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Flags

Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2003 11:59 pm
by U562
Heres an idea that poped into my head while I was looking at some ships from a distance. Along witht he faction flag another flag choice might be avalible in a list? A different set for every faction perhaps. So when a squad is out, they all have the same squadron flags plus the faction flags.

Flags

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 5:19 pm
by Eagle
I think that would be cool, but im not sure how squads are going to be setup?

Flags

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 5:49 pm
by The Avon Lady
No matter how you set it up, this will get messy in a massive MP environment.

In theory, if 100 people are playing and each has their own flag/emblem, you will have to potentially download all 100 emblem image files before starting/entering the game.

That's no piece of cake, even if image size resitrictions are imposed.

And caching the images on each player's PC isn't a good idea because:

1. Images get changed so update management would have to be performed.

2. The amount of cache images can reach ridiculous proportions after playing many MP sessions.

Another alternative is that the game come with an emblem image library and everyone can select from that. Since everyone will have the files in advance, there will be no need for downloading or cache managing them.

TesserAction could always issue emblem addon packs to add more emblems it thinks will be appreciated by the MP community.

Flags

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 6:31 pm
by U562
Avon-

You completely misunderstood what I said..... The faction flag and a squadron flag. Now this flag would be perminant to that particular squad and having say 5-10 flags per faction to decide from for your squad. And when I say 5-10 flags per faction to choose from- that means they are ingame already to choose from- Its just common sense. Squad leader would have say over the flag choice. This isnt so that everyone has their own flag and there is 100s of flags thats just plain crazy: F**king retarded...... crazy:

Flags

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 6:35 pm
by The Avon Lady
Avon-
You completely misunderstood what I said..... The faction flag and a squadron flag. Now this flag would be perminant to that particular squad and having say 5-10 flags per faction to decide from for your squad. And when I say 5-10 flags per faction to choose from- that means they are ingame already to choose from- Its just common sense.
OK. That's essentially my last alternative, isn't it?

Flags

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:13 pm
by U562
OK. That's essentially my last alternative, isn't it?
Basically, but thats what I said in the first place..... I dunno wut u were thinkin ;)

Flags

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 7:20 pm
by The Avon Lady
OK. That's essentially my last alternative, isn't it?
Basically, but thats what I said in the first place..... I dunno wut u were thinkin ;)
Custom squad flags but, as explained, impractical in ERT's large MP environment.

Flags

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 8:12 pm
by East
Not really Avon. It's been our plan from the beginning to allow Squadron Flags. Difference is, you don't get a custom flag until you have reached a certain level in the game. Until then, the squadron flag is generated on the fly based on the Squadron ID. No data to download.

Once the flags become available, they will be cached in a compressed volume on the players machine. The cache updates when necessary and in the background. Flags are also very small textures. You would need 10000 of them to make a dent in the download or storage speed.

--East

Flags

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 8:20 pm
by The Avon Lady
Once the flags become available, they will be cached in a compressed volume on the players machine. The cache updates when necessary and in the background. Flags are also very small textures. You would need 10000 of them to make a dent in the download or storage speed.
This custom flag would be visible to other players, too, right?

If so, it will have to be cache on everyone's machine who is playing?

If so, you could just as well allow user made custom flags, couldn't you?

Or am missing something? huh2:

Flags

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:19 pm
by East
These will be user made custom flags and of course they are visible on others computers. Otherwise there would be little point.

The on-the-fly texture is a default that is persistent on your video card as long as that vessel is visible. User specific graphics are a downloaded cache item similar to a patch except it is streamed during the loading process.

Not user we have a disagreement except for the understanding of feasibility.