(offtopic) What about island to island maps that require dropships to traverse? Or civilian districts, where one fights from apartments and such?

Eve battleships are pretty massive one of them would be the size of most of our current maps if not larger.

When I first heard about this game, I imaged we might be given the ability to actually invade player ships in EvE during large engagements and sabotage their warp cores or blow the ship up from within...it'll probably never happen, but it was a nice thought.

Is it possible to have terrain sockets like valleys, rivers , natural bridges , caves , lakes, etc ?

We need to get the racial SI's finished.

It is possible. However, I will reiterate, such types are not of a priority. We need to get the racial SI's finished.

It is possible. However, I will reiterate, such types are not of a priority. We need to get the racial SI's finished.

So how's work on them progressing? Are we talking winter expansion (in EVE terms) or sooner? ;)

Gallente Research with supporting small and medium sockets comes out in 1.4.
New terrain most likely in 1.4 as well.

We are aiming for:
Caldari Production Facility and its supporting sockets for 1.7
(Art blockout phase currently)

Minmatar Cargo Hub and supporting sockets TBD
(it's in a bsp blockout phase now, and is coming along nicely)

This is purely from level design and environment art. Speaking of which. Currently Team Knee 101 is doing the outposts, and Team Daddies is doing the terrains. We are sub team inside of Team Flash.

This is interesting. Out of curiosity, could you tell us what racial SI's we have now (with some brief descriptors if possible), and what constitutes a "complete set" as far as the current plan goes? Is someone working on Amarr stuff?

Amarr stuff is being concepted currently. Nothing is being built at this very moment from Team Knee 101 or Team Daddies.

Right now, off the top of my head Orbital Artillery I believe functions as our Cargo Hub (Caldari). I am not sure what they are using the other two for at the moment.

A complete set is something new we started with the Research outpost. This is where we create small and medium sockets that "belong" with the SI. They look like they belong, and they functionally support it in lore. For example Research outpost has small sockets Power Core, Security Scanning, Relay Station, and Satellite Launch. With two mediums Landing Pad, and Reactor. They utilize assets and textures from the Research Outpost. They look good repeating, and support interesting gameplay (primarily in the medium sockets, as small sockets are very... small).

So with that said. "Currently" future SI's should be expected to have two mediums, and four small sockets that go out with them.

Amarr stuff is being concepted currently. Nothing is being built at this very moment from Team Knee 101 or Team Daddies.

Not entirely sure yet, but the MCC's will either have a new interior, or it will be a new MCC all together. The current MCC's are for safe spawn location.

1.7...? Thats something like October.. I take it we're sticking with the six month expansion plan..

Bear in mind we have one team that does these outposts. Team Knee 101 right now is that team. It only consists of two level designers, and the environment artists in that team need all of them on one SI at a time. From an art standpoint, it takes about 2 or 3 months to get them fully art treated and optimized. That's including all t he supporting sockets that go with an SI.

This isn't a task that can be done over night by a single team.

I remember watching a video of DUST 514 at E3 2013 (possibly advancing the core) or something, and there had been a facility/socket shown (Large white hospital looking building with spotlights). If you know what I talk about, can you give me an ETA on when this facility would be made?

it's outragous for a game out of beta...

Bear in mind we have one team that does these outposts. Team Knee 101 right now is that team. It only consists of two level designers, and the environment artists in that team need all of them on one SI at a time. From an art standpoint, it takes about 2 or 3 months to get them fully art treated and optimized. That's including all t he supporting sockets that go with an SI.

This isn't a task that can be done over night by a single team.

Oh, I completely understand, Im just surprised that Uprising is going as far as 1.7 or more. Theres a lot of content these gents are wanting and youmoght want to consider rolling out Weapons Labs (weapon testing in a safe environment) and Social Interaction areas (see thread on Corporation Hub) before working on more sockets. I understand more sockets to kill the repetition is a priority but they dont really have any long term benefits.

Not to say we dont want to see some bitchin' new sockets

Yes, but... this is what level design and environment art does. We make gameplay space. I imagine if / when areas like social hubs and Weapons Labs get support from code (such as written or ready for use) then we would actually build them from a content perspective.

Yes, but... this is what level design and environment art does. We make gameplay space. I imagine if / when areas like social hubs and Weapons Labs get support from code (such as written or ready for use) then we would actually build them from a content perspective.