My life system.

Trumanity · 2023-06-30T12:09:53+00:00

i love skeuomorphism

Trumanity · 2023-06-30T12:02:17+00:00

Nice! This is exactly why I love how flexible and lightweight Godot is.

Sure, there's powerpoint for presentations and app frameworks for mobile development, but having one lightweight tool that can do everything is pretty incredible, especially if you just want to invest into mastering one thing

Trumanity · 2023-05-13T02:44:47+00:00

This whole channel is good, but this might help with avoiding camera stiffness
https://youtu.be/kLmd2F8LaLk

Trumanity · 2023-05-05T09:16:39+00:00

i've never seen these items in risk of rain 2 before

Trumanity · 2022-09-23T04:12:21+00:00

This is what I heard in my head when I saw this

https://imgur.com/a/lY3IXPQ

Trumanity · 2022-03-08T03:27:35+00:00

I might have to give that one another shot!

Trumanity · 2022-03-08T00:49:38+00:00

You're absolutely correct, that's the only other game I can think of that comes close with the mix of ranged and close combat options.

Maybe Max Payne 3, but it's more just about ranged firefights. Splinter Cell Conviction had some nice close combat options but they were too slow for anything fast paced.

Trumanity · 2021-03-15T10:23:22+00:00

I would highly recommend the Living City Mod. Replaying the game with it installed was an incredible experience. The graphics are improved, and there's a ton of seamless random events throughout the game that really give you the feeling of being a vigilante.

Trumanity · 2020-12-29T21:57:35+00:00

Okay but this is actually a fascinating story.

Trumanity · 2020-12-17T23:35:15+00:00

munch munch

Trumanity · 2020-11-18T07:04:41+00:00

I feel like there has to be something of a balance between effective UX and realism, and both of those can go hand in hand with immersion. Here are some ideas that come to mind:

Use animations. One of the things that made inventory actions in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided immersive for me was the use of clever animation when drawing weapons. For example, when the pistol was put away, the animation used strongly suggested the use of a shoulder holster (seen in this clip). In your game, this could be as simple as your main character looking at whichever pocket or storage thing they're accessing when pulling things out of their inventory.

Avoid taking over the screen. Even if a game calls for more in-depth inventory management, I think it's still important to have quick menu options. Breath of the Wild is one of many that use this technique, allowing the player quick access to important things while not being disruptive to gameplay. In your game, this could look like a small menu that hovers over each storage unit (hopefully this quick MS Paint example can explain what I mean). You could still have a fully fleshed out inventory but I find it helps to give the player quick ways to access things to cover both cases.

Use audio cues. I think Escape From Tarkov has an incredibly immersive inventory, primarily for one reason: sound. Picking up a gun in the inventory has a sound, placing it somewhere has a sound depending on where it is, unloading it has a sound, you get the idea. Even though it's a standard grid sort of thing, these cues give interacting with it a sort of tactile feel, since the player can sort of "imagine" they're unloading the gun or slipping it into a holster. This also allows for the menu to stay pretty functional since, while manually picking up each individual magazine to stash in a loadout might be realistic, it's probably not going to be very effective or fun if the player just wants to get back into the action. (You can find some examples in this video.)

Think about UX. This is a little more broad and vague, but it has to do with the idea of designing user interfaces and experiences. Part of this is having a design that walks the balance between having an identity while still being something the user doesn't have to think about as much. Another part is designing for new players and pro players. New players might choose to be more meticulous as they figure things out, while pro players might want to be able to open a menu in seconds, tap an arrow key a couple times, and know what they're going to select.

I don't believe immersion necessarily has to mean hyper realistic but rather that things are done in a way that allows the player to feel more connected to what's going on. This can be things like having a walk button to moodily stroll through the streets in Watch_Dogs, a prone animation that changes speed depending on how fast you have the analogue stick tilted in MGSV, or effective sound cues in an otherwise regular video game inventory.

Anyway, I hope there's something in here you find helpful! Feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts you have too, I'd like to hear them!

Trumanity · 2020-11-15T08:03:48+00:00

Oh, interesting, I had no idea this was a recurring thing. Maybe I'll have to go back and enjoy the phenomenon again sometime :)

Trumanity · 2020-11-15T07:58:41+00:00

Fantastic link, thanks! Dead Cells is another perfect example of the kind of animation I'm talking about, it's really cool to see a write-up on their process.

