A few good bit in here, the FE devs are working on their first instance, I really hope they don't go nuts with those.

Question of the Week: 05-07-08
This week we’re switching gears somewhat, changing over from working on starter towns to our first major instance and polishing up some conflict towns in Kaibab Forest. We’re still working on items, but will be wrapping that up soon. We’ve also got folks working on auctions, vehicles, clans, the tutorial and other stuff to boot.

For those interested, we’re putting together our convention schedule for the season, and it looks like the Leipzig Game Convention and PAX will be our big shows this year (in addition to the standard industry shows like Austin GDC, etc).

1. Will FE control the maximum mark-up on an item being auctioned? This could help stablize the in-game economy. Max mark-up could be like 100% of build-price/list-price.


Currently we’re not looking at putting such limitations on the auction house. Considering all the various ways players can get resources (harvesting, scavenging, off creatures, farms/ranches/mines) we don’t feel that resources will suffer from a huge markup. Also, since everyone can learn every craft skill, if people really want something they can make it themselves. In the end we figure this will balance out supply and demand.

2. Would it be possible to have uploadable clan symbols? For, like, banners -- maybe an 8-bit 40 x 40 image?

Not initially, and this does create a huge headache for us since we have to check every image to make sure it’s appropriate. We are a mature game, so there’d be more leeway than in some other games, but we still don’t want a guild to have genitalia as their symbol. It may be something we look at long-term.

3. Is Lake Mead accessible behind the Hoover Dam or is that something that might come in a later expansion?

Well, players only get a limited trip to Hoover Dam in the release content, so they won’t have time to visit the lake initially. A lengthier trip will come in expansions.

4. Will there be any support for Linux?

Very unlikely. We just don’t have the resources to spare for it, considering everything else on our plate.

5. Is the "spotting" part of the Sneak/Stealth skill active or passive?

Both. The “Hey, I heard something,” part is passive. The “Hey, I think you’re an enemy faction member in disguise!” part is active as it requires you to activate an ability on the target.

6. Any chance at another % update? If so, when is the estimated date you might give us an estimate of how close you are to being on schedule. Oh, and I'll give you a nickel if you tell us what that schedule is.

There’s about a 10% chance of an update. So you’ll get one sometime in the next ten weeks according to the odds.

7. How about a little more detail on what you guys are doing for those mutation animations?

Our mutations animations effectively have three parts: a charge animation, a hold animation, and a cast animation.

The charge animation is a short hand gesture that happens when you activate the mutation. This requires your left hand to be free.

The hold animation happens after the charge and represents your character keeping the mutation ready. Basically this is the “ready to fire” animation. It usually looks like an upraised fist. You cannot have a weapon in your hand while you have a mutation ready.


The cast animation is where the mutation is fired at the target using the targeting reticule and clicking the mouse. If your target is not in your reticule, the mutation misses, but the gamma points are still expended. Only those mutations that affect others have this animation, and a large part of our mutations are self-affecting only.

Why do you say you hope they go crazy with something that lowers the world population and turns the game into something resembling Diablo?

Instances are a good idea, don't get me wrong. I hate it when you have ppl messing up your dungeons, but some games just push the instance too far. Such as WoW, GW, and others.

Interesting news...thanks for the info! keep it up

Originally posted by Blackfoot-3

Why do you say you hope they go crazy with something that lowers the world population and turns the game into something resembling Diablo?

Instances are a good idea, don't get me wrong. I hate it when you have ppl messing up your dungeons, but some games just push the instance too far. Such as WoW, GW, and others.

Well, I can see what you're saying, and I am not espousing a total ban on instances. What I am saying is that many have rely way too much on them, and that it breaks up the flow of gameplay. Some of them? Ok. A few really good ones? Great. Having them become the be all and end all of content? Nope. Have it be the source of the best "raid only" loot in the game? Hell no.

Originally posted by Burntvet

 

Originally posted by Blackfoot-3

Why do you say you hope they go crazy with something that lowers the world population and turns the game into something resembling Diablo?

Instances are a good idea, don't get me wrong. I hate it when you have ppl messing up your dungeons, but some games just push the instance too far. Such as WoW, GW, and others.

 

Well, I can see what you're saying, and I am not espousing a total ban on instances. What I am saying is that many have rely way too much on them, and that it breaks up the flow of gameplay. Some of them? Ok. A few really good ones? Great. Having them become the be all and end all of content? Nope. Have it be the source of the best "raid only" loot in the game? Hell no.

 

You should both reread your posts, as I find it hilarious that you both managed to misunderstand each other.

Originally posted by Zorvan

Originally posted by Burntvet

 

Originally posted by Blackfoot-3

Why do you say you hope they go crazy with something that lowers the world population and turns the game into something resembling Diablo?

Instances are a good idea, don't get me wrong. I hate it when you have ppl messing up your dungeons, but some games just push the instance too far. Such as WoW, GW, and others.

 

Well, I can see what you're saying, and I am not espousing a total ban on instances. What I am saying is that many have rely way too much on them, and that it breaks up the flow of gameplay. Some of them? Ok. A few really good ones? Great. Having them become the be all and end all of content? Nope. Have it be the source of the best "raid only" loot in the game? Hell no.

 

You should both reread your posts, as I find it hilarious that you both managed to misunderstand each other.

I knew what I was saying, but he didn't see the "Dont" in the original post. We were both saying the same thing basically, I just didn't make my response that clear, after his whiff.... lack of sleep and all that.

Yeah, it was my fault. I'm lucky if I get 2hrs of sleep a night. Don't ask why, I'm in the Army. Lets just put it that way.

Been there, done that (sorta), got the scars.....