Feedback Requested: What should the modelers focus on?

[atrblizzard]

Hello everyone,

We're getting a lot of interest from people now, which is great news!
People are offering help, and I'm currently in the odd position of not having any tasks to hand out.

So, I'd like suggestions and requests for what the any new comer modeler should focus on, so that we can start giving people things to do.

Try to keep all suggestions to a clear and specific goal - it should be something that isn't too difficult, that can be put into the game in a short period of time.
It could be a small part of a much larger goal, but the aim here to keep things simple so that we continually make small amounts of progress, rather than trying to do a lot at once and getting bogged down and stuck.

A good example is are the street props - they're small, but important. A lot of the game's world surrounds them,  so they made a perfect goal for testing out the needed skills.

Your help is much appreciated!

[Seraph]

Here is a few suggestions, they kind of go outside of modeling but deal with it as well.

Focus on smooth gameplay, actor movements, possibly a way to get more of the players to be companions, Mainly focus on the single player aspect of the game to bring it back in full such as the missions and things you can do.

Model texturing and smoothing, level editing to create the same enviroment with better graphics, better movement and keep the idea of either first or 3rd person camera view, a way for players or modders to easily replace music with that of their own, for example i changed the asylums song to Forsaken from queen of the damned, and replace some of the not so gothic pieces of music like in vesuvious.

new weapons, new items, new occult relics, possibly the ability to hire a driver and have your own personal car, as well as the taxi as usual, possibly allow players to choose a " pet " such as a gargoyle or ghost to protect and help them.

Just some ideas, I myself have experience with unity3d even though it is limited.

If i may, i'd like to help in the development of this game, as i know the folder structure and original layout of the original game.

[DaVinciDemon]

I have a suggestion but I don't know if this really falls under the category of modeling (As i don't know much about programming or game modeling)

Creating a lounge or lobby room where kindred can just hang out and chat with others will be nice, as social interaction within the game is as important as the game itself. If I wanted to re-experience the VTMB experience I could just play it at home again. Having a place to chat with other players to meet other players or ask help for missions would be a nice thing 

Sorry if my English isn't good, its not my first language

[atrblizzard]

Model texturing and smoothing, level editing to create the same enviroment with better graphics, better movement and keep the idea of either first or 3rd person camera view, a way for players or modders to easily replace music with that of their own, for example i changed the asylums song to Forsaken from queen of the damned, and replace some of the not so gothic pieces of music like in vesuvious.[/qupte]
Those are all in our plans, from major parts like level editing to the smaller details like adding your own piece of music, especially in areas like Asylum and more.

new weapons, new items, new occult relics, possibly the ability to hire a driver and have your own personal car, as well as the taxi as usual, possibly allow players to choose a " pet " such as a gargoyle or ghost to protect and help them.

As long a modeler creates their models it's all that takes to create any new item with the toolset we're developing for the game. The item creator that's part of the toolset grants you to select from various configurations and model to create your unique new weapon for the base game or new mods. All of these will be part of the toolset so that any modders can allow specific additions into their game.

If i may, i'd like to help in the development of this game, as i know the folder structure and original layout of the original game.

You're more thank welcome. It's always an additional plus to aid the project to a closer resemblance of the game.

I have a suggestion but I don't know if this really falls under the category of modeling (As i don't know much about programming or game modeling)

Creating a lounge or lobby room where kindred can just hang out and chat with others will be nice, as social interaction within the game is as important as the game itself. If I wanted to re-experience the VTMB experience I could just play it at home again. Having a place to chat with other players to meet other players or ask help for missions would be a nice thing 

Sorry if my English isn't good, its not my first language

That sounds like a neat idea, similar to what EVE Online had, as the online portion of the game will be focused on social interactions at most parts, it's a great addition to implement such a feature. This sounds more like a mini MMO but definitely would provide greater experience for the online portion. 

Thank you for all your suggestions, but as a friendly reminder, please keep such suggestions in the suggestion box subforum instead. The main focus in this thread is the goal new modelers should focus on.

[ConcreteShelter]

I think it'd be important to remake some of the static NPCs you find in the Giovanni Mansion. They're basically all the same, which is understandable since the game was rushed. Not sure about the variety of the other enemies, since you basically just kill them and move on.