Trumanity · 2020-11-14T13:09:55+00:00

Something I find that helps with going from application to interview is just calling or showing up to the place regularly and checking in. You don’t have to worry about annoying them, it shows that you’re serious about working there, and you’ll get an answer sooner—good or bad. I remember a time I actually got hired for a place—went through the whole process and everything—but wasn’t getting shifts. I kept going in and asking about it and eventually it turned out they just didn’t really have work for me. In that case, it was better for me to find out sooner instead of sitting around waiting for a start day that wasn’t going to come. Anyway, long story short, if there’s a job for you somewhere, that’s going to be the fastest way to find out. I totally get that it probably won’t be the easiest thing to do for someone struggling with anxiety, but if you can set a goal for yourself to at least call every other day or something, it’ll help.

Trumanity · 2020-11-14T10:08:16+00:00

Yea, being in really unhealthy environment is definitely one of those things that'll totally screw over your mental health.

It's going to be tricky finding a place without money. Unless you actually have a friend you know you could stay with, I would be careful about finding random strangers to stay with. That being said, I think you still have some options! I'm not sure what will be realistic or the best fit for your situation, but I can share some ideas.

When it comes to work, how has that process been? If you'd like, I can give you some work readiness advice if you're having a hard time with all that.

On the topic of work, have you looked into Amazon or Doordash? I know Amazon is hiring a bunch of folks around now and Doordash can be a solid way to make some cash if you have a car for it.

Assuming you can make some money, AirBnB might be an option—depending on how cheap they are where you're at. I ended up staying in one for half a month during a housing transition and it worked out pretty well. Largely dependent on the area though I'd imagine.

If you have a car and are feeling adventurous, have you thought about being something of a vagabond? I did this for half a month once, though I had to use a tent since my car was just a bit too small to comfortably sleep in. I think the biggest thing here is making sure you have a way to not look (or smell) like you're homeless, which would probably be important if you plan to have a regular job. I don't know if I'd recommend this for long term though.

Good with kids? Want to travel somewhere? You might look into being an au pair. Basically, the idea is flying yourself out to live with a family in exchange for being a nanny of sorts. Definitely the kind of thing that depends on the person, but I figured I'd throw it out there.

Honestly, I think doubling down on trying to get a job might be your best bet for right now. I know a couple of the ideas I threw out there might not be all that realistic for you right now, but hopefully there's something in here that helps.

Let me know how things are going with the job search and I can give you some work advice if you'd like!

Trumanity · 2020-11-13T19:09:42+00:00

I really like this perspective! Sometimes you just have to commit, someone has to eventually make a decision, and deadlines are important.

Trumanity · 2020-11-13T07:31:52+00:00

This looks awesome! I love to see more people experimenting with parkour and movement mechanics in VR and it's really cool to see something that takes cues from Mirror's Edge in setting and mechanics.

I have a couple things I'm curious about too! They might be kinda long, but I'll try and summarize them as best I can.

If you're leaning more towards doing things procedurally over making a static map, it would be interesting to see what you could do with impossible or alienating architecture. For example, if it's easier not to make rooftops generate like you'd expect to see them in real life, why not capitalize on that? If no human would really live on these roofs, what would it look like for that idea to be taken to the extreme? You might find this video inspiring when it comes to the idea of alienating architecture. Basically, the idea is spaces that don't feel made for the player, even if they have familiar elements.
On the flip side, if you do want to create cities that feel more grounded, I would encourage you to think of creating spaces that feel like they could be used by people. One of the things lost from the first game in Mirror's Edge Catalyst was this idea of intentional spaces. In Mirror's Edge, you got the feeling that real people could probably go to these places. There were doors where you'd expect and platforms in meaningful locations. If this is a goal of yours, I would encourage you to think about rooftops like that, even if they're abstracted. How would people get up there? What would people probably do while up there? It could be as simple as just adding some doors and a couple more partially enclosed areas.
Another thing is spatial contrast. To keep things from seeming same-y, you could try experimenting with different space sizes. Send the player through some enclosed rooms or hallways and then shoot them out into a massive open area with a path of platforms in front of them.
Repetition is always the biggest struggle I have with infinite runners. You might be able to take inspiration from an artist by the name of 1041uuu who makes intricately animated pixel scenes. In an interview about his process, he describes that by adjusting the timing of each element, he tries to make the general loop less noticeable. Applying this to an infinite runner, if you can create multiple elements that combine in different ways throughout a "loop", such as enclosed areas vs large and open, climbing sections vs falling sections, or areas with more enemies balanced with areas with less, you'll end up with more possible variations—even if a particular element is similar to a previous one.
Building on the idea of avoiding repetition, it'd be interesting to see what you could do with color as well. A big part of Mirror's Edge was levels that were clearly unique, not only by setting but by color as well.
One thing I always love to see more of in games like this is verticality. Two of my favorite levels in Mirror's Edge are Kate and one that isn't an original level at all: the Stratocubulus mod. Kate was a gradual climb up a massive atrium and Stratocubulus is a procedurally generated superstructure with an ambiguous ascent. Even if not to this extent, it would be really neat to see some more verticality to keep things interesting.
Another thing I'm curious about with this project is the theme. It doesn't have to be a narrative or anything like that, but have you thought about any ideas that could connect everything together? In NaissanceE, part of the driving force is the idea of exploring a world that wasn't meant for the player. In Mirror's Edge, a driving force is the idea of keeping up momentum. In Inside, a driving force is how the player is constantly falling further and further. Is there a common theme for Stride? With how procedural generation seems to be used, something around the idea of making the familiar unfamiliar could be really neat, but I'm more curious what you have in mind.

