Look closer at the "non-linear progression system"

[razorace]

Woah, woah, woah. First off, PC Gamer is made up of a bunch of journalists that play games. Sure, they are on the mark most of the time, but they tend to sensationalism in their magazine, especially when it comes to certain titles like Half-Life. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the magazine; They just aren't the end all source of gaming knowledge.

 

Half-Life is VERY linear. The game was heavily scripted and linear. There was only one way to go in the maps and only one way to solve the individual puzzles. Very fun to play (that first/second time thru)? Yes. Non-linear? No.

 

DF/JK let you wander around a little bit, but the maps and puzzles only really had one way to beat them. Heck, the last battle in JK WAS one big fat puzzle with a single solution.

 

I think you might be confusing linearity with immersion. Half-Life, JK, SS2, etc all had a very high levels of player immersion, but they had linearity to varying degrees.

 

Like txa1265 mentioned, the key is to make the player feel like they are playing the game instead of the other way around.

[txa1265]

Originally posted by razorace

<snip> Like txa1265 mentioned, the key is to make the player feel like they are playing the game instead of the other way around.

 

Exactly ... if only I had said it so succinctly ...

 

That is what takes levels in the games I always talk about that are of 'equivalent linearity' and make one feel open and non-linear, and the other feel frustratingly linear.

 

Mike

[StormHammer]

As I said before, I don't think JA's levels will be anywhere near as linear as those in JO. I'm encouraged by what the Raven devs said in the recent PCGamer article...

 

Lead artist, Les Dorschield tells us more. "There will be a lot more saber use and Force use, and because Force jump is such a powerful thing, the levels are built around this vast movement. In a way they are similar to a Quake III Arena maps; you can get attacked from all sides and there is no linear path you have to go through. We will include some contained levels because we want variety, but where these made up about 40% of the levels in JK II, in this game it's about 10%".

 

If this is truly the case, then we should be able to move around quite freely in the terrain. There were a couple of levels in Unreal 2 where you could pretty much move around as you pleased to reach an objective - but once inside the bases, or whatever, you were confined to linear paths again.

 

The other problem that seems to dictate some kind of linearity in maps is that you do often have to fulfill a particular objective in a particular location, so in those terms, you have to visit particular locations, and undertake certain actions in order to complete a mission/level. There's not getting away from that, either, unless you simply create a freeform environment you can wander around at will, without any particular goal to fulfill - which would soon become intensely boring in the context of this kind of game. If they can produce fairly open terrain with an objective sort of in the centre, then it gives you a lot of choice about which way you choose to approach it. The problem with this kind of level design...which I could see in Unreal 2...was that there were not enough 'points of interest' dotted around the terrain itself. For example, if you choose route A...perhaps you could find an old wrecked speeder with some ammo or a weapon stashed inside. If you choose route B, you discover something else...and so on. Open terrain that is devoid of 'pickups' or other items of interest etc., can seem too sparse and unrewarding.

 

Although they are limiting the puzzle elements this time around, I hope that doesn't mean a reduction in the number of secret areas. I like to explore an area thoroughly for secrets, and I think it adds to the longevity of the gameplay - one of Unreal 2's shortcomings.

 

As for MP level design...if they can get close to the open-ended structure of UT's maps, it could be very good indeed.

[Pedro The Hutt]

And besides, it's only ... natural to have places where you can't have "completely lineair movement" mainly indoor locations, the humanly made corridors leave you no choise but to follow them basically. ^^" so I won't mind it really if we only get one or two options to make our way to someplace, unless they suddenly give us a geomod engine and let us chop/blast/explode our way to a certain place hehe.

[HertogJan]

The GeoMod engine wasn't all that much. At least in RF1 it wasn't used very much. I only played a little bit of RF2 and it sucked big time So I haven't explored more in the sequel...

 

I don't think it's bad to have imperial bases, which are pretty linear, but I'd like to see open areas too!! One good example in JO was the huge room with the platform you could 'ride', alongside the wall. Then the platform gets blown up and you have to jump from obstacle to obstacle. The design there was great and really gave me a SW feel

 

Large, open areas do the trick, where you can wander around or just look around Linearity isn't such a big thing then

[StormHammer]

Originally posted by HertogJan

One good example in JO was the huge room with the platform you could 'ride', alongside the wall. Then the platform gets blown up and you have to jump from obstacle to obstacle. The design there was great and really gave me a SW feel

 

That still felt pretty linear to me. If they had allowed you the choice to go in the other direction, and straight through the middle...then it would have felt less linear. You were still constrained to one path, regardless of how open the level actually was.

