BackAlleyBrawler

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How many animations did we have in the game? I seem to remember Back Alley citing a number north of a thousand.

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As of Issue 14, there are 5, 313 animations in the game. 2,246 for the “male” rig, 700 for “female”, and 720 for “huge”.

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I suspect the developers are very busy preparing I14, the next booster pack and future content, and I don't expect things to be fixed overnight. But I'm talking about major, universal, problems that cropped up before the winter event and I guess I'm kind of stunned at the lack of notice or mention of them. Moreso when I look at the content of this patch.

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Quick responses to general tone of many posts in this thread

We're departmentalized here. The people who would be responsible for fixing things like game crashes, bugs with text chat, etc are not the same people who do things like tweak powers, change badges, or fiddle with animation/FX. I've said this many times before, but people keep using this "Why did they do X instead of fixing Y" arguement and unless you're a producer here, you cannot know which things are getting addressed in lieu of other things. (I myself only know which animation/FX issues are taking priority of other animation/FX issues)

The known issues list is kind of in unknown territory. I'm not sure if there is anyone who's responsibility is to keep that thing updated on a regular basis...and I'm not sure if there actually is a way to keep it updated anyway. What should go on the known issues list is things that are currently broken in the live game, are known about by us, and will be fixed in an upcoming patch.

It can't ever be the "Here are all of the bugs we know about" list because our bug tracking database literally has tens of thousands of 'known issues'. Some have been fixed, some aren't actually bugs, many are duplicates of bugs, etc. There's no reasonable way anyone could parse through our bug database and condense it into a list on a regular basis. Even updating it with a list of things that we know about and have already fixed is problematic and requires the people who fix things to manually tell someone to update the list. So the likeliehood of the known issues list ever being up to the minute and comprehensive is slim to none. It can certainly be more comprehensive and up to the date that it currently is, but it'll always be something that's managed ad hoc.

Finally, we are in a particularly chaotic point in update schedule. We're beginning the transition between I13 on live and I14 (which used to be part of I13) on it's way to beta testing--always a troublesome time in the update process. We're also working ahead on things for post I14 launch (booster packs, anniversary event, etc)...as well as Issues 15 and 16. Many things going into I14 can't go into I13 without horrible consequences. Likewise with I15 and I16. So, we're currently dealing with more future builds than we ever have and more open branches as well. Trust me, it's just as frustrating for us as it is for you guys. But we'll get through it and things will smooth out. Absolute worst case scenario is by the time Issue 14 goes live...at that point one of the builds/branches we're juggling (I13) is closed for good. Pretty hopeful that things will smooth out long befor then though.

I could be completely wrong about this, but I believe that you first need to connect to the patchserver to make sure your version of the client is up to date, then an authorization server to log in, and then the actual game servers.

There seems to be an issue with the patchserver. Might be a genuine problem, or it might just be getting slammed right now from everyone trying to update at one time. I do know I was able to login earlier today, update, and actually get into the game for a bit. I watched Castle play on an entire team of brand new shield characters.

Right now I'm at home experiencing the same issue that many of you are having. Be patient. It might be simple congestion, it might be a genuine problem...either way I'm sure it'll be sorted out soon.

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Just logged in to check up on email and I see that there was a lot of crashing problems earlier today...but from what I can tell the problem was identified, fixed, built, send off to QA for smoketesting, and the hotfix went up around 7pm

The servers now appear to be up and running, people are online and playing, but the update servers are still under significant load...so expect delays

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I won't post angry comments about any walk button we get "some day", but I can see prioritizing other stuff above it...like a 'scamper on all fours' run animation...

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Oh, of course, I've never seen this as an especially high priority. Other things being more important is a good reason. I'm just worried increasingly simple things have been getting the "not everyone will like it" treatment, to the point where I'm starting to worry if it really is priorities deciding or if it's that reluctance to not please everybody.

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There's a difference between 'not everyone will like it, but it'll only take a couple of hours' and 'not everyone will like it, and it'll take more time to do than pretty much anything else'

Really, the 'not everyone will like it part' is a very, very minor concern.

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Most of the negative feedback over flight poses is that they don't stick, and that you can't set the Hover poses (and, again, have them stick.)


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You gotta go back to the original comments on them, when they were random or cycled through the options sequentially. Even today, some of you guys have strong feelings about certain flight poses (or all of the current options) not fitting the image of their character that they have in their noggin. I would expect walks to elicit much the same type of response. Compounding that is aside from making a different walk for the male, female, and huge body types the possiblity of doing multiple styles of walking for each is so un-feasible it's essentially impossible.

