I am happy now that v1.17 has been popped out

and it appears that v1.18's course has been decided. That means we're focusing on v1.19's wishlist
v1.17 FPSC Migration Thread:
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=142497&b=21
General Suggestions
Upgrade Lightmapping
The current lightmapping just isn't up to snuff anymore, FPSC isn't in v1.0 anymore. Lightmapping needs to fit in with the new and more efficient FPSC! When I add lightmapping to a level it adds a huge amount of memory to the game.
Scriptable One-Way-Walls and Invisible Walls
There have been a hundred requests in the scripts section on how to make either an invisible barrier that the players cannot move through but can shoot through, or a one-way barrier that players can't move through but enemies can.
There should be scripting options that make objects block entity movement, player movement, gunfire, all three, or only one. Preferably able to be switched on and off, allowing greater puzzle capacities.
Multiple Starting Weapons
The age where the main character only had one weapon at the beginning has started to fall. Now is the age where multiple starting weapons are prized. So let's get a cut of the pie too!
(Note: This IS already possible though stragetic weapon placement and scripting for the record).
Better OS Support
A good chunk of the gaming community use Windows, so naturally FPSC can create games that play on Windows PCs. Still we should be able to create games with Mac and Linux support as well, otherwise we cut out a big chunk of our potential market as well.
As I've read, the source engine (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_engine) uses OpenGl so the games designed on it can render on a Mac (and on the Playstation 3). I'm not sure what FPSC is capable of integrating though so I wouldn't know if this would be the cure.
Increased Maximum Game Memory
Last I heard, there is a fairly low cap on the amount of memory that FPSC can compile in a single game. With the community developing superior models and AI becoming even more advanced, it's impossible to sit back and only allow 1-2 GB of memory per game. Some members are starting up larger projects with the release of the more stable v1.17 and a game with 30-40 levels, filled with particles, AI, models, animations, special events, bullet holes, etc. would need a lot more memory than you'd think.
Better Camera System
Right now we have a single type of Camera system, the "FPS" system. As we all know, that means the camera is located in the eyes/head of the player and we can't move anything. We should have more than one view. Suggested:
Mode#1. standard FPS camera style (we know how that works)
Mode#2. 3rd person (much like fenix mod except with more control over the positioning. also it would be refined so that its easier to setup)
Mode#3. external cam (this would allow for you to position a camera in the editor and link it to a textere or hud for security cameras that really work or something)
Mode#4. Movie cam (much like the ext cam this is not attached to an entity of any kind, but can have animations for movie like cinematic scenes)
and script commands to go with them:
setplrcam1st = x (x is which fps camera to control. this means you can have a fps cam on multiple character entities)
setplrcam3rd = x (same as above except in 3rd person)
extcam = x (this will choose an external camera in the editor. you'd have to name them: 1, 2, 3 etc.)
moviecam = x (same as above except it will only render to full screen and can have animations(more commands for that))
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=173979&b=26&p=0
courtesy of EGG HEAD OF DOOM
Memory Test Button
A button that will make the game "fake build" to test how much memory the current level is using. I think the good points of this are kinda self explanatory
Recommended by:
bruce3371
Corrected by
Nbt
Upgraded Fog Effects
The ability to alter visibility, texture, velocity (For moving fog effects), color, and source (an option to create a "Fog Source" as well as just ambient fog) would be a nice addition, beats just being able to adjust whether fog exists and what color it is for sure...
Global Variable Systems
This would add some Roleplaying or Storyline capabilities to the engine. Allowing global variables would let the game store small bits of information, such as the player's choices at certain points (a point towards the bad ending, a point towards the good ending, somewhere in between, etc). Though this may require the nature of FPSC to be reworked into a Game --> Maps system instead of a Maps --> Game system.
Shader Water Effects
The ability to create streams, lakes, or creeks. The ability to create running and stagnant water would be a beautiful addition to the games FPSC could pop out. Should come with the option to alter the texture, refraction, and clarity or opacity.
Courtesy of FPSCgamerguy2 who reminded me ;D
Reflection Graphics
The Pinnacle of a game's graphics is being able to see your own reflection in the mirror, a lake, or a pool of your enemy's blood...or being able to copy Doom3's graphics system but I don't think any of us have the free time or resources to make something like that...
For this we should be able to edit Refraction Index, Reflection Clarity, Depth, Distortion, and Color.
