3696 replies to this topic

[Gowan]

Third-person perspective would absolutely drive me crazy. New players who have issues with figuring out their torso/legs facing? They need a little practice, not a new view option.

It's been said before: a tutorial system should be pretty high priority for PGI right now to soften the learning curve; and make no mistake, this is a learning curve issue. Third-person view serves two purposes to my knowledge -- it allows players to see their mech, and it saves new players the hassle of learning how their HUD works.

I really don't see this adding anything of value to gameplay. Put in a tutorial, leave out the third-person perspective. Pretty please.

[Clay Pigeon]

paladin yst, on 14 November 2012 - 11:47 AM, said:

A definite yes for me. About time they do something against light mechs.

What does 3rd person view have to do with light mechs?

[Boaz Roshak]

Create a training ground/tutorial for new players to play around in with a Mech. They can learn and set up weapons groups how to walk and shoot. The only form of 3rd person that we should ever see in the game ( I also want it gone from death and fall down) is in the form of a split screen so that in the training ground/tuotrial players can see what they look like moving from inside and out side of the mech.

[Hekalite]

I don't have a problem with the inclusion of a 3rd person view, but I do have a few caveats:

• 3rd person view should not be implemented in such a way that it changes the basic feel of the game
  
• the matchmaker should always segregate players based on 3rd person or 1st person view
  
• the "new user flow" should entice new players to ditch the crutch and switch to 1st person view

[BFett]

Same thing I stated in the Official 3rd Person Thread:

First, make an option that allows the legs to be controllable by using the mouse, and allow the torso to be controlled using the keyboard. This control scheme was used in MW4 and made it easy for me (a FPS person) to get used to the mech.

Second, Make a tutorial at the first launch of the game that tells the player how to control the mech, how weapon groups work, how to manage heat and other important items.

I know you want to make this game the best it can be so please take my ideas into consideration. Please PM me if you would like more details on how these ideas could be implemented.

[flackee]

If you want third person view for new players, then please limit it to that. I have no doubt you know better than me about the initial hurdles that new players have problems getting over, but please do not cheapen the game as a whole to try and get them into it.

As some others have suggested, a HUD element that shows your mech and how you are facing could effectively give people the same information that you seem to want third person camera for.

Alternately, limit third person to a training game mode that only allows trial mechs or has some other tradeoff, such as no XP/cbills.

Allowing third person camera in normal matches seriously cheapens the game IMO. Not only does it change the dynamics a lot, it simplifies them greatly. You didn't create a rear view or a radar for a reason. Theres a lot of gameplay that comes as a result of that, which a third person camera would completely nullify. Even if its available as an option, you are still splitting the player base, and having no benefit to 'hard mode' will make it even more unpopular.

[Darwins Dog]

I don't like the idea of 3rd person view. There are too many possible ways that it can be exploited. If the idea is to make things easier for new players, then I think that a simple tutorial and a trial mech only match queue would do the trick. I think most people figure it out after a few games.

Even a simple video that carefully explains both of the indicators for torso twist would cover a lot of the problem.

[Dakkath]

Been in beta since early June. Played MANY MW games in the past.

3rd Person view is terrible. It has no place in a mechwarrior simulation game.

I play this game because its a first person SIM emulating the universe that I love and in the character that I want to RP (a real mechwarrior). Once this thing goes 3rd person.. It just ruins the atmosphere and immersion of the game for me. I am not into competitive play or whatever, I am more into emulating being a mercenary mechwarrior simulating mech on mech combat and the struggles of the inner sphere.


3rd person ruins the game because now you have FOV cheating that is completely unrealistic to how it would be if it was a real mechwarrior in the universe.

If you segregated matches 1st vs 3rd, you now have reduced players in the universe.

3rd person creates a complete disconnect from the universe and mechwarrior. You now treat the mech as a remote controlled drone, rather than you being the pilot and having real consequences for dying, etc.


My solutions is to create an in-game tutorial simulator; with all the proper training within the game. Make new players go through this.

Also, fix the HUD. The HUD is the biggest reason people don't understand how to move their mech around.

The color scheme, drab colored arrows and odd lines that "show your twist angle" are very hard to notice or even understand.

A 3D model of you're mech might work, or some other indication or indicators, that will alert the pilot at a glance.

Basically re-do the HUD.

Edited by Dakkath, 14 November 2012 - 12:53 PM.

[Phelan Ward-Kell]

I say NEY to 3rd person.

It will change the field of battle unfairly, and the extra time spent developing, troubleshooting and maintaining it as a function would be better spent elsewhere.

[RiceyFighter]

This is probably the only good online Mech simulator game. Don't ruin this game by going third person. Listen to your audience and 90% voted NO means NO.

Edited by RiceyFighter, 14 November 2012 - 11:50 AM.