[sansuni01]

Some of the maps are quite empty and some of them look quite unfinished.. They could be reworked, some new buildings can be added instead of the fake 2d picture ones..

For instance, you can't pass santa monica peer sign and all buildings on that road seems to be made out of 2d pictures..



To show it more clearly, here you can't go behind the door in front of you and the same is valid with the above..



It would be nice if that road could be walkable, atleast later in the game.. Some new NPC's and all that..

Also cars, they are everywhere and most of them are low poly.. Not to mention that they don't even have insides.. They make the game look terrible..

[ivan4041]

Some of the maps are quite empty and some of them look quite unfinished.. They could be reworked, some new buildings can be added instead of the fake 2d picture ones..

For instance, you can't pass santa monica peer sign and all buildings on that road seems to be made out of 2d pictures..

I agree, you are very right.

Backgrounds should be very important considering how much time the player spends in each of the missions. For example I think the backgrounds to Hollywood could have been fantastic if the mansions, hills, lights were done better. The mission hubs are small and restricting enough to not have a sense of the broader world.

Also I've always admired the eyes on the character models. Can we somehow improve that or get more of it. Maybe deepen the shade of blue for Lacroix, add a glare or two somewhere, add an animations where the model leans over and looks at you, combs his hair backwards, winks. Stuff like that.

I think fire could be done better, especially how dangerous it is to Kindred. But if that's more animation than a modeler should do, let me know, I'll stop

And if we could have an amazing starry night on mission with the werewolf it would be awesome.

[atrblizzard]

I have to agree with you Sansuni, this part of Santa Monica seems to be the most dead of all. Way deserted than it should be.

We did consider to have proper vista buildings, especially in the Santa Monica map to create a proper sense of depth in this world. That means proper life added to it, and also make it feel being part of the main world even more.

Eyes are an important visual factor, especially since we're redoing the cutscene sequences throughout the game, and maybe even improve the dialog scenes, it's important to emphasize on the character's look and feel, including the eyes. There are numerous ways to improve the eyes, and one of the best way to do so is by using a proper eye shader, that comes with eye depth and parallax support.

I fully agree on the minor but more lifelike idle animations, and having sort of custom ones for each major character would be great. Blending the gesture animations is possible, so there are even more varieties there.

If you mean the fire effects when you or other characters are on fire, they are done by particle animations, which again shouldn't be too much of a hassle to improve.

I admit the cutscene and the fire effects on the Griffith Park was a bit bland, mainly because of the odd animations and odd looking burning effects, but these will be improved at a much later point, but not before release.

[ivan4041]

Should we keep the suggestion in the order of the progression in the game?

Because one of the first things the player explores are the sewers, and they can do with a little remodelling, I think. Extra textures for the walls and seiling, maybe unique, or rare textures in the different sewer systems. I've had atleast 2 people that dropped the game when it reached the sewer levels, so I guess the atmosphere can be made more compelling.

Another thing is the water in the sewers- can it be made more realistic as we are accustomed to seeing it in modern games? I mean different hues, muddy outlines here and there, light reflection, ripples made by you and the rats, maybe small floating objects that can be kicked around. I think that was one of the most neglected areas of the game.

[sansuni01]

I think hats, berets, bandanas and glasses should be a separate things from outfits, you should be able to buy and wear all kinds of things.. (as long as it fits the character and the atmosphere of course.) Things like full body armor should show..

Also you should be able to wear any relevant clothing in the game.. For instance, a high level Tremere should be able to wear Maximillian Strauss's clothing.. (with a different color and a few alterations of course) Or a Gangrel should be able to wear Beckett's clothing at higher levels.. (again with different colors) Or a Nosferatu should be able to wear Bertram Tung's outfit.. (I guess anyone can wear his outfit..)

By the way, you should be able to use two pistols at once.. (Maybe glocks) Please say this is possible..

Also, for places that doesn't have real interiors (places that you can't enter) should have fake interiors that is visible from the windows.. And places that does have interiors (places you can enter) should be visible from the outside.. (places like the Santa Monica Diner and Medical Clinic) That should be easy since the maps are going to be merged together..