Forums » Suggestions
INTRO
Let me begin by saying this isn't going to be another one of those "fix this or else" posts. I'm sure the devs are aware of what I'm about to suggest, and they may already have something better in the works. I just had a sudden brainstorm strike me today, and I wanted to throw this idea out there in case it hasn't been considered.
The problem, as I understand it, is that the current station interface while having no problems from a functional standpoint is very bland and tends to make a bad impression on new players. On a different website, someone wrote about Vendetta saying "To say the graphics are horrible is to insult Pac Man." (mmorpg.com). I don't agree with this criticism, but nonetheless that was one player's impression, and the current station interface may have contributed to it. After all, it is the first thing a new player sees after logging on with their new character.
PROPOSAL
As I mentioned above, there's nothing wrong with the current station interface from a functional standpoint. While a little re-organizing (taking away or adding tabs) may help, it won't solve the problem: namely that the station interface looks like something out of the mid 90's. Now, the devs don't have a lot of time to create all kinds of snazzy new graphics for the station interface, but Vendetta already looks gorgeous from in space.
My proposal is this: have the station interface fields transparent and in the background have a "live" camera looking out from the station. Each tab under the station interface would show a different camera depicting a portion of the station.
(note: these pictures aren't necessarily how I would envision the final interface, they are just to give an idea what I am talking about. They were all taken from Armand's Reward)
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/803558/weapons.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/803558/repair.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/803558/buy.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/803558/missions.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/803558/sell.jpg
If the devs wanted to get really ambitious there could be a short transition where the camera "flies" around the station and into the new position when a new tab is selected. Since these cameras would be live (like in the undocking animation) someone inside the station might be able to see a few ships flying past, the blinking station lights, the rotation of the planets and moons etc.
CONCLUSION
Just by having these different views out into the universe in the background, it would create a sense of space within the station as well as provide some nice graphics to the interface. Of course there would have to be a number of camera positions set for each station, but there would be no new graphics required. Regardless of how the station interface changes in terms of organization, why not use some of the already outstanding station graphics we see from space in the station interface.
Let me begin by saying this isn't going to be another one of those "fix this or else" posts. I'm sure the devs are aware of what I'm about to suggest, and they may already have something better in the works. I just had a sudden brainstorm strike me today, and I wanted to throw this idea out there in case it hasn't been considered.
The problem, as I understand it, is that the current station interface while having no problems from a functional standpoint is very bland and tends to make a bad impression on new players. On a different website, someone wrote about Vendetta saying "To say the graphics are horrible is to insult Pac Man." (mmorpg.com). I don't agree with this criticism, but nonetheless that was one player's impression, and the current station interface may have contributed to it. After all, it is the first thing a new player sees after logging on with their new character.
PROPOSAL
As I mentioned above, there's nothing wrong with the current station interface from a functional standpoint. While a little re-organizing (taking away or adding tabs) may help, it won't solve the problem: namely that the station interface looks like something out of the mid 90's. Now, the devs don't have a lot of time to create all kinds of snazzy new graphics for the station interface, but Vendetta already looks gorgeous from in space.
My proposal is this: have the station interface fields transparent and in the background have a "live" camera looking out from the station. Each tab under the station interface would show a different camera depicting a portion of the station.
(note: these pictures aren't necessarily how I would envision the final interface, they are just to give an idea what I am talking about. They were all taken from Armand's Reward)
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/803558/weapons.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/803558/repair.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/803558/buy.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/803558/missions.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/803558/sell.jpg
If the devs wanted to get really ambitious there could be a short transition where the camera "flies" around the station and into the new position when a new tab is selected. Since these cameras would be live (like in the undocking animation) someone inside the station might be able to see a few ships flying past, the blinking station lights, the rotation of the planets and moons etc.
CONCLUSION
Just by having these different views out into the universe in the background, it would create a sense of space within the station as well as provide some nice graphics to the interface. Of course there would have to be a number of camera positions set for each station, but there would be no new graphics required. Regardless of how the station interface changes in terms of organization, why not use some of the already outstanding station graphics we see from space in the station interface.
