Friday with Means - May 29th, 2009

[Regidoc]

The yalm boss, the yalm!

[Obtena]

I actually hate the thought of visual belts, bracers, etc. on our characters who already mostly have mismatched armor sets. Especially if the visual textures of these items are going to look similar to their icons...most of them will look like crap with certain armor sets.

Quit trying to add fluff to the new engine and just get it done.

It's what social armor is for I think? Anyways, I ALREADY hate the way the real armors mismatch, so social clothes is a really good way to mask it. As for visual bits that aren't armor, I don't think it's going to be the size of a wrestling championship belt. They aren't going to make those bits obtrusive. Relax.

[Klodovik]

Small little thing, but what about display of neck items so you can show things like All-Match Augmented Bow Tie or Collar of Amplification?

Neck items can be seen in AoC, so I guess it will be no biggie.

I actually hate the thought of visual belts, bracers, etc. on our characters who already mostly have mismatched armor sets. Especially if the visual textures of these items are going to look similar to their icons...most of them will look like crap with certain armor sets.

Introduction of armor paint would be nice, to partially deal with that issue.

[Autohead]

It's what social armor is for I think? Anyways, I ALREADY hate the way the real armors mismatch, so social clothes is a really good way to mask it. As for visual bits that aren't armor, I don't think it's going to be the size of a wrestling championship belt. They aren't going to make those bits obtrusive. Relax.

We shouldn't HAVE to use the social tab in order to match.

And yes, like Klod said, I think it's time for dyeable armors.

[Zandibel]

Nope...

Make using the nutrition bar on the door spawn a boosted Ian Warr (bouncer for apartment complex ofc) and wtfpwn whoever tries to access it illegitimately :O

An apartment boss you say?....

[Aethyrguard]

We shouldn't HAVE to use the social tab in order to match.

And yes, like Klod said, I think it's time for dyeable armors.

Yes to dye able armor. Just something to keep in mind when you are so heartily thrashing FC for icons.. They are currently reworking the database. That has been a largely limiting factor in how/what can be done. Reusing resources is the best way to keep the DB size down. When there are less of those issues there will not need to be quite as many reused icons. Furthermore, AoC doesn't use "drawn icons" they are actual 3D objects in an icon slot. Meaning, as they update the actual item the icons should change to be representative of the what the actual mesh item looks like. Have faith, Means is on the right track and the first game director to really give me faith in them.

[Autohead]

Just something to keep in mind when you are so heartily thrashing FC for icons..

You might want to go back and read what I wrote again. I in no way "thrashed FC for icons." I just said if they make the visual representations of those items look like their icons, they won't match most armor sets in game...that's what I said would look like crap...more mismatched items visible on our characters.

This ends today's reading comprehension lesson.

[DaviasI]

Can I have a limo driver for my new Charon? If I'm going to live like the filthy rich...why should I be the one driving?

/filter clear
/filter add mochies
/filter enable

"Look at all of my worshipers standing around admiring my shiny new armors."

[Aethyrguard]

You might want to go back and read what I wrote again. I in no way "thrashed FC for icons." I just said if they make the visual representations of those items look like their icons, they won't match most armor sets in game...that's what I said would look like crap...more mismatched items visible on our characters.

This ends today's reading comprehension lesson.

Perhaps you should reread your own post then mine. You ARE in fact thrashing FC for the appearance of the icons and assuming that they are going to waste time making 3D Models to look identical to a handful of repeatedly reused icons that fill the database.

Don't try to hand out lessons when you obviously haven't learned them yourself.

Just something to keep in mind when you are so heartily thrashing FC for icons.. They are currently reworking the database. That has been a largely limiting factor in how/what can be done. Reusing resources is the best way to keep the DB size down.

Out of context quotes are just that out of context.

Thus ending today's lesson in logic.

[windcaster]

I don't think it's going to be the size of a wrestling championship belt. Relax.

OMGZ, i wants that for my atrox.

We shouldn't HAVE to use the social tab in order to match.

And yes, like Klod said, I think it's time for dyeable armors.

then dont mismatch your armor, FC can't offer your favorite armor in your favorite look, use the social tab it's you friend not your enemy.

[vadagget]

As for the spammes disappearing, I wonder how much of that is the result of banned accounts versus having their exploited easy credits vanishing thus leaving them with no counterfeit credits to sell?

[Autohead]

Perhaps you should reread your own post then mine. You ARE in fact thrashing FC for the appearance of the icons and assuming that they are going to waste time making 3D Models to look identical to a handful of repeatedly reused icons that fill the database.

And you are assuming they won't. Last time I checked you are not a dev and are not working on the engine.

[Autohead]

then dont mismatch your armor, FC can't offer your favorite armor in your favorite look, use the social tab it's you friend not your enemy.

I do use it, I said we shouldn't HAVE to.

[Aethyrguard]

And you are assuming they won't. Last time I checked you are not a dev and are not working on the engine.

you fail at logic When making a texture with heavy stipulations on size and detail you cut corners. When database size is an issue you reuse resources. When a currently employed artist is handed a chunk of the database to convert from an ancient texture to a 3D mesh you can rest assured that things will change. It would be both a waste of time and resources to recreate everything identically to their antiquated icon even if a large majority of the unique icons are used as a base template for their new counterparts. Additionally, you can extrapolate that current artists vision will be applied to these old items that do not have a unique icon.

