Ask the devs an MXO question

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ZaneZavin wrote:
Do you think historical missions will make the next patch?

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I can't really comment on that stuff aside from what appears in the patch notes Walrus posts.

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Megaritz wrote:

Why's the sound looping bug still around?

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'Cause it hasn't got fixed yet.

I did find something funky with the configuration of the hyperjump sound fx though. If this configuration issue is the cause of the looping bug, then it is, at least, fixable on a case-by-case basis. We need to get some resources replaced and do some testing.

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Tseng. wrote:

do you think the world event browser in game could be used again?. good example of its use would be the broadcast on vector today so players can keep track of things.

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  Earlier in this thread, either Rarebit or Frog (most likely the former) stated that Flash Traffic is currently broken.

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Megaritz wrote:
You said the Twins had character models. Does this mean they're alive, or is is a flashback cinematic or somethign?

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That's a future story thing, and mum's the word!

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Vaico wrote:
Are we getting the patch today?

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According to Walrus' post made this morning, "We will instead be installing Update 40 tomorrow morning."

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PBlade wrote:
Is there a limit to how much you can take from a single player LE wise?

I mean if they ask reasonable, non spam questions or talk to storyline characters on a daily basis about things that aren't annoying spam, can you only take so much?

*That's for my own self preservation *

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Don't worry about it. We're pretty good at ignoring spam, even Mara Central style. If we have a problem with your messages, the Live character will either let you know by RP, or by putting your tells on /ignore. If it's real disruptive spam for others during a live event, we can admin silence you temporarily. But until one of those things happens to you, as far as you should be concerned, you're in the clear.

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Roukan wrote:
Rarebit will you gimme my 12 mil back?

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I don't have direct control over that kind of thing. But 12 mil from what?

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Symmetric wrote:
Rarebit, can I send you a gift basket for being such a cool guy through all this?

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Actually I was pretty traumatized yesterday, so I don't think I deserve a cool guy basket. Thanks for the thought, though.

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The_Odinn wrote:

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The_Odinn wrote:
somebody please ask this for me, i really wanna know if melee damage/accuracy covers stealth damage/combat tactics from pre cu2.0 i know this may seem like a future release question but consider that im talking bout the Q&A server and u will see it's not. i made a new rsi just so i wouldn't loose out on 3 points of belief for my character and before i grind him all the way to 50 i'd like to know that he's actually gonna be good at what i want him to be good at.

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please!!! i must know, grinding to 50 is hard work!!!

EDIT: btw im referring specifically to assassain abilities and not knife thrower.

Message Edited by The_Odinn on 01-19-200602:10 PM

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The new Stealth system is still in design, and it isn't yet finalized what attributes or stats or whatever will affect it. We'll fill you guys in as soon as we have that worked out. And when the combat update moves into Live, everyone will be given the chance to reassign their attribute points however they like.

EDIT: Aw nuts, got me on an edit.

Message Edited by Rarebit on 01-19-200611:36 PM

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Tseng. wrote:

how come there arnt any npcs that use assassin?

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Actually, Frog recently switched Ookami over to Assassin. Veil, in theory, is also an Assassin, or something close to it.

If you're talking about computer-controlled NPCs, then the answer has to do with what abilities we're able to teach them to use effectively. They can do knife throw attacks (the Dire Lupines do these at higher level), but our AI aren't able to do complicated things like sneak attacks and so forth.

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Symmetric wrote:
So when will they make clothing not look like it's made out of cardboard?

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Psst... Symm... When you buy new clothes, you take the cardboard part out. That's just there so it folds nice on the shelf.

Oh wait, was this a Matrix question?

Hmm... But what if the cardboard is kind of nice and shiny?

Oh wait, is this a future release question? Oh noe- /jackout

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Roukan wrote:
Rarebit will you make a level 45 in the QA and duel me?

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Dude. Come on now. I ain't no small-time gangsta.

