Comments on: Simple Graphics for Simple Minds

By: No More MMO Heroes | Kill Ten Rats

No More MMO Heroes | Kill Ten Rats — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:11:50 +0000

[...] as well as Zubon, have been playing a lot of Team Fortress 2. I really enjoy the chaotic style of play that public [...]

By: Rog

Rog — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:22:29 +0000

Gameplay is essential, Content is king, but Visuals are the gateway. Graphics sell it, Animation keeps selling it.

Visuals do matter.

By: Hirvox

Hirvox — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:51:58 +0000

I assume Zubon’s talking about scaling the magnitude of the effect with level rather than scaling to the opponent’s size.
Yes, but I think that the problem is not on which game mechanic the scaling is tied to and rather on the scale itself. In a run-of-the-mill fantasy MMO, the power level of the player character ranges from getting killed by rats to curbstomping gods. That Ion Cannon blast and the roots of the World Tree are even more ridiculous when used on that rat.

On a more positive note, Fable 2 had a nice scaling system. Each spell had five levels. For example, the lightning attack at level 1 is a small zap while the level 5 one was a huge thunderbolt. The trick was that if you wanted to cast that level 5 one, you had to charge the spell through levels 1-4, and you could stop casting at any time to launch a low-powered version of the spell. Learning a new rank of a spell made the earlier ones faster to cast, which made your character stronger versus weaker enemies without running into that Ion Cannon vs rat-problem.

By: Degwarg

Degwarg — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:03:34 +0000

Oh man, Red Maid, been a looong time since I’ve seen that battle. Good ol’ days.

Used to love Pack Hunter (think that was it) late in my MP career…it’d stick a huge, goofy-looking flag on the freep’s back. Applied it mostly for the comedy value.

Engineer’s Land Mine in Warhammer was fun, esp. in a crowded area, amusing to watch 5-6 people suddenly flop over on their backs at the same time.

By: Jezebeau

Jezebeau — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:16:33 +0000

Hirvox, don’t forget entangling them with the roots of the world tree.

I assume Zubon’s talking about scaling the magnitude of the effect with level rather than scaling to the opponent’s size. In the case of physical attacks I would prefer scaling based on the difference in power levels between the two parties. A sword-fight between equally matched opponents, where both are checking each other’s moves, is not nearly as action-movie-ish as one where one guy trounces the other.

By: We Fly Spitfires

We Fly Spitfires — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:45:48 +0000

It’s one of the reasons I enjoyed Age of Conan – the fighting mechanics had real impact to them. Nothing quite as satisfying as slicing the throat of the person who tried to gank you earlier :) Fatalities should be in every MMO..

By: Hirvox

Hirvox — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:17:59 +0000

It would be nice to see them scale, from a low-level singe to a high-level pyre.
Of course, visual effect scaling can also go horribly wrong. Try watching a Balance druid in a WoW raid. While others throw normal-sized fireballs and shadowbolts at the boss, the druid hits them with an Ion Cannon blast from orbit. ;-)

By: Melmoth

Melmoth — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:07:11 +0000

but is a far cry from the panicked shouts of ogres.

Man, it’s been ages since I put a snake in the college football team locker room.

Good times.