Beta 4: Animation system

from Elemental Forums

One thing that will have to be video-shown (i.e. a screenshot obviously can't show animation) is the new animation system in Beta 4.

In Beta 3, animation has worked like in all Stardock games in the past - unit is moving West. If they turn around, they instantly turn around.  When they stop moving, they instantly enter the stop animation.

Animations were recorded at 24FPS also.

But in Beta 4, the animation speed has been increased to 30FPS (hardware is better now) and the new animation system supported blended transitions. That means when a unit turns around, it shows frames of them turning around.  When a unit comes to a stop, it blends the animation between walking (or swinging an axe) to stopping rather than just popping into its idle animation.

The effect is very subtle but makes the overall game feel much more organic. IMO, it also makes it feel like an RTS with a turn button because the units feel like they're moving like they'd be moving in an RTS (which in this particular case is a good thing).

25,435 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

This seems cool, better animation quality is always nice. Please post a video on youtube whenever you have time and thanks for giving another update!  

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

That sounds awesome! Can't wait to see it!

The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Will be interesting to see how this affects my modded animations! Smoother animations sounds great, can't wait to check it out in game.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

You know what would exemplify this advancement best? A dancing ogre.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

I'm more concerned about this: will units actually look like they're in the space they're in.  That's been a HUGE problem for the engine so far (dates back to WOM) , and it's very annoying.

 

If this is the reason that fix has been held off, great, but now that you'd done this, if I see this in future betas I'm going to complain a lot more loudly about this problem (and others have had this complaint as well, it's one of the bigger knocks on the game I've seen from some folks)

 

And the RTS comment: I do hope one day you can use this engine to make a Kohan-style RTS, that's a game I've wanted to see you guys do for years.

 

 

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Mr frog. that sounds fantastic, these are the kind of things that makes games look much more dynamic and makes ME feel good as a consumer when playing the game... oh damn I want to see it... noaw! :D

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting jackswift85, reply 8

My eyes, my eyes!

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

looking forward to seeing it.

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

I'm very much looking forward to this, I just love what you guys do so much. I follow stardock's games and betas much more closely than any of the other games I keep up on, and I try to constantly talk stardock's stuff up to anyone I think might be even a little interested. Especially WoM and FE. I've got a few friends who play the Civ games still.

I just tell them, "Fallen Enchantress is a Civ game for the type of person who would have gladly taken a class about 'The History of the Forgotten Realms' in place of 'World History' in school,"  which rather thoroughly encompasses all of my friends. Although I do wish I could come up with a log-line for 4x strategy games. that would be handy for quickly explaining it to people unfamiliar with the genre.

 

PS.  A log-line is also known as an elevator pitch, for those unfamiliar with the term.

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Xigageshi, reply 11
PS.  A log-line is also known as an elevator pitch, for those unfamiliar with the term.

Whats an Elevator pitch? :)
(Dont worry, I checked it up myself this time ;))

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

;) MY guess would be someone is trying to lift some tar ;)

harpo

 

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

Or how you have to sing differently in an elevator versus a more open venue.  ^_^