Bone Collision Detection
Allows entities to detect what area of their body was hit, allowing for different death animations depending on if they were shot in the head, leg, arm, chest, etc.
Not high on the priority though since it's just for effect and would take a long time to implement
Migrate to DarkPhysics
The thread below really explains it all, migrating from our current physics engine to DarkPhysics would improve what FPSC could do in the future just from the sheer number of commands at its disposal. Applauds to Lee and dev team for implementing ragdoll anyway in v1.17
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=173270&b=26
Integration of More Engine Mods
In the v1.17 Migration the Airmod will be integrated into the FPSC stock engine. Why stop there?
Incorperate other mods if the designers will let ya! You could make almost 3-4 updates just adding in new features from mods.
EDIT: Decided to be specific and list the general-use mods and their forum threads ;D (ones that can be used in any game without the need for turning off all their best features.
Project Green
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=160050&b=21
Fenix Mod
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=155710&b=21
S4Mod
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=130878&b=21
Ply's Mod
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=128688&b=21
Lemur v2
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=124345&b=21
Horror Mod (or whatever we can find)
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=155114&b=21
Xara Mod
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=164618&b=21
Integration of a Skybox Generator and the Entity Workshop
Both are free applications that have some very useful features. I mean it would be great if you could adjust the scale of an entity or object in the editor or create a new skybox specifically for your game and test it out almost immediately right?
Updated Player Voices
This can easily be done if you have the proper software (I use a microphone, Sony Acid Music Studio 7.0, and a few other SFX editors to produce a nice set) but for those who don't have or can't afford to buy the tools to make custom SFX, it would be a nice addition to give more variety and quality to the voice sets.
Better File Support
FPSC needs to learn to get along with favorite file types like animated .gifs and quicktime video files...or it's going in the corner!
But seriously, animated .gifs would make several things possible in the game (like tv's running, movies playing on a side screen, etc.) while taking up a huge amount less memory.
Patching Support
I'm sure that our players, however few there may or may not be, don't want to redownload our games every single time we update them. Considering that v1.17 is supposedly going to allow us to create more than 5 levels in a game, I'm sure we can expect to see some fairly big games coming out soon enough. When those games start showing bugs, nobody wants to redownload a 2-3 gig game ten times in a row...so we need patching compatibility!
With patching, the game would only download files that have changed instead of every single file, cutting the download time by a huge margin and letting players enjoy those games.
Different Views Adding Onto Ironsights
So we're getting Ironsights in the next update, but why stop there? Why not let our players also have access to x-ray, infrared, and nightvision specs? This would also be coupled with fullscreen shaders or the effects are lame.
This would definately be a bells and whistles throw in to the update, not a necessity at all.
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=170313&b=26
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=171101&b=26
Zero Gravity
Scripting commands to alter the gravity and gravity options (like in Mystic-Mod for x10) would be a great addition for scifi games. It'd at least make some levels just plain interesting.
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=171108&b=26
Better Explosion Effects
Right now the explosion is a little drab on the stock entities and the model packs :/ I mean if you fire an l.a.w at something, the dust cloud usually makes things barely visible for a few seconds afterward. The explosion effects need a boost, though I guess that might come with the particle generators in the next update.
Recommended if v1.17 doesn't fix it.
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=169518&b=26
Weather Effects
Kinda self explanatory, how boring is it to walk around at night in a game with nothing but bugs and a random zombie popping up? Doesn't the graveyard cliche include lightning? Rain? A lot of things?
The best way to do this would be animated skyboxes which sync with sounds. For the most part the only way to do this at the current time is extensively editting the Setup.fpi script. There should be an easier way to make this happen (.gif support, etc.)
Give The Player More Edittable Properties
Okay, when you edit an entity you see all these things you can edit (weight, physics, sound, texture, model, etc.) so wouldn't it be nice to be able to edit some of the same things for the player?
At the very least it would be nice for the player to have its own animated character model. That way instead of going through each stock model and adding hands or going through each "reflective surface" and adding some really complicated video and texture animations the player has its own model, so the hands come with the character and the reflection is just of the player (and eats up a lot less memory if you have a lot of reflective surfaces).
Tracers on Guns
A bells and whistles idea, it's available on X10 so I figure since x10 has no accepted future anymore we should at least get to leach some of their features ;P
Low Priority idea though.
New Camera Setup
The camera angle that the player is able to see should be shiftable through scripting. That way you could adjust the camera angle from 1st person view to 3rd person view, and in a more useful sense to zoom view (adding a scope HUD and moving the camera in front of the player). I'm sure everyone here could probably come up with a hundred different ways to make this useful.
