This week I am looking at transition effects in and out of the starmap, as well as a scan effect. The transition should fade between the current Station Level (you saw a 'possible but not final' representation at fanfest) and the starmap (the levels are loaded together so there is no actual 'loading' going on--just want some visual immersion). There are definitely a few ways to do this: standard cross-fade, pixel 'redrawing', holographic projection, ???. If you have ideas, or cool reference videos--that would be cool--please post (especially if you find informative Unreal Engine tutorials). The scan effect is already kinda cool (but there is room for more prototypes): Currently I've got a glowing (different colored) line panning across the 3D scene (driven by a 3D coordinate that would animate) that 'displaces' (and changes color) the geometry it passes over. The displacement may be overkill, but it was an opportunity to try new DX11 Geometry Tessellation features.

I can't promise to implement the ideas or reference, but I will at least give it a critical thought. If there are any cool ideas and time permits, I will make an effort to try and prototype--but it will be up to the art director as for what we ultimately use.

I like the idea of some sort of transition almost alternate reality state similar to the one from Creed that you posted....

Maybe its possible to utilize the star map model again so that you have a back ground of moving at some speed across the universe from your current location towards where you chose to go showing the nebulas and suns as you go.. this however fades in and out (never completely) accompanied by some flashing like a representation of neurons firing and random brain activity (like dreams)... maybe some random views of new eden showing gate jumps as graphics.. Lines stretching across the map (goto 28:40 on this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXYu5oUc0p4 to see what i mean) to imply dreams but connected to the universe you live in as you near you destination the travel comes back into focus and you see the system and planet you are heading for come zooming towards you.

What they had at fanfest this year was a little like warping through the stars as you traveled but in my mind it didn't really have that atmospheric that the assassins creed thing does... if i'm being downloaded its gotta be sort of disturbing but beautiful maybe?
The more powerfull the mind (i.e the more skillpoints you have) The faster and more powerfull the 'dreams' as you travel.

I did not smoke anything before posting... Honest.

I've been a big fan of python ever since they embedded an interpreter inside of Maya. Because of this, I actually tend to favor developing tools inside of Maya rather than Unreal. I find the velocity of developing python inside of Maya to be super fast, and the stability is very high. Do you happen to be in Shanghai?