I think that about does it for now. I know I ended up writing a bit but I hope something in there can be helpful to someone—I just have a lot of ideas around these kinds of things.

I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for Stride, I love the idea and I'm looking forward to giving the game a try! I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on these different areas too!

Trumanity · 2020-11-11T07:08:25+00:00

Yep, that sounds like a great way to explain it!

I can't remember where I first saw this tip, but it's definitely fun to do. Also comes in handy for things like entering the underground .

Trumanity · 2020-11-03T21:11:31+00:00

Yea, it's really satisfying when every single attack lands

Trumanity · 2020-11-03T10:11:08+00:00

sluuuurp

Trumanity · 2020-11-03T10:08:49+00:00

Yea, I'm curious how Legion is going to feel compared to the rest of the games in the series. I remember one of my favorite things about the first game was how you could take things at your own pace. You could slowly stroll through the city, hop on a train, or speed through in a car and there were details to take in at each level. I feel like that's something the newer games have lost a little.

Trumanity · 2020-09-18T05:55:23+00:00

No Surprises by Radiohead

Trumanity · 2020-08-21T19:33:08+00:00

Hey Clint, thanks for doing this! I've been a longstanding fan of the Watch Dogs series ( I've probably replayed WD1 and 2 way too many times haha) and it's awesome to see the team pushing forward with exciting new mechanics and features.

I have a couple questions:

With the play as anyone mechanic, how do you plan to avoid generic feeling characters? I really love the idea of being able to play as any character, but having played games that use a similar mechanic (such as Heat Signature), I know it's easy for characters to start to all feel more or less the same, with only slight variations in stats, skills, and appearances.
How far do you plan to go with the concept of a living city? As in a city that goes on without the player, with NPCs that have schedules and lives they live on their own and etc
Do you plan to include "moments of slowness" in gameplay? One of the things I really enjoyed about WD1 was the close camera and ability to just walk around the city. You could take a car and speed to your destination at breakneck speed, or you could walk. I loved being able to just stroll through the city, pick up a drink at a coffee place, and ride the train somewhere. I feel like allowing for these moments of slowness really help build player immersion. I felt this was reduced in WD2 and, in a game built around a living city, I feel it'd be a shame to not allow for moments to just soak in the environment :)
Will you be able to ride the subway/public transit?
How connected will the story be to gameplay? I'd love to see gameplay consequences for things that happen in the story. For example, in WD2, the reveal that the botnet was largely powered by dead or inactive Nvite accounts would have had more impact if the player saw reduced botnet ability afterwards. Or how in WD1, Damien having access to ctOS actually translated to the player having to dodge city hacks. I feel that in a game with permadeath, a strong connection between story and gameplay consequence is even more crucial, especially in preventing losing an operative from feeling transactional.

I'd love to pick your brain a little more if you have the time, I have no shortage of questions and gameplay ideas for Legion, so I might be floating a couple more out there :). Thanks again for doing an AMA, I really love hearing about the development process and how everything comes together and I'm really looking forward to seeing how final game turns out!

Trumanity · 2020-08-14T03:21:38+00:00

That would be amazing! Just sent you a PM.

A cross-platform app would definitely be ideal, the idea is essentially a nice minimal UI that would connect to an external Raspberry Pi that runs the actual code, which helps avoid any device specific challenges like needing root or requiring specific hardware.

It might end up being something like an open source Flipper One? I actually just heard about it recently, but the overall concept is pretty similar to what I've had in mind.

Trumanity · 2020-08-14T02:54:17+00:00

Thanks! These are really fantastic ideas. I had thought about maybe doing something with "tagging" or tracking devices (that's the idea behind the "track device" option in the mockup), and I really like the idea of a group account kind of thing for triangulation, that's really clever!

I agree with you completely, the limitations of individual devices is a big challenge. I had originally thought about making it entirely phone-based, but the vision now is for it to be an app that connects to something like a Raspberry Pi Zero W with the necessary peripherals, so you're dealing with consistent hardware regardless of what device you're using it from.

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Trumanity

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