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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0003457Valley 1Programming TodoJan 25, 2012 3:32 pm
ReporterChris_McElligottPark Assigned ToChris_McElligottPark  
Severityminor 
Status assignedResolutionopen 
Summary0003457: Mechanic: lava falls (timing game)
DescriptionBasically having lava that falls down from some hole in the rock on some interval. It will be easy to do a cool particle effect, and it will provide a small mechanic of timing (don't go, go, don't go, go, etc).

These should be really damaging, but not nearly insta-death. So someone can just power through if they don't like timing games, but if you're trying to maintain your health or are lower-level, then this it's better to play the timing game.
TagsNo tags attached.
Internal WeightFeature Suggestion

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keith.lamothe

May 29, 2011 6:59 pm

administrator   ~0012285

As with the moving platforms, my response when I encounter it as a player is "Not gunna do it, wouldn't be prudent." ;) Unless, of course, my character can handle the task by himself.

But if I can use some kind of ice abilities to stop the flows or otherwise be able to power-through it (not with _complete_ disregard for timing, but not sweating it if I miss a beat), it wouldn't be too bad.

Chris_McElligottPark

May 29, 2011 7:10 pm

administrator   ~0012289

Here again, this is something I'd think would be optional. If there is a way for you to just easily freeze these, then there's no point in really having them -- the point of a timing game is to be a timing game, and if you can just take that out then it devolves into a simple "have the right equipment" game.

I think that having gameplay variety, including the platformer-y kinds that folks like you and Sarah will hate, isn't a bad thing. I think there will be some things you'll do in the macrogame that I won't like too much, and that's also okay.

In both circumstances, the solution is mainly to make sure that there's an alternate way to accomplish the larger game goals without any specific mechanic. We've been talking about the ability to ignore basically all the NPC-related stuff as a prime feature for the game; I think of the ability to ignore all the hardcore-platformer stuff as being a prime feature in the same sense.

In both cases we don't want a way for players to hamstring the actual mechanics if they go to them -- if you go there, you have to play that part of the game -- but just a way to avoid that entire part of the game if it doesn't appeal.

keith.lamothe

May 29, 2011 7:13 pm

administrator   ~0012290

Yea, that's fair, I think it will be fine.

Chris_McElligottPark

May 29, 2011 7:29 pm

administrator   ~0012292

Cool. And you realize, of course, that I'll be looking to you and Sarah as an early barometer of "is this turning me off in a way it shouldn't." If you hate the mechanic, that's fine and I don't really care, but if it goes a step further and you feel like the game is forcing you into this mechanic instead of letting you ignore it, then I care very much. We'll work out some of that stuff in playtesting, I'm sure, and also some of it will come down to where and how you decide to hide various goodies. Don't hide anything in the lava falls areas that you would absolutely have to have. ;)

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
May 29, 2011 6:39 pm Chris_McElligottPark New Issue
May 29, 2011 6:39 pm Chris_McElligottPark Status new => assigned
May 29, 2011 6:39 pm Chris_McElligottPark Assigned To => Chris_McElligottPark
May 29, 2011 6:59 pm keith.lamothe Note Added: 0012285
May 29, 2011 7:10 pm Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0012289
May 29, 2011 7:13 pm keith.lamothe Note Added: 0012290
May 29, 2011 7:29 pm Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0012292
Jan 25, 2012 3:32 pm tigersfan Internal Weight => Feature Suggestion