Plutonian
Intransigent
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Posted - 2009.09.19 18:59:00 -
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Computer games can only access two of the five senses; sight and sound. Given these limitations, it is almost criminal to ignore options which more fully immerse the player into the game world or communicate to him/her what is going on in that world.
Rather than go through a list, I'm just going to tell you what I want. The professionals at CCP will know, better than I, what can and cannot be done.
ò I want all audio accessible to me no matter how close I'm zoomed into my ship. It is clumsy and irritating to utilize zoomed views to modify what I hear.
ò I want audio to assist me in knowing what is going on. There should be a distinct, brief, immediately identifiable audio cue for any action I take against a target and any action another player takes against me. I should know if someone is scramming me. I should hear hits on my ship's hull (but never on my target's hull). I should hear a multitude of klaxons and alarms as I enter structure.
Plan it out CCP. Sit in a mock battle, close your eyes, and tell me what's happening. When you can do that... you're on the right track.
ò I want audio to assist immersion in the game universe. When I approach a station I want to hear the buzz of background traffic comms. I want to hear more than just "Docking request accepted." I want to hear Station Control tell me they have assumed command of my ship for docking maneuvers.
In a like manner, if I'm in a SS in the middle of nowhere, I don't want to hear background noise... unless it's the blind hiss of background stellar radiation. Use the audio. Make me believe I'm in space.
I, along with others, did a great deal of brainstorming along these lines on a couple of space sim projects. Space is certainly one of the more difficult audio experiences to communicate. But done correctly, the audio can have a massive effect upon immersion. Happy to provide more detailed lists if needed.
ò Finally, I want the ability to customize what I choose to hear to a high degree. Audio cues needed by PvP'ers may just irritate those running missions in Empire and vice versa. Players must be able to configure these new tools.
Hope that helps and glad CCP is looking into this most neglected area of the game.
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