16 réponses à ce sujet

[hong]

I think we can safely assume that the next Mass Effect will have singleplayer, MP addicts notwithstanding. How would you feel if it had ladders and seasons?

ME3 already has ladders, of course. They help extend gameplay in the third dimension, so that things are more varied than just floors and ramps. They also serve to replace elevators which are a passive experience known more for funny quarian/turian banter than actual gameplay. More interesting is seasons.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, seasons have two overlapping purposes:

- In sandbox games, they provide an air of versi verismi vermisil believability, so that events appear to take place within a chronologically advancing timeframe.

- In themepark games, they allow a wider range of environments. For example, imagine playing in a blizzard, or a sandstorm. This could also be a callback to the hazardous planetary environments from ME1.

Seasons typically bring with them some hazards. For example, in winter, you might have to deal with reduced visibility from all that driving snow. In summer, guns might overheat faster. On the flipside, enemy mechs might also overheat faster in the summer, while guns might overheat slower in a blizzard.

For MENext, I was thinking of seasons, in addition to affecting gameplay, could influence timed events.To take a military example, you could have a regular summer offensive by a krogan clan on Tuchanka; or maybe a series of winter quests to help the inhabitants of a frozen planet. You could also have quest lines that extend over multiple seasons, but given the length of time that would be needed to trigger the events, you probably don't want too many of these. That said, you could turn this into a way of ensuring people don't speedrun the main storyline within an hour.

I can see that implementing seasons for all planets in all sectors could be a huge undertaking, so maybe doing it only for particularly significant locations would be enough. Or perhaps a procedurally generated solution would work.

[Majin Paul]

I don't think it would be needed would it? You'd likely be on different planets, likely each in their own season so I don't think it would have much of an effect on the gameplay.

[Farangbaa]

I don't think it would be needed would it? You'd likely be on different planets, likely each in their own season so I don't think it would have much of an effect on the gameplay.

 

Unless.... the new Mass Effect is a parenting sim. You control Liara while trying to raise baby Shepard.

[KaiserShep]

I would say that dynamic weather would be more appropriate than seasons. More than likely, our visits to a planet will only take place within a short period of time in the story, and we might not be able to revisit that location anyway. Dynamic weather, I think, works better because it can change within minutes, like if you're on a hub world that's planet side or on a mission, and suddenly there's harsh blizzards or torrential rainfall or even a sandstorm.

[Crazy_Fool768]

I would say that new weather would add something to the next has effect. Rain was only really featured in Jacks loyalty mission and I enjoyed hearing the rain bounce of the metal of the building. Snow in ME1 also added something with poor visibility effecting you as well as the temp. Different weather/ Climates would benefit as it would make planets unique not just for there looks but for the way the climate acts.

[AlanC9]

If it's free --say, if they just had the code lying around from another project -- then sure. Otherwise, there are a couple of dozen things I'd prioritize ahead of this.

[Probe Away]

I would say that dynamic weather would be more appropriate than seasons. More than likely, our visits to a planet will only take place within a short period of time in the story, and we might not be able to revisit that location anyway. Dynamic weather, I think, works better because it can change within minutes, like if you're on a hub world that's planet side or on a mission, and suddenly there's harsh blizzards or torrential rainfall or even a sandstorm.

+ 1

Seasons wouldn't have any meaning unless your character is going to spend at least several months in the same place. Dynamic weather, on the other hand, would add an extra element to any outside mission/area.

[SwobyJ]

Climate. Weather.

 

Unless there is time travel. Then sure, seasons.

[NM_Che56]

Seasons? Not necessarily.  Weather and climatic events? Yes.  Give me diamond rain!

[Robbiesan]

If the next ME has a great deal of action on a particular planet, over a full planetary year, I can definitely see seasons as an added dimension to the game. 

 

As mentioned above, weather/climate based on the planet's weather norms could also add a dynamic to the game as well.  This reminds of me the hazard maps in ME3MP. 

 

Definitely doable, and adds to the game.  I do like the idea of weather conditions (ie temperature, visibility), for instance, having an affect upon the game as well.

[Senior Cinco]

Seasonal change would give a different environmental element upon prolonged returns to a given planet. However, all planets do not have seasons. Some planets don't rotate are not tilted on their axis at all. Either way... dynamic weather and randomly changing weather patterns is a welcomed addition. 

On a side note... I'm uncertain the reference  in the OP to the next ME being a SP.

[Heimdall]

Only if we'll be spending a great deal of time on one planet.  Otherwise I'd prefer they redirected their efforts elsewhere.  Dynamic weather events during exploration might be nice though.

[Han Shot First]

Since Mass Effect is set in space I don't see seasons as a necessity. We shouldn't be spending too long on any one planet, as part of the appeal of the series is travelling around and exploring the galaxy. Getting the player mired in one place for too long would be a mistake on the part of the writing team, IMO. Also not all planets would have seasons quite like Earth's.

 

That being said weather effects would greatly add to atmosphere.

[Raizo]

I would say that dynamic weather would be more appropriate than seasons. More than likely, our visits to a planet will only take place within a short period of time in the story, and we might not be able to revisit that location anyway. Dynamic weather, I think, works better because it can change within minutes, like if you're on a hub world that's planet side or on a mission, and suddenly there's harsh blizzards or torrential rainfall or even a sandstorm.

  

+ 1
Seasons wouldn't have any meaning unless your character is going to spend at least several months in the same place. Dynamic weather, on the other hand, would add an extra element to any outside mission/area.

I agree with the above. Seasons will only make sense in a story where the protagonist is spending a long period of time in on any given planet and realistically speaking I don't see that happening in the next ME game. Dynamic weather makes a lot more sense. Visit a planet during the early stages of the game and it's day time and bright and sunny, come back later and it's night time, come back even later and you might find the planet in the midst of a storm.

[Mcfly616]

I couldn't care less if they have seasons. Seeing as how we'll most definitely be planet hopping all over the galaxy, seasons wouldn't help you determine chronology unless you're sitting in the same place the entire time. 

 

 

 

However, I've been hoping for some dynamic weather and unique geography, climates and ecosystems for the places we'll be visiting.

[MEuniverse]

Yes  

[zestalyn]

Seasons are irrelevant for the nature of this game, but dynamic weather sounds possible. In the E3 teaser it seemed like they want to implement daytime/nighttime. But that makes me wonder if they'll actually make the planets orbit around their suns so that it makes sense that the area you're visiting is actually during its day/night?