combat control systems
Hmm.. this is just my opinion, but I have always felt that the greater the (intuitive) control you have on a character, the more that the enjoyment of the game will multiply. i mean, just look at games like Jurassic Park and Half-Life. The superior controls and specific coordinated abilities, (more in jurassic park) add a whole new element.
So, anyays, what I have really been thinking of for a long time, is what if you could make a game with a truly accurate sword-parrying engine. you need nearly 6' of movement, and with the mouse, (including a scroller and 2 buttons) gives you almost that much already, in some games (Homeworld). the real trick is to extend that to a sword in a way that allows a practiced gamer to skillfully, quickly, swing the sword about, strike and parry. I've thought about it for awhile, and i do believe it is possible. not easy, but possible. for example:
you could manipulate movement of the wrist (up/down) by simply pressing the right-click quickly, (the wrist moving rapidly up and down when you press)
and manipulate the rotation of the wrist with the left click, the same way.
leaving the scroll button to control the opening and closing of the elbow joint (making the sword closer or farther away)
and the main mouse to control the position of the entire arm.
in this way, with practice, i think, one could become quite the proficient virtual-swordsman.
comments?
So, anyays, what I have really been thinking of for a long time, is what if you could make a game with a truly accurate sword-parrying engine. you need nearly 6' of movement, and with the mouse, (including a scroller and 2 buttons) gives you almost that much already, in some games (Homeworld). the real trick is to extend that to a sword in a way that allows a practiced gamer to skillfully, quickly, swing the sword about, strike and parry. I've thought about it for awhile, and i do believe it is possible. not easy, but possible. for example:
you could manipulate movement of the wrist (up/down) by simply pressing the right-click quickly, (the wrist moving rapidly up and down when you press)
and manipulate the rotation of the wrist with the left click, the same way.
leaving the scroll button to control the opening and closing of the elbow joint (making the sword closer or farther away)
and the main mouse to control the position of the entire arm.
in this way, with practice, i think, one could become quite the proficient virtual-swordsman.
comments?