Cross Atu
Conspiratus Immortalis
775
   |
Posted - 2012.09.04 23:35:00 -
[1] - Quote
From my perspective there are so many variables in play that sometimes the meaning behind a given term gets clouded.
If one talks about the movement or control during a 'run-n-gun' situation in game what is one actually describing?
Is it UI, gameplay, balance, rpg mechanics... well really it could be any or more likely all of these things depending on what is being specifically referenced.
For example sniper scope tracking. If it's hard to effectively control your targeting when zoomed with a sniper rifle then what is the cause of that? Broken UI (i.e. a strait up client bug), hit detection/lag glitch (i.e. a connection/ping type issue), a gameplay issue (i.e. insufficient interface feedback, or the "camera trolly with gun effect"), balance (i.e. some other piece of gear/level of gear would improve effective tracking and thus it's functioning as intended), rpg mechanics (i.e. leveling the relevant skills will resolve the issue. It is functioning as intended in that those who specialize in that role will not suffer the same hindrances as those who do not).
If someone makes a simple/less detailed statement like "scope tracking is broken, fix it!" then the solution they are seeking, indeed their actual problem is not able to be clearly defined or effectively reacted to. (Note: In all fairness it can be difficult at times as a tester/player to know all the relevant details involved in an issue much less all of the possible sources/elements involved in an occurrence)
To bring all of this around to the general topics discussed in this thread (still employing the example above) there are some things that can and should be addressed and I doubt those things are in any real dispute (even if it's not always clear they're being referenced, or the scope of their effects).
Example:
If targeting is poor due to connection/lag or other related issues, that should be fixed and I don't think anyone will say "MOAR LAG PLZ".
If targeting is poor because the UI is clumsy or cumbersome, again fixes/customization being opened up is a pretty straightforward win.
Gameplay issues are more gray, in that some players may not care about/be effected as notably by things like the "camera trolly" effect. Here too however I doubt there's much real opposition to bringing more grounding (as cited with games like Killzone etc) into Dust.
The contentious areas (and I think much feedback related to the above areas is mistakenly lumped in with this type here) are in the balance/rpg/"as intended" component of the game.
Saying "let's improve dust by gutting the effect/value of skills" is simply not equal to "lets improved dust by squashing UI bugs or making the heft/feel of guns more solid and realistic". The latter benefits every player, the former caters to a specific style over the other. To put a fine point on it if one wants the UI, feel, latency, etc improved then it should be, however if one wants a game without relevant character skill progression, or a warfare game conducted within a persistent world where numbers/economics/politics etc. all play real roles having a meaningful impact on matches (i.e. player combat/fps skill alone is not what the game is balanced around) then we've moved into the territory of "perhaps another game would be better suited to you".
Summation, I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling CoD etc don't motivate me to play at this point, Dust does, however that doesn't mean there's nothing of value to be learned from more 'standard' FPS games, valuable lessons can be gained from games like Killzone or BF3 without attempting to clone them, compete head-to-head with them, or gut any of the RPG/MMO/Persistent complex world, aspects that make Dust unique and appealing.
My 0.02 ISK
ps ~ whatever your stand Detailed feedback > vague generalizations. And to anyone wanting to flame me for this statement, if you've been detailed in your feedback then I'm not referencing you (nor indeed do I have any specific posters in mind as I write this).
EDIT: Ranger SnakeBlood raises some good point in the post above. |