Cosmetic changes in NS
StarCraft
Join Date: 2008-02-19 Member: 63686Members
Join Date: 2008-02-19 Member: 63686Members
<div class="IPBDescription">This may be important for the game</div>Some people found NS very rejecting because of the thematics. It is "some" marines against "some" aliens. If only aliens a little bit LOOK LIKE aliens from "alien the movie" (for eg.), than new players will have something already familiar to hold it on (at least at the beginning)
The first impression is most important, and the game-feel. When i showed NS to my friends, they all asked me "how can i become that BIG guy?" (alluding to marines with heavy armor) You must admit, they do look really QL. But they were dissapointed when they found out that it-is-not-up-to-them weather or not will they "become the big guy" .
Design of the common marines could be far more better. Now, they just... don't have a soul.
Imagine (for eg.) :
- half-naked female marine warriors with some bandages, or
- red (or black) armors and uniforms (with spikes on their shoulders <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> )
- marines with swords instead of knives <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> or chainsaws :O
- rail guns (we all liked that weapon, thats for sure)
- HMG that have ammo on the back pack with bullets coming out from there. (the rotating-6-barrels HMG)
- real bullets dropping from the weapons would be QL effect also
- flamers maybe... (man! that would lag a lot!)
...
I saw some custom model-textures that looked very QL.
Also, the players should be able to choose their marine-model. (male-female, black-white skinned...). People likes impression to "create" their own characters.
Taunts can give more depth to the first-person game-feel. Currently, taunts sounds like voice from com-links, and i am not trilled when i hear them, coz it sounds like "someone else" told it (not like from first-person).
Here are some suggestions for automatic taunts:
- (playing randomly) "watch out for those corridors.", "i think i hear something near me" (paranoic, ea?)
- (when making double kill) "Yea baybe!", "And stay down!", "That should teach 'em!"
- (on the first site of onos) "Incomiiiinnnggg!!" (for near-ones to hear)
- (on the first site of hive) "We got live-ones here!"
- (yell, on low armour) "weld, Weld, WEEELD!!"
- (when out of last bullet, and in group with other marines) "i am out of ammo!"
- (when revealing invisible buildings) "There they are!", "There you are!"
- (in the middle of the action) "Shoot'em!", "Go go go!", "Watch out!", "Cover me!"...
...
No auto-taunts should be repeated more frequently than every 2 minutes (for eg.) To avoid boring repeating.
Aliens may imitate predator-voice from the movie (imitating human voices) <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
All those things won't pass unnoticed.
The first impression is most important, and the game-feel. When i showed NS to my friends, they all asked me "how can i become that BIG guy?" (alluding to marines with heavy armor) You must admit, they do look really QL. But they were dissapointed when they found out that it-is-not-up-to-them weather or not will they "become the big guy" .
Design of the common marines could be far more better. Now, they just... don't have a soul.
Imagine (for eg.) :
- half-naked female marine warriors with some bandages, or
- red (or black) armors and uniforms (with spikes on their shoulders <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> )
- marines with swords instead of knives <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> or chainsaws :O
- rail guns (we all liked that weapon, thats for sure)
- HMG that have ammo on the back pack with bullets coming out from there. (the rotating-6-barrels HMG)
- real bullets dropping from the weapons would be QL effect also
- flamers maybe... (man! that would lag a lot!)
...
I saw some custom model-textures that looked very QL.
Also, the players should be able to choose their marine-model. (male-female, black-white skinned...). People likes impression to "create" their own characters.
Taunts can give more depth to the first-person game-feel. Currently, taunts sounds like voice from com-links, and i am not trilled when i hear them, coz it sounds like "someone else" told it (not like from first-person).
Here are some suggestions for automatic taunts:
- (playing randomly) "watch out for those corridors.", "i think i hear something near me" (paranoic, ea?)
- (when making double kill) "Yea baybe!", "And stay down!", "That should teach 'em!"
- (on the first site of onos) "Incomiiiinnnggg!!" (for near-ones to hear)
- (on the first site of hive) "We got live-ones here!"
- (yell, on low armour) "weld, Weld, WEEELD!!"
- (when out of last bullet, and in group with other marines) "i am out of ammo!"
- (when revealing invisible buildings) "There they are!", "There you are!"
- (in the middle of the action) "Shoot'em!", "Go go go!", "Watch out!", "Cover me!"...
...
No auto-taunts should be repeated more frequently than every 2 minutes (for eg.) To avoid boring repeating.
Aliens may imitate predator-voice from the movie (imitating human voices) <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
All those things won't pass unnoticed.