[razorace]

well, part of the problem is that the developers have to spend a large amount of time to create the maps. Meaning they have to have some way of MAKING you spend a fair amount of time on that map. IE puzzles, key hunts, etc. Otherwise, players would heat seek to the objective and beat the level in a very quick amount of time.

[StormHammer]

Originally posted by razorace

well, part of the problem is that the developers have to spend a large amount of time to create the maps. Meaning they have to have some way of MAKING you spend a fair amount of time on that map. IE puzzles, key hunts, etc. Otherwise, players would heat seek to the objective and beat the level in a very quick amount of time.

 

But that can partly be alleviated by adding more 'points of interest', multiple objectives per map, more secrets to uncover, etc. I agree that it is pointless for a developer to spend X amount of hours designing a map if the player's only going to be in it for two minutes. This is one of the major shortcomings of Unreal 2, IMHO. The designs and graphics were very nice...but I didn't stop around to look at them, because there was nothing to do but fight enemies. That was it, basically. There needs to be more interaction with the environment to keep your interest.

 

If the player is given more to do in a level, they are likely to spend longer in it. Anyway, Raven haven't done away with puzzles completely, so there should still be puzzles to keep us occupied. But they basically have to give us good reasons to go exploring - and admire the map design along the way.

[razorace]

...or add more interactivity with the maps to allow players to slow down and "smell the roses". Duke 3D was a great example of this. There was plenty of interesting things to touch and play with instead of just picking up cardkeys, throwing switches and killing baddies.

[StormHammer]

Originally posted by razorace

...or add more interactivity with the maps to allow players to slow down and "smell the roses". Duke 3D was a great example of this. There was plenty of interesting things to touch and play with instead of just picking up cardkeys, throwing switches and killing baddies.

 

Yeah...messing around with the pool table was fun.

 

I hope they decide to include some more mini-games in JA. I still wouldn't mind sitting down in a cantina somewhere and having a game of Star Wars chess (from ANH), or Sabacc. Or just listen to a proper jizz band...

[Solbe M'ko]

Why do need to bother with levels at all? Why not just make a game where you can go pretty much anywhere in the Star Wars universe? Lucasarts has probably been aproached a number of times with this question, but never acted on it. I think that the technology now exists to put together a complete Star Wars game, that builds itself as you go.

[Emon]

Yeah man, stupid LEC! They should just make a game that creates a universe itself, despite the fact that technology to create something so complex and detailed won't be around for at least another thirty years! I can't believe they still have levels!

[Solbe M'ko]

I totally serious! It's not some huge undertaking like a dedicated RPG either! A few universal rules and let the player take it wherever they want to go. Sorta like ShadowRun for the genesis, but way more complex.

Games like Morrowind have toyed with the idea, but were hampered by RPG elements, I'm not suggesting that every detail need be considered by the developers, this could be randomized to a certain degree.

This is totally possible and your statement that it would take 30 years is absolutely out the window.

[StormHammer]

Originally posted by Solbe M'ko

I totally serious! It's not some huge undertaking like a dedicated RPG either! A few universal rules and let the player take it wherever they want to go. Sorta like ShadowRun for the genesis, but way more complex.

Games like Morrowind have toyed with the idea, but were hampered by RPG elements, I'm not suggesting that every detail need be considered by the developers, this could be randomized to a certain degree.

This is totally possible and your statement that it would take 30 years is absolutely out the window.

 

While randomised levels can often add variety to gameplay, they rarely offer the same depth and attention to detail that predetermined levels can, IMHO. Just look at the random mission generator in Raven's SOF2 as an example. The objectives for those levels are usually quite basic, and the necessary use of prefabricated building models etc., can lead to many of those levels feeling the same.

 

As for Morrowind...they built all of the terrain, and placed every single item within that world, and then tested it all, which is one of the reasons it took a considerable amount of time to develop. That was for what is, to all intents and purposes, a single island.

 

It would take years of development to realise an entire galaxy. This is one of the reasons why Star Wars: Galaxies has focused on something like just 10 worlds...and AFAIK you don't even get to roam across the entire worlds, just playing zones on each planet.

 

That is simply in terms of level contruction. If you want a completely free-form and evolving storyline, then you have to populate that universe with characters based on incredible AI routines so they realistically go about their everyday lives, and it has to be robust and flexible enough to allow for a multitude of different actions from the player, and the consequences of those actions as they effect the locality, or the universe as a whole.

 

I think we are some way off from realising such a complex and evolving system.

 

I would be satisfied with open levels that are well-constructed, options in terms of paths and choices that can impact gameplay further on, and have a decent well-crafted story to gel it all together into something cohesive and enjoyable.

[Emon]

No, Soleb ',miekwhatever, you proposed something totally random in your first post, which is impossible for how you want it.

