Render to texture really shouldn't be that bad - it's used massively in many other games (Lock On, HL2, Max Payne)
How about the arena records a demofile of each fight and we can buy the "tapes" with influnce and watch them as a regular demofile?
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Render to texture really shouldn't be that bad - it's used massively in many other games (Lock On, HL2, Max Payne)
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None of the games you mention are Massive Multiplayer. I'm sure making renderings available to 250 in a zone is quite different than making it available to a single player.
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Render to texture really shouldn't be that bad - it's used massively in many other games (Lock On, HL2, Max Payne)
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None of the games you mention are Massive Multiplayer. I'm sure making renderings available to 250 in a zone is quite different than making it available to a single player.
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It's not that render to texture is _so_ much of a problem (that would simply double be texture/draw load on the client machine) But COH is designed to be in discreet zones, no movement data is sent from one zone to another. Hell they may even be on different machines (most likely) so getting one zone to beam _all_ its movement data to another zone would require massive re-writes in core data transmision areas of the codebase.
Which is not going to happen for something as unneccessary as a TV.
Viewing the battles will be done in "camera-mode" as has been said as it's the most sensible way of doing it.
Asking for a TV is kinda like being on a boat and saying "Hey you know what would be cool, if this boat could fly, after all, planes can fly so why cant you make the boat fly". If you want a flying boat it really needs to be designed in from the beginning.
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Asking for a TV is kinda like being on a boat and saying "Hey you know what would be cool, if this boat could fly, after all, planes can fly so why cant you make the boat fly". If you want a flying boat it really needs to be designed in from the beginning.
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I kinda like the idea of a Flying Boat! I want one!
We should have this Idea come thourgh ...cmon you ppl that do great stuff should help make this idea come true 
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This technically isn't possible with our engine. It would have to be a huge animated texture refreshing at 20+ frames per second.
We did think of it, but the engineers' eyeballs popped out of their sockets when we suggested it.
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How about having it refresh once every 5 seconds ? Or 10, or 15 or whatever. Would give it a bit of a reading a comic book feel, not exactly wrong 
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im a programer myself i know its extreamely hard to come up with something like that but if you instead of making a TV you could try like a bulletin board type of thing telling what matches are going on and at the end of the match it says the winner
wouldnt have to worrie about 20+ frames a sec just 2 the start frame and the end frame
That's a good idea Jober. I'd be satisfied with a scoreboard, current matchup stats, and maybe a snapshot of the combatants. The bookies will gather for miles!
i just wanna sit in the stands and heckle people....I'll go, "BOOOOO!" and then the lvl 50 will turn towards me and say, "Did you just boo me?!" and i'll go, "ummm...noo...i said boo-urns...."
heh, boo-urns...woot
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im a programer myself i know its extreamely hard to come up with something like that but if you instead of making a TV you could try like a bulletin board type of thing telling what matches are going on and at the end of the match it says the winner
wouldnt have to worrie about 20+ frames a sec just 2 the start frame and the end frame
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Well, how about if a match is in progress, you can click on it and it will open up a window that will let you watch the match. It would be something only visible on your computer so you won't be slowing anyone else down. It could be full screen so you won't have to worry about anyone else doing something that will hose your frame rate (just have chat windows visible so you can still talk to other people but block the participants of the fight so there could be no hints from the peanut gallery). It would simply be a webcast of the fight. That should easily be feasible.
You could even do this in a specified location(s), kind of like a sports bar. Would be a great socialization spot and I am sure quite a few matches would find their start there. 
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im a programer myself i know its extreamely hard to come up with something like that but if you instead of making a TV you could try like a bulletin board type of thing telling what matches are going on and at the end of the match it says the winner
wouldnt have to worrie about 20+ frames a sec just 2 the start frame and the end frame
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Well, how about if a match is in progress, you can click on it and it will open up a window that will let you watch the match. It would be something only visible on your computer so you won't be slowing anyone else down. It could be full screen so you won't have to worry about anyone else doing something that will hose your frame rate (just have chat windows visible so you can still talk to other people but block the participants of the fight so there could be no hints from the peanut gallery). It would simply be a webcast of the fight. That should easily be feasible.
You could even do this in a specified location(s), kind of like a sports bar. Would be a great socialization spot and I am sure quite a few matches would find their start there.
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You mean like seeing the match through another player's eyes? Like ESPN mini-cams? I kinda like that idea.
I'm not very fond of the spy camera idea (cheating sucks). I'd much rather watch the match through another player's eyes, just like watching NASCAR from the "in-car" or "hood-mounted" cameras.
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You mean like seeing the match through another player's eyes? Like ESPN mini-cams? I kinda like that idea.
I'm not very fond of the spy camera idea (cheating sucks). I'd much rather watch the match through another player's eyes, just like watching NASCAR from the "in-car" or "hood-mounted" cameras.
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I didn't think of it as the in-car camera but that would be better as long as you can change from one person to the next as you liked. That might be a problem if there are 2 eight person teams but I am sure the devs would think of something to take care of that.
As I suggested, make sure and block any outside communication with the participants. That way, there can be no cheating. You are only going to know as much about your opponents as you find out. This could change as they get sensory powers in the game. In fact, PvP might be the deciding factor for players to take any of the sensory powers.
