I've played a number of MMOs that offer the ability to change a character's facial expression (sad, angry, quizzical, etc). I think some games allow this to remain a permanent expression while others implement it as a temporary emote.
I was wondering whether MWM could include the temporary version as part of power customisation, so that we could have an angry face for certain vengeful powers, a beatific expression for heals, etc. -- going back to the character's normal face when the power animation ceases.
All completely optional on a per-character, per-power basis of course, with no expression change as the default. And definitely not a high-priority thing.
Spurn all ye kindle.
Sooo, you want a "Joker" like character that looks like they are maniacally laughing while shooting a gatling gun into a crowd? :3
The Carnival of Light in the Phoenix Rising
"We never lose our demons, we only learn to live above them." - The Ancient One
Avatar by lilshironeko
Yeah, but wait... Doesn't the Joker look like that no matter what he's doing? :-)
Spurn all ye kindle.
You right, you right!
Legend of Zelda has some really good temporary emotes that can make for some fun gameplay. Windwaker for one has some of the funniest facial emotes I've ever seen. And BoTW are pretty good as well.
The Carnival of Light in the Phoenix Rising
"We never lose our demons, we only learn to live above them." - The Ancient One
Avatar by lilshironeko
I assume the default camera position will be above and behind your character like most games. How often will you swing your camera around to watch your character's face while firing off a power? Is it purely for RP purposes or fan videos?
"Just, well, update your kickstarter email addresses, okay? Make sure they're current?" - warcabbit
The devs have stated several times that we will have facial expressions, possibly as emotes.
so I would say the answer is a big, YES.
I'll be interested in how power customization works as is. With the plethora of things to customize and tweak already I'm worried that things will start to get bogged down.
I've played WWE games before and the modern ones have so many customization options that creating something feels like a chore and usually takes several hours.
So, facial expressions as part of power customization? I'm in the no thanks camp as it's something that will be barely seen by anyone (it'd be like having decals on the soles of your character's feet. Though if this can be done already, awesome.). But if this can be done with say, a macro(do emote, do power)? I'm all in.
"Let the past die. Kill it if you have to."
I cannot quote it but expressions sounded like emotes when the devs talked about it.
Pick your face in creation and add expressions you want as you play the game. I doubt it will be all that complicated.
I don't think the request was all about looking at oneself, but instead that everyone else will see them in that way. So my scenario about the "Joker", he does like to look at himself, but I think he get's a kick out of everyone seeing him have a smile on his face while he does his killing.
The Carnival of Light in the Phoenix Rising
"We never lose our demons, we only learn to live above them." - The Ancient One
Avatar by lilshironeko
That would come at a cost of such peripheral elements, like wings or hair. No such thing as a free lunch, and there are only so many bones a skeleton can have.
Technical Director
Read enough Facebook and you have to make Sanity Checks. I guess FB is the Great Old One of the interent these days... - Beamrider
I think Project_Hero has the most elegant solution: just macro the ability so that you emote upon activation.
That way, we take advantage of the existing coding for emotes without having to add any additional coding for customization, and we would be able to emote more creatively as emotes are added or purchased without having to restrict ourselves to the emotes available for us in character creation.
I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
OK, thanks for letting us know.
Does that mean that there won't be facial expression emotes at all then?
Spurn all ye kindle.
There will be some, but they use morphs, so would not be as animated or changing as the OP was expressing a desire for.
Technical Director
Read enough Facebook and you have to make Sanity Checks. I guess FB is the Great Old One of the interent these days... - Beamrider
You can see some WIP facial emotes here.
(Unofficial) Compilation of Information on City of Titans
I definitely like the general idea of having a wide range of facial expression emotes and maybe even the idea of linking them to the power customization system. Being able to crack a Joker-esque grin when I let loose a top-tier power would be cool.
But as with so many good ideas this is definitively NOT something that needs to be prioritized to be a "launch day" feature. When it comes to prioritizing body model "bones" for body morphing/animation purposes I can think of plenty of better uses - I trust (based on whatever lingering infamy I still retain on this forum) I don't even have to specifically highlight my thoughts on the matter here in this thread. ;)
CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012