to my friend today. they where watching me play this game. obviously interested. i explained ships ground combat praised Dstahls direction of the game nitpicked things i didnt like but tried to sell the game. cuz hey for all its flaws its a great game.
When we got into sector space as soon as i opened his map he simply asked" why is space a square box?" i tried to say its to separate zones and such. he repeateded it again and says space is huge. look at the outline of everything you can explore thats freaking tiny just make it one open zone. i tried to say something like cryptic does this in all their games zones and even when they did COH.....and his only response so cryptic cant or simply doesnt know how to make open zones? tons of mmos out there
so i guess i need to ask.....Why cant you make an open world type idea? whats stopping you cryptic? i had no answer to give him and his decision was space as a box is stupid.
No such thing a a truly open world MMO, they all have boundaries. Some are just better at hiding it than others.
This game was thrown together in an incredibly short space of time and as a result certain elements are not as polished as others. Sector space being one of them; a graphical revamp of sector space is coming with Season 3 and alarger re-vamp for sometime next year.
they have already said they plan to open up the sectors at some point to have a larger open world feel and the graphical improvements in season 3 will help loads.
sto closest competitor in terms of space is eve and its nothing more than a series of boxes, its just hidden slightly better.
What I would like to see in sector space, is the light flashing past you when at warp speed. I suppose it could be done, like in that one Defari mission.
There's a space revamp in the works. Show it to him again once it's implemented...assuming it ends up in better shape than it is now. It'll still be "in boxes", but all games have zones and boundaries and such. As pointed out above, some just hide it better.
here's hoping they can make it atleast look and feel bigger with the revamp. when i look at a sector in STO it seems like it's only about half a city block worth of space from the city environment in CO.
When we got into sector space as soon as i opened his map he simply asked" why is space a square box?"
Because Sector Space is your ship's Astrometrics. Plain and simple.
I like it. It's a clever solution. Everything else would have been less realistic, for you can hardly include full size star systems and exact distances into the game. I'm sure not even your friend wants to travel hours before getting to the next planet.
Because Sector Space is your ship's Astrometrics. Plain and simple.
I like it. It's a clever solution. Everything else would have been less realistic, for you can hardly include full size star systems and exact distances into the game. I'm sure not even your friend wants to travel hours before getting to the next planet.
Because Sector Space is your ship's Astrometrics. Plain and simple.
I like it. It's a clever solution. Everything else would have been less realistic, for you can hardly include full size star systems and exact distances into the game. I'm sure not even your friend wants to travel hours before getting to the next planet.
That's kinda how I always saw it, myself. Still, I'm not a big fan of those stupid lollipops.
Because Sector Space is your ship's Astrometrics. Plain and simple.
I like it. It's a clever solution. Everything else would have been less realistic, for you can hardly include full size star systems and exact distances into the game. I'm sure not even your friend wants to travel hours before getting to the next planet.
I wish my Astrometrics lab would get off their slacker-bums and update the icon for the USS Victory.
to my friend today. they where watching me play this game. obviously interested. i explained ships ground combat praised Dstahls direction of the game nitpicked things i didnt like but tried to sell the game. cuz hey for all its flaws its a great game.
When we got into sector space as soon as i opened his map he simply asked" why is space a square box?" i tried to say its to separate zones and such. he repeateded it again and says space is huge. look at the outline of everything you can explore thats freaking tiny just make it one open zone. i tried to say something like cryptic does this in all their games zones and even when they did COH.....and his only response so cryptic cant or simply doesnt know how to make open zones? tons of mmos out there
so i guess i need to ask.....Why cant you make an open world type idea? whats stopping you cryptic? i had no answer to give him and his decision was space as a box is stupid.
If asked again in the future, try saying: "What you're looking at a three-dimensional view of a star chart, as seen through my astrometrics lab. I'm currently displaying the soandso sector of space. My ship is located right here (point to screen) in relation to the system I'm plotting a course to over there (point to screen again)."
