Will Ground Branch be supporting it?
The short answer is, yes.
The long answer is, $#&@ yes.

The Rift brings a lot to the tactical FPS genre, not to mention gaming and non-gaming alike. The only issue the Rift has is that there are no decent interfaces to go with it – we’re stuck using a mouse/keyboard combo or gamepad.

The problem with any new device is getting past the super-human accuracy we are given when we use a mouse. Any non-mouse implementation will either need to match a mouses accuracy or provide a substantial benefit above and beyond this limitation.

You can see an interesting way of using a Razer Hyrda in the following video:

I could see an implementation similar to this that replaces aiming, sprinting, reloading and the like with simple realistic hand movements.

Reload?
Hand to magazine, hold trigger.

Sprint?
Both hands down.

Melee?
Swing weapon out.

Not only more immersive, but faster and with more control then a button press.

Will that be enough to make up for the lack of accuracy?
I don’t know.

I really don’t want to see “no mouse/keyboard” servers, but wouldn’t be surprised if it happens.

Thoughts?

This is the first time this version of the true first person system – which is different to what I’ve done in the past – has been in a state worth showing. Its a big relief to see it working so well, even with limited animations and missing offsets. Have to sit down and explain it at some point…

Anyways, I hope you enjoy it and yes, I intend to do more in-game vids showing our progress towards a playable – and hopefully releasable – build.

-Kris

On the bright side, one way I deal with stress is to distract myself by coding… a lot. I’ve done everything from updating more loadout and UI related code (booo!) to gametypes and AI (woohoo!).

As a result, you can run around with a custom loadout in a round based gametype firing off rounds in the distance and watch the bullets trajectory traced out by a debug line. It is not with out its issues (see image below) but is a great feeling to finally be shooting again.

Twin mags FTW!

It is setup in a similar to Natural Selection 2 – everyone is sent to a ready room between rounds or when they first join the server, with team and spectator selection done in game by walking to the appropriate area. We’re hoping this will help promote the community, giving people a chance to talk and interact, show off or exchange loadouts and so on. It also ensures the teams get shuffled regularly, hopefully making for less one-side fights, at least on public servers. Shortcuts are available to quickly select your team and yes, F4 is does send you back to the ready room

These guys are so in sync, they even stand around in the same idle positions…

To anyone who doesn’t own it already own NS2, its worth a look. I got involved in the beta many moons ago and was on the local Aussie servers for a good long while. I plan on heading back there eventually, but John keeps getting out the whip if I stop coding for longer then it takes to ingest more coffee or visit the lav.

Don’t tell him I said that…

So let’s start off with the high res version of the AK-74. This model is used to bake Normal and Ambient Occlusion maps for the in game model. I’ll do some more updates down the road to show some of the process.

-John

High polygon model

After finishing an update of this kind, I like to check things by making a quick map in the editor, chucking in random stuff and running it with multiple players. I was already in the process (before the update) of more tests involving loadouts, so I thought I’d combine the two.

Basic bot code has been sitting there for ages. I just created a nav mesh, told them to use a loadout and let em’ rip. Considering the level of asset optimisation (none) and the age of the machine (2008), I’m happy with the results.

Also been testing and updating firearm related code.
With any luck, we’ll be shooting at each other soon, which will be nice.

You know, read out of context, that could sound weird…

-Kris

Loadouts are saved in the JSON format to make sharing and editing them a lot easier. To make this easier to send across a network, the client will take this loadout and reduce it down to references from a item list that has been synchronised between the server and client, then send that to the server.

After verifying its contents, based on admin, gametype or scenario restrictions, the server then distributes this to all the clients, as required.

This allows for plenty of player customisation, but ensures that the server remains king.

Another decent step towards a playable build

-Kris

Since items can attach to other items, there is a chance that attachments will run several layers deep. To test this, I added an attachment point to the ACOG and created a new weapon loadout to abuse it.

The following is the in-game results…

I had to laugh.

Needless to say, no, you won’t actually be able to do this in the final game

Either way, it feels good to be working on gameplay related stuff.

-Kris

We have no plans to release the build shown here to the public at this time, but it is making the rounds with donators from Ground Branch’s early days. Once it has been abused and patched up for a while, we’ll consider our options.

That’s it.

-Kris

That’s it.

-Kris

I spent quite a bit of time this weekend tracking down an issue that developed – which was my fault – and migrating to a new UE3 build.

Seem to have nailed the problem, hopefully for good.

I hope so, otherwise John will slap me upside the head again.

Speaking of John, he’s recently been replacing the crappy awesome programmer art I created for the UI with proper assets, based on this mockup.

Jeremy continues creating new animations, based on earlier motion capture work.

Nothing particularly fun or interesting, but it is progress.

- Kris