Comments
The good thing is that there is no too dark hallways where you need to use your flashlight. NS generally have a "bright" atmosphere, which is good. But, first impression is still weak <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
Eventually, the more you play, the less you pay attention to cosmetics. Thats why we sometimes forget why is that so important. I had experience with that, coz i am making one 2D shooting-action game myself.
The good thing is that there is no too dark hallways where you need to use your flashlight. NS generally have a "bright" atmosphere, which is good. But, first impression is still weak <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
Eventually, the more you play, the less you pay attention to cosmetics. Thats why we sometimes forget why is that so important. I had experience with that, coz i am making one 2D shooting-action game myself.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Even in the future, I doubt that there's going to be scantily clad females in the military. They'll be in full uniform like everyone else. Get over the desire to stare at other players instead of focusing on the tasks at hand. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
Moving right along, a darkened atmosphere has been suggested, and I think it's a good idea. Use of a flashlight and the feeling that you're being stalked are great factors to add to a game (in moderation) to make it more immersive and fun.
Auto-taunts seem like they could get on the nerves of marines really quickly. Trying to sneak in to siege a hive? You randomly open your trap, alerting aliens to your presence. As for the other stuff...people generally yell that stuff over their microphones anyways. It would just add to the noise. Maybe there could just be a "voice menu" with a list of things to say instead of randomly playing.
We don't need to bring the heavy's chaingun from TF2, or have chainsaw-equipped marines. As cool as it might be, it's both impractical to bring large weapons to the battlefield; compact, functional, and effective are key, especially in close quarters. Rail guns...I guess it would just depend...but if they shoot through walls, no. Volumetric flamethrowers are going to be in the game unless the devs change their minds.
Aliens imitating human voice...meh. I don't see how that could really be funny unless the marine had an eye patch and a lerk sat on his shoulder and copied what he said.
Overall not bad ideas, but you need to read a little more to see what's been suggested.
It can break ballance, coz then marines can hide in the shadows, and using flashlight is just another thing people have to think about, by turning it on/off all the time, coz marines can be told-off by their flashlight from the distance.
Not many people anjoy dark atmosphere. Well, maybe its the best solution to make some maps this way, and some not.
<!--quoteo(post=1671087:date=Feb 21 2008, 02:37 AM:name=Moving_Target0)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Moving_Target0 @ Feb 21 2008, 02:37 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1671087"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Auto-taunts seem like they could get on the nerves of marines really quickly. Trying to sneak in to siege a hive? You randomly open your trap, alerting aliens to your presence. As for the other stuff...people generally yell that stuff over their microphones anyways. It would just add to the noise. Maybe there could just be a "voice menu" with a list of things to say instead of randomly playing.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yea i thought about that. thats why most of taunts will be triggered "when you see onos". So nobody will be alerted when they already see each other. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
I guess the best solution Is that people should activate them when they want. i suggest F6-F12 keys. custom taunts will be QL also <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
<!--quoteo(post=1671087:date=Feb 21 2008, 02:37 AM:name=Moving_Target0)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Moving_Target0 @ Feb 21 2008, 02:37 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1671087"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->We don't need to bring the heavy's chaingun from TF2, or have chainsaw-equipped marines. As cool as it might be, it's both impractical to bring large weapons to the battlefield; compact, functional, and effective are key, especially in close quarters. Rail guns...I guess it would just depend...but if they shoot through walls, no. Volumetric flamethrowers are going to be in the game unless the devs change their minds.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Chainsaws are for close range. Whats unpractical in that? I may come as extra-buy weapon for making huge amount of damage to structures (or onos) <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
I didnt thinking about shooting trought walls... but now that you mentioned it... why not? you still shoot blind. Sentry cannons also shoot trough walls. And they never miss.
Well, doesnt matter about all of this. I would really like to see some better desing of characters and textures. Maybe fans can suggest some to become official ones.
Yea but it looks QL!
...and onoses are huge and clumsy!
More generally, my opinion is that chainsaws have never looked cool.
Onoses are only clumsy if you consider Rhinoceroses clumsy.
Well, i guess, you cant argue over people's taste <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
Weel yea, i guess that chainsaw is more for some morbid-butchering-maniacal-brutal games like doom or something like that.
