Re: [Vegastrike-devel] Re: [Libff-devel] Effects in space fighter games

[Johann D. <jo...@do...>]

Alexander Rawass wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> On Saturday 16 March 2002 17:02, you wrote:
> 
> 
>>>How much effects, rumbling and rattling can my stick take?
>>>
>>That depends on sticks, I guess.
>>
>>
>>>What for example, if I make effects the way that the stick rattles and
>>>rumbles most of the time, so that it get's really heavily used - won't
>>>that severely reduce the lifetime of such a stick?
>>>
>>I don't know for the stick, but it might reduce the lifetime of the nerves
>>of the player, which is way more worrying.
>>I would advise against over-using vibrations. I am no physician, but some
>>cases show their can be a danger when players play a very long time.
>>
> 
> We probably should show the player a 'force feedback can de dangerous for 
> your health or your stick' screen :-)
> 

Yes, maybe. I wouldn't say force feedback is dangerous for the stick. If 
it is, this can only be a design flaw of the device.

> 
>>>Cause I fear that my ideas might be overdoing it a bit.... :-)
>>>
> 
> At the moment, I am actually aiming in overdoing it - cause I wanna know what 
> happens when lots of effect get played etc, and how's that programmed best.
> 
> 
>>>So, general question, how should the effects feel like?
>>>
>>>
>>>>* firing lasers
>>>>
>>>a) slight jerk back
>>>b) vibrate along X
>>>c) vibrate along Y
>>>
>>>a or b or c or them alltogether?
>>>
>>a followed by b sounds nice (firing lasers is a continuous action, isn't
>>it ?)
>>
> 
> No - it gets played every time a player fires a bolt.
> 
> Beams are of course different (when I meant laser, I meant bolt)

Ah, ok, I thought you meant beams.


> 
>>>>* afterburner
>>>>
>>>a)    stick wobbles around a lot
>>>b)    harder to steer
>>>
>>>a,b, a or b?
>>>
>>I really like b.
>>
> 
> I'll try to make this:
> * afterburner on:
> 	stick jerks back
> 	stick vibrates around both axis (two periodic effects) very strong (attack) 
> and then settles for an acceptable magnitude
> * afterburner off:
> 	stick vibrates more (attack) and then drops off to nothing (fade)
> 
> That may be overdoing, but I have to know how that is programmed :-)

Right.

> 
> 
>>>>* collision
>>>>  stick jerks into a new position, stays there
>>>>
>>I don't understand this one. Are you dealing with contacts, or collisions
>>?
>>
> 
> Collisions.
> 
> This should simulate that your ship is rolling around uncontrollable around 
> some axis for some time.

... what will make it even less controllable. We can try it anyway.

> 
> 
>>>Any more ideas?
>>>
>>>I've got:  Wind
>>>
>>>Well, actually solar wind, that drives the stick in a random direction
>>>:-)
>>>
>>I don't like it. That's also an effect that reduces playability.
>>
> 
> I like the idea - more to be felt. But let's see.
> 
> 
> My problem is: XwA and Freespace2 had rather sparse effects - for them, I 
> wouldn't have bought a stick, I was rather dissappointed.
> 
> I'll overdo it now, discuss that, and then maybe downgrade :-)
> Or lots of options :-)
> 

Good idea. Some smart guy once said you knew a design was good when you 
had nothing left to take away. Let's use the same approach with effects.

-- 
Johann Deneux