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I understand the code problem with trying to set either a max or absolute speed, but I don't understand BaB's number of animations statement.

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You know what, I was wrong...we actually need 15-90 animations

Walk forward
Walk backward
Walk Strafe-Left
Walk Strafe-Right
Stop walking, transition back to ready

Times 3 for each body type: male, female, and huge

Times 6 for the various 'modes' to both cover the different hand/arm positions and to properly transition back into the appropriate 'ready' stance when you stop walking: Ready, Combat Ready, Weapon Ready, Dual Ready (used by katana and archery as well), 'Shotgun' Ready, and Shield Ready

15-90 animations needed to do a 'walk button'. (Or 105 if we wanted to accomodate the two-handed club stance as well.)

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It'd require more than just walking animations. What'd happen if you were 'walking' and you got hit with Speed Boost? Siphon Speed? Were standing on Caltrops? Had Granite+Rooted activated? Super Jump? Intertial Reduction?

BaBs doesn't want to have you running at super speeds while using the walking animation, nor walking while slowed to the point where you're practically just standing in place. There's a lot of issues that made BaB say it's not so simple as just making new animations.

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To add walking into the game we're looking at anywhere from 15 to 75 animations. That would get us a single 'style' of walking for the male, female, and huge player models. Doubtful that we'd ever be able to create a single walk animation that would make everyone happy...based on the mixed feedback about flight poses and the new hover animations.

We're not opposed to adding walking into the game...it's just really hard to prioritize it over so many other things that require animation time.

Mr. Minden. I was stunned upon hearing the news that you'd resigned. Trying to keep the forums up and running, the community informed and appeased, and all of the other things you were responsible for is not an easy task, so I've always had a deep appreciation for anyone willing to take on that challenge. To me you always seemed to have a cool head and genuine concern for the community and their personal issues, even when they were driving us a bit nutty.

You're the first person to choose to part ways with us since we were folded into NCSofts arms a little over a year ago. Rationally, I know that losing people is inevetable, but deep down inside there was some small part that our team, this game, and this community was so awesome that anyone lucky enough to join us would never even think about leaving.

Plus, you were foolish enough to give me and Jay a redname. Just thinking about his inuagral post still cracks me up.

I refuse to use 'future endeavors', so I'll just wish you the best of luck in whatever it is you decide to do. I can only hope that we're able to find a replacement with as much passion for this community as you and your predecessors have shown before the groundlings devour us all.

Cheers.

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IIRC, you just need to be anything that doesn't 'occupy' both hands with a seperate costume bit (ie: No Dual Blades, or Katana). They did mention specifically tweaking a few sets (including Stone Melee) to work with Shields. Not sure if they carried through on that, though.. >>

I'd like to know, personally.

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Yes. The only sets that cannot be used with Shields are those with a 'weapon' in or on the left hand. For practical purposes this would be Dual Blades, Katana, Claws, & Spines.

Sets like Super Strength, Martial Arts, Energy Melee, Dark melee, etc have alternative animations that range from being as simple as adjusting the left arm to completely re-animating the power. Stone Melee's Stone Mallet powers use some of the one handed animations of Battle Axe and War Mace.

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does the self destruct option get interupted if hit like the pocket D TP?

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I would highly, HIGHLY reccomend you do NOT zone while the self-destruct power is counting down. There is currently a bit of an issue with the FX script that can cause the camera shake to not stop and increase over time...indefinitely. If this happens, the only fix is to completely shut down the game and restart it.

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Not only -can- you rebuy this $4.99 jetpack again after your first 30 day period expires but that is apparently exactly what the NCSoft Sales and Marketing seem to be hoping that we will do with this.


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Fixed that for you.

As someone who works in Software Development I can tell you that the people who develop the software have zero to do with how it is marketed and sold, and that is often a point of contention. BAB, SexyJ, Posi and gang have not control over how the jetpack is sold, only in how cool it looks and how it works. For which I thank them!

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I don't believe anyone thinks that the $4.99 jetpack is going to be a money-maker...but the cost to offer it for players is practically nill. It's being offered more as a convenience for players who want the 30 day jetpack, but don't want to or can't purchase the game card that it is associated with.

If someone wants to pay $5/mo to 'rent' a jetpack month after month, they're more than welcome to...but it's far from expected.

Frankly, with the cost of fuel today having an unlimited supply of jetpack fuel for $5/mo is a steal.

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I am at your PAX, stealin' your funz!

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MOAR I13 INFO

UR DOIN IT WRONG

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Right now the NCSoft area (and pretty much everyone else) is being set up...which is surpisingly packed and chaotic.

