BGForums

Welcome to our Unit Fashion Show!

We need your help to nail down the type of texturing that looks best for units in the game. Chris has done up some samples with a selection of different textures; the sample is of a Leopard tank on a piece of the new map background; the strength bars ('hud') are not showing to not clutter things.

Please take a look and tell us which you like, and which you don't like.

Here are the samples, at 'Zoomed in' resolution (ie Double Size):

http://www.bgforums.com/djt_images/tank1.jpg
http://www.bgforums.com/djt_images/tank2.jpg
http://www.bgforums.com/djt_images/tank3.jpg
http://www.bgforums.com/djt_images/tank4.jpg
http://www.bgforums.com/djt_images/tank5.jpg
http://www.bgforums.com/djt_images/tank6.jpg
http://www.bgforums.com/djt_images/tank7.jpg
http://www.bgforums.com/djt_images/tank8.jpg

Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

-- George.
<Lead Programmer, BattleGoat Studios>


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: George Geczy on 2002-12-09 16:40 ]</font>

Number 1 and 8 are my fav's.They seem to fit the background better color-wise to me.

Tkobo is right on for background color similarities, but I prefer distinction for AFVs, my vote is 4 unless camo has an impact on combat results.

Personally I do like #1 and #8 but I like the idea of using different skins for the different unit types. It would definitely help differentiate between different mods of the same base unit --- for instance the Anti-Tank vs the Recon version of the same basic unit.

And no there would be no in game effect of the different skins... this is strictly for eye candy value!

The problem is many of the maps have multiple terrain types. Even in the Middle East this is true. You would assume Dessert Camo, but in Israel, along the Nile in Egypt, and elsewhere, you are in agricultural areas.

How about in a battle for the US... You have the desserts of California, Nevada, etc vs the heavy forests of the Eastern States, etc...

So, although we could use different camo for different scenarios, it would not necessarily be terrain specific. Instead we were thinking we could use different skins for different unit types to make differentiation easier on the map. For instance all Anti Air units have a certain skin, likewise all Tank, all Infantry, all Recon, all Artillery, all Anti-Tank etc... have the same skin as their unit type.

This should definitely help quicken identification of units and assist gameplay.

I also don't understand why we would want units NOT to stand out on the map!?!

In the real world, people use camouflage so that units blend into their surroundings and are hard to see. When I’m playing the game, the last thing I want is my units to be hard to see. If I’m playing a large area (like starting in the West in Australia, you have from Perth to Adelaide and north through Alice Springs) I often view my territory zoomed out so I can see if I have units in Perth or the north not yet assigned to something. I think that after release I’m going to edit my unit graphics and paint them all bright green so they stand out like beacons!

I’ve tried a few textures on some of the vehicles, and I have to say, I have a Russian T-80 that is to die for in a nice green camo, but I’m concerned that the camo will make it harder for players to find their own stuff and only add to the visuals, not the gameplay. My vote is for something between #1 and #4. Of course, those two are my textures originally, so I’m biased.

_________________
Chris Latour
BattleGoat Studios
chris@battlegoat.com

Would it be possible to make all the colors schemes possible and let the players at the beginning of the campaign pick the one they want to use ?It wold only take 16 color sets for each model

I think making the units more camoflouged (sp)map wise is a bad idea.We need to be able to see them clearly without having to hunt for them.

Maybe adding an insignia on the models that is NOT in a earth tone color would help ?
Something that really stands out against the earth tones.
Or just changing the colors themselves to NON-earth tones.

By the way how will we be able to tell at a glance which units are ours and which are the enemies ?

How about little flags on the models showing an insignia ? Like pennants ?

I prefer #6 - I don't like my own tanks being hidden from me.

_________________
"Nuke the site from orbit, it's the only way to be sure."

3 and 4, Nice
1 and 8, Tricky to see??
7 Ok
2,5,6 Don't really like them

What is important (to me) is to be able to see the units regardless of the background. The last thing I want is to fail to spot a unit (mine or the enemy) due to the effective camouflage.

Having a choice for the colouring would be great but you may not want to supply unit packs for different appearances...

First off, the unit loks GREAT!
As for the colours, I prefer the ones that stand out. Will you make this something that players can choose? In multiplayer I would expect everyone to take the camo units because it would be easy for the human eye to pass over. Or will inactive units have a coloured border indicating ownership??

I go away for a week or two and so much get's added! It's good to see!

Why not let each player choose the color to represent his combat units (like Risk)the owning player would have instant recognition, of course incomplete intelligence would be a common color(gray) for unknowns. I agree the units should be distinctly observable.

We will not be doing that unfortunatly. The units are colored before they go into the game. Once the game is launched, the colors are set. We represent ownership seperatly with the color attached to the unit HUD.

_________________
Chris Latour
BattleGoat Studios
chris@battlegoat.com

Well,I like tank outfit Nr. 1,3 and 8.

I agree that the units should be clearly visible on the map.At least as long as they are not painted in pink ,the camouflage should look realistic.