|
|
Storm-Giant
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
On the Other Side!
|
posted September 11, 2014 11:44 PM |
|
|
Wellplay said:
in other presentation video small pyramids where replacing pyramids they been placed where you see titan helmet at the picture.
Pic please?
____________
|
|
Wellplay
Famous Hero
Poland Stronk
|
|
posted September 12, 2014 12:05 AM |
|
|
Storm-Giant said:
Wellplay said:
in other presentation video small pyramids where replacing pyramids they been placed where you see titan helmet at the picture.
Pic please?
http://youtu.be/Q77JaBm78j4?t=7m30s
|
|
red_flag
Known Hero
|
|
posted September 12, 2014 10:46 AM |
|
Edited by red_flag at 10:50, 12 Sep 2014.
|
Wellplay said:
Storm-Giant said:
Wellplay said:
in other presentation video small pyramids where replacing pyramids they been placed where you see titan helmet at the picture.
Pic please?
http://youtu.be/Q77JaBm78j4?t=7m30s
Wow, I didn't saw it (one great from the left and two small from the right in the red circles):
|
|
Wellplay
Famous Hero
Poland Stronk
|
|
posted September 12, 2014 11:26 AM |
|
|
yep that is what i meant  thanks man 
|
|
Storm-Giant
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
On the Other Side!
|
|
posted September 12, 2014 12:27 PM |
|
|
I also missed on the vid despite you pointing out the exact moment, they are so difficult to see
Still not convinced by having two pyramids as Wizard War Machines.
____________
|
|
Stevie
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 02:03 PM |
|
Edited by Stevie at 17:37, 17 Dec 2014.
|
I think this thread is relevant again. Let's provide some more analysis about the Academy Townscreen here.
Blog post - Link
Full size Academy Townscreen- Link
First of all people need to understand that this is not even an Alpha townscreen. This is pre-Alpha, and everything at this point is more or less like a placeholder. We should try to provide our feedback on the art direction and whatnot but in a civilized fashion, avoiding unnecessary jumpiness and undeserved animosity. We've seen in several occasions that the devs really keep an eye on our conversations and take our input in consideration for eventual adjustments. So constructive criticism is encouraged!
Since I've covered Transition in my Haven post, I will skip directly to what mainly concerns the Academy Townscreen.
Perspective - Take a look at the Academy Townscreen and then at the Haven townscreen. They're both practically the same. The perspective is the same. The lighting angle is the same. Even the way the buildings are faced is the same! Frankly I expected more from a circular townscreen, like buildings being faced on the outside of a circle, or in some other intuitive way. They must provide some kind of uniqueness even at this level, otherwise towns would look all the same.
Appearance - The town appears very fragmented. Too fragmented for my taste. There are too many lone buildings constructed on small floating chunks of earth. Don't get me wrong, the concept of a floating city is very interesting, but the way it looks here is maybe a bit stretchy. I don't see any real reason to make it feel so dispersed and limit the buildings to such little space outside their main premises. Look at some of the buildings on the outskirts. What's the point in having a door when the next step you'd take would throw you into the ridge?
Also, there are no civilian buildings. Like, at all! This breaks the immersion of being in a populated town, rather than just a military base. Imo, there should be a percent of civilian buildings out of all the buildings in the town, something like up to 40%, scaled accordingly to the Capitol building's level. Otherwise it's just not a town!
Positioning - It's obvious to me that what they're trying to do here is follow the lines of the Academy city in Heroes 5. That's not a bad thing, and the fact that it comes with this twist of being somewhat anchored to ground terrain is welcomed from my point of view.
The idea behind it is that there is a main platform in which the important, main buildings reside, with the other more advanced/situational buildings (artifacts, town portal for example) being positioned alongside in an intuitive ring-like way. But there are two main points in which the idea fails to be credible.
1. First of all the pathing. The buildings are not connected with the mainland, but some are connected with other randomly isolated rocks and some aren't even connected at all. Sure, that might be cool for the Coliseum and the Disciples' building, but not for the rest. For example, why is the marketplace's road going outside the town rather than inside? That's just bad design! It breaks the entire point of having a central platform. In the events of a siege, how is the wall protecting areas like that?
2. Secondly, the buildings are too dispersed. There are a lot of buildings that share a common purpose, like the Marketplace, the Alchemist Lab and the Resource Silo, or the Mage Guild and the Arcane Library. These kind of buildings should be close to each other or linked somehow to emphasize that they share the same direction of usefulness.