Single Player Game Suggestions
New Character Animation Scripting (For Cutscene Production)
Right now the cutscenes possible with FPSC include either a video or a series of Textures (created with HUDs) that flash across the screen. For most games this generally isn't the best way to provide a plotline. There needs to be scripts or animators in-game that allows us to move the playing character around, move the camera, and to animate the player during these cutscenes.
Level Backtracking
Allows for RPG type shooters to be created in FPSC, players can return to old maps to check for items they may have missed or things they forgot. Also helps to make games similar to Silent Hill, puzzle games are difficult to properly create the way things are now.
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=172876&b=26
Better Damage and Blood Effects
Right now if the player gets hit with something it's boring, boring, and boring. A little red around the edges doesn't cut it for a shooter game...or a horror game...or any game where the player is actually taking damage.
When the player gets hit the player needs to be thinking "ouch!". Blood splatters, recoil, better voices (already suggested it :3), and maybe altering the screen as the player gets closer and closer to 0 hp (like say once the player gets below a certain point, the screen flashes red and the player starts breathing heavily). Most of this is, of course, scriptable or possible with a mod, but this really should be in the stock engine.
Inventory System
Right now the inventory options available, even with scripting, are something between nothing and nada. I mean how can we even begin to suggest things like healing items, boosts, special inventory items, etc. when we don't even have the framework for a place to put them all. We need an inventory system otherwise a lot of great ideas and concepts go out the window almost immediately.
Multiplayer Suggestions
Co-Op Support
Being able to fight against each other is fine, but isn't it nice every once in a while to be able to play through a game's story with your freinds? Or to be able to fend off a few waves of zombies as a team?
For examples look at Left4Dead, Killing Floor, Team Fortress 2, etc.
Base Systems
Similar to the Age-Old Capture the Flag Option on Halo, Base Systems where two teams of players fight against each other trying to capture the other's base are classics...they did it for real in Medevil times...close enough, it'd be cool ;p
Multiple Spawn Points
In the current multiplayer system, the player spawns in the same point each time, every time, for the entire game...which means if anyone has a brain cell or two, they camp those spawn points with a high power weapon and blow the crap out of the first person to die every time...
It'd be nice to have different spawn points, where the player respawns at randomly, that way if they die right as they spawn it's more bad luck then the game's faulty creation.
Turret Support
It's starting to become popular in a lot of multiplayer games that turrets, not only are automatic and exist, but that players are able to PLACE turrets as long as there's enough room and the limit for turrets in that level hasn't been reached yet.
This obviously isn't a high priority thing because, well it'd take a lot of work and effort and there ARE work arounds to it, but adding in scripting commands that allow the player to "summon" or "create" turrets/automatic rocket launchers/etc would be a nice bonus feature to add in sometime.
Better Multiplayer Support and Stability
There are a lot of complaints that Multiplayer just doesn't work unless you use Hamachi. Yea that won't do if you're actually trying to make an Indie Multiplayer FPS. The Multiplayer functions of FPSC need to be more stable and they need to be able to work with more than just Hamachi...it should be possible to upload them to a server so that multiple games can take place at the same time (like in Halo, Killing Floor, Left4Dead, Call of Duty, etc. etc. etc.)
This should be a priority since v1.17 focuses mainly on single player game support.
Radar
This is self explanatory too, in almost EVERY multiplayer FPS, there is some sort of radar which lets you know where the other players are. The radar is usually optional to heighten the effects though.
Multiplayer, Single Player, and Co-op Integration
I think this kinda thing would be a necessity if the multiplayer gets an upgrade any time soon. Basically the ability to make Halo style game with a Solo mode, a Multiplayer Arena type mode, and a Co-op Mission mode all in one game.
Chat System
How boring is it to play through a game on multiplayer and not even be able to type to your friends, let alone mic? With the current multiplayer systems you'd need to boot up Ventrilo or play with a laptop always running so you can switch back and forth between talking and playing. FPSC needs to at least have a chat system where you can type messages to your friends, if not integrating a voice chat system.
http://forum.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=174267&b=21&p=0
My brain hurts ;D
I'll update as I think of/find more cool ideas that aren't already in the consideration list as I'm browsing through the forums.
[WIP] Paranorma Chapter 1, The Horror at Silent Inn
Level 1 - Suspended