Why Make The Bus?

ForlornForlorn Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2634Banned
<div class="IPBDescription">Big Unannouced System</div> I've seen a crapload of topics so far on what the BUS may be, but I think it's far more interesting as to know why would you put in a BUS.

What do you think?
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Comments

  • KhaimKhaim Join Date: 2002-06-28 Member: 841Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    It's kind of hard to speculate as to why one would put in something without knowing what it is...but whatever...
  • CutterJoeCutterJoe Join Date: 2002-12-30 Member: 11594Members, Constellation
    They are putting it in just to make you ask 'Why' forlorn <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • CMEastCMEast Join Date: 2002-05-19 Member: 632Members
    edited May 2004
    I reckon its more of a feature than a fix otherwise they would be saying whatever problem they were gonna solve would be sorted soon.

    I doubt it's something that will change the gameplay too much (though I've not payed attention to the rumours much)... maybe something that will improve the graphics?

    At the moment thats the only thing I can think of that a) they can keep quiet and b) won't completely change the game, a change in the graphics is superficial enough to change nothing but would still be important enough to hype up.

    Not gonna guess anymore, I've made a vaguely educated guess (it sounds logical to me at the moment but then I'm tired and just about to leave work so can't think too clearly) but saying anything else will just be me dreaming.

    I hope they change the Onos into a giant <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=69344&st=0' target='_blank'>Guinea Pig!</a> <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • BlueNovemberBlueNovember hax Join Date: 2003-02-28 Member: 14137Members, Constellation
    To make it even more confusing, wasn't it supposed to be in ns4?

    Maybe it's there

    ...but you just cant see it.

    *queue scary music*
  • XCanXCan Join Date: 2002-11-03 Member: 5904Members, Constellation
    Maybe it's some kind of hypnotic out of our hearing range sound that tells us to buy Unkown World's next game. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • ScribblesScribbles Join Date: 2003-11-05 Member: 22323Members
    They made the bus so the marines have an early game form of mass transit, until the commander has researched phasegate technology.
  • ForlornForlorn Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2634Banned
    <!--QuoteBegin-Khaim+May 5 2004, 11:19 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Khaim @ May 5 2004, 11:19 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It's kind of hard to speculate as to why one would put in something without knowing what it is...but whatever... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    You do?

    You know that he's going to put in a "big system".

    Right away, you know that something will be changed, and it should affect all that play the game in an important way.

    The logical answer is that he wants to make the game better, but then you ask: If the system isn't changing gameplay, what could it possibly improve? Which leads to the bigger question:

    "Why change it?"

    Does anything appear broken, dysfunctional, or underhanded at the moment? So why change it?
  • taboofirestaboofires Join Date: 2002-11-24 Member: 9853Members
    Lots of things are broken, to varying degrees <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    More likely some things aren't fixable without a big change. Some problems can't be tweaked away.
  • PalmaneenPalmaneen Join Date: 2003-01-02 Member: 11727Members
    I bet the bus is some kind of new particle system, fully volumetric. Why? With it they can make realistic explosions, realistic spores/umbra/gases of various sorts and eventually a flamer!!
  • napinapi Join Date: 2003-03-01 Member: 14172Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I doubt it's something that will change the gameplay too much<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    what makes you think that?

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Maybe it's there<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    err it is - read the changelog

    "Phase 1 of the BUS implemented" - might not have the right words, but it essentially says that

    there are so many things it could be - a graphics upgrade? surely it is immensely limited by the actual engine as to how good the graphics can be

    my initial reaction was it would be a mass-statistics gathering system. NS is already coded to recieve information from a big server (so things like constellation icons etc can be done) - in that sense it could send information to that server

    eg playing tracking / logging / stats .... or perhaps global rankings for steamID - kills/deaths/supports etc

    advanced partical system? would also make sense - they have the initial code the game already (Hence the "BUS Implemented" idea) cause they weren't sure if it would cause a mess-meltdown

    ^_o sooo many rumours, just wait and see.
  • CommunistWithAGunCommunistWithAGun Local Propaganda Guy Join Date: 2003-04-30 Member: 15953Members
    Maybe its a good balance fixing change, wouldn't that be cool?


    No? OK we can settle with new sounds <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • UKchaosUKchaos Join Date: 2002-08-10 Member: 1132Members
    edited May 2004
    Id rather know what it is than why it is.

    I dont really see the need to keep it secret really. Isnt it more helpful to everyone if the developers share their plans openly with the community? Even if the feedback you get is worthless, its better than a load of wild speculation.

    Maybe when we learn what it is, we will understand the need to keep it under wraps.
  • RuByRuBy Join Date: 2002-12-12 Member: 10732Members
    since XP-Cagey is involved in this project, one could assume its at least remotely to do with mapping. Now that doesnt really bring us much closer to an answer... I suppose we'll just have to wait <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • john_sheujohn_sheu Join Date: 2004-02-26 Member: 26917Members
    edited May 2004
    By now, the BUS is all just BS. In two senses---firstly, I bet they're just bull-******* us. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> Secondly, now that everybody's worked up about it, it's hardly "unannounced" anymore; hence it is now truly just a BS. Or, of you'd prefer, just BS.
  • Nemesis_ZeroNemesis_Zero Old European Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 75Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    I think I'm going to frame that in my top ten of online-puns, john.

    The answer as to why a big addition to the game would be made appears to be obvious to me: Because Flayra believes that it'll enrich the game, in whatever form.

