Do you plan to add some subtle animation (you know, flickering lights, things fluttering in the wind, blinking eyes) or view-shifting/zooming or will everything be static (not that that's bad)?
In principle I like the idea of bringing the player closer to his crew and marines, but it will be quite noticeable to see the same face for every boarding action. I'm not sure if leaving more to the imagination wouldn't serve the cause better here. Maybe more subtle touches that allow you identification with the marine without allowing identification of the marine? Pictures of loved ones or good luck charmes tucked to the armor, someone praying, poses of fear, that kind of stuff
.
There are some other areas where a bit humanization could go a long way, for example the act of venting excess crew. (This could also reduce CR to reflect an impact on moral.)
also, assuming everything is on different layers, maybe there could be different "swap out" versions of pictures (think a picture of a spacedock, then paste whatever your flagship is docked onto it or a planet with a fleet roughly corresponding to your size orbiting it).
I can't speak for whether David thinks it could work or would be a good idea, obviously, but personally I don't see how you could get it to not feel cheap. That sort of stuff worked way back in the day where the coolness factor of "hey, it moves!" was high. A bit of pan and/or zoom might work in places, though.
Ah, that brings me all the way back to Privateer. (What a good game that was!) That approach really worked well there, but is totally impractical here, given the number of ships involved.
That sort of stuff worked way back in the day where the coolness factor of "hey, it moves!" was high.
100 or so backgrounds
I really do like the Valkyrie on the rustic planet, but that kinda makes me wonder, what happens to all the ships that aren't atmospherically capable :Pah, valkyrie, that's what it is...
right... the valk is supposed to be the only atmo capable ship? What about that hound in the city pic? (sorry david, i know you hate people picking apart your work :P)There's any number of hand-wavy explanations one could use. :) I always imagined a "tramp freighter" being atmo capable, though. Just makes sense in terms of what you'd do with it.
right... the valk is supposed to be the only atmo capable ship? What about that hound in the city pic? (sorry david, i know you hate people picking apart your work :P)There's any number of hand-wavy explanations one could use. :) I always imagined a "tramp freighter" being atmo capable, though. Just makes sense in terms of what you'd do with it.
Who is martine? ;D
(Second marine prep picture, titled martine_prep2.jpg)
relax... I was talking about the troop transport ;D
“Put it in Bay 12 and be careful – those uranium rounds are hot!”
40 artist-hours for the first one, could maybe get it down to 10-20 artist-hours