Then your friend will say "oh, cool", and that will be that.
Because Sector Space is your ship's Astrometrics. Plain and simple.
I like it. It's a clever solution. Everything else would have been less realistic, for you can hardly include full size star systems and exact distances into the game. I'm sure not even your friend wants to travel hours before getting to the next planet.
its like the scene from nemesis when data and Picard are plotting their coarse(sp?) thru the nebula right before Shinzon shows up.
Because Sector Space is your ship's Astrometrics. Plain and simple.
I like it. It's a clever solution. Everything else would have been less realistic, for you can hardly include full size star systems and exact distances into the game. I'm sure not even your friend wants to travel hours before getting to the next planet.
I think that would an easier pill for people to swallow if we were to access sector space from the astometrics lab of our ship.
Similar to the galaxy map in Mass Effect.
As it stands now we go from System Space, to Sector Space and its a bit of a jolt as the transition doesn't really gel well.
I think that would an easier pill for people to swallow if we were to access sector space from the astometrics lab of our ship.
Similar to the galaxy map in Mass Effect.
As it stands now we go from System Space, to Sector Space and its a bit of a jolt as the transition doesn't really gel well.
But then whenever we wanted to beam up to our ship from a planet/station etc, we'd have to 1) beam up 2) run to astrometrics (hopefully it is close to transporter room) and finally 3) choose our destination. Cryptic has just decided to skip the 2nd step, because after doing it a few times it would become really irritating and unnecessary.
It also makes a lot of sense, most of the time the Captain doesn't check out the exact course in the lab (people in this thread have noted some exceptions already) usually they just tell someone else to set a course.
But then whenever we wanted to beam up to our ship from a planet/station etc, we'd have to 1) beam up 2) run to astrometrics (hopefully it is close to transporter room) and finally 3) choose our destination. Cryptic has just decided to skip the 2nd step, because after doing it a few times it would become really irritating and unnecessary.
Yup. We also don't run to the transporter room before beaming down, do we?
(on that note, it'd actually be cool if bridge invites would optionally go there instead of materializing directly on the bridge)
Yup. Reword it "Invite to Ship" instead of "Invite to Bridge", and have them materialize in the Transporter Room on the Engineering deck.
I can see why it still says "Bridge" since that's all ship interiors were at launch, but now it would be nice. Plus, if/when they ever make ship interiors customizable, it'll be fun to watch people try to figure out just where the hell the turbolift is
Yup. We also don't run to the transporter room before beaming down, do we?
(on that note, it'd actually be cool if bridge invites would optionally go there instead of materializing directly on the bridge)
Actually, if travel through sector space were doable from your bridge, then walking to the transporter room to beam down to a planet's surface or a space dock would make a whole lot more sense.
so i guess i need to ask.....Why cant you make an open world type idea? whats stopping you cryptic? i had no answer to give him and his decision was space as a box is stupid.
The most obvious one is the "bleakness of space":
- every time a ship enters your zone, your PC is informed about it (name/configuration/level/direction etc), the more ships, the more data, the more work at cryptic's servers, the more bandwidth required, the more smoke comes out of your gpu. Hence "instancing".
- an instance can support up to N people before the server explodes/your PC lags like hell.
- if you make an instance larger, then much of space will be 'empty', which is not a good feel for an MMO.
- and obviously chat channels would become a problem.
Yup. We also don't run to the transporter room before beaming down, do we?
Someday a game is going to stick their neck out and have pre-rendered animated loading screens, and STO is a prime candidate. (along with an 'off' switch for those stuck in the 20th century)
- your avatar walks onto the bridge.
- your avatar walks into astrometrics.
- your avatar walks into the transporter room.
[games sometimes do minor animations during loading, but in 2010 it should be possible to do far more than that]
Yup. Reword it "Invite to Ship" instead of "Invite to Bridge", and have them materialize in the Transporter Room on the Engineering deck.