I like this idea. Nothing drastic, nothing that would take weeks to implement. It's realistic, it's simple, and it's elegant as a temporary work around for the problem.
Bravo.
Bravo.
Aye very good job. Looks good while keeping the functionality of the station interface. This gets silent's stamp of approval :>
Looks like a great solution to me.
Thumbs up on my end :D
Thumbs up on my end :D
<("<) (>")> <("<) Kirby Dance!!!
holy shit! KIRBY! nice job aqui, never though i would see kriby with just keyboard charaters....
ahemmm.. back on topic
phaser: nice, i must say clever, and ppl could actually hole up in a station and wait out a storm(aka, enemy force, pirate). But i dunno does it seem to be too distracting? but then again that is good because sometimes it is always fun to just stare into space and if you zone out like that you can be in the safty of the hanger and not out in space ready to be blown to bits. coodos(spelled right or not i dont care). w00t
darth out
ahemmm.. back on topic
phaser: nice, i must say clever, and ppl could actually hole up in a station and wait out a storm(aka, enemy force, pirate). But i dunno does it seem to be too distracting? but then again that is good because sometimes it is always fun to just stare into space and if you zone out like that you can be in the safty of the hanger and not out in space ready to be blown to bits. coodos(spelled right or not i dont care). w00t
darth out
This is a good idea. The only issue is for people who render the station really slowly due to video driver bugs. The station interface would then be really slow.
I could have it not be realtime and just capture a single frame instead. Or have it be an option to turn off background rendering but newbies wouldn't know about that setting right away.
I can add it and we'll see what happens.
I could have it not be realtime and just capture a single frame instead. Or have it be an option to turn off background rendering but newbies wouldn't know about that setting right away.
I can add it and we'll see what happens.
Yes, sounds great, and it would definately make the station feel less claustrophobic...
Great idea Phaserlight =)
asphy
Great idea Phaserlight =)
asphy
Thus the devs have answered your calls :)
Thanks for the reply, raybondo! :). Yeah I also thought if rendering would be a problem, actual screenshots could also work. Maybe we could get some in game photographers to start snapping pictures of stations from interesting angles. Let us know if you want us to help out :D.
Just so long as it's a little less bland than it is now, it'll be cool. Personally, I think some kind of simple hangar in the background would work better, but that'd be a fair bit of work.
Also, I somewhat disagree on the functionality (two clicks to get to your real character info, for instance), but Inc said a while back that they know some bits of the interface are clunky and will get sexified before release.
Also, I somewhat disagree on the functionality (two clicks to get to your real character info, for instance), but Inc said a while back that they know some bits of the interface are clunky and will get sexified before release.
I agree that the station interface needs some love. The simple graphics do not impress new players. I like the idea of a window onto the hanger, especially if it features a view of our ship. Everyone likes to stare at their cool ships.
Yeah, I would like to see a render of your ship instead of the station, but Eve Online already does this and I don't want people thinking we stole their idea.
I haven't played Earth and Beyond so I don't know what they did.
I haven't played Earth and Beyond so I don't know what they did.
Ray, you could make the default what we currently have, so you have to turn the option on instead of off...
In Earth and Beyond you walked around the stations in 3rd person, you then had npc charactors venders and terminals you could walk to to do your station tasks.
I think the way Eve does it is pretty cool, I don't think it would really be ripping off the way they do it though, since I've seen many games that have veiw of your hanger as a place to do stuff.
I think the way Eve does it is pretty cool, I don't think it would really be ripping off the way they do it though, since I've seen many games that have veiw of your hanger as a place to do stuff.
We already have something pretty close to being able to view your ship in a hangar: just click the "Select a ship" button and your currently selected ship will slowly rotate in 3D. If anything, perhaps the graphics of a hangar port could be added into the background of this menu. The thing is, why spend a lot of time creating a whole new 3D environment when there already is one at your disposal.
