The pictures of goods, in ED

[Patrick_68000]

In the Elite series, when we look at a spaceship (with the technical information sheet), we see it in rotational movements. This allows us to see it from every angle. If we buy goods (weapons, food, ore, ect ...) we see the name and price, that's all. In ED, it would be interesting to see a picture of each product ? Stationary ? rotation ? It would be interesting for the visual of the children, teens and adults, and the richness of the game, do not you think ? (The images below are just to illustrate the subject).

 

[X2Eliah]

I'd definitely want to have some display of the wares I'm selling, yes. Maybe something "render-like" as in the X-series (top corner in this image, for example http://x3ap.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/setup-station.jpg ), not necessarily high-res or coloured.. Maybe less 'blurry', or more like a sketch, whatever fits E: D. style better.. but yes, I'd like visual indicators for all tradeables, not just ships.

 

[DobrijZmej]

Using the power of modern games, I'd like to say a 3D model, that I can turn the drag of a mouse. For example, if I want to take a look at the nozzles ship, I take the mouse and move it as long as the ship does not turn me back a part of. And zoom, of course.
If the mouse does not move a few seconds - the ship / equipment itself begins to rotate at a certain speed.

 

[Rafe Zetter]

I'd definitely want to have some display of the wares I'm selling, yes. Maybe something "render-like" as in the X-series (top corner in this image, for example http://x3ap.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/setup-station.jpg ), not necessarily high-res or coloured.. Maybe less 'blurry', or more like a sketch, whatever fits E: D. style better.. but yes, I'd like visual indicators for all tradeables, not just ships.

This was my first thought also, but the original X-BTF had the renders in semi trans color rather than the blue-white of the sequels, also I liked the voiceover of the info - especially the Markus Space fly .

It doesn't really need to be massive hi-res and zoomable etc though - just how many times are you going to really pay attention to that stuff after a few runs?

Hi-rez renders = more time on the superficial's instead of the core code, save that maybe for an update later.

 

[Captain N]

The people who work on the visuals in general aren't the same people who work on the code in these kind of projects...

The only time it might significantly be away from would be other visuals.

Also it's the tendency nowadays even for small graphics to be originally made in larger resolution and then scaled down - so the resolution really wouldn't even affect how much time it takes.

Full 3D, however, would take more time than just 2D icons.

 

[Aewarin Jameson]

and the richness of the game, do not you think ?

Yes I do - adds to the aesthetics and helps immerse a player into the game.

 

[Ashley Barley]

There is a lot of visual development going into how commodities will look in the final game, both in the shop interface and as cargo. I'll see if I can include something on it in a future newsletter.

 

[X2Eliah]

There is a lot of visual development going into how commodities will look in the final game, both in the shop interface and as cargo. I'll see if I can include something on it in a future newsletter.

Ooh, awesome! Can you say if they are 2D or 3D visuals?

 

[Ashley Barley]

What I've seen has been drawn in 3D, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will be implemented in a way that allows you to view them in a 3D space. Things like the shop interface are still in very early stages so I don't know what the plan is.

 

[Philip Coutts]

David Braben mentioned a while ago that at some point you would be able to watch ships being loaded. It would be great to watch say taxi passengers trooping onto your ship and robots loading cargo. Also watching your ship being armed with missles, mines etc. I would guess this sort of thing would be an add on at a later date but I think it would be cool.

 

[Voyager_NL]

I wonder how that would work if goods/goodnames are also procedurically generated. Like you could have Lavian Brandy and Leesti Ale. Would they both show the same bottle indicating that this is a beverage or would they go into the details that every item somehow is also generated as a result of some procedure?

 

[Listeri69]

I like the Idea there could be more than one type of a certain commodity. So instead of just 'Food' You could have Vegetables, Fruits, Fish, Canned Goods, Bags of grain, wheat ect ect..... Like when you see a real famine they always seem to ship in big sacks of rice so you could transport the food stuff the planet really needs in time of a crisis, and for example if you shipped luxury foods or Ice Cream you'd be frowned upon..............

