Version 2.0 - Look to the Future

[Wasila]

A series of scenarios as Firestryke describe could make up a tutorial. But what do the devs say? I can imagine it's not easy, but worth it.

I like el koeno's suggestions.

[Yexo]

But what do the devs say?

A lot of good ideas here, now give us patches that implemented them

[ashchetum]

What are the capabilities of the engine? Is it just 2d with layering, or is there more to it, if it was a full fledged 3d environment, in train views would be cool. Or a way to drive the trains like lomo. There are lots of things that could go into the game, but I'd have to agree with a lot of you that the 32bpp is the most important at this time.

[ChillCore]

The engine is 2.5D (2D with offsets, for people that do not know).
Searching for steep slopes will take you a long way.

Even if someone could make the viewport rotatable you need sprites. A lot of them.
That being said. There is some steady progress at providing 3D Models.

[ashchetum]

The engine is 2.5d .

ahhhh thanks! I think that the game will be a good candidate for full 3d graphics.

[Eddi]

so, to summarise, the only useful ideas for a "2.0 vision" i have seen here are:

• Underground construction
• Scriptable scenario/tasks/tutorial engine

i'll add "Shunting" to that list.

rotatable view might be useful, and difficult to do because of missing original graphics, but it doesn't really warrant a version step because the actual benefit might be to small

all the other posts that say "apply XYZ patch" are useless, that is not a long term vision...

[Wasila]

I was wondering what the devs think about scriptable scenarios? Is it really as easy as exposing the AI's squirrel interface to the scenario editor?

[Yexo]

I was wondering what the devs think about scriptable scenarios? Is it really as easy as exposing the AI's squirrel interface to the scenario editor?

If it would be that easy I'd have implemented it a year ago.

[el koeno]

so, to summarise, the only useful ideas for a "2.0 vision" i have seen here are:

• Underground construction
• Scriptable scenario/tasks/tutorial engine

i'll add "Shunting" to that list.

rotatable view might be useful, and difficult to do because of missing original graphics, but it doesn't really warrant a version step because the actual benefit might be to small

all the other posts that say "apply XYZ patch" are useless, that is not a long term vision...

That's still not really a vision, but simply features that are desirable. Why are they desirable? Is it what we, the current players would like? Or should we focus more on people new to the game? I'd say get new players. I've been looking at a few open source games since going Linux, but most of them fail to take new players into account, instead focusing solely on their core user base. While this is very understandable (they're the ones developing the game after all), I think this is a flaw in open source games. It really limits the appeal of these games, which is a shame, because they're all probably fine games like OpenTTD.

So my vision would be to have a polished, newbie friendly product, that is as easy to pick up as any commercial game, like Civilization. I think apart from some GUI changes, scriptable scenarios are essential to this.

[neob]

first what is this "newbie vs core" thingy? better interface is first of all a measure of the game polish beside helping, increasing efficiency etc its will also help expand the "core" players base which means more devs/content/etc.

as for the real scenarios, its always one of the biggest boosters for a community, most games that have any kind of community are the ones who allows modability/game editor
and scenario editors always bread the weirdest/most original gameplay that even the most "i create my own goals" will not be able to live without.

[el koeno]

first what is this "newbie vs core" thingy? better interface is first of all a measure of the game polish beside helping, increasing efficiency etc its will also help expand the "core" players base which means more devs/content/etc.

The only way to expand the core (i.e. players playing the game for a while) is by attracting newbies. Right now, I've got trouble convincing people this is a fun game. They try it out, don't get the point, and quit. So I think the one thing holding the community back is a lack of inflow of new players. I'm not saying we badly need new players or that the community needs a boost, it's fine the way it is. But if I were a dev, I'd go for expansion of the user base.

as for the real scenarios, its always one of the biggest boosters for a community, most games that have any kind of community are the ones who allows modability/game editor
and scenario editors always bread the weirdest/most original gameplay that even the most "i create my own goals" will not be able to live without.

So that's basically what I'm saying: by getting the scriptable scenarios, you gain the option of appealing to new players, while at the same time really offering something to the experienced players, and people willing to contribute, but don't feel like drawing or coding is really their thing.

[neob]

So that's basically what I'm saying

yes i suggested as much on page 2 and on previous occasions, right now i was pointing out that those changes are beneficial for all.

[DerFlob]

Hi, I just started playing OTTD and trying to follow the forums.

An idea to catch some player who don't understand the game in the beginning may be introducing achievements, which can be earned by playing OTTD long enough.
E.g. "Earn xyz $" (of course without cheats), "Have yz trains/buses/trucks/ships", "Have at least zyx meters of railroads." ...

These achievements can be both overall-achievements or achievements that are earned just within one savegame.
Also you could make them in several steps, like bronze, silver and gold.

[Kogut]

Also flexible AI - not extremely efficient but working on all possible settings may be interesting for new players - it may show how to build infrastructure. And I try to make sth like this.

[ChillCore]

Hi and welcome DerFlob.

Hi, I just started playing OTTD and trying to follow the forums.

An idea to catch some player who don't understand the game in the beginning may be introducing achievements, which can be earned by playing OTTD long enough.
E.g. "Earn xyz $" (of course without cheats), "Have yz trains/buses/trucks/ships", "Have at least zyx meters of railroads." ...

These achievements can be both overall-achievements or achievements that are earned just within one savegame.
Also you could make them in several steps, like bronze, silver and gold.

You can start your game in 1930 or 1950, play untill 2050 and have a score.
Your goal is to become Tycoon of the century just like TTD (and maybe even TTO, I am not sure).
http://wiki.openttd.org/Game_mechanics will tell you more about it.
There is one catch. If you cheat the window will never show.

At that point you can either start a new game or continue to play forever like most people do.

Edit: /me removes dirt from eyes and corrects username.

[DerFlob]

Hi and welcome DerFlob.

You can start your game in 1930 or 1950, play untill 2050 and have a score.
Your goal is to become Tycoon of the century just like TTD (and maybe even TTO, I am not sure).
http://wiki.openttd.org/Game_mechanics will tell you more about it.
There is one catch. If you cheat the window will never show.

At that point you can either start a new game or continue to play forever like most people do.

Edit: /me removes dirt from eyes and corrects username.

I already read this and a lot of other wiki entries.
But I think, that most beginners aren't that much in reading wikis and stuff when playing. So achievements would be a great way to lead them in the right directions.

[stimpak]

SINGLE PLAYER EXPERIENCE
eg .
[*]a sinlge town where you need to provide what it needs from surrounding factories. To complete the the scenario the average time should be ~30mins
[*]ACHIEVEMENTS (500 locomotives = Lord Of The TRAINS) you can figure out more...


MOAR logistics!!!!

[*]I mean MOAR!!! Add military bases, convoys exports to other maps.

Customization
[*] Sod the old UI for a Qt one is that possible? F*Ck ye should be, you just released a game. The sky is the limit

Custom Music (mp3 from folders)

[*]Hearing MIDI is not enough anymore!

Better UI

Launcher for DLCs

[*]I dont want to restart the game for new GFX to take effect, also WTB dependency solver - no more missing addons
[*] DEDICATED SERV FOR ADDONS


(Reply positive and i'll add more)

[Kogut]

Custom Music (mp3 from folders)

[*]Hearing MIDI is not enough anymore!

Install winamp, or sth another and run your music. Probably your computer can handle 2 programs at the same time.

Scenarios - it is interesting idea. But there are some already created by that player:

http://www.tt-forums.net/memberlist.php ... ile&u=5097

(see signature)

[stimpak]

Custom Music (mp3 from folders)

[*]Hearing MIDI is not enough anymore!

Install winamp, or sth another and run your music. Probably your computer can handle 2 programs at the same time.

Scenarios - it is interesting idea. But there are some already created by that player:

you're missing the point! its how i can troubleshoot what Is missing but on the contrary its about what i want to see bundled with OTTD in the future

[juval]

I agree with A LOT of you guys! I really think we should make that game more appeling to others, easier to understand by including some kind of tutorial,

Hi and welcome DerFlob.


I already read this and a lot of other wiki entries.
But I think, that most beginners aren't that much in reading wikis and stuff when playing. So achievements would be a great way to lead them in the right directions.

As Derflob said newbies don't want to read wikis in the beginning. When i try a new game i want to be able to understand it rather quickly or be able to learn by reading or tutorial IN game, otherwise ill just quit and find a new game

And we should really focus on how to get new players because, the more players a game has the more developers and game moderators there will be. Look at the sims for example, Everybody *almost* makes there own custome stuff, so making the game more appeling to newbies is a good start.

*Oh and of course ppl should still focus on other things, i would like the game to acces more creation, 3x3 lot buildings, cities with 4x3 zones and other stuff *