What I'm really getting at is that Vendetta's stations already look pretty damn cool from the outside, and I'm not sure how many players appreciate this. When was the last time you flew through all the little nooks and crannies of a station and thought to yourself "well, this little industrial looking doohicky looks pretty sweet against the backdrop of that moon."
Having different views from the station kind of goes along with the whole Your Ship Is Your Avatar ideal... you're not actually showing your character walking around the station but you are showing what your character might see as they looked out the windows of a station.
Also... I can't speak for everyone but I personally would not mind if the station interface was slowed down a little to accomodate live cameras. Judging from the "graphics tweak" thread http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/6579 most people seem to have no problems rendering station graphics, so this would not be a widespread problem. And there could always be the option of turning the background off. First impressions are huge, and I think having station views in the background would go a long way towards creating a good one without requiring a whole lot of new graphics.
What I'm really getting at is that Vendetta's stations already look pretty damn cool from the outside, and I'm not sure how many players appreciate this. When was the last time you flew through all the little nooks and crannies of a station and thought to yourself "well, this little industrial looking doohicky looks pretty sweet against the backdrop of that moon."
Having different views from the station kind of goes along with the whole Your Ship Is Your Avatar ideal... you're not actually showing your character walking around the station but you are showing what your character might see as they looked out the windows of a station.
Also... I can't speak for everyone but I personally would not mind if the station interface was slowed down a little to accomodate live cameras. Judging from the "graphics tweak" thread http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/6579 most people seem to have no problems rendering station graphics, so this would not be a widespread problem. And there could always be the option of turning the background off. First impressions are huge, and I think having station views in the background would go a long way towards creating a good one without requiring a whole lot of new graphics.
Nice Phaser :D You get to point that out to all the newbs and say "See that? Eh? See that statin interface? ALLL ME!"
Earth and Beyond also had a hanger. Players could actually walk around their ship and view it from all angles. If they changed a weapon, it would show up immediately on their ship. Most impressive. But creating people avatars would be a waste of resources for Vendetta at this time.
Still, even a static view of the ship in the hanger would be a leap forward. If a few simple animations can be added to give the impression of 3D, that would be better still. Sure, a hanger view of our ships would be like Eve and Enb, but it would also be logical.
Perhaps you can go one step further and create multiple "rooms" in the station. When a player clicks on the bar tab, for example, the background can change to one that looks like a bar. Perhaps a listing of the players who are in the bar can appear along one side. One feature could be to click on a name to have a private chat with someone--or buy them a beer, hehe. Maybe some stations run out of beer and a mission to retrieve some will pop up.
The key is to make the environment as immersive as possible. To accomplish that, players need to feel as though they are "in" a place. The current station interface does little to stimulate the senses.
Still, even a static view of the ship in the hanger would be a leap forward. If a few simple animations can be added to give the impression of 3D, that would be better still. Sure, a hanger view of our ships would be like Eve and Enb, but it would also be logical.
Perhaps you can go one step further and create multiple "rooms" in the station. When a player clicks on the bar tab, for example, the background can change to one that looks like a bar. Perhaps a listing of the players who are in the bar can appear along one side. One feature could be to click on a name to have a private chat with someone--or buy them a beer, hehe. Maybe some stations run out of beer and a mission to retrieve some will pop up.
The key is to make the environment as immersive as possible. To accomplish that, players need to feel as though they are "in" a place. The current station interface does little to stimulate the senses.
The current station interface is temporary, so stop worrying.
<Perhaps you can go one step further and create multiple "rooms" in the station. When a player clicks on the bar tab, for example, the background can change to one that looks like a bar.>
Sounds a bit like Microsoft BOB :P http://toastytech.com/guis/bob2.html
but not bad.
<Perhaps you can go one step further and create multiple "rooms" in the station. When a player clicks on the bar tab, for example, the background can change to one that looks like a bar.>
Sounds a bit like Microsoft BOB :P http://toastytech.com/guis/bob2.html
but not bad.
Thing is, the bar's not actually a station tab, it's part of the chat bar, and as being such, would probably not warrant it's own magic background that really doesn't fit with the 'buy' tab or the 'character info' tab.