to move the camera in a limited area, even up to 200 meters for example).

Actually I was hoping that the 'death view' we get would have 2 modes to choose when you die, one is normal you die and hop out (and run around in a mech level for the 'Ride Along'), if you opt for the Command level view, it actually goes into an eject animation (similar to the 2009 trailer) but you don't have to come down right away (or it's a very slow decent), the camera unlocks a bit and you're free to zip around certain areas (say as far as your team has advanced as to not give away tactical info).

My only concern is with giving away intel via VOIP to a team while you're watching, and there's a very fine line between having it fun to watch (live, not replay, I think Aegis' is good) and adding a Tactical Advantage™ to having people hawk for you...which would be kind of a pain.

[Helmer]

Kaemon, on 19 March 2012 - 07:08 PM, said:

My only concern is with giving away intel via VOIP to a team while you're watching, and there's a very fine line between having it fun to watch (live, not replay, I think Aegis' is good) and adding a Tactical Advantage™ to having people hawk for you...which would be kind of a pain.

Agreed. The dedicated spectate and tools that come along with it would be used with match events by PGI or a 3rd party that wouldn't be using it to relay intel.

Normal Spectate modes would need to be slightly limited, or have systems in place to minimize cheating.

Edited by Helmer, 20 March 2012 - 04:41 AM.