We've got 8 machines that will be running CoH/CoV on the training room, so feel free to log in over the next few days and say hi to all the PAX people who will be playing from here.

I am at your PAX, stealin' your funz!

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Any word yet on which fancy NCNC people will be going to PAX this year?

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Hero 1 and myself from the dev team, Ex Libris, and Ross. Those are the ones I'm sure about but there may be others.

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I generally have a lot of respect for your opinions, but implying that anyone who dislikes the decision made by marketing in this instance is somehow being unreasonable is simply something I can't agree with.

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I never said that. I said I believe (and still believe) that the majority of reasonable players don't begrudge NC for creating exclusive marketing giveaways.

There are lots of decisions that either the dev team or NCsoft in general make that I either disagree with, or which go against my personal preferences (which are two different things). But thats not the same thing as saying I believe they are idiotic, incompetent, ignorant, unresponsive, or poor decision-makers every time they make a decision I disagree with.

I'm disappointed I missed the last double XP weekend. I do not believe NCsoft had an obligation to check with my schedule first. I can be disappointed in something without thinking that that fact alone makes the source of my disappointment deficient.

I also stand by my assertion that it is unreasonable to presume that being disappointed in a circumstance carries with it the presumption that someone made an error to create that circumstance. If I end up not getting the costume option, I'll be disappointed. It won't change my mind that NCsoft is being completely reasonable in its approach to marketing exclusives. I'm saying that with the full knowledge that there is very little probability of NCsoft being at a public venue anywhere within two thousand miles of me.

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I'm game to hold an expo in your neck of the woods...

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I'm on the this is unfair to non-west coast people bandwagon. Great for people in that area, shaft for anyone who is not. Using developer time to add content (however non-game changing it is) that players are not on equal footing to obtain is a real PO factor for subscribers. Something NCNC might want to think about.

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This is a permenant version of the temporary power you can earn during the Halloween event. It simply changes your appearance into that of the PPD Hardsuit.

It is not a set of player costume pieces and it required very very little time to create as the PPD Hardsuit was already made and the power to change you into it was already made for the Halloween event.

Very cool thread. Will definitely be bringing Hero 1's attention to it tomorrow.

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We all pay money every month 15 bucks on up. that money needs to be spent on developing content and fixes for the game as it is now. seem that they just used our money and developed a way to make more money by charging 9.99 for a respec.

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Your monthly fee is going towards development of the game, paying salaries, paying for servers (power, bandwidth, maintenance, maintenance staff), etc. And I believe the money from the sales of "extras" goes towards increased development too (recall the wedding pack sales let them do the VEAT's a whole issue early).

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Technically, your monthly fee is paying for access to the game servers. That's it.

What NCSoft as a company chooses to do with the revenues from subscriptions or micro-transactions is really a different matter all together.

I may be heading up for this one, depending on the timing of some things going on right now.

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I'm new to MMOs and games. Do most of them not provide free new content like CoX does with its issues? I note that many DEVS state we're getting FREE new issues etc etc. However, without these free issues I am willing to bet big $ that this game would perish. Also, why is each issue thought of as free? Does our $15/month not help pay for this? It seems CoX has approx 180 000 subscibers and you multiply that by $15...seems like NC Soft is getting a good chunk of change from us and needs to do a bit more than they have this year. Lots of competition on the horizon. I do enjoy this game and will likely stay unless I am overwhelmed with the new games

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One, we don't have 180,000 subscribers. I don't know the exact number right now, but it's not that high.

Two, monthly subscription fees go toward many things. Running the servers. Hardware, IT support, bandwidth, etc. Technical Suport and CSR ( Hopefully you never have to deal with them, but they still account for a portion of the costs associated with running this game). Community support for the forums here. Lighthouse, Ex Libris, moderators, forum software, domain name hosting, more bandwidth for the forums, etc. All these people that don't actually create content for the game have ridiculous demands as well...such as a place to work, electricity, computers, software, insurance, etc. Guvment wants their cut of everything. There are also costs that I can't discuss and costs that I'm sure I'm not aware of right now. Bottom line is, it ain't cheap to make and run an MMO. It ain't cheap to just run one.

As for the actual developer studio side of things, I have no idea what percentage of subscription fees get funneled back into developing the 'free' issues, but I can assure you there aren't any high dollar sports cars sitting in our parking lot. Our new studio is nice, but nothing in it is gold plated. Hower, this is a business, and the point of business is to make a profit. So in all honesty, every penny of your subscription fee isn't actually going directly back into the game. That said, if you think for one second that any MMO with a subscription fee is any different, you are sadly mistaken. Sadly. Here's a sad face for you.