NS IS NOT QUAKE
ns have already his own look
to that dark atmoshere
it dont break the balance
when the devs upgrade the hivesight
that it bright up dark areas (but dont affect rooms whit lights)
also i like to see in hivesight a sort of better identification for marines
and theyre health status
like that <a href="http://www.hidden-source.com/media/ingame/617aura.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.hidden-source.com/media/ingame/617aura.jpg</a>
(offcoure whitout this white colour)
the colour turn orange and then red when hes hurt
and the devs have say that the marine look going more to insects
i whould really like to see more warety in the player models
also by the kahraa
like the eye glow colour
or the horn lenght, colour and model
also maybe the skin and plates (seen by onos)
So, I like the points on making the game such that the players have attachment to their character and the atmosphere of the game, but GAH some of the model suggestions.
I like the voice menu taunt system. TF2 has it. Empires has it. EVERYTHING has one nowadays. Or you can just get yourself a mic and spam spam spam.
Also, atmospherically, it's really really hard to balance really dark maps. Especially if aliens keep their flashlight ability to make people glow. Also, really dark maps means it's hard to see where you're going. There's even a couple of vents in NS1 games where I wish they had illuminated the corner because then you can make the turn faster, and sometimes it doesn't turn 90 degrees. It might be slightly right and upward, then continue straight. Making walls hard to see is a bad thing in general. Of course, I wouldn't go for the TF2 bright pastels and happy faces as you're run over by a train for NS2, but the stuff we have now it awesome. Subdued blues and silver metals, with a splattering of oranges and greens, give the illusion of darkness and coldness of space, but the levels are well lit and you can still see stuff. Unless they're on the ceiling or cloaked. Then it's surprise time.
Its a good suggestion that maybe aliens should see marine health. Only... if it will be implemented, that ability will be available only if you use "scent of fear" ability.
Dark maps are not good, and dark atmosphere is not that much popular. Personally, the best looking game for me is Lineage2 (www.lineage2.com) and it has the stupidest concept i've ever seen in any game, but it <b>LOOK SOOO QL </b>(cool)! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> i think that they had fashion desingners working on that game <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
Textures of walls are good in NS, i wouldn't change anything there. But those green armors... design looks like from Unreal Tournament 1. But even them had abandoned that design.
NS2 will look cool, but in it's own way. Look at female model in the site banner and try to imagine beefy guys in UT style armor surrounding her. It doesn't really mesh.
The TSA is very practical and it wouldn't spend it's money on chainsaws. Gameplay trumps story but chainsaws don't fit the TSA. They use knives because they're easier to carry around and cheap. Besides, marines don't want to be close to kharaa. If the kharaa are within melee distance of marines they've 75% won the battle all ready.
Welcome to the forums!
- red (or black) armors and uniforms (with spikes on their shoulders )
- marines with swords instead of knives or chainsaws :O
- rail guns (we all liked that weapon, thats for sure)
- HMG that have ammo on the back pack with bullets coming out from there. (the rotating-6-barrels HMG)
- real bullets dropping from the weapons would be QL effect also
- flamers maybe... (man! that would lag a lot!)
- (playing randomly) "watch out for those corridors.", "i think i hear something near me" (paranoic, ea?)
- (when making double kill) "Yea baybe!", "And stay down!", "That should teach 'em!"
- (on the first site of onos) "Incomiiiinnnggg!!" (for near-ones to hear)
- (on the first site of hive) "We got live-ones here!"
- (yell, on low armour) "weld, Weld, WEEELD!!"
- (when out of last bullet, and in group with other marines) "i am out of ammo!"
- (when revealing invisible buildings) "There they are!", "There you are!"
- (in the middle of the action) "Shoot'em!", "Go go go!", "Watch out!", "Cover me!"...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>15 Points of ######! go and play UT. this would made the game unplayable!</b>
Even the idea of a sword is a bad idea...
Zomg... A sword in NS2... Marines doesn't go in a war but in a strategic operation to deloc scary full teeth aliens from a spatial base... Using fire weapons (the most efficiently weapons) but carrying a light close combat weapon in case of short of ammo (mostly useless in spirit)... Not a heavy sword in ordrer to go kill all in they path...
A Alien-the-movie Kharaa... Stupid thing, NS have his own universe and style... Go play Alien versus Predator or watch your love movie...
My avatar is not serious at all (i dont even know the guy from the picture. Its some friend of my sister) but it looks too funny <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /> And, "starcraft" is my old nick since 1999 coz i was 4. in my countru on state tournaments in that game.
And all of that ###### that i wrote are just EXAMPLES of what else exist in other games. i agree that chainsaws are not for NS. Range is what it counts for marines.
All those things that i wrote (half-naked females, chainsaws...) was an example of things that "have a soul" (also, railgun). i thought that maybe someone would suggest something more serious after me, but instead, nothing else was suggested, only mine was discussed. This game neads "something" to be like a "trademark" of the game. For quake is (for example) chainsaw, or railgun.