~giveexperience 999999999999999999999

Bring it.

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Roukan wrote:
Bring it nub! No specials nobuffs?

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Of course not...

/target Roukan
/meatwad
/lookaround

Hey, where did Roukan go? I thought he wanted to duel?

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Roukan wrote:
Can the devs consider Player-LET for free if they volunteer?

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Wait... I've seen this... This is it, this is the end. Yes... You're laying right there, just like that. And I... I... I stand here, right here. I'm supposed to say something... I say... LESIG. What? What did I just say?

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Sykin wrote:
What exactly is wrong with the /emote command? Many players are hoping this will be fixed in light of better roleplay.

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/shakehead Oh man, I remember trying to test that when it was first done. I think there must have been some miscommunication between whoever requested it and whoever implemented it. It still goes something like this, right?

Rarebit>/emote answers Sykin
Rarebit trips cow answers Sykin mad

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Steege wrote:
(Ok, I think I'm ready. Hehe...)

Do you believe that with CR2.0, we will begin to see more people dress for style, and not just for buffs?

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I hadn't really thought about it (CR2.0 is being run covertly by Archon, Justice, and Oar. They get together and whisper a lot). But that does seem like a likely result, doesn't it? Archon is a clever son of a gun.

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Sykin wrote:
Pretending that a second LESIG sign-up comes around, what will make you eligible to join in on the good stuff? Ergo, what are those in charge looking for when it comes to feedback, constructive criticism, suggestions?

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That's really a question for Walrus, 'cause I don't know what criteria he used, and I'd let him answer this, but I'm impatient, so--eh, maybe you should PM him. I know he just loves it when I tell people to do that (*instinctively ducks flipper slap*), but I think there's probably enough general interest in your question to justify it.

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Roukan wrote:
Do the GMS have a policy for replacing lost items?

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Probably, but you'd have to ask them that. GMs and such are managed by SOE for the most part, rather than by the MXO team specifically, so whatever they do is likely part of general SOE customer service policy.

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Tseng. wrote:

if i had to guess id say ookami's model took the longest/ had the most attention on it. is that right or does another claim the throne?

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I don't know offhand, and many of our previous character artists are no longer on the team, so I can't get a definite answer for you. If I had to guess, though, I would say that chances are good one of the movie characters took the longest--the Merovingian, say, or Morpheus, or Persephone. Because the toughest part of working on a piece of art, in my own humble experience, can be when you have to capture a specific real-life likeness.

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Misfit1 wrote:
Who knows more? You or Agent jeeves?

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I...don't know. And if Jeeves knows, then I suppose that means he probably does.

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CooliceT wrote:

when are they going to release new download stuff on DN1...

found here.

its been updating for ages. it would seem. :/

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Future release question! Yusss!

It was fun to watch Walrus' eyes roll back in his head when I asked him about that yesterday, though. A lot of his time goes into pushing for this stuff. But it is not directly in our hands.

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symbea wrote:
Have you ever considered any ideas seen in topics on the forums?

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We don't so much consider them as just steal them randomly and pass them off as our own work.

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DeBarlo wrote:
Are you guys able to log in as an LET charcter (Niobe, Merovingian, etc.) from home?

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Jigsaw beat me to it, but: Nope. Admin access is very tightly restricted.

Would you consider making enhanced versions of clothing that currently have no enhanced versions? (i.e. the Black Jayne Half-Duster I wear has no Enhanced version, only Armored and Shielded. Some extra melee damage or Dodge Ranged would be nice. )

Message Edited by Symmetric on 12-17-2005 06:06 PM

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Symmetric wrote:

Would you consider making enhanced versions of clothing that currently have no enhanced versions? (i.e. the Black Jayne Half-Duster I wear has no Enhanced version, only Armored and Shielded. Some extra melee damage or Dodge Ranged would be nice. )

Message Edited by Symmetric on 12-17-2005 06:06 PM

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That is *this* close to being a future release question, but I'll see if I can skirt the issue.