[razorace]

I wouldn't call it impossible. The technology is here it's just the content issue. Computers can only randomize stuff to a certain degree. The amount of content to be able to make a randomizable Star Wars "galaxy" would take decades and STILL not be that randomizable. A computer randomize the building order, streets, etc. but it doesn't understand human arcitexture, language, NPC, etc.

 

Randomizing works good for certain situations, like where the map needs to be different but where the actual map isn't the draw of the game (like X-Com).

[Solbe M'ko]

I think it really depends on when a team will get together for that purpose. It takes some initiation to get these things going.

Furthermore, it wouldn't need to be randomized entirely (Shadowrun). The developers would set the stage and the computer could just maintain it by adding new missions etc. Also, upon further thought on the topic I have come to the conclusion that technology has little to do with it. "The Industry" just needs to get on board and encourage creativity. I don't know about you folks, but I find that nothing really innovative has happened to games since "Wolfenstein". This stagnation of the computer entertainment industry is one of my major concers on the issue.

[razorace]

Again, the generated missions are only as good as the inputed creative data from the developers.

 

As for the stagnation comment, I'd have to partially agree, but that's the way it's been for a decade or so. When big business comes into the picture, stagnation occurs because the suits don't like "taking risks". However, there is still pretty of new blood that releases quality games. In fact, the overall average quality has gone up since the Great Console Migration of a few years ago.

[Solbe M'ko]

Thats exactly what I'm thinking. IMO, what the industry really needs is a brand new project that would up the ante some. And I don't want to hear that something like that would be too expensive, people make games for free in the form of MODS. I for one would PAY to get my ideas in a game.

[razorace]

Well, there are a lot of us modders that would LOVE to do our stuff professionally. However, a real game requires a lot of money to pay staff, get software/hardware, etc. I'd love to do it but I don't have the money for that sort of venture.

[Solbe M'ko]

Yeah, I hear you. Im not in any position of higher knowledge or anything, but licensing game engines probably costs a bundle; maybe that's why mods are such a great source of good gameplay: the don't waste time with that BS (and they have half the works done already!).

[razorace]

Well, it depends on the engine. Torque (Tribes series) only costs $100 per programmer for a commerical license. But the other more known systems cost hundreds of thousands.

 

As for coding load for mods, it really depends on the mod. I'm finding that I'm have to do a LOT of recoding for MotF to add features that Raven skipped over or broke.

[HertogJan]

Damn, you guys are slowchatting over here, that's pretty annoying And you're getting way off topic too

[razorace]

We were the only ones posting anyway. If you want to talk about something more on topic, feel free.

[StormHammer]

Originally posted by razorace

I wouldn't call it impossible. The technology is here it's just the content issue. Computers can only randomize stuff to a certain degree. The amount of content to be able to make a randomizable Star Wars "galaxy" would take decades and STILL not be that randomizable. A computer randomize the building order, streets, etc. but it doesn't understand human arcitexture, language, NPC, etc.

 

Randomizing works good for certain situations, like where the map needs to be different but where the actual map isn't the draw of the game (like X-Com).

 

That was partly the point I was trying to make. Of course it depends on the game that is being developed...but in my view a randomly generated map can never be quite as good as a map that is specifically designed for a certain type of gameplay. For example, if you tried to randomly generate one of the maps used in Unreal Tournament...I think it would end up as a bit of a mess.

 

When it comes to more open terrain, then I agree that randomisation is okay, as long as the pre-fabricated buildings that are inserted into the map have already been designed for good gameplay by the developers.

 

Taking the Elder Scrolls series as an example again...in Daggerfall, Bethesda did use quite a high level of randomisation in terms of both buildings and characters...but the problem in the end was that a lot of the buildings and characters just looked very generic, and the characters had a lot of similar sounding names. Basically, the very randomisation that was supposed to give the game a lot more variety actually made much of the game feel very much the same. You'd go from one town to another...and they all looked very similar. This is one of the reasons why Bethesda decided to actually design everything individually in Morrowind, and get away from randomisation. In effect, it didn't really work.

 

So I think we have a very long way to go before a randomisation system can approach the kind of quality that a level-designer focusing on a certain type of gameplay can develop. While randomisation can help to provide a more non-linear type of gameplay, it doesn't necessarily equate to that experience being more enjoyable. And that would be the key factor for me...I want to play an enjoyable game, not simply one that offers me 10,000 options in terms of the environment and characters.

 

Of course, that's just IMHO.

 

BTW, id's Quake 3 engine costs about $250,000 to license, and the Unreal engine costs about $500,000 to license. I don't know about id, but Epic also takes a percentage in royalties for every unit sold. The Torque engine looks a lot more attractive at $100 a throw...