Artist given chunk A: Hey, Means got a moment?
Means: Sure, what's up?
Artist given chunk A: well I got to item X1923 and am about to start modeling it but it shares the same icon as A3412-Y34934. I had this idea for it..
Means: Oh? What do you have?
Artist given chunk A: /shows sketch
Means: Yeah that looks much better.. go ahead and model that instead.. big improvement.
Artist given chunk A: woot!

vs

Artist given chunk A: Hey, Means got a moment?
Means: Sure, what's up?
Artist given chunk A: well I got to item X1923 and am about to start modeling it but it shares the same icon as A3412-Y34934. I had this idea for it..
Means: No! We must make all these new models look like the ancient low quality textured icons that have been there since launch. I don't care if there are 100 items that are sharing that icon!
Artist given chunk A: /cries and goes back to cubicle to stab themself in the eye while working on things they dislike.
Means: /pats self on back for making baby kittens cry.

[Autohead]

you fail at logic

My logic is undeniable, both of our arguments are based on ASSumptions.

[Amosco]

NOTE
Planning began for implementation of the engine. Enno took a few days off to make us some new features between last week and now, including:
- Specular and reflective textures for character models.
- Addition and code support of new attractors for character models. (For boots, belts, thighs, calves (calfs?) upper arms and lower arms that will have additional real mesh items to display...ie: A belt component platform you can SEE on your character.)

This was where I was truly sad to recognise the loss of time on the previous engine. What could have been done in terms of great new features in the same amount of time would have been great to have. Knowing it is the right decision doesn't make this loss any less painfull...but I'm sure it will be worth it in the long run.

Again, I'm not knowledgeable about coding/game design, but just from reading what Means has said the last two FWM about the time/resources that were spent, and will be spent over the next few months, to get the new engine up and running, I'm a little saddened, myself.

This makes it seem like Enno was basically able to do with the Dreamworld Engine, in a long weekend, what would have taken MONTHS (Years?) to do with the Ogre Engine. So, the Devs basically wasted the last 2-3 YEARS trying to prep AO and Ogre to work well together when all they had to do was give the Dreamworld engine to Enno and a couple of other guys, say "Good Luck. We'll call you in SIX months to see how you're doing!", and then wait for them to come back after THREE months and say "We're done!"

Why did we have to wait this long for the new engine, again?

Other Work:

This week was also consumed with finishing up some of the goodies for this years birthday. Thanks to the player who suggested that "Serenity Island" wouldn't be complete without some kind of "Montelban" style suit. (see the attatched image!)

Very cool on the suits. I hope those two characters are going to be permanent additions to RK, as well. I think the little Atrox should say, "Look Boss! The Yalm! The Yalm!"

[Uaintseenme]

just wanna say, new appartment looks SUPER sexy.

Anyone visiting test can come get an extruder bar from my trader on ICC platform, untill i fall asleep or get bored of baking them.

A few things that should be made clear though..

1.) Enter sunrise station (the door can be found inside ICC) and then use the extruder bar on the appartment door of your choice, NOT the main entrance door.(fyi all appartments seem to be identical so it doesnt matter what door you pick)

2.) make sure to have atleast 3 empty inventory slots open, for some reason the charon and appartment key are NOT forcing open overflow windows so if you dont have the space, you wont get your key.

3.) Please DONT park your spanky new gangsta-pimpmobile on the platform, its gets in the way of the CoT trying to buff people.

4.) you MUST NOT be teamed when trying to enter your appartment for the first time, If you are, you will recieve your charon but NOT your appartment key.


and also...

[Social] Macrosun: ALL HAIL UAINT.
[Social] Macrosun: THAT IS ALL.

no, dont hail me, name something after me damn it! then i can quit AO!

[Aethyrguard]

just wanna say, new appartment looks super sexy.

Anyone visiting test can come get an extruder bar from my trader on icc platform, untill i fall asleep or get bored of baking them.

brt!

[rustinel]

Some great updates there

The new bells and whistles from using the Dreamworld engine will be fun.

A word to the whining Neutrals...Quit it! I rolled neut 5 years ago cos I didn't want the same char as everyone else. I wanted more of a challenge, to be less 'cookie cutter'. So stop trying to make us the same as the sided mkay?

Neuts are fine as they are. I cherish our difference and independance. It pains me to say it but really, those who are whining should really go pick a side and be done with it. We don't want you.

[PhoenixOfAges]

The instance is intended to be a good place to gain some levels between 150 and 200, not just at level 150.

Ah, perfect! Exactly what we needed and people have been asking for. Good stuff. Please tell me there's no hecks in there though.

The yalm boss, the yalm!

Nuts, I wanted to say that.

I actually hate the thought of visual belts, bracers, etc. on our characters who already mostly have mismatched armor sets. Especially if the visual textures of these items are going to look similar to their icons...most of them will look like crap with certain armor sets.

They could always add more yes/no display options like we have for shoulders and helmets now. Could use one for back slot while we're at it too as many have said.