Models, and/or skin textures reflecting upgrades!
corpsman
Join Date: 2004-04-17 Member: 27979Members, Reinforced - Shadow
Join Date: 2004-04-17 Member: 27979Members, Reinforced - Shadow
I always thought there should be basic skins and model changes to reflect what type of upgrade the aliens and marines gets. Nothing fancy, I'm not suggesting a completely new model for every upgrade... But, maybe a simple change would be easy enough to do.
examples: If choose speed [celerity] you would have a small spiny/furry mohawk down your back. [and maybe these could all be done with simple textures, so no crazy remodeling needed] If you choose adrenaline your eyes would be be red, then when you use your power, your eyes would glow bright red. If you choose carpace, then your skin would change slightly to look more armored.
These were all done in Photoshop by me, so it hopefully would be as simple as new textures for the alien models. [and maybe for the marines, like upgraded armor being shiny, unlike the scrathed up basic/non-upgraded armor?]
Anyways, just a thought. I did a quick gorge model idea in PS, he has the adren. upgrade so his eyes have a cool red glow, his celerity mohawk, and an armored shell [like a rhino, so it is on the TOP part of his body] to reflect his carpace upgraded body. Please give feedback!
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<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1411/1441045477_aae0e6d6b9_o.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
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Keep in mind also, this is not how it would look. I did a quick crappy Photoshop job here. I'm sure someone out there or on the team with some real skill could make the skins and textures look badass! It is just a visual to add to the idea. I believe NS1 already has countless skin packs for everything in the game, so I am *guessing* it would be fairly simple to do for NS2.
examples: If choose speed [celerity] you would have a small spiny/furry mohawk down your back. [and maybe these could all be done with simple textures, so no crazy remodeling needed] If you choose adrenaline your eyes would be be red, then when you use your power, your eyes would glow bright red. If you choose carpace, then your skin would change slightly to look more armored.
These were all done in Photoshop by me, so it hopefully would be as simple as new textures for the alien models. [and maybe for the marines, like upgraded armor being shiny, unlike the scrathed up basic/non-upgraded armor?]
Anyways, just a thought. I did a quick gorge model idea in PS, he has the adren. upgrade so his eyes have a cool red glow, his celerity mohawk, and an armored shell [like a rhino, so it is on the TOP part of his body] to reflect his carpace upgraded body. Please give feedback!
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<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1411/1441045477_aae0e6d6b9_o.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
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Keep in mind also, this is not how it would look. I did a quick crappy Photoshop job here. I'm sure someone out there or on the team with some real skill could make the skins and textures look badass! It is just a visual to add to the idea. I believe NS1 already has countless skin packs for everything in the game, so I am *guessing* it would be fairly simple to do for NS2.
Comments
That gorge isn't so cute anymore, is it? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> That's a good thing! Or maybe, with the right upgrades, it could look even more cute, that would be funny.
Here is one thing I would like to add to the idea: Allow for some personal skins to your Kharaa characters, so like give that gorge Tiger Strips or a Camouflage pattern or a pitch black skin or ... I think you get the idea. Then add the different subtle yet cool looks you have going there! That would be so bad ass for visuals.
A black gorge with red eyes, then it turns and looks at you - the eyes glow brighter, oh crap, run!
I don't know why the designers couldn't/wouldn't allow for teams to make personal skins, but when you get past a certain point players will find certain skins are much harder to see, giving them a leg up on everyone else. [i.e. Darker, textures that are similar to the world or D.I., too many ways to exploit this....] I do agree that it would be GREAT though if say they could change the textures of the mohawks or other designated parts of the model's skin, that way it's still fair for others trying to see them, everyone wins. The G4B2S guys could have say a black and yellow stripe, the guys in the KcK public server would maybe choose a pure white mohawk, that sort of thing. It would set them apart, enough that everyone would see, and still make the game fair since the general model's skin is the same for all aliens.
My only other idea to keep exploits from happening is to allow anyone to reskin the models however they want, this will probably happen eventually anyways just like NS1, but give every player the personal option to allow personal skins or not [what THEY see]. That way every player has the choice, and during matches they can turn it off!
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->A black gorge with red eyes, then it turns and looks at you - the eyes glow brighter, oh crap, run!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Exactly. The gorgies are "cute", but it wouldn't be hard to make them retain their "cuteness". Gizmos had mohawks and they were still cute! :] The default would be as is, but when I go battle gorge it would be cool if the skin would change a little to show. All of the other aliens they make for NS2 could be crazy-mean looking. You could put a large spikey mohawk on the fades back, and maybe the lerk could have two smaller raddy looking ones running off of it's wings or something. Anyways, you could easily make smaller "cuter" looking upgrades for the gorgies, like little fuzzy stripes going down it's tail, so it is still cute- I just went crazy on this picture. hehe I will redo it when I get back home from registering for more classes. Then tell me what you think?