 

[Slawkenbergius]

It's pretty cool to hear that goods are going to be properly shown in-game. I also hope that we'll be getting some indication on the sides of canisters as to what's inside, and that even though they're probably going to be standard sizes and shapes, there's some variety. You could have:

• Green/camo containers for military goods, with certain tell-tale fittings like on WWII ammo boxes.
• Stylised, art-deco inspired containers for luxury goods.
• Basic containers for agricultural goods, with a little wheat symbol on the side for grain, or a pig symbol for animal meat
• Fancy containers with roman-style detailing for official imperial goods

Etc.

It would make piracy a lot more colourful, and spotting that green military container amongst the basic agricultural chaff would immediately get you quite excited. I can imagine little scraps for the prize pickings ensuing.

 

[metatheurgist]

That doesn't really make sense at all. Seen any RL containers recently? They're pretty much uniformly the same except for color or the name of the transport company on the side. I can't imagine any reason why it'd change. Cargo scooping should be pot luck, you might get drugs, arms, or fertiliser - you're free to jettison your finds if they're not appealing.

 

[Slawkenbergius]

That doesn't really make sense at all. Seen any RL containers recently? They're pretty much uniformly the same except for color or the name of the transport company on the side. I can't imagine any reason why it'd change. Cargo scooping should be pot luck, you might get drugs, arms, or fertiliser - you're free to jettison your finds if they're not appealing.

Okay, rather than physically being different, which I agree doesn't make sense, containers could have programmable electronic designs on the side. So they remain general purpose, but they have the benefit of being easier to differentiate. The design could change procedurally depending on the place of origin and the goods inside. So if you've got some ammo from an imperial naval yard, it would have the imperial insignia, a military sign, and an icon showing missiles. It would make life easier for dock workers and everybody else.

Personally I'd much prefer a system where you can differentiate visually before scooping, than a pot-luck system. It just seems less frustrating. I also think it's realistic enough, assuming the tech is there, and makes more sense than plain containers. Even nowadays, you get packaging that tries to give info about what's inside (fragile stickers) and whose merchandise is inside (Amazon's logos on its boxes).

 

[OneoftheLost]

Yay for 3D!

I would like to be able to see what's inside the containers when I purchase it. 3D representations of goods. However, in space, I agree that I shouldn't be able to tell. Adds to the fun when I'm scooping things up en masse.

 

[Slawkenbergius]

Looks like I might be outvoted on this one. I'm thinking that when an Anaconda blows, and I've got limited space in my hold, I want to know which containers to scoop. Scanning them would be one option, but visual clues would be a less painful method.

 

[Patrick_68000]

I'll see if I can include something on it in a future newsletter.

Some informations in the newsletter would be a pleasant and original topic.

 

[metatheurgist]

So if you've got some ammo from an imperial naval yard, it would have the imperial insignia, a military sign, and an icon showing missiles. It would make life easier for dock workers and everybody else.

RL Containers are bar-coded or RFID'd, IIRC so automated crane systems can track and move them. Their contents are not readily apparent for security reasons, otherwise thieves would specifically target them for robbery. Military shipments are usually done with military transports, when they use civilian transport, I'm sure they wouldn't highlight the fact by putting "TOP SECRET - military equipment" on the side. You want to be sure the Anaconda you're raiding contains military equipment, follow the Anaconda with the Imperial markings from the naval shipyard with the viper escort and take it if you dare!

Personally I'd much prefer a system where you can differentiate visually before scooping, than a pot-luck system. It just seems less frustrating. I also think it's realistic enough, assuming the tech is there, and makes more sense than plain containers. Even nowadays, you get packaging that tries to give info about what's inside (fragile stickers) and whose merchandise is inside (Amazon's logos on its boxes).

The contents of a container might be specifically marked, but containers usually aren't. The life of a pirate should be hard, don't expect people to make it easy by clearly labelling their goods. I'd be deliberately labelling my Computers as Fertiliser just to increase the odds of recovery. Also expect canister mines in the lot.