DevTracker

[Grummz]

We're going to be using *some* kind of procedural generation. This might be based on algorithms, or by assembling random tiles. The actual methods and results have yet to be explored.

Ember needs big zones with lots of room. Doing all of this by hand would be prohibitive for a tiny dev team and limited budget.

We'll start with one planet. A very large planet. You'll open up terraforming "pockets" (i.e. zones) on this planet to explore for resources and build bases. If we get the budget and support, we may open it up to multiple planets. But we need to take it one small step at a time.

A note on Terraforming: Right now all terraforming means is locating a new place on the planetary map and dropping down a terraforming machine. That will clear a space on the planet. Zones will not be connected, as its far simpler and cheaper to have separated pockets with loading. We're a small small team.

 

[Grummz]

Allow me to throw you an additional idea in the mix.

People buy premium currency (such as Red Beans in FF) to buy cosmetic items. You can unlock zones with real money. Now if you are going to implement an exchange market (such as Red Bean exhange in FF) where we can exchange premium currency with non-premium currency (such as Crystite, The good stuff™) then we can unlock new zones with said premium currency at a slightly higher price(to promote new purchases with real $$$). People willing to spend extra cash on Ember will buy the unlock, people not willing to spend any more on ember could buy up premium currency from other players and unlock the zone tat way. This premium currency at the exchange will never lose it's value. In order to limit the P2W aspect of selling premium currency to buy the best gear on the market and making a profit out of the market you could impose a tax on the seller. After selling your premium currency the amount of non premium currency you get gets reduced by ~10%.

People here seemed to be worried about paying to unlock zones? I was thinking of having a couple of mini-expansions to the game. So instead of unlocking zones, you would be unlocking a combination of new features and content.

 

[Grummz]

Just the bold text, there. I can only hope.

From what we've already heard on crafting, customization and gear progression from you guys, I simply (readily) pictured all of that with the omni-frames that I thought were going to look, play and feel similarly to the ones in FF, only partially because of that poster art.

heh, fair enough.

 

[Grummz]

Then, why on the poster art, does the character 1) hold weapons in both hands (as if they were primary and secondary) 2) is in what looks like a frame from FF, with what appear to be boosters on her back? It's completely misleading. I was fully convinced we'd have suit-like frames, as in FF. And all of my posts here, about customization, separate parts, gear, weapons, loot, visuals...etc. were made with something similar in mind. Something like on the damn poster art. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who, therefore, was not expecting to be piloting a mech, at all.

The time the poster was made, there was no design, no game, just a petition. It's like trying to hold Star Wars to the first draft of its script and saying it cannot deviate, no matter how early in the process it is.

The game is not in production, ideas can and will change. From your post you also sound like you know what crafting and customization and gear progression will be like. Well, I do not know, because we haven't designed it yet.

I understand this direction is a personal disappointment to you to a very large degree (maybe fatally, in terms of supporting this game). I'm sorry for that but what can I do?

 

[Grummz]

The legs seem too short and too fat in the upper part and that breaks the proportions for me. Especially noticible from the back.

That's mostly the foreshortening and perspective at work. We normally tweak proportions during the modeling phase as it makes a big difference to see it in 3D.