SEALS
- Thread starter Jon Eros
- Start date
No diving animations = no seals.That is also why the Arctic pack´s polar bear also only swims and not dives.
IF we ever get aquatic and semi-aquatic animals, the devs have to first figure the diving out. And that takes a lot of work and time. I would not expect it that soon tbh. Maybe next year if ever.
IF we ever get aquatic and semi-aquatic animals, the devs have to first figure the diving out. And that takes a lot of work and time. I would not expect it that soon tbh. Maybe next year if ever.
The biggest obstacle in theory is underwater navigation. Currently animals only have to navigate on a "half dome", what I call a 180 degree axis, where they only have to calculate for what's in front of them and above them. For underwater navigation, or indeed flight animation, it would have to be spherical, i.e. a 360 degree axis, where the hitbox of the animal (the amount of space it needs around it) would have to constantly shift depending on what is in front of it, above it, and below it. Not to mention, for underwater especially, there would need to be triggers for when the animal breaches the surface and animations designed therearound.
There was a Q&A on Reddit some time ago before the game launched where they were asked about underwater swimming, diving, and animation, and they revealed that they had attempted it but it proved to be a more complex issue than even the climbing was, hence why it wasn't included in the base game. I believe later it was also revealed that the way water works in the Cobra Engine (which the game runs on) makes it difficult, nigh impossible, to do proper underwater navigation. The water is more of a two dimensional layer than a three dimensional space (it works for hippos, because they "walk" on the bottom of the pool and don't swim through it).
So there are some big hurdles for Frontier to jump over in order to do justice to seals, other pinnipeds, and other aquatic animals such as penguins, otters, and indeed those already in the game like the crocodilia, polar bears, and elephants.
There was a Q&A on Reddit some time ago before the game launched where they were asked about underwater swimming, diving, and animation, and they revealed that they had attempted it but it proved to be a more complex issue than even the climbing was, hence why it wasn't included in the base game. I believe later it was also revealed that the way water works in the Cobra Engine (which the game runs on) makes it difficult, nigh impossible, to do proper underwater navigation. The water is more of a two dimensional layer than a three dimensional space (it works for hippos, because they "walk" on the bottom of the pool and don't swim through it).
So there are some big hurdles for Frontier to jump over in order to do justice to seals, other pinnipeds, and other aquatic animals such as penguins, otters, and indeed those already in the game like the crocodilia, polar bears, and elephants.
But why does it need to be figured out? I mean: in many other games there are flying and dyving mechanics so it shouldn't be a problem in my opinnion (and a friend, who is programmer)
Who knows? We do not know how their engine Cobra works. If it was that easy, dont you think we would already have penguins? They are huge selling point for ALOT of people. I do not think Frontier would miss this opportunity if it was possible. They know we want diving animals, I am sure they will deliver when it is ready.
so what your saying is that the game makers are just copieing their graphics on premade game make software?
the way you make it sound is that the whole game, is just a project of a small group of people, playing with the cobra engine "game" , to make a game,
in that case, they need new better players
the way you make it sound is that the whole game, is just a project of a small group of people, playing with the cobra engine "game" , to make a game,
in that case, they need new better players
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If your friend doesn't have experience with the cobra-engine, that's not much added value to the argument imo.
I think it's going to be a rare find to get someone on this forum with actual knowledge of this engine.
At this point it's just a guessing game.
Just a random thought: Could be they figured out diving to some extend but the mechanics cause different bugs/performance issues. (similar to the hitbox issues)
If you are going to implement something that big, it has to be good in the first attempt. If you spent 2-3 months fixing bugs from adding diving, that would be even worse
This game already compromise around the game engine on several things, so I could also live with just swimming seals.
On the other hand...there might be the diving-mechanics devs, that have been accidently locked in a office for a year now . It's all done and will be released as soon, as someone finds the key.
On the other hand...there might be the diving-mechanics devs, that have been accidently locked in a office for a year now . It's all done and will be released as soon, as someone finds the key.
There are many types and levels of programmers. Is your pal competent at Maya, C++ or Python in a proprietary game engine for multi-platform applications?
It's frustrating to me when outsiders to the gaming industry think adding assets or fixing bugs is a switch or a few line of simple code away.
Same with those who use the term "netcode" thinking its always the problem.
Jon Snow Syndrome
so what your saying is that the game makers are just copieing their graphics on premade game make software?
the way you make it sound is that the whole game, is just a project of a small group of people, playing with the cobra engine "game" , to make a game,
in that case, they need new better players
Frontier designed the Cobra Engine for Planet Coaster. Planet Zoo runs on the same engine.
I'd say we should wait for underwater navigation on this one. I am pretty sure if that problem is tackled, we'll get seals and penguins one day.hello artic pack, where are the seals? did u forget about them?
Interesting to here how the navigation system works, I think some species can work without them, I actually think they could do penguins or some freshwater otters without diving, though it might make some people grumpy, seal though need a complex diving navigation system to pull off
Exactly why do the work with an engine that makes two dimensiol water hello we have 2020 and the game is expensive even. Diving animals would be important.
The game was definetly not expensive. It was not even a full price like others AAA titles. Also, i heard something about how originally it was supposed to be Planet Safari, not a Plabet Zoo. If that is true, it would make sense that they did not think of diving animations beforehand. They might later change it zo whole Planet Zoo, but then it might have been too late to add the diving so they did not include it with release.
what you think is not expensive, is very expensive for some other people...
I think the bottom line here is that if including diving was easy or possible from the start, then it would have been included from the start. You guys are talking about this as though Frontier is being "lazy" or in some way maliciously withholding this new feature from us.
Yes, everything can be expensive for someone, that does not mean the game was expensive in comparision of other AAA games, which I already stated in my second sentence that you chose to ignore.
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