Ship Shapes can be brought back!

[bobdaduck]

Who said we were going with anybody's idea?! My intent was to provide alternative ship designs which somewhat correspond to the games theme/feel. Why? Because it looks cool. Why does this game have color?? Because it looks cool.

Ship shapes aren't going to be implemented unless there's a strong enough reason for them to. Under any system proposed so far we need a ton of models. This isn't a "lets add some variety" thing, this is either "lets not" or "lets add a ridiculous amount of variety."

[Quartz]

Or you could just create a ship design for each module, and make the ship design be assigned to whatever your primary module is.

Because I agree, while my proposed idea is neat, 28 designs is way past excessive. 7 would be a whole lot more reasonable ... and let's be honest, even that much could be slightly disorienting.

Even though it's worth very little, I could draw up some concept art for such an idea.

In the end, I have zero issue with sticking with what we have now: One ship. It's simple and standard and there's certainly nothing wrong with it. And of course, I'm more in favor of improving what we have, over adding tons of stuff for no particular reason.

[Little_Apple]

actually... i think the biggest reason the game has color is so that you can tell who is on your team without memorizing all your teammate's names....

[bobdaduck]

actually... i think the biggest reason the game has color is so that you can tell who is on your team without memorizing all your teammate's names....

That and try naming a good game that isn't in color.

[Little_Apple]

limbo?

[bobdaduck]

I'm not at all convinced that's a good game, but okay.

Its still not MMO though, which is kind of what I meant. Oh well.

And P.S. I for one think the cube and sphere ships would look cool.

To be fair, you're the creator of this particular idea and as such you are biased.

[Quartz]

And P.S. I for one think the cube and sphere ships would look cool.

To be fair, you're the creator of this particular idea and as such you are biased.

Thanks, Captain Obvious.


Anyway, for peoples' entertainment:

(People seem to like the triangle shape, for a good reason. So I kept that for all of them. Armor already has a passive appearance change, it doesn't need anything extra or it would be completely painful to the eyes, and it makes sense for it to be the same as shield ... yup.)

[Little_Apple]

@cloak

[Quartz]

@Little_Apple

Are you aiming for quality, or quantity? If you are looking for quantity, count me out.

Quality AND Quantity my friend.

And P.S. I for one think the cube and sphere ships would look cool.

To be fair, you're the creator of this particular idea and as such you are biased.

Thanks, Captain Obvious.


Anyway, for peoples' entertainment:

(People seem to like the triangle shape, for a good reason. So I kept that for all of them. Armor already has a passive appearance change, it doesn't need anything extra or it would be completely painful to the eyes, and it makes sense for it to be the same as shield ... yup.)

This is fantastic, It keeps the triangle ship and throws in some new designs. We should use this.

some ideas i had....

circle ship. (ufo shaped....)

U ship. (like a magnet)

zagguret ship. (like a triagle but with zigzagged edges.)

W ship ( but its rounded and the middle part is longer.)

got plenty more if you like these shape ideas.

some ideas i had....

circle ship. (ufo shaped....)

U ship. (like a magnet)

zagguret ship. (like a triagle but with zigzagged edges.)

W ship ( but its rounded and the middle part is longer.)

got plenty more if you like these shape ideas.

We are looking for triangular ships only, good ideas though.

FINALLY! A chance that this wasted bit of code can be used. If we go with quartz' idea it would be great, Not to mention your could tell what players primary module is. Which could help with team work.

[Little_Apple]

But what would a ship with multiple modules look like? You can have two you know.

But what would a ship with multiple modules look like? You can have two you know.

It only changes for your primary module. So we only need 7 designs. Every times a new module is released we come up for a new design.

[Quartz]

But what would a ship with multiple modules look like? You can have two you know.

Sooooooo wow, you honestly did completely ignore everything about my posts. Good to know.

Or you could just create a ship design for each module, and make the ship design be assigned to whatever your primary module is.

Because I agree, while my proposed idea is neat, 28 designs is way past excessive. 7 would be a whole lot more reasonable ... and let's be honest, even that much could be slightly disorienting.

[Little_Apple]

But what would a ship with multiple modules look like? You can have two you know.

Sooooooo wow, you honestly did completely ignore everything about my posts. Good to know.

Or you could just create a ship design for each module, and make the ship design be assigned to whatever your primary module is.

Because I agree, while my proposed idea is neat, 28 designs is way past excessive. 7 would be a whole lot more reasonable ... and let's be honest, even that much could be slightly disorienting.

i ignore everything. except pictures and what you just said.

