Why are we still dealing with the primitive way weapons are holstered? While graphics and detail continue to increase, we still seem to be stuck with this "floating sword" laziness. What's really amusing is the fact that an old game like Nintendo 64's Zelda (late 90s) can do it just fine, whereas a post-2011 MMO title cannot.

The first MMORPG that I've really seen a holstered weapon work was in the Age of Conan Beta: AoC Beta Sword Sheath Video - It looked and worked great. However, it was scrapped because of clipping issues via character sizes etc.

I understand the concern for graphical clipping. However, there are other ways to make this work. For instance, having two 3D models of each weapon (one that is shealthed or holstered and one that is not). Moreover, it's not completely necessary to have a character animation that holsters the weapon. Aion had a unique way that transferred a soldier's weapon to his back without any character animations at all. It worked.

I think that it's time to get rid of "floating weapons".

STUPID

COOL

STUPID

COOL

STUPID

FRICKEN' COOL

Foating weapons cost less to model and animate. Also the more detailed things are more the game will lag with alot of people around.

So Cost and Performance are the reason.

Why does Planetside 2 have GTA style "pull ot of your ass " system? Performance.

You could use your imagination. Say the character's backs or the weapons themselves are sticky. That is why they can be carried around like that.

EDIT: In any case, not even close to a game breaking or making feature.

Because take every weapon in the game and add +1 for every.single.one to create a model/texture for the sheathed version.

Well, you "could" cheat and have every 1H sword look the same when sheathed for example and reduce the workload by a whole hell of a lot, but people would complain about that too.

Would it be unrealistic to create maybe 3-4 sheathed models/textures for each weapon type?

I don't think so.

But when so many weapons have different handles as well as shaped blades.... you see the problem.

Damned if you do - damned if you don't.

It works in the Zelda example because EVERY player of Zelda has the same sword...

Originally posted by Quirhid

You could use your imagination. Say the character's backs or the weapons themselves are sticky. That is why they can be carried around like that.

EDIT: In any case, not even close to a game breaking or making feature.

All I know is this:

When I was playing the first AoC Beta (when sheaths were in), I was impressed with my character. It made my character look 100% richer and 1000% more realistic.

Your character is on your screen nearly the entire time. Why should this be void?

Originally posted by BadSpock

Because take every weapon in the game and add +1 for every.single.one to create a model/texture for the sheathed version.

Well, you "could" cheat and have every 1H sword look the same when sheathed for example and reduce the workload by a whole hell of a lot, but people would complain about that too.

Would it be unrealistic to create maybe 3-4 sheathed models/textures for each weapon type?

I don't think so.

But when so many weapons have different handles as well as shaped blades.... you see the problem.

Damned if you do - damned if you don't.

It works in the Zelda example because EVERY player of Zelda has the same sword...

It shouldn't be hard to copy the hilt from a sword and place on a sheath. I don't care if there is only 1 sheath model, so long as there is at least something.

Originally posted by colddog04
2X more time spent on the sheath portion of weapon development time please. Other issues are of less importance!

This type of response is just sassy. With this logic, why bother spending time to add different hair styles, facial details, or deeper character customization options?

hope you know 2 of the games are from 2004, while talking about post 2011 games...

either way am all for details, this topic just havent really been something that have bothered me so far though....and looking at the replies so far, I guess there is your answer to why developers doesnt do it

Originally posted by mmoDAD

Originally posted by colddog04
2X more time spent on the sheath portion of weapon development time please. Other issues are of less importance!

This type of response is just sassy. With this logic, why bother spending time to add different hair styles, facial details, or deeper character customization options?

You're right. 4X more time should be spent on hair styles.

Originally posted by Hedeon

hope you know 2 of the games are from 2004, while talking about post 2011 games...

either way am all for details, this topic just havent really been something that have bothered me so far though....and looking at the replies so far, I guess there is your answer to why developers doesnt do it

I thought the same thing until I experienced it in the AoC beta. Since then, I've been yearning for it. It's like the first time you taste chocolate or something...

Moreover, most of the replies here are from people who do nothing but complain. The forum is a game for them - a port to vent.

Originally posted by mmoDAD

Originally posted by Hedeon

hope you know 2 of the games are from 2004, while talking about post 2011 games...

either way am all for details, this topic just havent really been something that have bothered me so far though....and looking at the replies so far, I guess there is your answer to why developers doesnt do it

I thought the same thing until I experienced it in the AoC beta. Since then, I've been yearning for it. It's like the first time you taste chocolate or something...

 

Moreover, most of the replies here are from people who do nothing but complain. The forum is a game for them - a port to vent.

To me, it looks like you have nothing better to do than complain. You are complaining about something that seems so extremely trivial to me, it feels almost cartoonish. You may think you have some kind of higher ground on complaining about ridiculous features, but I assure you, your complaints are absolutely bargain basement complaints.

Originally posted by colddog04

Originally posted by mmoDAD

I thought the same thing until I experienced it in the AoC beta. Since then, I've been yearning for it. It's like the first time you taste chocolate or something...

 

Moreover, most of the replies here are from people who do nothing but complain. The forum is a game for them - a port to vent.

To me, it looks like you have nothing better to do than complain. You are complaining about something that seems so extremely trivial to me, it feels almost cartoonish. You may think you have some kind of higher ground on complaining about ridiculous features, but I assure you, your complaints are absolutely bargain basement complaints.

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Originally posted by BadSpock

Originally posted by colddog04

Originally posted by mmoDAD

I thought the same thing until I experienced it in the AoC beta. Since then, I've been yearning for it. It's like the first time you taste chocolate or something...

 

Moreover, most of the replies here are from people who do nothing but complain. The forum is a game for them - a port to vent.

To me, it looks like you have nothing better to do than complain. You are complaining about something that seems so extremely trivial to me, it feels almost cartoonish. You may think you have some kind of higher ground on complaining about ridiculous features, but I assure you, your complaints are absolutely bargain basement complaints.

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

True. A half eaten Big Mac in the trash is someone's treasure.

Originally posted by Czanrei
I agree with the OP because the sheathing laziness is just one of many things that bothers me about modern mmo's. This is the year 2013 and gaming tech is alot further along than 3/4 of the mmo devs are using. They need to step up if they want to earn my hard earned money in this economy. 

I think there's a compromise between what's available technologically and what people are willing to spend money on to be able to run that tech.

I was thinking of Skyrim, which I'm currently playing. The clothes do not ~flow~. They're just hanging there. Same as with hair.

I know the tech is there because I've seen bits and pieces of this in other games, MMOs etc. But other areas suffer for it (shittier ground textures perhaps?)

So I'm not worried about floating weapons. It does look silly now that we've experienced so much, but it'll come. Patience.

Originally posted by colddog04

Originally posted by BadSpock

Originally posted by colddog04

To me, it looks like you have nothing better to do than complain. You are complaining about something that seems so extremely trivial to me, it feels almost cartoonish. You may think you have some kind of higher ground on complaining about ridiculous features, but I assure you, your complaints are absolutely bargain basement complaints.

One man's trash is another man's treasure.

True. A half eaten Big Mac in the trash is someone's treasure.

MMMmmmmm Big Mac....

No in all seriousness I agree with the OP - MMOs have been sadly lacking in many of the immersive aspects most single players games have flourished with.

Is it the MMO genre as a platform? Such as technical limitations when building Massively Multiplayer worlds? Is it prioritization of other features?

There are still countless MMOs released without things like sitting in chairs, swimming, jumping... may not be important to others but to me it breaks the feeling of being a character in this world which is important in the MMO space.