I'll do a lerk or maybe a fade tha will make it appear more aggresive, while the upgrades could be cute for the gorge. This would also allow for each model to go their "own way" a little with them. So it's not just every other alien besides the gorge looking meaner, but each ailen would have a fitting upgrade.
For celerity: Lerks are fast, so upgrade could make the wings grow long strands of hair tufts off the edges. Sort of a streamlined look. On the fade, there you could do the best mohawk, large and on it's BACK! I'll show you this one when I get back. The gorges would of course be cute still, and the ONOS would have big hairy feet like horses in the budweiser commercials. The skulks as the "###### alien", or "default" could just have small spikey hair tufts coming off of all areas of it's body, like the head, back and legs. Every alien can be unique, and the upgrades would be fitting to them.
For the Carpace upgrade: Skulks would have a harder tuffer looking skin all around. Gorgies would have a turtle like shell, just like the one I made in the photo, but it was mostly on the top, still showing off their "soft underbelly." Lerks could have maybe a shell like hood on their head like in Pitch Black [the movie], doesn't have to be huge. The fades would have a upper body plating that looks harder and "cracked" [chest plate and one on the upper back], plus since they strike with thier "arms" they could be less fleshy looking. And of course the ONOS would have more of a worn look on their armor. Already they have sort of an armored look, so maybe it would look like they have been shot and there are scratches from other aliens in the universe that it has "stood up to"? [the oNOS is a hard one to think of, since they will probably give it an armored look to begin with]
The problem that everyone always comes back with is that its a lot of work - there is like 81 different models for each alien that would need to be done if its done the old fashion way. NS2 would need to be done with models that can be stuck together, kind of like figurines when you swap the weapons out, then you only need to create 1 base models, and a different back/face/eyes teeth etc. Which can be interchanged - then there would only be maybe 1 base model and 9 interchangable parts. Substatially less work.
Or they could take the easy way out and do by adding onto the models, glowing eyes (sprites) Different rendering techniques or aura's but this would'nt look as convincing.
edit : The gorge should just get fatter and fatter cause it would look funny <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
depends how you do it though - you'd need an system where you can change parts of the models. otherwise -
if you just make small additions to the default ones you'd need for example:-
fade with nothing
fade with regen
fade with carapace
fade with redempt
fade with cara, regen
fade with cara, redpemt
fade with cara, regen, redempt
fade with regen, redempt
Then do that with the other two chambers, and then combinations between the 3 chambers, and then do that for each alien :S
I know there was a hl1 mod that allowed you to customise your appearance - select your head, had, arms, legs etc, so that approach would also have to be taken here. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
My idea came from creatures on earth. Does a human who heals faster, or slower because of body makeup look any different? No. However a stronger human being might look bigger. If your eye sight is better then someone else's would you have say bigger eyes? No, but maybe your eyes would look different [simple glowing eyes, probably not that hard]. Point being, even considering that these are upgrades to an alien species, not all upgrades require, or warrant for that matter a major visual clue that it was chosen. It is an idea that stems from a relistic and fitting feeling of whats happening, plus it would give every player a way to express themselves with great/cool looking skins and whatnot, to an extent.
My only thoughts on the other upgrades not requiring a new model would be maybe one seen by other players, or just their own team, but only when used:
Regen could maybe put a slight, very slow pulsing glow on parts of the aliens body. Not enough to make him a target, but if seen close up it is noticeable to the other aliens.
Adrenaline seems to be an inner power, so I think something like glowing eyes when used seems fitting [matching the color of the power used of course].
Redemption would simply make the alien body smoke slightly for 5 seconds upon "warping" to the hive.
Keep in mind also that other clues that only the aliens could hear/see/notice would also fit in here. Focus for example could have a different sound when used for whatever. Maybe slightly louder and changed to sound better somehow. No models changed and only one sound fliter used across the board to get the results. It also seems fitting that only the aliens would be able to hear another using it] A skulk's parasite for example, instead of sounding like he spit it, with focus it would sound like a cracking [clapping the hand once vs. snapping your fingers]. Im no sound guru, but you get the idea.
If done as all new models, yeah noone has that kind of time for such a small piece of the bigger pie, however new skins are probably somewhat easy to make for these guys and adding some simple effects like pulsing glow, smoke for 5 seconds, sound changes does not seem to be a big thing to do. Well, not like making 80+ new models does :] Then again, I have no idea so- *shrug*
If done as all new models, yeah noone has that kind of time for such a small piece of the bigger pie, however new skins are probably somewhat easy to make for these guys and adding some simple effects like pulsing glow, smoke for 5 seconds, sound changes does not seem to be a big thing to do. Well, not like making 80+ new models does :] Then again, I have no idea so-
**About the marines, I don't see this being half as difficult as the aliens, since A: there are only a few models as far as we know, and B: the upgrades would be easy enough to do and still look good by changing just the textures. Basic starting armor is well, scratched up and crappy looking. Armor 2 is new, clean and shiny. Armor 3 would maybe have a cool glow under the armor itself that sort of eminates, but nothing too crazy [no targets], and maybe then they get a sweet logo on the left chest, back and front of leg? These would just be texture differences, other then maybe something else you guys can think of like the light from under the armor, or maybe custom logos made by the player could be seen by all at this point? 100X100 pixel logos [like tiny HL sprays].