Just picture it: You log in for a little fun, decide to hit Steel Canyon Sports, look to see what matches are going on and then tune in on a couple of your SG mates as they put on a good fight for the PCCN (Paragon City Colloseum Network). Of course, if this was a BIG match, you could even have one of the CoH radio stations doing a simucast giving the play-by-play and color commentary. (hint, hint)
Does anyone know if the match stats are going to be available via the Public Info stands (or whatever they're called)? I kinda assumed they would be, but I can't seem to remember if any red name actually said that.
~Tri
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Well, how about if a match is in progress, you can click on it and it will open up a window that will let you watch the match. It would be something only visible on your computer so you won't be slowing anyone else down. It could be full screen so you won't have to worry about anyone else doing something that will hose your frame rate (just have chat windows visible so you can still talk to other people but block the participants of the fight so there could be no hints from the peanut gallery). It would simply be a webcast of the fight. That should easily be feasible.
You could even do this in a specified location(s), kind of like a sports bar. Would be a great socialization spot and I am sure quite a few matches would find their start there.
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Only thing about blocking the participants is that you can only block what's in-game. Outside resources like teamspeak and IM's are out of the dev's control.
this is for positron, someone mentioned something like this but this is my view on the idea.if it was Positron vs. Statesman
then i think there should be a kiosk like the current ones to see victors and punishers....u go and select a battle like Positron vs. Statesman it would show u a couple things ..basically it would show a screeen as if they werre both on your team and u can hear all chat from inside there 'arena match' it would show there 2 names with the hp bar and enurance bar, and show there buff line(where like atlas medallion and portal jockey show up)and u can see what powers they are each using if one othere toggles dropped who is held who's life it getting low, whos endurance is getting low, and u can hear all local and broadcast chat only so u can hear the teams taunt eachother...that to me would be the simplest way to let me watch 2 of my SG mates fight and i can follow the battle completely knowing what is going on without having to watch
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They should Put a huge Tv outside so ppl can wacth outside the arena ...also they should have the Emote of you Eatting POPCORN ....it would be the Bomb
[/ QUOTE ]Awesome. Popcorn would be a little disrespectful though, I feel. Someone is getting their [censored] kicked in there and people are out there eating popcorn? It just dosn't seem right to me. Now, if we could get some kind of cheer animation with big money in our hands, then we might be on to something.
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Well, how about if a match is in progress, you can click on it and it will open up a window that will let you watch the match. It would be something only visible on your computer so you won't be slowing anyone else down. It could be full screen so you won't have to worry about anyone else doing something that will hose your frame rate (just have chat windows visible so you can still talk to other people but block the participants of the fight so there could be no hints from the peanut gallery). It would simply be a webcast of the fight. That should easily be feasible.
You could even do this in a specified location(s), kind of like a sports bar. Would be a great socialization spot and I am sure quite a few matches would find their start there.
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Only thing about blocking the participants is that you can only block what's in-game. Outside resources like teamspeak and IM's are out of the dev's control.
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Yeah, I do realize that but I was only mentioning something that the CoH devs can control. Basically, if someone really wants to cheat, they are going to cheat. States has already said that the observer cameras will be destroyable. Maybe that will help with the cheating.
Assuming PvP really catches on, I can't wait for the championship matches, with several hundred cameras flying around. I assume the geometry will be simple enough (Police drones minus the flashing lights I'm guessing) that lag won't be a real issue, but oh the clutter!
Just think "Paparazzi" and you've got "camera" griefing as clusters of view-blocking camera drones force you to waste your attacks clearing the field of the pesky floating viewfinders when you really need to be focused on your opponent.
Personally I think "spying" will be the least of your troubles and one easily remedied by limiting (or eliminating) communication with people in the Arena from the outside. But cameras that either deliberately (by griefers trying to disrupt) or indeliberately (just dozens of people wanting a closeup view of that big fight) interfere with the event inside the arena is going to be an interesting problem to address.
I'm very curious to see how the Devs deal with this.
[b]Frost Lightning - lvl 50 Ele/Ice[/b]
Kick Asterisk - lvl 43 MA/SR
Frigid Bridget- lvl 20 Ice/Cold
GrammaRadiation lvl 20 Rad/Rad
Helena Ann Baskett lvl 29 Necro/Poisen
The Very Bad Seed lvl 6 Plant/Thorn
not just big tv's outside arena but in all zones. so our weary heroes can kick back after a tough frostfire mish or whatever and watch a championship match. popcorn emote sounds cool, all tho you sitting on a couch with a couple blond-haired citizens sounds even better be it twins or dudes.
I have read this entire thread and all these ideas are cool but, the betting is the coolest just the betting would be awesome
Beware of the Necro threads!
You do realize that you responded to a thread over a year old, and almost 4 issues old as well.
Triumph: White Succubus: 50 Ill/Emp/PF Snow Globe: 50 Ice/FF/Ice Strobe: 50 PB Shi Otomi: 50 Ninja/Ninjistu/GW Stalker My other characters
Hmmm... How about instead of showing fights going on inside the arena, have pre-recorded fights on the screens? Kind of like advertising for the arena. You could have to T-1000 looking heroes running at each other and collide in a giant fireball while playing the monday night football music.
seriously though is pre-rendered fights possible? Fake ads would be cool too, like the ones in Robocop except for Crey industries and Up and Away Burger.