    Oh, and Cagey has recently become full-fledged NS dev. The mapping tools are only one example of his outstanding coding.
  • SnidelySnidely Join Date: 2003-02-04 Member: 13098Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Forlorn+May 5 2004, 12:05 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Forlorn @ May 5 2004, 12:05 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Does anything appear broken, dysfunctional, or underhanded at the moment? So why change it? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    To improve the mod, I guess. If nothing is "broken, dysfunctional, or underhanded", then now's a good time to put it in.

    I'm pretty underwhelmed by the BUS. I'll be more excited by the BAS, but until then: meh.
  • laggerlagger Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1805Members
    They are changing the onos into a big furry gerbal.
  • ForlornForlorn Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2634Banned
    <!--QuoteBegin-lagger+May 5 2004, 04:29 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (lagger @ May 5 2004, 04:29 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> They are changing the onos into a big furry gerbal. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    If you were the real lagger you would have said a cow
  • napinapi Join Date: 2003-03-01 Member: 14172Members, Constellation
    haha. £5 says some one has a gerbil model for onos already... :o

    There are sooo many reasons why they would keep it unannounced.

    The most obvious one being that as soon as they've released it, loads of other mods are going to copy it. Mods like CS may want it - and as they have a lot more money going to their programmers, they could probably release it quicker than the NS team (not because they are better, just bigger paycheck :x) so they'd be able to say they were the first mod with it...

    another reason is that "anticipation is the greatest form of ecstasy" - it's the perfect way to keep people interested and talking about the game, knowing that some thing big is just around the corner, and just a select few people know what it is!

    furthermore, it is possible that the whole thing is experimental... they don't want to announce it and get a big hype up, on the off chance that some thing goes wrong, and the whole project gets ditched - leaving a lot of unhappy people. this way they could pawn it off as any old thing and it would be end of story! (no discredit to the NS team, just offering ideas)

    bleh. long post. sorry!

    ".. system" <-- quite an important word though i reckon...
  • VadakillVadakill The Almighty BSO Join Date: 2002-04-02 Member: 373Members, NS1 Playtester
    <!--QuoteBegin-Forlorn+May 5 2004, 12:05 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Forlorn @ May 5 2004, 12:05 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Does anything appear broken, dysfunctional, or underhanded at the moment? So why change it? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    The fact that my server used to be full every day and now it is not tells me something is very wrong with the game and it needs to be fixed. Personally, I think the thing that made it go very wrong is combat.

    Combat introduced new people to the game who now know how to play combat and nothing else. Thus when a server serves combat map and then an NS map most people leave. Those (2-5) people who remain are people who know how to play NS but now can't because of lack of numbers. Now the experienced NS people get **** off because they can't play a decent NS game anymore and end up leaving the game. If that happens enough times they get disgusted and eventually leave the game altogether.

    I hope the BUS has something to do with re-aligning the idea of combat with NS. Playing combat maps should be training for how to play a serious NS game.
  • OlljOllj our themepark-stalking nightmare Fade Join Date: 2002-12-12 Member: 10696Members
    edited May 2004
    I think its something with volumetric particles like flame trower or something that improves the comm mode optically.

    No wait, they are adding DirectX9 effects like (hot) steam (that makes flicker whats behind), real time calculated light, shadows and reflecting water to make ns look like doom3 or FarCry.
  • Boy_who_lost_his_wingsBoy_who_lost_his_wings Join Date: 2003-12-03 Member: 23924Banned
    Comm Chair with wheels.
  • PseudoKnightPseudoKnight Join Date: 2002-06-18 Member: 791Members
    I'm willing to bet Flayra looked at something like battleforthegalaxy and is trying to implement detailed website integration.
  • SalvationSalvation Join Date: 2003-11-21 Member: 23300Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-BlueNovember+May 5 2004, 11:24 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (BlueNovember @ May 5 2004, 11:24 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> To make it even more confusing, wasn't it supposed to be in ns4?

    Maybe it's there

    ...but you just cant see it.

    *queue scary music* <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    they have me confused :\
  • BirdyBirdy Join Date: 2003-05-29 Member: 16825Members, Constellation
    edited May 2004
    BUS is a codename for an invasion of the DEMONCHILD


    <span style='color:red'>DO NOT ABUSE THE ATTATCHMENT FEATURE</span>
  • UKchaosUKchaos Join Date: 2002-08-10 Member: 1132Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->furthermore, it is possible that the whole thing is experimental... they don't want to announce it and get a big hype up, on the off chance that some thing goes wrong, and the whole project gets ditched - leaving a lot of unhappy people.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Its already at this stage. If a 'big system' isnt introduced in the next major release, people will be dissapointed.
  • Crono5Crono5 Join Date: 2003-07-22 Member: 18357Members
    edited May 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Boy who lost his wings+May 5 2004, 07:21 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Boy who lost his wings @ May 5 2004, 07:21 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Comm Chair with wheels. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    LOL

    Just imagine it, with little squeaky Red Flyer wagon wheels on the bottom, trying to sneak out of a base being savagely torn apart by a furious Alien team.

    /cue inconspicuous humming
  • UnknownUnknown Join Date: 1970-01-01 Member:
    Ahhh what? I'm conffused. Is this "BUS" actually gonna be a transport for marines? or? WTH? <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • KEm1KaL1KEm1KaL1 Lerky Lerky Join Date: 2003-02-21 Member: 13797Members
    It obviously won't be a new in-game ability or anything like that if it has already been implemented.

    Speculation is fun though, can't wait for phase 2...

    Or can I? O.o
  • EvigEvig Join Date: 2004-04-29 Member: 28305Members
    BUS stands for Builtin-forced User Selection. It enables the commander to select and forcemove his troops around, very much like Starcraft. The actual marine players will have no control of themselves whatsoever.

    <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    *pictures a string of marines jumping into pits, acic, lava ...)

    -Evig
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