To put this in a a different perspective, we have less subscribers than we did a year ago, and we have a lot more people working on 'free' content for you. I personally think that's a pretty good deal, and it should speak volumes about the commitment to this game and this franchise.

Let's be honest here...when the new games come out, you're gonna check them out. You may in fact, even like them more and stop playing our beloved game to go play that game. Threatening us with something that's most likely inevitable anyway isn't really going to accomplish anything. We're going to continue doing what we think is best for this game, to the best of our abilities, and in whatever time it takes to accomplish all of that.

Would you really want developers who get all panicky and spastic because there's impending competition? Competion is good. We look forward to having other MMOs in the same genre. It'll most likely be good for us and this game in the long run.

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I completely agree. Keeping us in the dark is annoying. I'm also losing interest with the game. I started played in Jan 2008 so learning the game kept my interest for a while and then i12 hit so it was ok. Now that I have a good chunk of the game down I am wanting the next issue

I see the mish creator is a hot topic but I think they should have dealt with other areas first. Going server-less is a big one. Also give each faction the ability to venture to the other side would be more important. As it stands the game divides the players way too much - spread over its numerous servers and then split between heroes or villains. Anyway, I hope this is being looked at

Any more info available for the future of this game in that address??

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If you've really blown through every bit of content this game has to offer, on both sides, in 7 months...I think I can safely say you can forget about us ever being able to keep your appetite for new content sated.

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Actually, they don't say issue 13 will be the last issue. They just say it'll be the last issue THIS YEAR, which, with only 5 months left in the year, isn't all that unlikely unless things progress really, really smoothly with i13 and i14...

[/ QUOTE ]This is just an announcement to point out that we have made no official statements regarding the timeline or release of our Free Issues. And that the articles have perhaps misinterpreted what was stated.

[/ QUOTE ]Fair enough. Please be aware that many of us have expectations based on previously made actual official statements. Namely that we should expect 3 issues per year. If that is to change we would appreciate an official annoucment of such, and sooner rather than later would be admirable.

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I think when we say 3 issues per year, what we really mean is 12 months/3...as in an issue every 4 months. We're not really paying much attention to where things fall in the calender year, just how much time passes between issues. That's the goal at least.

Are we hitting that goal? At this particular moment, not really. Chalk that up to forming a new company, moving into a new studio, and hiring/training a lot of new people. When you go from being a very tight-knit team of 15 people rapidly churning out issues and snatching up all of the low hanging fruit we can get our hands on to a much larger studio working on very large systems and the type of content that takes the longest to develop...things tend to slow down a bit.

I don't think we're that far behind though. If you look at the amount of things added to the game since the beginning of the year rather than just counting the issue numbers between January 1st and today, there's actually a good chunk of content that you guys have gotten without any additional costs. Probably close to 1 1/2 to 2 issues of content already. There was the mid-issue update for 11 and Issue 12, while not a great deal of new long-term content, was in reality quite a bit of work. We kind of went into I12 thinking it was going to be a smaller issue, but when everything was said and done and we looked back on everything we'd put in there, we realized how much work had really gone into it.

Having more people on the team is kind of a double-edged sword. We've found ourselves setting out to do things that we would have never considered before because we simply didn't have the people to do it. Now that we do, we're really reaching for some pretty high hanging fruit. Player created missions is only one of the things you guys have heard about...but there are some other big things also being worked on as well. Things that haven't been announced yet.

Chew on that for a while. We've announced player created missions. What do you think we might be working on that we didn't feel comfortable announcing yet?



All in all, I feel like we're starting to hit our stride, and we're still looking to expand the team even more to further increase our capacities...bear with us. I assure you, it's just as frustrating for us to have these long spans without new shiny content to keep you guys happily playing the game, but we really are doing the best we can.

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Big w00t Version

Removed the annoying credits and super quality.

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Just wanted to let you know this officially received 'Carolina the Concept Artist's Stamp of Approval' for excellence in cuteyness. And she hadn't seen the origina Discovery channel commercial either.

It got a few chuckles out of me too.

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Now that the latest Fanzine is out, I can finally show some closeups of the piece. It's all Poser and post-work.

MIDNIGHT HOUR - Poster

MIDNIGHT HOUR - Detail shot (Ghost Widow)

MIDNIGHT HOUR - Detail shot (Back Alley Brawler)

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I like it, but the post is a bit off. BABs should be looking a bit more be to the left, like slightly towards his left shoulder...and maybe a bit upwards.

Then I think it'd be perfect.

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Seems hover/flight needs re-re-tweaking. Flew into the train and upon exiting the train in a new zone Cerebrawl is vibrating like he's having siezures.

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Flight or Hover on?