Adding generical enhanced clothing types pretty much has to be done by scripts generated by an object wrangler. As has been mentioned, our wrangler is currently very busy whipping up a ridiculous number of item revisions for the combat update. Whether or not that will include additional enhanced versions, I don't know.



Additionally, from my particular design side of things, I've you've tried making a new character recently and have gone through the first part of the Uriah newbie sequence and collected the available parts of the "Industrial" clothing set, you'll have an inkling of the type of thing we've been considering for increasing the number of unique enhanced items. I believe Frog has touched on this issue before as well.



Believe me, we're aware that the style selections available now for enhanced items do not always meet everyone's tastes. Now me, for our game I like black. And white. And shiny. Sooooometimes maybe a little brown or low saturation green; and perhaps a more saturated red if I'm feeling frisky.

Edit: Durn it! Got me with an edit. /shakefist

Message Edited by Rarebit on 12-17-2005 03:25 PM

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Rarebit wrote:

Edit: Durn it! Got me with an edit. /shakefist

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Sorry...the only part I added with the edit was the buffs I'd like to see. The original question didn't change. My apologies.

Message Edited by Symmetric on 12-17-2005 06:35 PM

Will we get some cooler sunglasses?  ATM there are very few designs even non buffed styles of sunglasses.

BAH late on asking as usual.

Message Edited by FAOrien on 12-17-2005 05:39 PM

Word, Rarebit. I actually choose my clothes for my RSIs based on look,
rather than buffs. Usually I have a "Strolling Around Town" suit, a
"Combat" suit, and perhaps another style of suit designed for a
combination of style and combat effectiveness. Anywho, yeah, I'll let
you get back to your questions

A mission designer? Oh. Well, he did make Veil's RSI so I just thought...



Well in any case, I what to know what kind of junk happens around the
work area for the MxO. I imagine a million Matrix quotes a day with one
lone man at the coffee machine offering the "choice" of caffeinated...
Or decaffeinated.

Earlier:

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Rarebit wrote:

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TetraCleric wrote:
Why is Ghost Bald?

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If I remember correctly, it's because we didn't get the rights to use
the likeness of that movie actor in the game. This wasn't discovered
until right near the end of Beta, so up until that point, he had hair,
just like in the movie!

Message Edited by Rarebit on 12-14-2005 09:38 PM

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However, I'm still curious as to why exactly Ghost is bald.

So they weren't allowed to use Anthony Wong's likeness, it doesn't quite explain why you guys decided to scalp him.

My question:

Why
didn't you just Frankenstein together a vaguely similar looking
character using the generic character models (like you did with Veil)?

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Steege wrote:
Earlier:

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Rarebit wrote:

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TetraCleric wrote:
Why is Ghost Bald?

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If I remember correctly, it's because we didn't get the rights to use the likeness of that movie actor in the game. This wasn't discovered until right near the end of Beta, so up until that point, he had hair, just like in the movie!

Message Edited by Rarebit on 12-14-2005 09:38 PM

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However, I'm still curious as to why exactly Ghost is bald.

So they weren't allowed to use Anthony Wong's likeness, it doesn't quite explain why you guys decided to scalp him.

My question:

Why didn't you just Frankenstein together a vaguely similar looking character using the generic character models (like you did with Veil)?

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I can only guess that whoever did it back in the day had a thing for bald Asian men.

What's been the funnest thing you've designed in the game?

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Talauntiar wrote:
What's been the funnest thing you've designed in the game?

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You are my new favorite question-asking-person.

Let's see... Actually this is getting kind of hard to pick.

I think it would still be the Death of the Destroyer event. Neither the character nor the general event concept were mine (the Wachowskis themselves came up with the Assassin's initial concept, or so I have heard through the grapevine, and Paul Chadwick decided that multiples of him would perish in mass bug-spray battles against players), nor were his nasty abilities or nifty loot rewards, but it devolved to Frog and I to design and implement the actual details of his week-long rise and fall.

