Streamed downloads - MMO Style - and realistic building stages (showing construction)

zenvidar · 06-14-08, 01:11 AM

Right now we have to wait for a new version of layonara to get in new houses and areas, etc.

In MMO's, changes can be downloaded and implemented while a character is playing the game, allowing for updates. (Obviously huge updates needing to be noted as expansion packs wouldn't qualify here.)

If this type of system was used we could see a lot of results.

If we were going for realism, in layonaran time, a house/tavern/farm could be created in-game, expanding the size of an area for all players to visit.

So, the game could put certain data requests in a log and create visual changes to an area over time, showing construction.

At one point you see foundation. Then you see the frame. Soon the house is almost done on the outside, but the inside needs to be finished.

After say a year layonara time (ince you paid for the house) or 22 days, 9 hours, 36 minutes real time, your house is built and the game allows you to actually get inside and start occupying it. Now you're storing your loot, cooking your eggs and sleeping in your bed.

OneST8 · 06-15-08, 03:35 PM

Streamed updates are not something easily implemented and at this time will not be a feature of the MMO, however the patching process is very simple and built into the game client so no external downloads are required in order to maintain a current state.

As for things happening in "real time" with persistence... there are varying degrees to which this will happen. As for the "how"s and "what"s... I cannot share at this time.

zenvidar · 06-15-08, 10:11 PM

So you're not looking to use the streamed mini-patching idea used in games like guild wars? (streamed patches were never over 100mb when I played that game)

Aragon · 11-17-08, 06:52 AM

Zenvidar,

Just a few comments on your original post regarding phases of construction. First, I agree with you. That is one thing I thought would be great to see in any MMO. Watching your evil tower rise slowly from the volcanic rock to strike terror in all the unworthy maggots of Layonara. Hmm ... but I digress ... what you are looking for is something like what you see in Age of Empires.

The issue with this is the shear amount of time it takes to accomplish this task. Essentially you are looking at 3 - 4 versions of the same model. As one of the modelers, I can honestly say this is a huge task especially if we are talking for many types of buildings. 80 - 90% of all the models (buildings, items, avatars) you will see in the game have been made by the team. This includes the rigging, skinning, animation and basic geometry. While, my voice is certainly not the final word on the subject, I would not expect to see this on the initial launch or for quite sometime. I do like the idea though, as long as I don't have to make all those models

*sneaks away before Thak tasks him again*

Leanthar · 11-17-08, 02:22 PM

I love the idea and perhaps way down the road we can do something like this, but it will not be for the first release nor the first few expansions.

This takes a ton of work and a different sort of network coding (plus more), then add on top of that all of the artwork and it is just way more than we can do in a realistic (or quality) fashion.

Those games you mentioned had millions and millions of dollars and dozens and dozens of paid people (several dozen, even a few had 100+). We don't have that luxury, sadly.

It is a great idea and I hope we can do something like this in the future because it is indeed immersive. We just can not at this time.