Ns Lacks Atmosphere

war1 · January 2005

NS seriously lacks atomasphere, instead of the playing the movie "aliens" you feel like you're playing "ghost buster"

I was playing the doom 3 demo the other day and I said to myself "dam, this is how NS should feel like", just like I was playing Alien vs Predator 2 marines. atomasphere rich, scary, intensing.

Settings are plain, I mean c'mon, a space colony being infested by aliens, no dead bodies? no blood stains? no "stuff littered all over the place"? NS settings are just so "clean"

Player models. The aliens, we get movie monsters rather than actual "aliens", the gorge is rather cute. Sound are horrible too. The marines sound crappy, they die with a simple "er" or "ah", how about "OMG, he bit my leg" and some possible gore?

NEO_Phyte · January 2005

due to the general age group of players, the devs have this thing called a "no gore" policy

Quaunaut · January 2005

Ironically, everything you said you want in NS is things that the dev team has said they will never do. The death sounds may change, but quite frankly, I'd rather be realistic than atmospheric. If something rips off your leg, you won't say anything. Hell, I'd be surprised if you were alive longer than 4 seconds from the massive blood loss.

TheMunch8 · January 2005

Also the fact that the HL1 engine isn't good enough to have bodies sitting on the ground forever if someone dies, or be able to jump and run over it as a skulk should do. It would detract from the gameplay, or maybe the Nanites pull the body back and then they spawn!!!! or the Hive pulls the dead aliens back, and then respawns them....

Jezpuh · January 2005

At-mos-phere

Cereal_KillR · January 2005

You could put brightness at a minimum for it to look closer to Doom3.

itsmemo · January 2005

I like the arcade feel it has to it now, but the atmosphere to the game is up to the mappers. take a look at ns_altair if you play with the default gamma and brightness is has excellent atmosphere.

Comprox · January 2005

Out of any HL related mods, NS is one of the more atmospheric ones. Yah, a few SP series are a bit better, but Flay is creating a game which anyone can play.

Sky · January 2005

More cheese with your whine, sir?

Seriously, NS is immersive without detracting from gameplay. Any darker and it'd be a hopeless situation trying to hit anything in some maps. Of course, certain maps have <u>no</u> dark areas (veil, eclipse) and that could be changed a tad...but then again, those are the best clan maps from what I've heard, so maybe there's something to be said for well-lit maps and competitive play. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' />

Redford · January 2005

Welcome to the obligitory "Blood and gore = atmosphere" thread.

I've said this before and I'll say it again:

NS is NOT about horror.

NS has it's own atmosphere.

NS is not copying the horror atmostpheres of every alien versus humanity game ever made.

Thank you drive through.

Zaggy · January 2005

NS is fine, tuning the game for atmosphere would affect gameplay I think, well lighted maps are better to play at than maps with way to much dark area's, people will start to turn up their gamma and start wearing sunglasses...

Swift_Idiot · January 2005

For atmosphere, set lightgamma to about 3.9 to 5.5. I guarantee it will make things much spoooOOOOooookier for you.

In the meantime, yuo r silly.

Nemesis_Zero · January 2005

We're sorry that we do not produce the game you want NS to be. Sadly, we're pressed as-is to create the game <i>we</i> want it to be.

InFlames · January 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Nemesis Zero @ Jan 18 2005, 03:12 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> We're sorry that we do not produce the game you want NS to be. Sadly, we're pressed as-is to create the game <i>we</i> want it to be. </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'>

nicely put <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /> ^^

please dont even try to compare atmospherics within Doom 3 To NS.

For a start totaly different engine, secondly NS isn't about "cool" gore. NS imo has its own atmosphere that is hard to find within most other hl sp&mp mods.

And I deffinately agree that the lighter maps provide a better competitive play environment...dont know why, I love dark corners but it just does <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' />

Diablus · January 2005

I agree with the whole "everyone at all ages can play" deal because it makes more publicity but its a game with weapons, death, "spooky aliens", NS style ******, blood, etc. along with the difficult theory of grasping the whole resource deal as well as the theory behind "how the games supposed to be played" and a big one : Teamwork . This game shouldnt be meant for all ages, it should be meant for the older teen and up level or at least people with some sense of maturity. Now heres a solution to the posters questions.

I for one have customized alot of sounds, death screams, models, etc. to make it as atmospheric as possible, sure it doesnt make a huge difference, but it does its job. So be like me and im sure plenty of other NS players who want extreme gore and to make the game more horrific and fun to just deal with it and work with what we have. If ya dont like it, switch back to AvP which has alot of great atmosphere <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' />

One thing is for sure though, if it wasnt for clans and competitive matches, NS would be much toward the atmospheric side. So blame the clanners <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' />

Nemesis_Zero · January 2005

To set something straight: Nobody in the dev team keeps the gore out because we want toddlers to cut their teeth on LMGs. We keep the gore out because we believe that's where it belongs. There's drastic, and there's subtle. NS trys to stick a little to the latter in many points. If that means it can't be atmospheric to you, this might be just an indicator that NS' aesthethics are not yours, and that's fine, but we won't abandon those who do like the style to appease you.

As for maps - yeah, it's true that competitive play likes maps that don't inhibit personal skill in any big way. That includes brightness. We'll have to strike a balance here, as everywhere else.

IcyScythe · January 2005

The lack of atmosphere is due to the lack of ambient noises/music... that's what makes a game spooky... ever played Thief series games? Do it now and you'l see.

Try watching Alien without the music or sound... it isnt scare at all.

The gore does not make the game scary, the sound does.

amnesiac · January 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cereal KillR @ Jan 18 2005, 01:12 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> You could put brightness at a minimum for it to look closer to Doom3. </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'>
lightgamma "20"; alias "lightgamma" ""

That should fix the lighting. I'am sure you will be pleased that you won't be able to see what it is your shooting at! Just like Doom3. Hell, why don't you just turn your monitor off while your playing?