We designed much of the event, such as the weather changes and corrupted spawns, to be automated, but there was still the matter of playing what were eventually twelve separate live Assassin characters. We decided that there would be a gentle ramp-up in the automated stuff and in the Assassin's live activity (killing players) as the week progressed. This all took a lot of work to prepare for, and unfortunately Frog got sick--OMG the Fly Virus!--somewhere around midweek, I think it was.

So I was the one who had to run around and organize the final big push. Archon and Andy K granted me widespread power over the team to make sure that the event went off, and for those beautiful few days, I was mighty!

Not that I took advantage of that, or anything. Well, okay, I did. I bumped up the severity of the Assassin's depredations. He was only supposed to whip out a stuns and a few lightning bolts and things on Friday, but I ended up staying pretty late and not sparing the damage AOEs and meatwads. Power! Raw, unlimited power!

The schedule that Frog and I had drawn up initially hadn't even called for anyone to play as the Assassin on Saturday. It was to be the lull before the final storm. But somehow I found myself in the office early in the afternoon, jacked in, and killing players right and left. They couldn't seem to get enough of it. I was amazed. It was a win-win situation as far as I was concerned. By late that evening I had ended up doing two long trawls across each of the three servers, first leading players across Slums/Barrens (these were the original names of Richland/Westview--I can't shake three years of habit there, so I'm going to stop trying from East to West on all three servers, then looping through each of them again from North to South, very roughly speaking. I think I pretty much slaughtered players en masse for about eight solid hours.

Then Sunday I had to manage all our team members who came in to play the various event roles (and Frog made it back, yay!). This was exhausting, and there were unexpectedly early Assassin deaths, and client crashes, and other things here and there, but somehow we got through it, and that was very satisfying. The only real downer was that the servers got way chuggier than experience had led us to anticipate. Found out Monday when the server engineers were in that the servers had been running with maximum logging enabled for standard server team crash debug purposes, and under the heightened client activity we had that day, the servers just reached that critical point where they couldn't quite keep up with both running the game and spewing out the extremely detailed logs at the same time. Live and learn.

So that Saturday was still my favorite day as an MXO designer.

The Fly Virus didn't catch up with me until middle of the next Tuesday. =p

Now my question:





Waffles or biscuits? Answer it for iterator's sake!

Ahaha!

I know this isnt right after Rarebits post, but Im sure someone would ask:

There are highlighted areas on the Mega City map that arent ingame, have these areas been created?

Yes its a future question, but any answer is better than no answer.

Message Edited by FAOrien on 12-17-2005 06:30 PM

Message Edited by cloudwol on 12-18-2005 12:40 AM

Ghost with the Ponytail hair cut might look cool.

The reason ghost is bald seems to be (to me at least) that when they
found out they didn't have the rights to his likeness they decided to
avoid a possible lawsuit they purposely created a character that had no
likeness to the actor, whatsoever.



While this works from a business stand point, it leaves soething to be
desired from a story stand point, like a real explination, but perhaps
by not explaining it, we can avoid drawing too much attention to this
particular hiccup.

Hey Rarebit, is it true that SOE is repackaging MxO?  I personally know of alot of people who want to but this game, buy every place is sold out.

EDIT:- You probably can't answer this.

Message Edited by JigsawComplex on 12-17-2005 06:05 PM

A question I wouldn't mind having answered... why can't we drop items in the world?

There's ways around it... but it would be nice to actually drop things intentionally.

So you're part of the graphics design team (a highly interesting job,
in my opinion), I assume. What other kinds of designers/developers can
be seen Kung Fu'ing around the office on a normal day?

If i understand correctly him and Frog are both Mission designers

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Sykin wrote:
So
you're part of the graphics design team (a highly interesting job, in
my opinion), I assume. What other kinds of designers/developers can be
seen Kung Fu'ing around the office on a normal day?

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