7 replies to this topic

[Dreepa]

Hi,

everyone knows we are in beta, yes. We all know pressure is high, stuff must be done and time is missing etc etc.

However, the amount of leveldesign problems I encounter everytime when playing is just not right...

Maybe your approach to doing the maps needs to be looked at again?

To me it feels like the maps were made with primarily thinking about making the map beautiful and afterwards thinking about the handling and movement implications instead of doing the whole design bottom up.

There are so many hills where you cannot clearly see: Will I make it up that slope, or bug around, wobbling back and forth and having to turn around in pain, while lag setbacks dont give me any feeling for what I am doing at the slope.

There are so many houses or street areas, that are not polished where you get stuck. So many pathways in city areas where edges and little obstacles completely stop your movement.

The levels just dont speak a language that is obvious, and transparent to the player. Its always a guessing game: Will it work at that slope? Will I get through between those 2 houses? Will that little demolished iron bar over there stop my entire movement?

This isnt even a sandbox game, so we are talking about pre defined, non changing maps.

Stop the guessing game. Remove hitboxes that are annoying. Place solid objects where you dont want players to pass. Signs and feedback anyone? Let the map speak a language that you can understand, without having to do trial and error approaches to all situations.

Nothing sucks more than to not know what the game rules are and what you can do or cant do.

Edited by Dreepa, 20 January 2013 - 04:29 AM.

[Kill Dozer]

I have to agree, getting snagged on something on the map and either not being able to move and/or "jumping up and down 30 meters in one spot" really blows.

Sometimes you can bump a stuck mech and it will break free, sometimes you both get stuck. My personal best was 3 mechs stuck together in one spot (on river city between to buildings in lower city) when we tried to bump each other loose.

[Sam Slade]

I'm hoping colisions will make people a little more hesitant when it comes to storming around without a care in the world. Piloting a Dragon with an XL300+ at max speed should require finesse and concentration so as to avoid crippling collisions with buildings.

I want to see light mechs creeping about and using their low profile and friend with ECM to hide because running flat out into a wall will knock off their front armor.

I hate the "30 meter jump" also but I curse myself for not maintaining a safe and steady heading and being a lousy wall hugger as well.

[Dreepa]

Its pure frustration sometimes...

On Frozen City, try to get through the broken starship wreck with a stalker, coming from the south east, going north.

You always will be stuck and move around like a brainless zombiewalker to get through the hole.


Its like this, as an example:





The first one is how it should be to have a fluent game experience.

The second one is how it actually feels in the game.





Another situation would be the ship on forrest / forrest snow.

On the one side its fine (north) though on the south side there are several crates serving no game play purpose except for annoying the **** out of you.

Get rid of that stuff PGI! Overhaul your collisionboxes / mesh in the levels, please!

Edited by Dreepa, 26 January 2013 - 07:18 AM.

[Naelbis]

I admit that I find it annoying that my multiton death machine gets stuck on the tiniest things. Strictly speaking, most of the obsticals that I get stuck on my mech should just pulverize without even noticing them. Maybe when destructible terrain comes in?

[Savinwraith]

