Thraxas is quite on the ball there and especially and importantly :
"I also think that going forward with Version 2, serious problems (should there be any) with the engine be fixed before adding in new features that people want"
There are a potential vast array of features and functions, wishes and wants, suggestions and ideas. FPSC 1 has included many of them.
What about FPSC 2?
Here is some food for thought : Considering FPSC 2 is to be what? Well it seems that in the main it is envisaged it will also be a "Shooter" first and foremost.
What does a Shooter need? - well something to Shoot of course :
What does a Shooter need to be to be successful first and foremost? Same as any other type of game really its needs to be enjoyable again first and foremost.
How do we do that?
Well lets keep it simple and as a basis look at the scenario :
Lets have a new engine and take a look at making a level:
Lets put in it a "Terrain" nothing complicated so lets make it flat but fairly large.
What else do I need?
Well as I am making a shooter I need a player so lets put one in the level at one end of it on the standing on the terrain. I need a weapon and some bullets so lets add that for the player.
Now What else do I need?
Ah I need an enemy if I am going to have something to shoot back at me. So lets place an enemy in the level the opposite side of the terrain to the player and yes lets give the enemy a weapon too.
So as to be fair lets make both player and enemy and their weapons of equal status, so equal health, firepower and so on.
Now I can walk around my level and shoot at the enemy - he can walk around and shoot at me so we have a made our game - well not quite because it is not enjoyable. Why? well because I win every time. Why? well because I am clever and the enemy is not.
I can move around the level, walk or run, strafe, dodge, duck, the enemy can not so I win every time. I have the edge.
Now how do I make an enjoyable game out of this?
Well theres not much in my level that will help make it more interesting and enjoyable so again to keep it simple in adding anything else I will just add some simple boxes and make them different sizes. Makes no difference I win every time.
I can see the enemy from the opposite side of my level and I am aware of where he is and what he is doing at all times. I can also use the terrain to move around at will and hide behind the boxes too. The enemy can not.
My game is not very enjoyable because the enemy has no intelligence. Lets give him some so he can duck or strafe. Still not enough. I still win, every time. Lets give him some more brains so he can hide behind boxes. Still not enough I still win every time. He does not have enough health to win so lets give him a chance and place some extra health near to the enemies position.
I still win as my enemy does not collect the health as he does not know where it is - thats no good.
So lets give him the ability to find it so when his health is low he will go find it. Thats better. Now the enemy can win if he collects the health before I do. Lets make it more interesting and add a more powerful weapon to the level and place it in a position so both can find it. Now if I get that weapon I can win if my health is good but I cant collect both the health or the new weapon in time, neither can the enemy so which do I go for? Well its close so sometimes I loose but still usually I win.
A little more effort on making my level will help. Lets add another health pack somewhere else near the enemy and make them respawn. Now the enemy can replenish health but so can I or I can go for that new weapon? Now the choice and winning is even harder.
Now the enemy has a good chance of dominating but unfortunately he is not good finding his way around as his collision and pathfinding is bad so he often fails to get to where he wants to be on time. It holds him up and I still win most of the time.
Lets helps and give the enemy better object collision and pathfinding abilities. Better still now he can get around the level without getting stuck and can move around more quickly - he is almost too hard to beat now. But not quite - I can still win by outwitting him because he is predictable. He always does the same things in the same order. So we need to add some randomness to the enemies decision making and behaviour. Thats much better. Now we are even.
Now I can move around the objects in the level for best effect. Yes now I keep dying so I need be careful to use more stealth but I will beat him. If only he could not hear me or I could see in the dark
I dont have many objects in the level but now I have an interesting and enjoyable game which I want to play again.
I have the basic requirements for a good playable shooter game which can be built upon to make it much more interesting, enjoyable and rewarding to play.