I can see why it still says "Bridge" since that's all ship interiors were at launch, but now it would be nice. Plus, if/when they ever make ship interiors customizable, it'll be fun to watch people try to figure out just where the hell the turbolift is
Someday a game is going to stick their neck out and have pre-rendered animated loading screens, and STO is a prime candidate. (along with an 'off' switch for those stuck in the 20th century) [...]
I have to admit, I do like the image that forms in my mind. Seeing our characters determinedly walking down a ship corridor, their chosen away team behind them, along with a nice camera tracking shot ...
Actually, if travel through sector space were doable from your bridge, then walking to the transporter room to beam down to a planet's surface or a space dock would make a whole lot more sense.
There are reasons why they don't do this for sector space (SS is supposed to be social)... But I think bridge navigation should be the exploration revamp.
Then in exploration content, for space missions, you get a hail or a BO dialogue, followed by a loadscreen for space controls. For ground exploration missions, you get a planet on the viewscreen and go down to the transporter room to beam down.
All exploration would be done from the group leader's ship interior, maybe with props of team members' ships visible outside the window.
The U.S.S. Enterprise still in orbit over Cygnus IV.
130 INT. HOLODECK CORRIDOR
Riker moving as if seeking someone. He intercepts a
YOUNG ENSIGN who is passing and the junior officer sees
Riker's emblem of rank and snaps to attention.
RIKER
Ensign, can you help me find
Commander Data? I was told he's
somewhere on this deck.
YOUNG ENSIGN
This way, sir.
131 ANGLE AT CORRIDOR WALL
As the Ensign steps to a black surface of the corridor
wall
.
YOUNG ENSIGN
You must be new to these galaxy
class starships, sir.
(puts hand on the black surface, saying)
Tell me the location of Commander
Data.
At the touch and the words "Tell me" the black surface
comes alive with light patterns showing appropriate
information.
COMPUTER VOICE
Lieutenant Commander Data... now
located in Holodeck area 4-J.
YOUNG ENSIGN
(indicating readout)
And as you see, sir, it's pointing
you that way.
RIKER
Go that way? How far?
YOUNG ENSIGN
(smiles)
You'll know, sir.
Riker AD LIBS a thanks, goes in the indicated direction.
132 PANNING RIKER
Moving off in the indicated direction. Then the black
surface there comes alive with a FLASHING DIRECTION
SIGNAL.
COMPUTER VOICE
This way, please. The next
hatchway on your right.
RIKER
(responding automatically)
Thank you...
COMPUTER VOICE
You're more than welcome,
Commander Riker.
Which startles him a bit but he walks on and turns right
at a sophisticated looking Holodeck Hatchway.
Now. Imagine you're Riker and were asking the way to Astrometics...just follow the arrow!
Comments
This game was thrown together in an incredibly short space of time and as a result certain elements are not as polished as others. Sector space being one of them; a graphical revamp of sector space is coming with Season 3 and alarger re-vamp for sometime next year.
sto closest competitor in terms of space is eve and its nothing more than a series of boxes, its just hidden slightly better.
http://www.sto-advanced.com/?p=2581
I think most of those are going to be implemented in the upcoming changes if what I remember reading is true.
And if I'm wrong, I'll at least have something to get rid of those dang ugly Tron graphics.
I like it. It's a clever solution. Everything else would have been less realistic, for you can hardly include full size star systems and exact distances into the game. I'm sure not even your friend wants to travel hours before getting to the next planet.
I kinda feel the same way.
That's kinda how I always saw it, myself. Still, I'm not a big fan of those stupid lollipops.
I wish my Astrometrics lab would get off their slacker-bums and update the icon for the USS Victory.
If asked again in the future, try saying: "What you're looking at a three-dimensional view of a star chart, as seen through my astrometrics lab. I'm currently displaying the soandso sector of space. My ship is located right here (point to screen) in relation to the system I'm plotting a course to over there (point to screen again)."
