On Universes
Radix
Join Date: 2005-01-10 Member: 34654Members, Constellation
Join Date: 2005-01-10 Member: 34654Members, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">In response to something x5 said</div><!--quoteo(post=1639707:date=Jul 19 2007, 05:44 PM:name=the_x5)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(the_x5 @ Jul 19 2007, 05:44 PM) [snapback]1639707[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
I would make sure that their armor is easily identifiable more than just a helmet. For example, the Stormtroopers in Star Wars. Even when they did the recreated "early" Stormtroopers in Episodes II and III it was visually identifiable.
Animations go a long way. The marines in Gears of War are identifiable by their almost grotesque body builds and their maneuverability actions with solid feeling animations (roadie run, shifting from pillar to pillar, chainsawing a guy in half, etc)
Another way still to make your marines unique would be to give them character and variation. Allow users to customize their appearance with different models. This was already brought up in my topic about the female player base in NS. <!--coloro:red--><span style="color:red"><!--/coloro-->It's kind of hard to create a plot with characters without a single player<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> but it can be done.
Yes perhaps it's just me KFDM, but I don't think it is just me for one and secondly why not?
Yes, I'll post some later.
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Which is an excellent point. I don't know if you guys have (or want to bother with) the resources for something like this, but one of the attributes that gave Lucas' and Tolkien's work its tremendous staying power was the pseudoencyclopedic nature of the universes they respectively crafted.
Maybe it's too early to be thinking about long-term staying power for a game that isn't even out yet, but I know that it gives me a very powerful sense of atmosphere and depth when I look up at the night skybox, and can name the planets and stars, or even just notice that past the next rise is the beginning of a map I played last week.
EDIT: x5, my apologies if I mistook you to be talking about creating scenarios, storylines, and characters, when you were only on about model customization, but in any case, I think the point is worth making, so there it is.
I would make sure that their armor is easily identifiable more than just a helmet. For example, the Stormtroopers in Star Wars. Even when they did the recreated "early" Stormtroopers in Episodes II and III it was visually identifiable.
Animations go a long way. The marines in Gears of War are identifiable by their almost grotesque body builds and their maneuverability actions with solid feeling animations (roadie run, shifting from pillar to pillar, chainsawing a guy in half, etc)
Another way still to make your marines unique would be to give them character and variation. Allow users to customize their appearance with different models. This was already brought up in my topic about the female player base in NS. <!--coloro:red--><span style="color:red"><!--/coloro-->It's kind of hard to create a plot with characters without a single player<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> but it can be done.
Yes perhaps it's just me KFDM, but I don't think it is just me for one and secondly why not?
Yes, I'll post some later.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Which is an excellent point. I don't know if you guys have (or want to bother with) the resources for something like this, but one of the attributes that gave Lucas' and Tolkien's work its tremendous staying power was the pseudoencyclopedic nature of the universes they respectively crafted.
Maybe it's too early to be thinking about long-term staying power for a game that isn't even out yet, but I know that it gives me a very powerful sense of atmosphere and depth when I look up at the night skybox, and can name the planets and stars, or even just notice that past the next rise is the beginning of a map I played last week.
EDIT: x5, my apologies if I mistook you to be talking about creating scenarios, storylines, and characters, when you were only on about model customization, but in any case, I think the point is worth making, so there it is.
Comments
No, no, you are fine with getting ideas inspired off of other's ideas. That's good for creative thought which I'm a fan of.
*insert seal of approval*
There already is a much more than decent basis for a more in depth background out there. Here it is direct:
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns/static/world/techtrope_1.html" target="_blank">Introduction</a>
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns/static/world/techtrope_2.html" target="_blank">Trans-System Authority</a>
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns/static/world/techtrope_3.html" target="_blank">Engagement Protocol</a>
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns/static/world/techtrope_4.html" target="_blank">The Turning Point</a>
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns/static/world/techtrope_5.html" target="_blank">(Arrival File)</a>
Six days in Sanjii
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns/static/world/sanjii_1.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns/static/world/sanjii_2.html" target="_blank">Part 2 </a>
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns/static/world/sanjii_3.html" target="_blank">Background</a>
Every single bit of that, and the introduction to all the material can be found <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns/?action=game-info&subaction=world" target="_blank">Here</a>. It has been on the site for a long time now. A little bit of the data is outdated gameplay-wise (lerk spikes anyone?), but it does set the background.
I don't think it would be very difficult to add more to this. As I said, it's a very good basis to work with.
Why do I feel like your stereotyping is arrogant? I have read those and many others. In fact, I've been the goto sci-fi technology solutions guy for fanfic authors on this board for a long time and even have diagrams of anatomy of the aliens posted. Yes, most people on these forums skim and don't know how to read, but a sweeping generalization asking a rhetorical question of why am I the only one is just simply a false statement.
Remember these old outdated and not as detailed diagrams?
<img src="http://www.xzianthia.net/images/onos_leftside.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" />
Hmm the file date seems to go back to Nov '04. That's odd that would mean it is a few <i>years</i> old.
And let me make this clear, this is most definitely not one of the topics that doesn't make sense "in-character".
I'm very happy that someone is willing to try to get the NS Universe fleshed out some more.
Also, I'm hoping someone who was involved at the time those articles were written can answer a question I've had: how much more information is there on the NS universe? Stuff that hasn't been published. Is there only a little, or is there a lot more that just hasn't been shown and/or solidified yet?
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Most of the fanfiction was just illustrations of a battle if you will. Backstory was covered via proxy. Some of it was intentional humor and not to be taken as serious backstory. And then of course there was the rare person who'd try to change everything (like adding spell casters and elves into the story) and would get flamed by the masses.
It's a tricky thing since there was no official committee formed to regulate backstory, although that specific idea I had presented to Zunni in PMs to which he simply ignored saying we weren't developers and therefor weren't entitle to those opinions.
I'm not saying to hand one person the reigns and just let them have it, I'm suggesting having one person who can turn all the mass of ideas into a unified whole, that would then be presented to the other developers to be approved or modified or rejected. And once a template had been made that person would be the one to make sure that anything new made sense with what had already been done. Again, not as the owner of the universe but instead simply the one keeping the day to day eye on things so that as new things appeared they could then be presented to the other developers.
Basically, they need someone who's job (even if it isn't their only job) is to watch over the universe itself.
That had sounded a lot less megalomaniacle before I typed it, but it's basically the idea. (the setting might be a better choice of words than universe)
A lot of groups with large intellectual properties do this. It helps make sure that there is a single unified idea, rather than a more abstract or conflicting one.
I'm not putting this very well, but I think I got the point across.
Basically, they need someone who's job (even if it isn't their only job) is to watch over the universe itself.
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lol are you referring to He-man (master of the universe), or Voltron (defender of the universe)
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
lol are you referring to He-man (master of the universe), or Voltron (defender of the universe)
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/confused-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="???" border="0" alt="confused-fix.gif" />
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*slaps Buzzou*
Don't make fun of this.
*slaps Buzzou*
Don't make fun of this.
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hehehe i had to say it!
lighten up svenpa <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />