Discussion Thread: Dev Journal 01 - August 24, 2005

Message Edited by Walrus on 08-24-2005 04:23 PM

first reply !!! hhahahaha but yea whats does he mean by the inter lock being changed and combat being like standard mmos???

Message Edited by SpikeDX on 08-24-2005 04:26 PM

whens the combat system comin out i noe pandoras comin in sept but das all he said

Message Edited by SpikeDX on 08-24-2005 04:36 PM

Looks like some very interesting stuff in that artical.

I'll admit when I first read each of the headings I thought oh no, what are they going to do. But reading through them, although I've only had 1 pass and I'm tired at the moment I'll re-read tommorow, the changes seem to be interesting and should provide some interesting changes.

The interlock changes seem interesting and sound like it's going to add a lot more to the gameplay especially if both players hit, perhaps we'll see some more movie like fights.

Spies I haven't really played much, apart from an early attempt at Data Miner which I hope is also going to be looked at and modified with the spy tree as a whole.

Marketplace sounds good and hope that a search system, something like the MxoClothing project has now, filtering by buffs, type ect would be great.

Hackers, well there isn't much to say. They needed to be looked at as everyone knew they did with the power they posses, but perhaps the changes to interlock and what not may balance this out some more so that only a few fine tuning tweaks are needed to it.

And content. Well I can't say I'm not looking forward to pandora's box and what not and can't wait to see the changes. What I am worried about, and possibly the only noticable thing at the moment is the changes to the districts which I'm not sure what it is going to entail. Will it be changes at street level so we'll see whole new roads and old ones going? Buildings suddenly vanishing and new shiney ones appearing? I hope it's not that drastic since the world has been as it is for a long time now. But perhaps new areas opening up, new areas within the districts I could probably accept. Perhaps it's just me.

New mission contacts or random neighbourhood missions would be a nice addition to this in my opinion though. **hint hint**

Don't think I can think of anything else, other then it still seems nice, hope it appears soon (but not before it's ready).

Jeffers

I'm curious to see how both players connecting with a hit at the same
time is animated. As the designer said, this should make fights shorter
and seem more dynamic. It sounds pretty slick.

Seems to be looking in order to me, only i don't exactly understand the
whole free fire melee like other MMOs but at the same time keeping
interlock. Both players hitting each other sounds cool, like last fight scene, both charge and wack each other in the face

Message Edited by sandoicchi on 08-24-2005 04:41 PM

Im getting so excited! MxO is going to be an awesome game in the months to come....Y34H!!!!

Very impressive Archon, glad to see such detailed communication with
the player base once again. All the new projects for expansion sound
great. Keep up the good work.

i think the question is....when will this happn

First I hate people that post "FIRST REPLY" who gives a flying .... actually comment on the great article!!

Wow that's a great 'first' Dev Journal. Look forward to some more at regular intervals, maybe no need to make 'em so big and have them in parts. But I'm sure time is an issue.

Now onto business

Content
Revamp of the districts. Wow a bomb shell and no real info. Will this be fundimental changes like total design changes like moving of buildings, Hardlines and key NPC contacts/mobs? I'm sure not to get an answer but it will good to have some more on that change.

Additional districts? Additional neighnorhood contact specific missions to add to the current pool?

Marketplace
'Bout time and hopefully it will be a major imporvement, but it's not hard to improve on the current less user friendly Marketplace.

Spies
Good to here, when they change certain things like can't jump while invisible and such. The droping of invisibility/disguise at certain interactions it real killed the usfelness of a whole branch of the tree and people were punished for using the resources. I hope this improves and these 'temporary' solutions seem to last far to long to call them temporary and should be addressed faster.

New Spy Tree! Does this mean the whole tree itself is being deleted and refreshed or extra sub branchs (like Zen Master) as being added to the current tree? I hope the current Spy tree isn't dumbed as it has some current nice abilties, tho Data Miner is quite useless!

Combat
Wow. Anything that can make interlock faster and more fluid is a good thing. I've always hated interlock due to it's stop and start slow method of combat. Specially as a hacker I can take a NPC out in 10-20 secs, but in interlock have to wat 20-30 to kill someone I know I can pwn! I like the idea of multi-combat finally meaning something with a few lvl 40's taking on 50 with more of a chance (hope you guys pass this onto a few lvl 50 taking on an Agent ).

I must say I don't like seeing the term "which is similar to standard MMO melee-combat", I thought MxO was there to set the standard and break the mold and set now ground. Not do it like the others....

Melee combat attacks out of combat and in free-fire mode .. not sure of that one. But will have to wait and see.

Hacker
So it seems a pill to stop STUN ... why not just reduce the timer! Instead of taking the whole ability effectively out of the equation. Me moves to Knife Thrower.... the new sole pwner!

Well thx Archon for the info and update. I must say I loved this body of text:
"Each of these items is in development and subject to change or cancellation at any time. For the people that might misinterpret me, these items are NOT promises of any sort, consider them ‘Design intent.’”
How am I suppose to quote you when you've anything and everything you've said doesn't mean JACK Great disclaimer, but fingers crossed and here's hoping. I really hope interlock is improved!

Sounds pretty good. See, SOE, THIS is what we like. Responses. Interaction. We gotta hear something from you.



Looks like we're already going through a "CU".. let's hope it goes
better than SWG's. Now, so far, I've had problems while trying to take
on Martial Artists my level in Interlock as a Gunman. I can never real
out-roll them. But I know the strategy is to take them out in Free-Fire
mode. But honestly, it's boring. They get to do all the cool animation
moves, while I'm forced to roll out, stay out of combat, and just blast
away until they die. Like I said, I may be the only one with this
problem, but as a gunman I'm forced to beat opponents in Free Fire. And
even if I DO get involved in interlock with a MA, one power, speed, or
grab attack and I'm usually disarmed, which makes me even more useless
in interlock.. So we're forced to get out of interlock into free-fire,
but we're stuck to just blast away with auto-attacks and other ranged
abilities. It's pretty boring.. really. Maybe it's just me.



Anyways.. it was said that interlock would now be shorter. I don't know
if that's such a good idea.. I mean, being based off the movies and
whatnot.. fights lasted for a while. Think of Seraph/Neo,
Morpheus/Neo.. the fights were interesting, and they lasted for a good
while. Right now, the fights.. well, it depends. You have to be within
a +2/-2 range to stand a decent change. If the fights are shorter.. it
seems like it takes away from the movie-feel of it. Good fights lasted
a pretty decent amount in the movies. And the level range.. come on.
The reason it's so hard to find people to level with is because the
range of difficultly is pretty short. I mean, a plus 1 level may win.
Plus 2 levels and it's very rare, but not entirely impossible. Plus 3
and there's pretty much no shot. Maybe the guys over there can smoothen
that out a bit. It seems like a change may be coming to that..
hopefully.

,,l,,(-_-) ,,l,,

Message Edited by SpikeDX on 08-24-2005 04:55 PM

I think I have to change my pants now.



If this is going to be as good as it sounds, we will have a completely
new game experience to look forward to. It would be nice to have
interlock run smoother and more realistically, instead of the I punch
you, pause, you punch me deal that we have now. My only question would
be, how soon are these changes going to be implemented?



I'm very pleased with the level of detail we are being given on
upcoming changes, it's nice to hear what's being planned in specific
terms.

Wow, this all is a breath of fresh air.  Looking forward to all the changes coming...especially interlock and spy. 



It's also good to hear the story will continue as well!



Keep up the good work guys.

I am once again excited.  Can't wait for the changes.:smileyhappy:

roll on the changes ... obviously you need sometime to get them right but sooner the better.  changes are really needed to keep most people in the game especially the higher levels.  It does all sound very nice hope you pull it off properly and make this game as it can be.

Yeaaaaaa This means in 6 to 8 months this game should be half way playable.....  All we need to do now is release this into Beta and let some people try it out and then we can launch the game..........  WAIT.... They allready did the beta thing.... they all ready Mass released it.......Oh SHlT.... Now what.... um quick lets hurry up and do nothing till then... Lets all pay $15.00 for the next 6 months to see what happens.. or better yet lets get a station pass and pay $21.00 and play a different game that isnt going to HeII in a hand basket.....

Sorry if i sound so sinical but seriously,  mabey the devs should quit splitting up there work on pointless stuff and all work on releasing just one thing at a time. It doesnt make since to me to tell everyone about things that wont be out till the holiday season.  How about Release Pandora's box release some new items and mabey listen to the players a little bit more.  Most of the people that play this game that are lvl 50 are so bored that they would rather go play another MMO and start all over than just sit in mara C or PvP all day long.  I didnt hear anything in that little speach about the End User at all. lets change the game for all the new people that are going to come play this game and totaly forget about the people that have been with this game since BETA..... who cares about the lvl 50's we got there money allready lets worry about the people that might come play this game.....

Message Edited by xerovirus on 08-24-2005 05:22 PM

Nice one xerovirus, it is all about getting it ready for the SOE/Station Pass customers. Tho they have said Pandora's Box is for the mid-top level players.

But that said I can't fault you on your ideals.

First of all - Thank You Archon on the updates and introduction of yourself. Good start.



I am unconditionally positive to Pandora's Box, Marketplace changes,
Spy changes and the Anti-Hacker pill (and people - it won't make stun
useless, I think, but it does seem like you'll have to hit with stun
twice in a somewhat limited time-frame in order to get the desired
effect).



I am somewhat wary of the District changes and the combat changes, however...



It would've been nice to know what you devs mean by revamping the
districts - are we gonna see layout/graphics changes, contact changes,
access node changes, collector-changes, gang changes...or what? Some
tidbit on what you are planning here would've been nice.

Personally, I wouldn't mind some game-space alterations - most notably
to maych building outsdides with insides as you do other changes; more
story and such, and better new-player content in the Slums is welcomed
with open arms!



As for the combat, I am very ... dismayed, to read you are adding melee
to 'free-fire' - personally, I think you should put effort into making
the normal ranged combat more 'interlock-style' with cool animations,
cinematic-style. Not make things more like 'MMO-standard' :smileysad: *shudder*



One thing I want to see is more animations for the target, when we use
free-fire abilities and regulars. Doing dodge moves (similar to what we
see as we run in a busy street, dodging cars) would be a great
addition, I think. As well as possibly retaliation attacks (we take a
shot at someone, free-fire, but miss and instead the target throws off
a shot or two at us, for low damage.). We also 'need' better sniping
possibilities - maybe slightly longer range, but mostly better pathing
so that low fences and piles of garbage don't interrupt LoS.



The interlock-revamp sounds good though. More cinematic and shorter sounds good, as well as (hopefully) more balance.



But as I said - I think you should move away from what MMos do
for combat and instead refine and expand on the interlock system and
MxO's uniqueness as far as fluid, cinematic, cool combat goes...

Please don't forget these things too:



Ability to change RSI appearance in loading area.

Auto-stacking of code bits in the code bank.

Fix lag issues in downtown.

Fix simulacra so they don't shoot me when im concealed and not detected.

Elevator door animations are bugged.

Implement Zen Master, its ready.

Or, unload Zen Master abilities from RSI's that still have them loaded up.

Message Edited by jeffrah on 08-24-2005 05:33 PM

---

thornTree wrote:
(and people - it won't make stun useless, I think, but it does seem like you'll have to hit with stun twice in a somewhat limited time-frame in order to get the desired effect).

---

Just a point on that. You know currently once you stun someone they are immune to further STUN for an automatic 40 seconds?

*Gasp*

That's all I can say right now.  If this turns into SWG with Hyperjump and sunglasses, I fear I won't be around long.......

I'll stick it out because I love this game, but I'm a bit apprehensive.

Holdout (no sig, no forum name, no problem!)

The Collective

Well any news is good news.  I am interested in this Slums
revamp.  Do they mean new buildings and districs or simple hl
moves and vendor moves.

*CENSORED*! :smileymad:



No new Constructs... Oh but there revamping the "Slums" give me a
break, I think that's what I will do take a long if not permanent break
from MXO...Glad to see that they gave us some kind of update though..

Hot d'amn, seems like many will be interested again around the fall of this year :smileyvery-happy:

Message Edited by xerovirus on 08-24-2005 06:08 PM

Xerovirus said:

I forgot to mention the Fact that they want to take out Multiple Interlock..... What the heck does that mean. I wont be able to interlock someone that is allready interlocked.... 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think that this is addressed by the fact that you will be able to use certain melee attacks out of interlock, but that is just how i interpreted what the dev said.   So only one person will be able to interlock with someone at a time, but their friend can use certain MA attacks against the foe. 

All in all, I'm encouraged by the 'design intent' and hope that they follow through with it, and that the desired effects will be achieved (balancing, better combat system, fixing of bugs and unfriendly game systems like the marketplace).  I hope they havn't abandoned some of what Paul Chadwick was reported to have said before the SOE takeover announcment of "surreal" game worlds being intorduced, which seemed to imply new constructs or neighborhoods (like maybe the merov's mansion in the mountains or the hall with the doors that lead all over on the 63? floor).  But anyway, this seems like a good start to improving the game.

---

Konvertor wrote:

This is the best news ever! Let's see how powerfull hackers are now that they no longer have their stun

---

Remember that pills are interuptable, so as long as you can keep someone from successfully taking one ... they'll still be stunned

Oh yeah... and I MUST add one more thing. Maybe with MxO's new CU, the devs will hopefully take out some of the silly visual effects.



SOE.. people, listen up. SWG's community was complaining about too many
visual effects.. they said it took away from the realism of it all. It
does. I mean, realistic, you don't see little "dizzy" effects and all
that floating around your head. Some are subtle and acceptable.. but
it's too much.





Now, I know you guys didn't design the visuals, but maybe you can take
some of it out. Tone it down a notch, you know? Even when two MA's are
fighting, you still see a bunch of silly visuals that don't really
belong there. It does take away some of the realism of it. I was just
fighting a MA in one of my missions, and I just watch all the visuals
that popped up when I hit him.. it was ridiculous. It didn't belong
there at all. Hackers are a different story.. but even Hackers have two
many visuals. Make it more realistic. Add blood. I'm empyting clips at
the enemies.. so maybe we can get some bullet holes too. It's not just
a game.. it's the Matrix experience.





Make it realistic. We need REALISM. Can I get an Amen?

Message Edited by SpikeDX on 08-24-2005 06:24 PM

I really love interlock Thats how I mostly play. I hope its better
than I think it is, looks like the game is getting back on its feet. To
ba dhe didnt say annything about new gun models.

We appreciate you keeping us updated. It's good to know everyone's shouting isn't going unnoticed.

Sounds great.  I am really looking forward to the changes.  I just hope we aren't strung along waiting for content while things get completely overhauled.  Pandora's Box sounds like it will be good fun, but I hope more content in the works.  Not just one Pandora's Box that people run through in a week and then have to wait another 2 months for something else.  At the very least we should get some new critical missions and I hope Live events return.

---

manicvelocity wrote:
We appreciate you keeping us updated. It's good to know everyone's shouting isn't going unnoticed.

---

You know... I have to agree with Shadow.... 



Personally, I've been following this game since Concept... Before
Ubi-Soft was announced it would be distributing the game and then
bailed out.  Then, I started playing beta last September... Just
as Shadow said, they have the tendency of putting a carrot in front of
our faces to keep us following... And every-so-often they will actually
release some content that will keep us satiated.  But, then we get
bored and beg for more... so they put a fresh carrot out in front of
our faces again.



Let's see... one major thing... What the hell happened to the
Fanzine?!?... Oh, wait... without conent or a game... how can there be
any content...??  Special Faction rewards and bonuses? ((why do
you think we have a faction bank?)).... Oh, wait... let's get the
Faction Creation system working first....



In closing... Welcome to Beta folks!



Please don't mistake this post as a complaint... It's not.  These
are just observations that I've made over the last 2+ years of my
following this game.... Speaking of which.... is there anyone here left
from the Ubi-Days??... The Ubi-Forums??  If so, we should all get
together... Throw some kind of MxO-Devotion party or something!--- Send me a PM and let's organize something...

Message Edited by Elijah on 08-24-2005 10:19 PM

thank you soooooo much for at least giving us a little info about what is going on.

Thanks again