Personally, i think that most of taunts are not-bad, but also not-deadly-necessary.
My point is... NS is my favorite game, EVER (i dont even play UT). I even tried to convert about 20 people i know into NS players, and i succeeded only with 6 guys. Reason: NS have... "pale" atmosphere, and bad "first impression", unfortunately.
The female model in the site banner doesnt impress me either :|
(and i am not one of those guys "everything is cheep and it looks bad") i just wanna say design COULD be better.
I litterally ONLY registered this account to come here and flame you.
These ideas are TERRIBLE. If ANY of the ideas StarCraft has presented are implemented in NS2, I will promptly stop playing NS altogether. I think you managed to put together a list of the WORST POSSIBLE things that could EVER happen to NS. The goal of all of these ideas is the exact OPPOSITE of Natural Selection's goal as a game.
I don't want to play with your ######ty friends who care more about whether or not their characters all look different than they do about gameplay. It's funny, all of my friends that I showed NS to IMMEDIATELY fell in love with it the second they saw a skulk running around on the walls. The ###### sells itself. You're making blatent and absurd sacrifices to gameplay for reasons that range from ###### looking more cool to being superficially more like an RPG.
I'm sure everybody will want to flame me for saying so, because NS obviously needs every player it can get, but, here goes;
NS DOES NOT NEED YOU.
(Also, if you're a troll, I humbly acknowledge utter and hopeless defeat.)
<img src="http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/4383/atmospherehd8.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Ok, maybe you like flaming other people on the forums, so i suppose it doesn't matter what will i wrote here, you already started the unstoppable.
As long as i am concern this thread may be locked from now on, since nobody reads anything i say now. If not, you can play on this thread if you like, i guess that makes you happy.
NS is still my favorite game since v1, and will always be. And about people i tried to "convert"... i guess that problem is also that they mostly play PS2 or Xbox games, so visual feel is very important to them.
And ill say it for the last time: <!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->all those thing i wrote are <b>NOT for NS</b>, they are <b>EXAMPLES</b> of what else exist in other games that makes them QL.<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
You can still play fun of this, if that makes you happy. (like i can stop you)
NS2--NS in general--needs a (visual) <b>hook</b>, or a trademark.
Starcraft wants cosmetic changes to NS to give it some sort of trademark. <i>Halo has the MJOLNIR battle armour, and Master Chief himself. Half-life 2 has the gravity gun (not so much cosmetic, but a trademark), and Half-Life in general has the crowbar and the nerd-in-an-orange-suit.</i>
<b>That</b> I can agree with.
NS2--NS in general--needs a (visual) <b>hook</b>, or a trademark.
Starcraft wants cosmetic changes to NS to give it some sort of trademark. <i>Halo has the MJOLNIR battle armour, and Master Chief himself. Half-life 2 has the gravity gun (not so much cosmetic, but a trademark), and Half-Life in general has the crowbar and the nerd-in-an-orange-suit.</i>
<b>That</b> I can agree with.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think the aliens have a "trademark" with the fade. The TSA heavy armor is rather distinctive, but it doesn't really symbolize what the game is about like the gravity gun, MJOLNIR armor(the recharging shield bit was new at the time), and fade. I agree the the marines need a distinctive trademark that symbolizes what they're about. Maybe the comm chair needs an upgrade?
Of course, it's also about just the visual distinction, which NS <b>does</b> have; but there's still no single distinct element that (is cool enough and that) you might immediately identify with NS.
pops up a game of shadow flash cards to 100 gamers
guess what they are
geraffi
horse
gorge
tree
house
TSA symbol
car
Ono's
Ono's anus as you sit inside its bellie <this one acctuly has color
such a such was *insert devoured symbol here, by such a such
now ask the gamer if they are scared yet, or better yet look at the results from bio rythum meter attached to there finger.
I hope you no longer post here, we have enough trolls as it is.
A skulk.
I'd rather play a game that is fun and has longevity than play a game that looks 'really really cool'. Some of the best games I've played are 2D or have really norm graphics. Sure, playing a game with good graphics isn't a bad thing, but if you would actually want to sacrifice game play for garaphics your a ######ing retard.
Look at Assassins Creed for example.. When I picked it up and started playing I thought 'wow, nice graphics'. Then about 2hrs later I turned it off and haven't played it since because its the same boring ###### over and over again. They could've made that game so much better, but they obsessed on the aesthetical side of things and the game turned into ######.
Oh, and all of the OP's points are stupid. I'm assuming your something around 12yo?
It's nice to dream, but when you actually think that a stupid idea will work (eg. chainsaw in NS) = epic fail.