Fauna and Vegetation - Problematic. I wouldn't say that the environment represents anything like a lush oasis in a desert. The only palm tree that I see is up in the sky on a lone boulder near the University of Magic (the Disciples dwelling). I'm not sure what fauna is to be expected out of a sky city but at least some birds and at least some exotic beasts which the wizards keep for company would be expected. Even some of the creatures/constructs/spirits that compose the armies wandering around the city or looking busy would be more than welcome! Imagine a Cabir heading to a Golem to repair it and tripping once or twice until he gets to it, wouldn't that provide a lot of immersion? But just like this, with no vegetation to speak of, and streets completely silent and devoid of any kind of activity, it just looks as abandoned as the Haven townscreen.
Also, another issue which is more prevalent with this town that with Haven is Homogenity. Some of the buildings look like they've been just dropped on the terrain, with no cohesive foundation in between. Not all the buildings are like that but there are areas where that is the case. Especially in the mainland, where the one side that's done right with that pillar sustained pedestal on the edge is in direct contrast with the other side which has nothing. So, some kind of constructed platforms are required for the city to feel improved!
So, in closing this analysis, let me sum up some points on which the devs can improve the screen:
- Keep the floating city and it's connection to the ground as a concept for the Academy Townscreen, but modify the environment to resemble more the intended idea of a lush desert;
- Have the pathing of the surroundings ultimately lead to the central mainland and not in random places;
- Have the surrounding places interconnected by built platforms to increase space. You can then use that space for civilian buildings, more lush vegetation, fountains and palm trees and even to display creatures' activity to liven up the city;
- Buildings that share a common scope should be nearer or intuitively connected otherwise to display their shared usefulness. Especially the Mage Guild and the Arcane Library which should not be different buildings, but the Academy coming as an auxiliary to the Mage Guild. And the Market, Alchemist Lab and Silo make no exception;
- As an addition, create a spherical effect to resemble a force field, to give it a sense of aerial magical defense, maybe even in the background of the town so that it doesn't conflict with the town's appearance.
____________
Guide to a Great Heroes Game
The Young Traveler
|
|
Maurice
Hero of Order
Part of the furniture
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 03:24 PM |
|
|
I'm not sure if it was intended, but the perspective of the buildings seem to be off. The way you look down or up to some of the buildings seems to contrast with the elevation on which they're standing - which in turn makes those elevations appear tilted across its surface.
Secondly, it lacks non-interactive buildings, making this a Fort, not a Town. There are no civilian structures for a civilian population in this habitat.
|
|
Avirosb
Promising
Legendary Hero
No longer on vacation
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 04:16 PM |
|
|
See those floating islands in the distance?
They're hollow, the inhabitants are chilling out in those.
|
|
Stevie
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 04:35 PM |
|
|
|
Avirosb
Promising
Legendary Hero
No longer on vacation
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 04:49 PM |
|
Edited by Avirosb at 16:49, 17 Dec 2014.
|
Since this thread was made before they decided to show us an image that apparently won't be used, they've had ample time to listen to the criticism aimed at the Haven town screen,
since said criticism seems to mirror that of pre-alpha Academy.
I am certain they're content with the town screen as is and that very little is going to change.
Otherwise, why would they show it to us in the first place if they're just gonna change it anyway?
Feedback? That would come off as a display of insecurity.
Could be they just needed some material for their update, I'm sure it's that.
|
|
kiryu133
Responsible
Legendary Hero
Highly illogical
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 04:52 PM |
|
|
i think it's importatnt to know wether this update (townscreen update) was supposed to either to a/ show of the academy townscreen or b/ show what you are going to be able to do in said townscreen. if a, i am not going to be happy: town looks pretty crap, like a small outpost if even that. put together without any thought or reason: just a bunch of (pretty, sure) buildings in some random place. really dislike it.
if b/ however, i will actually be pretty happy: i like the additions and changes there seem to be as there are many unique buildings as well as several buildings not directly connected to creaures, walls or halls.
if the reason for posting this was to show what a finished town might have to offer rather than what it will look like, i welcome it with open arms. if the finished product will look even remotely like this, i will not approve. it looks so lifeless...
|
|
andy_dandy
Adventuring Hero
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 05:02 PM |
|
|
I must say I'm positive to the way they are making the new town screens. They are in the spirit of H3 towns, in my view the best, most practical (or H4 towns were perhaps a tad bit more practical, but then again less charming) and most charming so far in the series.
On the downside the buildings might look abit plastic like, but that might be more because of the alpha state of the game, and it might be needed to make the buildings stand out more for.
I also find that huge golden bird statue of the Castle/Life town a little bit too excessive. I also miss the Tournament Arena from the old games.