[RG Notch]

People need to realize this is how MMOs treat their most loyal fans and monetary supporters...like suckers. If you are playing and more importantly paying you are considered to be happy and your needs aren't important as you play and pay. MMOs search for the non players and non payers and cater changes to what people who quit or don't try the game want at the expense of those suckers who have already invested. The dev team counts on players remaining to be suckers and they have evidence to back it up. Thus they treat those folks like dirt while catering to people who haven't and likely won't actually spend any money.
Of course this exact demo is the one that moves from game to game and once the investors have been paid it's all that matters. The folks they treated like suckers are probably invested enough to spend enough to keep it going with little or no changes and the team and investors move on to new projects.
As long as you realize where you stand in the MMO world it makes things like this easier to understand even if it ****** you off. You are a second class citizen once you pay up. If you quit and tell them why you quit they may listen to your issue if it comes up enough it quitters feedback, otherwise they happily take your money and say trust us, all the while eroding that trust by going back on their word in order to attract more potential customers.
We'll get a thank you for your feedback and nothing will change. Of course they will eventually say that separating the 1st and 3rd was a mistake and combine the queues once they see that it is causing MM to slow down and take too long for matches to be filled as well as realizing that they can't separate folks for CW.

[SynAck]

Please, no. Not ever.
A tutorial area/map would be a much better method to teach piloting.

[Chrohno]

I voted No.

There is only 1 reason I can be OK with 3rd PV. That is if PGI makes it a benefit to having a command module equipped.

[Joe Luck]

Look at that PGI. You have successfully brought the inner sphere together before the Clans invade. All by stating the interest in 3rd person view.

3rd Person view is bad overall.

• It allows extended view for scouting.
  
• Cockpit effects? How would the screen shake from fire and smoke?
  
• What is the point of decorating the cockpit with bobble heads and other items? Or even hiring artist to design a cockpit? Each mech was suppose to have it's own feel.
  
• Do 3rd person people get stuck with locked weapons now that the arm reticule view could be blocked by the mech?
  
• People who are lazy don't get punished as bad. Might as well have implemented 360 radar. Spatial and situational awareness are key to this game.
  
• No longer would a bit of sneakiness thus dumbing down information warfare.
  
• I was told from the old "site" that there would be no interest in a 3rd person view. It use to be in the FAQ section. This is mechwarrior. Are you telling me you lied just to get me interested and my money?
  
• It will divide the player base even more.
  
• Does this extra camera that can be switched too cause different lag problems? I thought they said having to many cameras in cryengine caused a lot of problems hence why we don't have a rearview camera like all other mech games.

I know the player base probably isn't bringing in the money that you thought when you went open beta. This will not make you more money. Stuff like addons to the cockpit like a "Big Gulp" glass or a 40 oz Budweiser will get you money. 0.99 cents or $1 mechbays. Battletech has THOUSANDS of skins for the mechs and they are useful to see. Just start off with each House's classic skins and see people purchase them in mass.


I'm a bit upset about this.

[Kalthios]

All the work that would go into implementing third person could be better spent.

3rd person is for arcade games.

This game is supposed to be awesome, innovative, and fun.

Please make MWO a FUN simulator, not another boring and simplistic arcade game.

[Pale Jackal]

SendMyRegards, on 14 November 2012 - 11:48 AM, said:

So you say "don't worry you don't have to play against them." I say "well great, now our already small community is even smaller." Division of this sort has never helped a title. If you want to help new players find out what direction their legs are pointing there are a whole slew of options you can consider that don't involve moving their FOV to somewhere outside of the cockpit of their mech.

Exactly, you are splitting the player base of your own game. Not a great move.

[Torashuu]

While you're at it, please add no heat unlimited ammo modes, and remove mechlab, because its too complicated. Oh and change all mechs to one mech with 3 variants, LL boat, LRM boat or AC boat. All those mixed chassis & weapons make my head hurt.

[Neozero]

Please do not add 3rd person. This game was constantly billed as a mech simulator and we are slowly moving away from that. Under no conditions is 3rd person view acceptable in a mechwarrior game IMO.

[Wispsy]

Why would you introduce somebody to the game in 3rd person (as it is easier so 'recommended' for getting used to the controls when you first start) then expect them to be happy having to shift over to 1st person to play "properly"....

And not only do you set yourself up with that but you betray a core concept of the game that sold many many many of the previous mechwarrior gamers and fans alike. Honestly, this was a really big thing for me. It was a definite no.

Please do not put it in, in any form.
Really please.

Edit: If new players are really having issues (I have yet to see somebody running into a wall holding w and not moving the mouse around to see why they are not moving, but that is not all that many people) Then make a small map, really tiny, set it up like a tutorial that gives absolute basics with a voiceover+text that takes 2-10 minutes to go through, with an area on the ground for people to move onto the next 10/20 second section of voice when they are ready. In it give a "Looking from above, perhaps camera or holovids or computer simulation or some fluff" in one section to give them a little bit of an outside view and allow them to swap freely between the two in a little area with perhaps some small walls....Then have them walk to a circle and move on when they are ready and be "back in their mech".

Edited by Wispsy, 14 November 2012 - 12:03 PM.

[MongerMan]

I was extremely pessimistic when PGI decided to go free to play. I didn't become a founder for one reason only.
Because it was going free to play. I would have been a founder in a heartbeat if it wasn't for that. I was going to
start giving them some money though, even with all the bugs because it seemed that slowly this game was getting
somewhere. Now I'm not so sure again.
PGI will not split the player base on 3rd person first person. Once that goes in there will be only one
choice for competitive play.

This was MechWarrior. Not Mech Assult.
3rd person makes it Mech Assult and pulls it even farther away from a BattleTech Simulator.

Edited by MongerMan, 14 November 2012 - 11:53 AM.