dynamic-weather
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H1Z1 graphics programmer hints at other weather types
SOE Graphics Programmer Ryan Favale is the target of a new H1Z1 video. In it, he discusses the games that he's playing, notable bugs, and his role on the upcoming zombie sandbox. Favale said that he's primarily working on the dynamic weather system. "That's my main job on H1Z1, to bring as many weather conditions and effects and environmental immersion as possible," Favale said. He teased the possibility of hurricanes, tornadoes, and dust storms, but didn't promise that they'd make them into the game. You can watch the video after the break.
Here's pretty much everything known about Black Desert
2P has put together a summary post of everything currently known about Black Desert. The open-world fantasy sandbox from Pearl Abyss has secured publishers for Korea, Japan, and Russia, and is reportedly working on an internal English-language client despite the lack of a Western publisher. The summary post features brief descriptions of Black Desert's systems as well as several embedded trailers and gameplay videos including footage of castle sieges, a pigeon-shooting minigame, dynamic weather, and an in-game wiki. You can watch the Black Desert teaser trailer after the break. [Thanks WNxArcticwolf!]
The Daily Grind: Is in-game weather important?
World of Warcraft introduced it early on, then largely abandoned it. Games like Battleground Europe, Fallen Earth, RIFT, and Lord of the Rings Online have it. PlanetSide 2 promises to have it. What am I talking about? Weather, of course (but you knew that because you read the title, you sly dog). Dynamic weather systems don't come standard in all MMOs, and even in the ones in which they appear, they aren't always noticed. For some, weather adds a layer of immersion that helps one pretend that one is in an actual world. For others, it's an annoying factor that reduces visibility and makes one wonder why the devs couldn't be putting their efforts to better use elsewhere. Storm clouds are sweeping in over this Daily Grind and a warm front of flames is predicted. What do you think? Are weather systems important (or at least welcomed), or are they just a waste of coding space? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
PlanetSide 2 may feature space-based gameplay
A few more PlanetSide 2 details have emerged thanks to a presentation given by Sony Online Entertainment's John Smedley and Matt Higby at a recent SyndCon gathering. The duo explained how PlanetSide 2's dynamic weather system will affect combat and that smoke resulting from prolonged firefights will also play a role. The catch here, according to FPSguru, is that these features "may not be in at launch, but [are] definitely in the long-term plan." Speaking of iteration, Smedley also drew comparisons to EVE Online's "outside-in" approach (specifically, the fact that CCP began with a space game and added planet-based gameplay at a later date). PlanetSide 2 will reverse this process, beginning with a single continent, "then add[ing] more continents and eventually, planets," Smedley said. Plans for space-based gameplay are also on the table. There's a bit more to the article including riffs on certifications (i.e., skills) and the inevitable cash shop. Head to FPSguru for more details.