Maybe im being ignorint but why should we stick to triagles to simler shapes could be hard to tell apart. differet ships would look better.

[Quartz]

Maybe im being ignorint but why should we stick to triagles to simler shapes could be hard to tell apart. differet ships would look better.

Triangular ships in 2-Dimensional games is classic, nostalgic, and indeed a bit cliché but it's part of the charm.

1. I support optis idea over quartzes fewer ships designs will be needed

2.also having a faster ship does not make it the player win over the player with the powerful ship skill will still make the difference accurcy/skill will still be the difference beetween victory and defeat

3.also if BF moved away from the original ZAP enough BF would not have to be locked down from the legal bindings of garage games TOU.

I still prefer the idea of ship shapes changing depending on modules modules, It would need almost NO coding and could be useful for teamwork.

so now your agreeing with qaurtes idea?

but having didferent ship shapoes with different stats in addition to modules would be cool it could a a addition to the laodout zone so it would be .

1..... ship type

2 modules....

3. weapons........

so now your agreeing with qaurtes idea?

but having didferent ship shapoes with different stats in addition to modules would be cool it could a a addition to the laodout zone so it would be .

1..... ship type

2 modules....

3. weapons........

No, It would be a pain in the ass to balance. And I have been agreeing with quartz' Idea for a while now.

I still prefer the idea of ship shapes changing depending on modules modules, It would need almost NO coding and could be useful for teamwork.

Oh that's an awesome idea!!!!!!!!

Quartz, you have convinced me that this idea has merit, congrats! Cloak and engineer look radical, nice job. I think with careful design you could get ship appearances that look both retro and stylish. I'm still not thrilled about the feature of every ship looking different, but I definitely no longer have as firm of a negative stance on this matter.

But yeah we have 2 modules, so how do we look?

But yeah we have 2 modules, so how do we look?

Once again, It will only change according to the PRIMARY module.

YES! Ratings are goin' up! Cmon everyone GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS!

potinw out you woudl still need 6 ships.....

i still like the sip stats idea.

and if you look opti your oringal idea was ship with differnet stats.....

potinw out you woudl still need 6 ships.....

i still like the sip stats idea.

and if you look opti your oringal idea was ship with differnet stats.....

I know, 6 ships isn't that bad and wouldn't require so much coding. My idea would add up to weeks of work and might even wreck the game for some! Quartz' Idea would simply help with team work.

ok is everyone in non mutal agrement now so hte thread can die? XD

[Little_Apple]

I wouldn't mind if it was brutally murdered.

guess we wil have to see what the admins think................

[bobdaduck]

I think that if you want to see the thread die, STOP BLOODY POSTING IN IT.

Can a dev please post in here and tell me what you guys think. If anything we are going with quartz' designs and idea.

But yeah we have 2 modules, so how do we look?

Once again, It will only change according to the PRIMARY module.

Heheh alrighty

[kaen]

Whoever feels like writing twenty-eight (or even six) of these, please raise your hand.

(Normal ship's shape)

  Code:

// Normal
   {
      // Outer hull
      // uses GL_LINE_LOOP
      3,
      { -20, -15,   0, 25,   20, -15 },

      // Inner hull
      // uses GL_LINE_STRIP because it can come in pieces
      1,
      {
         {
            4,
            { -12, -13,   0, 22,   12, -13,   -12, -13 },
         },
      },

      // Corners - movement trails show from these
      3,
      { -20, -15,   0,  25,   20, -15 },

      // Flame ports
      // Uses GL_LINES - each pair is drawn as a separate line
      8,
      { -12.5, 0,   -12.5, 10,    -12.5, 10,   -7.5, 10,    7.5, 10,   12.5, 10,   12.5, 10,   12.5, 0 },

      // Flames
      // Uses GL_LINE_STRIP
      // Forward
      1,
      {
         {
            3,
            {
               {
                  Colors::red,
                  { -8, -15,   0, -15,   8, -15 },
                  -20,
               },
               {
                  Colors::orange50,
                  { -6, -15,   0, -15,   6, -15 },
                  -15,
               },
               {
                  Colors::yellow,
                  { -4, -15,   0, -15,   4, -15 },
                  -8,
               },
            },
         },
      },

      // Reverse
      2,
      {
         {
            2,
            {
               {
                  Colors::orange50,
                  { 7.5, 10,   10, 10,   12.5, 10 },
                  15,
               },
               {
                  Colors::yellow,
                  { 9, 10,   10, 10,   11, 10 },
                  10,
               },
            },
         },
         {
            2,
            {
               {
                  Colors::orange50,
                  { -7.5, 10,   -10, 10,   -12.5, 10 },
                  15,
               },
               {
                  Colors::yellow,
                  { -9, 10,   -10, 10,   -11, 10 },
                  10,
               },
            },
         },
      },

