How is planets and interplanetary a gimmicks?

Lets use that search function...

Now would you look at that. It's not been forgotten but it might take a while.

If you think that spheres don't change gameplay, play me and I'll show you how they do.

It's the absence of map boundary that changes the gameplay, whether it's a sphere or not is not important.

Spherical maps produced by procedural generation come at a cost of not having hand crafted maps with many special features and attention to detail. Additional complexity is inherent to this approach and without additional sophistication you will end up with a system that is either not robust or one that risks simplifying gameplay. I think these are direct trade offs and impose new challenges on the developers.

On some level, what is the worth of spherical maps if the terrain is featureless otherwise? It will provoke accusations of gimmicky gameplay. Even worse, it will be a wasted opportunity, instead of feeling like waging an interplanetary war you will fancy yourself watching ants moving around on a billiard ball.

New revolutionary features = good
However, if in pursuit of that, you lose depth, detail and polish which was previously had in its peers, then it is nothing more than showcasing a novel idea.
That is what makes it a gimmick.



Here's an example:


FPS with melee using motion sensors = new
Using the force with your hands = awesome
But it's a clear step backwards in terms of depth and polish with Jedi Knight Academy
Therefore, it's a gimmick.



As it stands right now with PA, round procedurally generated planets = technical marvel.
However, it is at a loss of scale.
And at a loss of terrain that determines tactics (aka heights, chokepoints, elevation advantages).


So no, round planets and interplanetary battles are not gimmicks by their own right.
But if it costs scale and terrain, then your new and revolutionary feature was a detriment.



Please don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be pessimistic here, I'm actually quite hopeful and believe Uber can pull it off.
I'm going to call it as I see it and not stick my head in the sand and pretend it's all roses right now.

Wish someone would tell the North Koreans.

Here are my current thoughts on PA:

Current random maps are bad for current strategic options. Learn to use the editor and edit your systems to be more playable.

Wow, that's far from a gimmick in my book. That's a step into awesome. Maybe weak implementation of controls. I haven't played it. Patience lil padawan.

I point you to the kickstarter video. I don't think we can pretend that our earth planet isn't pretty awesome right now. The fact that a lot of maps have choke points and multiple avenues of attack makes this game far more complex than many FA and TA maps.

I would like to request Uber give more control of the mountains, doodads, etc in the planet editor if that is possible.

Star Wars Kinect got universally panned.
A game is more than a feature/tech demo.



Garat said they are the "height" issue is being worked on.
Neutrino said they are looking into scale (back during summer?). He mentioned he would rather have it done right rather than just slap on a quick fix.

Uber has acknowledged both issues. I'm optimistic they will be addressed

urg!!
it's so freaking vital to simulated projectiles.

what about unit aim calculation??? when is that going to be?

What are you freaking out about?

Simulated projectiles are already a thing and thier lack of leading targets is a separate issue here.....

Mike

...they suck... it doesn't feel like sim pro, it feels like starcraft projectiles. without the cliffs how do you get that "at an advantage" situation again?

and they're going to need leading target to stop constantly hitting the ground.

Well, tehy are simulated, we just have units that only use basic projectiles so far. And the problem with Target leading is not that they miss, it's that they don't Lead at all, they aim at where the units is at the time of firing, not where the unit will be once the projectiles travels out there.

Mike

So what sort of planetary systems would people like to see? Of course you can have a lot of variety, but what would be good for standard gameplay?

just my two cents:
there should be a way, to just send an engineer directly to another planetary body. as long as one orbital transport is in orbit it should automaticly ferry that one engineer to its destination...

automation anybody ?
like i give a build order on another planet, be it with my com, or an engineer, one single available astraeus/interplanetary-/interstellar- transport should go pick him up and carry him over, where the engineer instantly after landing will proceed to build his queue...
additional a sound/notification/message (i want a hint/message system ingame !) will inform me about the succesful landing / destruction of the units in question...

The thing about this kind of automation is that it can mess with your own intentions/units so it needs to be handled carefully if it's done at all.

Mike

Doesn't that already kind of exist in SupCom right now?
Order units to move, select transport, assist units.
The transport picks up units, then drops him off to that destination...



That notification system,
That's one of my personal requests in the UI list.
To be able to "tag" units/structures as important.
Tag a nuke, tag a super unit, tag that fabber.
Then if they get attacked, or they complete their construction, you are notified...

this.

Sins did that really well - it has 4 separate notification areas in the bottom left.

From the manual.

It's a pretty solid system. I like it . It's a really clean and uncluttered UI. I don't think you'd need 4 in PA - just 3 would do. Although it would be helpful to have one that told you your units were attacking other units, particularly in the case of artillery, as that normally signals an offensive is occurring.

You don't even need to assist.

If you select units and transport, the engine compute what would take the longer (going on foot or by transport) and apply the best solution.

And currently, it's as good as non-simulated.

Sure, like terrain relief, it may be better (or worst) in the future, but we don't know. We are only talking about what is in the game (and what will probably be on the release next month).

Anything else is pure speculation.