Spoiler

I sent the following letter to PGI in hopes that it may provide inspiration as to a resolution for this issue.
To whom it may concern,
I have noticed an increase in the attrition rate due to burnout that seems to be in no small part due to the number of available maps and content. I understand that for the size of your team and the workload they are under, that new map content would be difficult to create in a short time period. Thus I wanted to offer forth a couple suggestions as possible solutions.
1. There are a large number of members in the community with map making experience and the tools to create maps. You could put forth a call for player designed maps that would become property of PGI upon submittal, the return being recognition and perhaps a small incentive like 12,000 mc, a free hero mech, or whatever was convenient to your business model.
There is precedence (See referenced articles below) for such action that allows for user submitted content with the organization receiving the submittal retaining the rights to the submitted work. You could then post the requirements the maps would need to meet to be considered (I.E. any format, size, scale, coding, Ect..) and generate content and the cost would only consist of the man hours to review the maps.
This may be a way in which the team developing maps could lessen their work load as reviewing and adjusting a final product takes less time than overall creation.
2. The next suggestion is intern positions. There are a large number of students out of college that are looking to establish their work history in their chosen field. Many of whom would be grateful for a basic wage and the opportunity to add an established company to their resume, others would be and have been happy to work on a project in return for a letter of recommendation.
This practice is regularly used by many companies and has been found to be a viable option in the computer field as well. Most college campuses are open to assisting companies in locating candidates to fill these roles and many students are eager to establish a job history in their chosen field before formally entering the market.
Further an intern could be used for tasks such as reviewing player submitted maps or other tasks that would reduce the burden on the team.
These are just a few thoughts and methods that I have seen and used in my career. Feel free to disregard or not as you see fit.
Further I do herby authorize Infinite Game Publishing Inc. / Édition Jeux Infinis Inc., Piranha Games Inc. to use the above idea as they see fit with all content in this letter becoming the property of Infinite Game Publishing Inc. / Édition Jeux Infinis Inc., Piranha Games Inc. except for the items in the reference section that are already the property of named owners below and appearing only for the purpose of academic reference. Also exempt would be my personal name and email address as provided under U.S. law.
Infinite Game Publishing Inc. / Édition Jeux Infinis Inc., Piranha Games Inc. may use redistribute or alter any information that I have provided as they see fit. I further recognize and accept that Infinite Game Publishing Inc. / Édition Jeux Infinis Inc., Piranha Games Inc. is under no obligation to review or reply to this idea submittal or keep this submittal confidential.
Thank you for your time.
“Savinwraith” (Real Name used in letter)
Referenced Articles


http://www.apple.com...cies/ideas.html
TERMS OF IDEA SUBMISSION
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http://www.kutoka.com/en/index.html
(Kutoka Interactive Headquarters Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
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Users waive all rights to any stories, ideas, drawings, opinions and other submissions sent to kutoka.com. Furthermore, Users may only submit materials which they alone have created. Any submissions shall be deemed, and shall remain, the property of KUTOKA and KUTOKA shall be entitled to unrestricted use of the submissions for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or otherwise, without compensation to the provider of the submissions.
http://www.pdx.edu/i...-and-conditions
All submissions become the physical property of Sponsor and will not be returned. By submitting your submission, you grant the Sponsor full and unlimited usage right to your submission, in whole or in part, in any manner or medium and unlimited right to display, reproduce, record, exhibit, distribute, copy, edit, change, modify, add to, subtract from, and re-title
http://www.toadhopne...sconditions.jsp
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I had some thoughts on addressing the map issues and I wrote a letter to PGI, but they took me up on the right not to reply part I added.
The letter can be seen in the thread listed below:
http://mwomercs.com/...54#entry1734154

Edited by Savinwraith, 26 January 2013 - 08:12 AM.

[Gristle]

Dreepa, on 20 January 2013 - 04:14 AM, said:

...There are so many hills where you cannot clearly see: Will I make it up that slope, or bug around, wobbling back and forth and having to turn around in pain, while lag setbacks dont give me any feeling for what I am doing at the slope.

There are so many houses or street areas, that are not polished where you get stuck. So many pathways in city areas where edges and little obstacles completely stop your movement.

The levels just dont speak a language that is obvious, and transparent to the player. Its always a guessing game: Will it work at that slope? Will I get through between those 2 houses? Will that little demolished iron bar over there stop my entire movement?

This isnt even a sandbox game, so we are talking about pre defined, non changing maps.

Stop the guessing game. Remove hitboxes that are annoying. Place solid objects where you dont want players to pass. Signs and feedback anyone? Let the map speak a language that you can understand, without having to do trial and error approaches to all situations....

So you want the maps to be more like a "rail game" style that guide you along? Ever been offroad in a vehicle? There aren't any signs telling you if you will make it over an obstacle. Sometimes you make it up the hill, sometimes you don't. The maps are fine the way they are as far as contours.

I'll admit that it is annoying that stuff like trucks and cars stop your mech dead. Nothing would warm my mechs heart more than to be able to crush those cars under it's feet.

Edited by Gristle, 26 January 2013 - 09:01 AM.

[Khobai]

I don't think terrain collision is the biggest design flaw. The fact the maps are way too small is the bigger problem.