NolSinkler · January 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Photek @ Jan 18 2005, 04:24 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> </div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cereal KillR @ Jan 18 2005, 01:12 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> You could put brightness at a minimum for it to look closer to Doom3. </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'>
lightgamma "20"; alias "lightgamma" ""

That should fix the lighting. I'am sure you will be pleased that you won't be able to see what it is your shooting at! Just like Doom3. Hell, why don't you just turn your monitor off while your playing?  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
Wow, I was about to say "if you want Doom 3 atmosphere, you should just turn off your monitor."

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' />

Ahnteis · January 2005

The space stations have no bloody bodies because they were abandoned. That's when the aliens moved in. Now suddently, the TSA decides they can't afford $$ to lose them.

Hyperion · January 2005

Honestly, Doom3 has about zero atmoshpere. I dont know about you, but I really dont think a screen that is 50% black is very atmospheric. Sure, maybe having a more beaten up "looking" maps would be nice, but thats something for the future.

EDIT: I actually see lots of potential for atmosphere in a SP campaign, where you play as a marine separated from his squad and out of the domain of his com. (man that would be cool).

BobTheJanitor · January 2005

Automatic nano-cleaning systems make bio-mass vanish over time. Dead aliens and chambers are reabsorbed into the hive mass by the bacterium. Alien infestation doesn't vanish, obviously, because of nano-gridlock. I can explain anything away!

And seriously, gore is pointless. After playing for a while it all blends together and you won't even notice how much or how little blood the game is producing. And the death sounds are quite nice, I think. They get the point across without being annoying. Really, how many times could you listen to dramatic death sounds over and over? In an average 6 person game you can expect maybe 20-30 or more marine deaths. Do you really want to listen to a wav of "OH GOD HE'S EATING MY KNEES AAAAUUUGGGHHH!!!!! blubblub" over and over 30 times? Me neither.

kabab · January 2005

I have always thought NS would be 5 times the game it is now if it had some atmosphere similar to Doom3 would make the entire game an edge of your seat experience!

Atmosphere doesn't = blood and gore its more about the lighting..

Can you imagine being stalked by skulks scurring around in the shadows... Marines actually have to scout out rooms before they just barge in!

Would add alot to the game imho...

BobTheJanitor · January 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (kabab @ Jan 18 2005, 07:54 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> I have always thought NS would be 5 times the game it is now if it had some atmosphere similar to Doom3 would make the entire game an edge of your seat experience!

Atmosphere doesn't = blood and gore its more about the lighting..

Can you imagine being stalked by skulks scurring around in the shadows... Marines actually have to scout out rooms before they just barge in!

Would add alot to the game imho...  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
And on the dark=atmosphere side of things... Go start a game of NS right now. Type "lightgamma 5" in your console, then join a server. Then play a round. Then come back and tell me how great it is. Go ahead! I'll wait. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' />

kabab · January 2005

Been there done that!

I want shdows! volume lights, detailed word enviroments you can hide in creating good atmosphere is having the right balance between light and dark atm NS is very arcade like :/ which is good in some respects and bad in others..

NGE · January 2005

It sure is fun when the aliens have every advantage! Howabout we have light switch "weldables" for gorges that make everything pitch black to rines! Very atmosphereic!

Lets add gun jams too

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif' /> OH NOES TEH BULLETS DEY STOPED

<img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif' /> LOLCOOOL SUX4u

BobTheJanitor · January 2005

The fact is that dark works much better in single player than it ever will in multiplayer. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the aggravation that goes along with playing multiplayer games from time to time. As much as we all love it, getting killed around every corner isn't fun. Darkness adds to that aggravation by making it feel less about a contest of skill and more like random chance.

Ignoring the fact that people will always have different monitors, so it's impossible to have consistent darkness anyway, I'd much rather be defeated by a more skilled opponent than by someone who got lucky while we were both attacking blindly in a dark room. Dark rooms in single player are fine, because it adds a spooky factor, a 'what's that shadow moving' feeling that adds to the fun. But games that have a lot of darkness are usually built with that in mind.

Look at the Silent Hill series, for example. If you could see all those enemies down a lit up hallway, they'd be pathetic. Most of them drop in a few bullets. But when you can't see them until they're nibbling on your toes, then they become a lot more powerful. It's impossible to do that in a multiplayer game, because everyone is always going to play the game to their full ability. They're not going to play dumb. It just doesn't work!

kabab · January 2005

Welcome to the world of flashlights, motion tracking and night vision gogles!

Sky · January 2005

Or...we could just keep it how it is, eh? Can you say, "More important things to worry about than a minority's opinion on game atmosphere."? It's a mouthful, I know, but you can deal.

Fire_Eel · January 2005

Well, you are always free to add new skins and new sounds into the game if you want. I like NS as it is. Afterall, I DO have someone using the mike screaming "NO NO NO!!! MY LEG!!! MY LEG!!! AUUGGHHHHH!!!!!"

Sounds very corny in my opinion.

I propose this though, why not let NS have a spookier music?

One of the first times I played NS, I was playing it in this part where there was water in front, and vents all around me. I was a lone marine, and there was this current NS music which actually blended with the scene very well. It was scary. I could hear splashing sound in the water, but I could see no skulks. Then I heard a chuckle, and too scared to face him, I ran away.

I killed the chasing skulk later though <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' />

aonomus · January 2005

And thus another uninformed, self righteous opinionated person joins the forum to post his IMHO reasoning. Theres a <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showforum=5' target='_blank'>forum</a> for that stuff.

Ns Lacks Atmosphere

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