      // Port
      1,
      {
         {
            3,
            {
               {
                  Colors::red,
                  { -12.5, 10,   -12.5, 5,   -12.5, 0 },
                  -18.75,
               },
               {
                  Colors::orange50,
                  { -12.5, 8,   -12.5, 5,   -12.5, 2 },
                  -12.5,
               },
               {
                  Colors::yellow,
                  { -12.5, 6,   -12.5, 5,   -12.5, 4 },
                  -6.25,
               },
            },
         },
      },

      // Starboard
      1,
      {
         {
            3,
            {
               {
                  Colors::red,
                  { 12.5, 10,   12.5, 5,   12.5, 0 },
                  18.75,
               },
               {
                  Colors::orange50,
                  { 12.5, 8,   12.5, 5,   12.5, 2 },
                  12.5,
               },
               {
                  Colors::yellow,
                  { 12.5, 6,   12.5, 5,   12.5, 4 },
                  6.25,
               },
            },
         },
      },

   },  // Normal

[Quartz]

That's, actually ... surprisingly not too bad.

[kaen]

That's, actually ... surprisingly not too bad.

It's also the simple one.

I don't mean to say "no" or to imply that it won't happen. As has been noted, raptor put a system for it in place. But honestly, it's such a contentious point, and it has either loads of gameplay implications, or none at all (why do it?), I wouldn't spend time on it myself. Look at the running bug list. #4 will make your levelgens spontaneously not work. There's also an official bug tracker with 48 more to-do items already on it.

To implement a complete shape system as you are describing, we must agree on what it does, design it, build it, test it, break it, fix it, and repeat for an indefinite amount of time. So even if you guys find some general consensus and get wat's thumbs-up, there's still a boat load of work you just put on the table.

Do you want ship shapes badly enough for us to stop everything else?

One thing to consider is that by adding in ship shapes we'd effectively be minimizing the tactical advantage of your enemies not knowing what modules you have. Cloak, for example, is a stealth module. If I pass by a couple of normal-looking enemies, I might prioritize and ignore them. But if I can know that Quartz (for example) has cloak equipped, then I might reposition based on this knowledge, or at least inform my teammates that he's coming in quiet.

I realize that these ships only show one module at a time, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem, but it's worth pointing out.

[Quartz]

Do you want ship shapes badly enough for us to stop everything else?

Personally, I'm not. I'm not actually that big on this ship shape idea; it'd be neat, but it's hardly a priority. My purpose in this thread is to help make these kids' ideas more palatable.

That's, actually ... surprisingly not too bad.

It's also the simple one.

I don't mean to say "no" or to imply that it won't happen. As has been noted, raptor put a system for it in place. But honestly, it's such a contentious point, and it has either loads of gameplay implications, or none at all (why do it?), I wouldn't spend time on it myself. Look at the running bug list. #4 will make your levelgens spontaneously not work. There's also an official bug tracker with 48 more to-do items already on it.

To implement a complete shape system as you are describing, we must agree on what it does, design it, build it, test it, break it, fix it, and repeat for an indefinite amount of time. So even if you guys find some general consensus and get wat's thumbs-up, there's still a boat load of work you just put on the table.

Do you want ship shapes badly enough for us to stop everything else?

I am sorry but I honestly can't see how making a few different shapes which already look similar to the main ship would be THAT much work.

[bobdaduck]

I am sorry but I honestly can't see how making a few different shapes which already look similar to the main ship would be THAT much work.

...He posted the code.

Open it in notepad and see what you come up with.

I'll even give you a hint: You draw them using vector points on a coordinate plane.

Wow, Didn't expect this thread to get almost 100 posts.

I am sorry but I honestly can't see how making a few different shapes which already look similar to the main ship would be THAT much work.

I'm not a programmer, but if individual ships are drawn with code and not just with the drag and drop of an image file, then I'd think designing 6-7 ships would be quite a lot of work.

i may expirement it with fun see what i can do.

Actually, coding ships are not hard. Of course it is not drag and drop, it's trial and error.

But making 1 ship would take less than an hour, and even less if the ship is still a triangle.

[bobdaduck]

That's four to seven hours on an idea that we aren't even sure we like, and that's not counting programming it in so that your ship changes shapes on module change, and making it work across the network and such.