Hunam_ Hunam_

Developer's Log (August 2016)

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Developer's Log (August 2016)

from StarControl Forums

I realize this is WIP, so maybe some/all of my comments are irrelevant.

How hard would it be to get rid of this loading screen and replace it with s.l.o.w.e.d down zoom-in to planet cinematic with planet features and UI populating the screen in a cool animated manner while the stuff is actually loading? Actually, why can't the whole Star System be pre-loaded, so everything inside the system is smooth and uninterrupted transitions without any real or fake loading screens?

Overall Solar system travel zoom is too abrupt? to my liking. Can it be made more dynamic/smooth as in fade in slowly - fast - slowly fade out? Same time spent as in WIP, but have more "elastic" feel to it. Like if it's a zoom in on a planet it should create a feeling of a planet sucking you in.

 

I like the current UI as is (general font is perfect). Clean and simple. I really like the existence of Planet Type icon. It adds flavor. Will there be mixed type planets? That'd be super cool! Maybe Weather and Biology can have their own icons? Same simple style as Planet Type icon. Love those. We should see our lander here in orbit getting ready to jet down, maybe?

Scan and Launch screen buttons are not necessary. Can be assigned to LMB and RMB or gamepad A & B. In an ideal world I'm for auto-scan where as soon as your Planet Exploration screen is fully loaded resource and POI flags start popping up in a cool animated manner accompanied by cool sounds and alarms if something amazing is discovered. Wouldn't you need to press scan button everytime you're at the planet? What's the advantage of not scanning the planet? That's why auto-scan, basically.

 

I assume controls will be completely customize-able, 'cause WASD + Right Ctrl aren't exactly made for each other. Also, the lander should definitely bobble/"lean" a bit more when maneuvering. The atmosphere pop-in is frikkin' genius! I can only imagine landing in the eye of a hurricane just to be swung out like a rag doll. j/k... not really.

 

I assume the alien dialog screen background 2D image is just a place-holder? 3D is definitely preferable and interactive 3D is even better. Doesn't have to be a lot. 3-5 spots to click on for maybe easter eggs or other comic relief. ;)

 

I like Super Melee angle for star system exploration screen better. Current star system tilt is a bit too much. Not critical though. I don't think we need to see planet features when in Star System view. It makes planets look extra silly than they already are. Maybe replace them with semi transparent atmosphere?..

Super Melee Gravity Grid though... I don't know if there's real need for it. Isn't player gonna develop a feel for gravity wells as he plays? Why the Star doesn't have gravity? Is it gonna insta-kill you if you run into it, or just kill the crew?

Mushroom planets => Exploration under influence (EUI) => High amounts of serotonin => Profit. I like the art direction personally. Moar eye-candy! Particle and all kinda glow and shadow effects.

Overall, I'm loving what I see. Nothing reject-able so far.

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Reply #26 from StarControl Forums Top

You really can't miss the gravity.  If you want something visible for gravity, though, I like Hunam's idea for it.  Some kind of effect coming off of your ship would actually be pretty cool.  That square grid just seems like cluttering the entire screen just to show gravity... which you don't even need to see.  

Gravity is actually a huge deal in my universe.  Most games just ignore it because it is hard to deal with.  I long ago decided to use it, and base everything around it.  It is even a big deal in the story, and the "comic relief" character in one of the games even calls it "The Force" and has a few pretty funny Star Wars ref conversations with that one, haha!  I use is to restore gravity to the ACM and make the combat more realistic feeling, and returning real world ACM aspects to the combat envirnoment, like converting speed to "altitude" and altitude to speed... in the starship sims.  I use a "rings" to show the gravity on the seperate tactical display, not the main screen where it would clutter everything.

In top down gravity is super "arcade" strong, and you really can't miss it once it starts pulling you.  Some little effect on the ship like Hunam suggests would be pretty good for top down.

 

****: “But the special places do have gravity, ????, a lot of gravity, they are pulling us towards them with great force.”

????: “The Force is not great, The Force is special. You can't feel The Force because you are in the wrong place. I showed you the special places, don't hurt the special places! The special places are very important because they don't have gravity!”

****: “Wait! Do you mean Mass?”

????: “Mass??? No... ???? don't go to no church.”

****: {Gives up...}

Hehe...

Reply #27 from StarControl Forums Top

Quoting Hunam_, reply 21

^ If a player has no concept of gravity, he shouldn't be playing games that involve it. Multiple pull points vs singular don't change much for the ones who do.

I guess we'll be able to judge better after we try it out... Hmm... when is that gonna happen?...... 

 

Meanwhile, how do you assume to use that grid in melee, Volu? And why is there "anus" in your nickname? I can't help it, but read it everytime I see it.. XD

 

There it is. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to make that inevitable observation. Volusianus is Latin, name of a general, yadda yadda yadda. I can't change it, can we just ignore it an move on? My moniker is Vol if you have to truncate it :P

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Reply #28 from StarControl Forums Top

Oh. I always misread it as Volusanius! 

Cuorebrave is Latin, too ;) 

Reply #29 from StarControl Forums Top

^ I thought you were well read, spoken etc. etc. :P

 

Quoting Volusianus, reply 27


Quoting Hunam_,
reply 21

^ If a player has no concept of gravity, he shouldn't be playing games that involve it. Multiple pull points vs singular don't change much for the ones who do.

I guess we'll be able to judge better after we try it out... Hmm... when is that gonna happen?...... 

 

Meanwhile, how do you assume to use that grid in melee, Volu? And why is there "anus" in your nickname? I can't help it, but read it everytime I see it.. XD



 

There it is. I was wondering how long it would take for someone to make that inevitable observation. Volusianus is Latin, name of a general, yadda yadda yadda. I can't change it, can we just ignore it an move on? My moniker is Vol if you have to truncate it :P

 

I noticed it right away, but only decided to ask right now.

So, like, I'm russian and if I break your name into Volus (sounds nearly identical to russian "hair") - i (means "and" in russian) - anus (let's not discuss this one, it's a family forum), I get ..... you know what...

I'm not trying to say anything, but there it is looking at me from the screen... }:)  XD :P  

Reply #30 from StarControl Forums Top

I looked it up, the "anus" doesn't sound like that when it's pronounced.  It's not like Uranus that has 2 of 3 pronunciations sound bad.  Plus it's the last name of Caesar Augustus, prior to his becoming Caesar.  It's not so bad.

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Reply #31 from StarControl Forums Top

Quoting Hunam_, reply 29

^ I thought you were well read, spoken etc. etc. :P

Zing!

Reply #33 from StarControl Forums Top

Test? Hunam, are you checking to see if they corrected this? Lol, I don't see any bold, but it does get kicked to the top of the pile.