34 replies to this topic

[syngyne]

woodstock, on 19 April 2012 - 05:04 AM, said:

define finished? For me the look of the game is very important and having massive immersion breaking gaps in the game would definitely take away from my enjoyment factor.

I honestly don't think the game would be finished without some core graphical elements.

Sure cosmetics like custom decals can wait. but major structural changes to mechs should be represented in my opinion.

I'm curious as to whether you had severe difficulty enjoying any of the past MechWarrior games, because they all had this same issue. MW4 had it mitigated to a degree because of the slot system it used, but still, if you dropped an SRM-2 in a Timberwolf's torso, the launcher didn't change in shape and size. You just had a 21-hole launcher that only shot two missiles.

I agree it's a bit silly not to see weapon changes, and it's definitely better for immersion to see your loadout changes reflected on the 'Mech, but I don't know that I'd call it a core graphic element that the game can't launch without.

[Woodstock]

syngyne, on 19 April 2012 - 12:41 PM, said:

I'm curious as to whether you had severe difficulty enjoying any of the past MechWarrior games, because they all had this same issue. MW4 had it mitigated to a degree because of the slot system it used, but still, if you dropped an SRM-2 in a Timberwolf's torso, the launcher didn't change in shape and size. You just had a 21-hole launcher that only shot two missiles.

I agree it's a bit silly not to see weapon changes, and it's definitely better for immersion to see your loadout changes reflected on the 'Mech, but I don't know that I'd call it a core graphic element that the game can't launch without.

I enjoyed those games ... but they lasted what ... 3-4 weeks? This game will last me years. And yes the fact that they didn't represent weapon changes was terrible. But we have not had a mechwarrior game for 10+ years Graphics and graphics engines have moved on. This should be part of a modern game.

[Rejarial Galatan]

woodstock, on 21 April 2012 - 04:19 AM, said:

I enjoyed those games ... but they lasted what ... 3-4 weeks? This game will last me years. And yes the fact that they didn't represent weapon changes was terrible. But we have not had a mechwarrior game for 10+ years Graphics and graphics engines have moved on. This should be part of a modern game.

I hate to be a stick i the mud. Yes, graphics engines have moved on from what they were 10 years ago, some players oddly enough still USE rigs jerry rigged from 10 yrs ago to TRY to run todays games. Some ppl cant afford that shiney new alien ware rig. Myself included on the last part. Relatively new rig, handles skyrim, so i assume I can handle MWO

[Woodstock]

I can't aford that either ..hell I dont even know what it is

My PC is about 3 years old ... I doubt I would HAVE TO upgrade it for this game but I have been dvised by those 'in the know' that a cryengine 3 game will probably run slowly on my PC.

So i'm saving for a small boost to my machine.

The key here is though that the engine we ARE using will be capable of this kind of thing so ...if it doesn't it will feel like a anti climax.

[autogyro]

woodstock, on 19 April 2012 - 04:29 AM, said:

This has nothing to do with the topic of the thread.

The thread is not about how many weapons CAN be fitted. It is about IF you can fit them how does it change the OUTWARD LOOK of the mech.

Actually the number of hardpoints is very related, because implicitly in knowing how many hardpoints a mech chassis has, the developers will know how many weapons to model. For example, if you have a Awesome and the arm contains 3 hardpoints, but only uses a single one for the default PPC, the devs can model a 3-barrelled arm to account for any one of 1, 2 or 3 lasers that people will put into that place (or they may go even more accurate and have 3 different arms to account for whether 1, 2 or 3 lasers are mounted.

So, yes I believe the devs will model it if you have say, 2 lasers instead of one PPC and they will look visually different. (see Swayback variant with the 6 lasers in place of the AC/20 in the GDC reveal trailer)

I also think at this stage they may only have one model to account for any number up to x amount of weapons, if different to the default, due to time constraints for development.

[Woodstock]

fair point well made ... If the Dev's are working in that kind of detail for the customizing side of mechs ... then it would as you said tie in well to the visual look.

I hope your right and we see a lot of difference when we re-configure our mechs.

Now if only there was a variant of the Assassin that had an AC in its right arm. Sigh.

[Karyudo ds]

Bah, alienwares just overpriced crap.

On topic however I thought I read it as the appearance was defined by the variant but the mods didn't affect it. They don't. Really need to and it would be nice if downgrading an lrm 20 to a 5 would be noticable. Would require a bunch of model assets to do that but MW only had so many weapons. Not impossible, just maybe improbable.

[Rejarial Galatan]

Karyudo-ds, on 06 May 2012 - 08:31 AM, said:

Bah, alienwares just overpriced crap.

On topic however I thought I read it as the appearance was defined by the variant but the mods didn't affect it. They don't. Really need to and it would be nice if downgrading an lrm 20 to a 5 would be noticable. Would require a bunch of model assets to do that but MW only had so many weapons. Not impossible, just maybe improbable.

Why improbable? Seems reasonable that if they are going for immersion, they would make the models that account for the given variant types.

[Kanatta Jing]

Actually the Type and Number limitations could exist to make the Mech's easier to program. Replacing a single PPC with a single Large Laser is just changing the texture map. Replacing a single PPC with 2 Medium Lasers would actually take work.

[Suskis]

I hate the hardpoint system so much that I'd rather have only standard mechs to chose from (and some variants) so that they look properly, and have a good depiction of external and internal damage (exposed internal parts, sparks and smoke, detached limbs and so on).

[Rejarial Galatan]

I hate the hardpoint system too, but, I prefer clan mechs, and of those, most of the ones I LOVE are OMNIMECHS, so, when the chance comes, my patience gets its reward. Till then, I will make do with what I get.

[Woodstock]

I like the hardpoint system because it blends the stock variant system with the flexibility of the old mechwarrior systems.

[Yeach]

I like the hardpoint system but I would want it to go maybe even further.
Well maybe.
For example a Centurion RA should ALWAYS have a weapon mounted there.

[Rejarial Galatan]

not really, unless its an omni mech, then, its just a pain in the backside for ppl who prefer one weapon type over another on a mech that the hard point system makes near impossible. Like say you LOVE mech A, and its an ammo boat, BUT, you prefer energy weapons, and there really ISNT an energy boat variant. the Hardpoints kinda keep you off the mech you love this way. Same is said in reverse, you love mech B, but its an energy boat, and no real ballistic variant exists, hard point system knocks you off as well. only way to fix it, is have OMNIMECHS or OMNIMECH variants.

[Sassori]

The hard point system is the only way to allow for customization without going the MechWarrior 3 route, where the only thing that mattered was tonnage. That's why I like the hard point system honestly. It makes a 50 ton centurion different from a 50 ton hunchback due to the missile hardpoint and the location of laser hardpoints.

With the hard point system as it is, you could rip out the AC-20 from a hunchback, and throw two ppc's one in each arm on the hunchback (God it would overheat like crazy though) after removing the medium lasers, but, as horrible as that would be to see it's still better than annihilators running around with 6 LRM-20's.

While a hunchback and a centurion might both come in at 50 tons, the hard points is what will separate their playstyle more than any other factor, and that diversity is very important.