Then your friend will say "oh, cool", and that will be that.
its like the scene from nemesis when data and Picard are plotting their coarse(sp?) thru the nebula right before Shinzon shows up.
There are a lot of times that we see an astrometric view of space. Voyager is the most notorious for it.
I think that would an easier pill for people to swallow if we were to access sector space from the astometrics lab of our ship.
Similar to the galaxy map in Mass Effect.
As it stands now we go from System Space, to Sector Space and its a bit of a jolt as the transition doesn't really gel well.
But then whenever we wanted to beam up to our ship from a planet/station etc, we'd have to 1) beam up 2) run to astrometrics (hopefully it is close to transporter room) and finally 3) choose our destination. Cryptic has just decided to skip the 2nd step, because after doing it a few times it would become really irritating and unnecessary.
It also makes a lot of sense, most of the time the Captain doesn't check out the exact course in the lab (people in this thread have noted some exceptions already) usually they just tell someone else to set a course.
(on that note, it'd actually be cool if bridge invites would optionally go there instead of materializing directly on the bridge)
I can see why it still says "Bridge" since that's all ship interiors were at launch, but now it would be nice. Plus, if/when they ever make ship interiors customizable, it'll be fun to watch people try to figure out just where the hell the turbolift is
Actually, if travel through sector space were doable from your bridge, then walking to the transporter room to beam down to a planet's surface or a space dock would make a whole lot more sense.
Me? Feeling nice? Pfft... :P
The most obvious one is the "bleakness of space":
- every time a ship enters your zone, your PC is informed about it (name/configuration/level/direction etc), the more ships, the more data, the more work at cryptic's servers, the more bandwidth required, the more smoke comes out of your gpu. Hence "instancing".
- an instance can support up to N people before the server explodes/your PC lags like hell.
- if you make an instance larger, then much of space will be 'empty', which is not a good feel for an MMO.
- and obviously chat channels would become a problem.
Someday a game is going to stick their neck out and have pre-rendered animated loading screens, and STO is a prime candidate. (along with an 'off' switch for those stuck in the 20th century)
- your avatar walks onto the bridge.
- your avatar walks into astrometrics.
- your avatar walks into the transporter room.
[games sometimes do minor animations during loading, but in 2010 it should be possible to do far more than that]
sold.
just wanted to "agree" on this
There are reasons why they don't do this for sector space (SS is supposed to be social)... But I think bridge navigation should be the exploration revamp.
Then in exploration content, for space missions, you get a hail or a BO dialogue, followed by a loadscreen for space controls. For ground exploration missions, you get a planet on the viewscreen and go down to the transporter room to beam down.
All exploration would be done from the group leader's ship interior, maybe with props of team members' ships visible outside the window.
129 EXT. SPACE (OPTICAL)
130 INT. HOLODECK CORRIDOR
YOUNG ENSIGN who is passing and the junior officer sees
Riker's emblem of rank and snaps to attention.
Ensign, can you help me find
Commander Data? I was told he's
somewhere on this deck.
YOUNG ENSIGN
This way, sir.
131 ANGLE AT CORRIDOR WALL
wall
You must be new to these galaxy
class starships, sir.
(puts hand on the black surface, saying)
Tell me the location of Commander
Data.
comes alive with light patterns showing appropriate
information.
Lieutenant Commander Data... now
located in Holodeck area 4-J.
YOUNG ENSIGN
(indicating readout)
And as you see, sir, it's pointing
you that way.
RIKER
Go that way? How far?
YOUNG ENSIGN
(smiles)
You'll know, sir.
132 PANNING RIKER
surface there comes alive with a FLASHING DIRECTION
SIGNAL.
This way, please. The next
hatchway on your right.
RIKER
(responding automatically)
Thank you...
COMPUTER VOICE
You're more than welcome,
Commander Riker.
at a sophisticated looking Holodeck Hatchway.
Now. Imagine you're Riker and were asking the way to Astrometics...just follow the arrow!