I don't care about houses and all kind of details making it look more like real towns like in H5. Those town screens were just bewildering and irritating in my view.
|
|
Avirosb
Promising
Legendary Hero
No longer on vacation
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 05:06 PM |
|
Edited by Avirosb at 17:06, 17 Dec 2014.
|
andy_dandy said:
I don't care about houses and all kind of details making it look more like real towns like in H5. Those town screens were just bewildering and irritating in my view.
Your bewilderment could stem from the fact that most of the dwellings looked nearly identical.
|
|
Stevie
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 05:09 PM |
|
|
Avirosb said:
Since this thread was made before they decided to show us an image that apparently won't be used, they've had ample time to listen to the criticism aimed at the Haven town screen,
since said criticism seems to mirror that of pre-alpha Academy.
I am certain they're content with the town screen as is and that very little is going to change.
Otherwise, why would they show it to us in the first place if they're just gonna change it anyway?
Feedback? That would come off as a display of insecurity.
Could be they just needed some material for their update, I'm sure it's that.
I don't agree. At all. Feedback is important to what they're trying to do. They're not so self-centered to have reasons rooted in insecurity, that's not how game producing companies work. They work on money, and feedback makes for an improved product which brings them more money. That's a way more acceptable reasoning for feedback.
Need I remind you how Alpha Heroes 5 looked like and what eventually ended up hitting the shelf? A lot of things can change, we're still one year away from release. This alpha screens are nothing but placeholding concepts to me at this point.
____________
Guide to a Great Heroes Game
The Young Traveler
|
|
Steyn
Supreme Hero
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 05:13 PM |
|
Edited by Steyn at 17:21, 17 Dec 2014.
|
Stevie said:
This alpha screens are nothing but placeholding concepts to me at this point.
I sure do hope you are right.
andy_dandy said:
I don't care about houses and all kind of details making it look more like real towns like in H5. Those town screens were just bewildering and irritating in my view.
Towns in H3 also had houses (or graves) added according to town hall level.
____________
Can you make a faction including these units?
Join the Finding Harmony competition 2.0!
|
|
Zombi_Wizzard
Famous Hero
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 05:20 PM |
|
|
To me towns always felt lifeless - except in H1, where you actualy SEE inhabitants ... there's a cantaur relaxing in front of it's cave, in griffin's nest you see griffin flaping his wings ... and there is Hydra headbanging it's multiple heads to the awsome tunes ... nothing beats that  .
Now remember H2? Not even a single house ... that town screens felt to me the most lifleless in series, and from that point onward, feeling of ghost towns never left me. I guess H5 atleast showed some progress by including "civilian" houses in design, tho it didn't help much.
This is reason I'm not dissapointed - I didn't expect it any other way. Yes it would be cool to bring more life to towns, but meh. End of the day, in gameplay terms, they are "just" forts where you recruit army and that's how they look like.
|
|
Avirosb
Promising
Legendary Hero
No longer on vacation
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 05:25 PM |
|
Edited by Avirosb at 17:26, 17 Dec 2014.
|
Very few people outside the dedicated fanbase would care about town screens though.
I can see the random uninitiated being concerned about gameplay but not art, sadly.
I'll just echo what I said in the discussion thread, more or less:
- Image looks imbalanced, perspective skewed at certain parts.
- Support units should share a building for convenience.
- The viewer should be "placed" in front of the town instead of somewhat far away and at an angle.
- The "castle" is effectively ineffectual.
- Lack of visible town progress, usually triggered when upgrading the money house.
- Champion dwellings doesn't look impressive.
- Just as the Haven TS was too bright, parts of the Academy TS is very dark, contributing to it's uneveness.
- Most of the buildings are just big enough to fit their respective islands.
- No safety railings. Come on, show some precaution.
|
|
andy_dandy
Adventuring Hero
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 05:25 PM |
|
|
H1 cities actually looked very good indeed, Mr Zombie, you are absolutly right about that one.
|
|
Kurush
Known Hero
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 05:31 PM |
|
Edited by Kurush at 17:31, 17 Dec 2014.
|
I think warfare units not sharing a building might indicate their power.
Why would they put them in separate buildings if not for balance?
|
|
andy_dandy
Adventuring Hero
|
|
posted December 17, 2014 05:35 PM |
|
|
Kurush said:
I think warfare units not sharing a building might indicate their power.
Why would they put them in separate buildings if not for balance?
I have no problem of them being in different buildings. More hard choices on what to build in the cities, and when, is needed for the series.
I also hope they jump away from the fast return of money when investing in money buildings. That you can earn the investment back in only two turns has always amazed me from the beginning of the series. Upgrading the Town Hall asap has always seemed like such a non-brainer.
|
|
|
|
This thread is pages long: 