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Skulk with Adren, so his eyes glow red when he uses the upgrade.
<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1262/1451475327_814aae829a_o.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Skulk with Celerity, so he has the patches of spikes on his body and legs.
<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1177/1452334144_27df7630b4_o.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
And here is the skulk with Carpace, so he has a hardened armored shell covering the top of his body and his head where most of the time they get shot.
<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/1451475415_df6b3d65ae_o.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
And finally just to see what it would look like with all three... all three.
<img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1188/1451475639_3d62057d55_o.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
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So tell me, what you guys think? Good idea or bad for how they might look. I dont see anything requiring any model work, unless they wanted to say make one for the Carpace upgrade, but it could be done and still look great with a new skin....
Love it, the skulk looks alot more itimidating than the standard skulk.
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
I love it.
Would you be able to do a skulk with some different skins as well? Leopard, Tiger, Cheetah, Panther, etc. Think patterns on Terran animals that the players can use to show "Hey, its me, Corpsman!" and the rest of us players would know it because of the pattern on your hide.
Between something like my hope for some approved (as in no gameplay advantage) "personalization" (in your humble opinion you think your character looks 'cool') and having the added looks from the upgrades, I think that would look so very, very sweet!
BTW, was it hard to do? Or do you think the Devs could bang it off real quick with little cost to their time and budget?
I love it.
Would you be able to do a skulk with some different skins as well? Leopard, Tiger, Cheetah, Panther, etc. Think patterns on Terran animals that the players can use to show "Hey, its me, Corpsman!" and the rest of us players would know it because of the pattern on your hide.
Between something like my hope for some approved (as in no gameplay advantage) "personalization" (in your humble opinion you think your character looks 'cool') and having the added looks from the upgrades, I think that would look so very, very sweet!
BTW, was it hard to do? Or do you think the Devs could bang it off real quick with little cost to their time and budget?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
#1 Custom skin use:
It would be cool if they made it so the servers could allow custom skins, by choice of the servers owners. And on other servers without the "allow all customizations" enabled, I think it would easily stay balanced if only certain parts of the models were skinnable, like the hairy parts, or the eye color, the claws, that sort of thing. Doesn't really change their visibality, but makes it so everyone can do ti a little. Plus, you could identify gorge #1 from gorge #3 in battle, instead of having to read the name tag which would be nice [or knowing yuor friend Johnny is the lerk with white spikes and white eyes, instead of the Iaml33t clan member who chose grey and red as a color choice]. People who play together, not just clans can choose a color choice, add more of a closer friends thing vs just clans using the same colors. Example: say I meet a cool dude who I play with every now and then. He likes my bloody alien skin, so I email him the skin, now when I see him in a game I know it's him right away! And it makes it more of a teammate/friendly game thing!
If the server allowed complete changing of the models skins [the whole body], then there should be a server browser filter, so the player can choose to go on servers that have this option, or not. This would balance the problems with any possible traps people get into when they join servers with this option enabled! example: I go to the JiggyPuffs NS server and the "clan" there are all using really dark skins, then I wouldn't have to join the server, I would play somewhere else, because it just wouldn't be fair [they would basically be cheating cause they suck...]. And when they find noone wants to play with them, it would OBVIOUSLY change their minds pertty quick. Despite people being in clans and thinking it is the world to everyone else, it's really not. And they do need public players to join their server, or they would always be playing themselves.... I don't mind playing on pub servers anyways, as long as they have people playing and the latency is good-
Anyways.... I think with a server browser filter available for the players, and for other things in place like customizing certain things like the hair color, glow color only, it would make it more enjoyable for everyone. That's key. Everyone has the choice.
#2 Was it hard to do:
It took me about 2 hours to figure out what colors to choose and to actually do all of them. It would be twice as fast for the rest of the models once the concept is done on one already; HOWEVER, I am not a developer so I can't speak for them. I would think it could be done simply with skins. The armor was nothing more then running a few custom brushes and filters over certain parts of their body, then adding a tiny drop shadow to seem as though it has more depth. I would hope that adding a glownig effect to the eyes might be a simple model effect that requires no textures or changes. Just something like eyes = glow, when upgrade = adren or something. And the spikes or hair could easily be done with textures, but how these would be applied to their models I don't know. I have only skinned for much older games. Quake, and DOOM, long time ago... hehe I guess this is really something they should answer, I am just hoping they like the ideas! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />