I think everyone in this community will like these ideas (or at least it is my hope you guys do) however I know everyone has their own opinions on this matter so please comment and share your own ideas about how to approach this issue of playable characters in the game. As examples I have posted some pictures below, but I understand these are just examples and cannot/will not be copied into the game exactly as they are for obvious reasons, although I think they are useful to spark discussion and maybe inspire future designs.
Brief:
Playable characters in Simplerockets2 can be simple Mechanoid (android or robotic) “blocks”. That is, a torso and a “head” with very simple features. Limbs can be added to the torso in Designer Mode as parts or even constructed by the players themselves, giving a great amount of freedom as to the abilities and design of each android.
-Each Mechanoid can accumulate experience during career mode, and function as a “Command Chip”, copying its own “Activation Groups” onto a craft’s existing Command Chip.
-Mechanoids do not need air, food or water to survive, though they will need to recharge their battery (in their torso or installed separately) at a charging station connected to solar panels, larger batteries, or reactors.
Possible names:
If the characters will be robotic or mechanoid in nature, names could include “Androos”, “Androods”, “Droos”, “Drooyans”, or any other that the community likes or can come up with.
Facial Features:
There are many actual robots on the market that use only eyes to convey “emotions” and as it is simple and yet can give the android “emotional character” I think this is the best way to approach the issue of facial expressions.
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Locomotion:
Easily achieved by the devs adding a chain track part or otherwise players can build android chassis out of existing wheel/strut parts, giving complete freedom of choice to the player for its design. Also this eliminates the devs having to animate walking motions.
Other limbs:
A grasping tool or “arm” would be very useful if the Devs can make one, otherwise players will have to devise one, although this might get complicated for players (and add to a craft’s part count), so I think a removable arm part should be introduced along with the Mechanoid torso “character”.
In addition, if the Devs make other parts that function as scientific instruments or repair tools [for example instruments or tools used in career mode] these tools can be placed on both player-made rovers or the Mechanoids. A player can then have different Mechanoids during a mission, all with different instruments or tools on their limbs, making them useful for specific tasks, and perfectly meshing these “playable characters” with career mode.
You can just make one using mfd
@Sniffy111 well hallelujah...
@Markimono EVA is in progress so there might astronauts
this post has been copyright claimed 100% not fake for using the faces from that bot that i forgot the name of
I ❤️ Cozmo
I think this is a good idea I did see on a dev post that they might add astronauts
The Astroneer astronauts feel very alive despite the complete lack of a face. @KraZIvan @AndrewGarrison
@AndrewGarrison Thank you for joining the conversation! I'm not completely set on the "robot" idea myself, but I did think it would be a way to make things easier for you and the rest of the dev team in terms of developing playable characters. I think the fact that you guys are leaning more towards humans will make many in the community very happy! Maybe if you guys implement humans or humanoids of some sort, smaller robots on wheels loaded with tools and instruments could be an interesting companion for the humans when they go out on interplanetary missions, this would be pretty interesting if a future career mode allows for science mission on other moons/planets, and I think it might also help SR2 stand apart from other similar types of games.
If you guys eventually pursue humans or dummies, maybe another idea to get around facial features would be slightly more exaggerated body expressions (flailing arms or throwing their hands on their heads to express fear or excitement for example) and the dummies could still just have the helmet on and it would be understood that we can't see their faces, just a thought.
This is a good idea and the suggestion post is really well put together. It's certainly something we will consider, but we are leaning more towards normal humans if we were to do EVA at some point. Your idea does have some advantages as it would probably make implementation easier and the facial expressions are something we have talked about before (and one of the drives behind the shape of the crash test dummy's face - we just never got to implement expressions).
I just wanted to let you know that I did see your suggestion and I appreciate the work you've put into it, but we just aren't sure what direction we would take with EVA just yet.
Those are available in the vanilla game @SelectAKey
Even just a crash test dummy would be cool
It wiil be great, if character can be costumized
I have ideas for character face...
Screen that will be showing amotions in Bit pixel graphics and it can show rockets stats... Like rockets 15° ... Or fuel level when you do something with it
Second Idea
One huge eye. Like Wheatly s eye from portal
Eyebrow will show emotions
Playable robot boxes? Sounds really cool!
It will look great with game HUD style and rocket parts design
@McDuetchVan those are all good questions and the answers would all depend on how a career mode is implemented. I dont think they wouldnreplace the command pod but the pod could be a housing/charging station, and I agree getting them back safely should give you a reward of some type, in xp or currency or both
Sounds cool, but would this be incorporated with the command pod, or completely replace it? Would there be any bonus to bringing them home, or would it be more beneficial to have a station full of them in LDO? How much would they & their charging station weight, and would they only be customizable in the vab? Srry for all the questions :p
That's a good idea i hope it will be real
Me like
How about Drooman?Living astronauts will bring life to this game.
@nico412 I honestly would prefer dummies that walk and move like people but I think a box-type chatacter might be easier to implement for the devs, but ultimately they will have to chime in and share if a full-moving person is doable for them or not, tbh I don't know about that
@nico412 that can move and for facial expresions they would use their helmets as screeens
i just want dummies
Petition to name it Joey
Can 1st person view be a thing?
“Androo” that’s a yes