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Dark and Light has a complex Weather system. Do any other MMORPG's have something similar?

blacksacblacksac Member Posts: 1,045
in The Pub at MMORPG.COM

Dark and Light has a very sophisticated Weather system. Does any other MMORPG have a Weather system of similar complexity? If so what effect did it have on game play?

One of the most interesting features of this game is Weather. Weather plays a roll in this game, it is dynamic, and is actually effected by temperature, humidity, altitude and season. Snow has depth, and can cover objects, and leaves prints (useful for tracking). Blizzards and Sandstorms can blow leaving visibility reduced. Wind blows moving trees and objects (people may find it harder to run or fly into a strong wind) 


A slide show of changing Weather in Dark and Light:

http://www.darkandlight.net/index.php?module=My_eGallery&do=showpic&pid=155&orderby=dateD


Here is an article about Weather in Dark and Light:

http://www.darkandlight.com/Reviews%2Bindex-req-showcontent-id-21.html

Comments

  • DraconusDraconus Freeworld AdminMember Posts: 781
    many games have changing seasons and weather....D&L does a nice job of it....BUT...it is nothing new or ground breaking.

    www.freeworldonline.com

    image

  • KeldarKeldar Member Posts: 135

    I think dragon empires has somekind of weather system.
    But now it´s no one with a so complex system.

  • blacksacblacksac Member Posts: 1,045

    Hi Draconus,

    You mentioned many other games have changing seasons and weather. Which games did you mean? How did it effect gameplay? Also are these dynamic weather systems as in DnL, or static season changes instigated through a patch?

    I have never played a game with a changing weather system, let alone one with snowfall that actually buried objects, and sandstorms brought on by wind.

    The developers from Dark and Light talk as though they have created a self autonomous virtual weather system, using temperature, humidity, altitude and season to effect local weather patterns.

    If this has been done before, how did it effect game play?

     

     

  • NahelleNahelle Member Posts: 20

    Hello all,

     <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

    First of all I’m sorry for my bad english (french here, ouch don’t throw me too many stones please)  but I want to discuss on the weather system of this game ( Dark and Light ).

     

    I’ve played some games which have some beautifull weather aspects  (rains, snow ...), but I think DnL  could offer something more than just a nice system to watch. Sure seeing effects of the wind on the rain is great. Beeing surprised by the lightening effects in the night during a storm takes part to a better sensation of a “realistic scene”, as the snow’s thickness do in winter.

     

    The weather system in DnL, as i read it, is not just a way to make the game nicer but it has great impacts on the gameplay, directly or not. I Just give an exemple to be clearer, I’m not sure of the sense of the words i used (<sic> :/). In winter, the temperature is low ( huhu, not a great news i know ^^) but in DnL it has huge consequences. On the one hand, direct effect = when u go in a very cold place (mountains) u have to wear warm clothes, so temperature has direct influence on u. On the other hand, the beautifull reaver in front of u, where u were taking fun swimming on it in the summer, is freezed on winter ...u can easily cross it. This change is huge : from a tactical point of view in winter u can use different way to suprise u’re ennemies. However take care in spring, when the ice’s melting ^^

     

    There are many other things to say. Hmmm.  In winter u could practice “shieldbording” on the snow, but this beautifull snow has influence on the culture and therefore in the economy.

     

    In that way the weather system could influence all the game ( quests too), as the astrology ‘ stars, moons) could do.

     

    P.S. : most of the 100.000 subscribers at the closed beta from now are english native players so in-game u don’t have to support bad english like mine’s one, if u don’t want.

     

    Friendly,

     

    Nahelle.

  • MaximaneMaximane Member CommonPosts: 625

    Tracking. Real honest-to-gumballs tracking. I could really go for that.

    --------------------
    Alex "Maximane" De Line
    - MMORPG.COM Staff -

  • aLeX666aLeX666 Member Posts: 153
    The weather system is original... ok... but it's the last thing I would take into account when chosing a game image

    "I am trying to see things from your perspective but I just can't get my head that far up my @$$."

  • blacksacblacksac Member Posts: 1,045

    Maximane,

    Tracking is a skill in Dark and Light. It will be used to hunt animals, monsters, and bounty on players. Weather will play it's role (tracks in snow), bilzzards, and sandstorms reducing visability.

    Nahelle,

    Those examples of gameplay features being effected by weather are very interesting. Any others would be of great interest!

  • DekronDekron Member UncommonPosts: 7,359


    Originally posted by Draconus
    many games have changing seasons and weather....D&L does a nice job of it....BUT...it is nothing new or ground breaking.

    www.freeworldonline.com

    Just curious if you can name one game that does the same effects that DnL does.  I've read well into the weather system and it is not just "weather".  As stated above weather does affect you directly.  Also with some races, the cold or warmth makes it difficult to fight.   If you're a fairy (or pixie, can't remember off hand which one it is) you will be met with much trouble while trying to flap your little wings in windy weather.  If you are a dwarf trying to trudge through the snow (which does accumulate might I add) you will be literally waste deep and in trouble.  Sandstorms reduce your visibility, you actually slip on ice, and once again it all affects you directly.  I think DnL should get some congrats on a well thought out design.  I have yet decided whether or not I will purchase the game, but the movie is pretty convincing as it shows parachuting, sledding (on your shield image), and flying in a winged type machiny thingy image. 

    --------------------------------------------

    33.333333333333336% of me is a huge nerd! How about you?

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  • darkmandarkman Member UncommonPosts: 767

    From what I have read from the posts here about DnL's complex weather system, I'm pretty sure there is not one MMORPG to date that features a system like that. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty positive there is no game.

    Hmm, I got a closed beta invite way back in the day to play this game, at that time I looked at it and didn't think it would be good, hmm, I might have to take a look at it again :).

    New PR rep for the North American Version of RYL
    www.planetwidegames.com

  • blacksacblacksac Member Posts: 1,045

    Movie of a Sandstorm and Wind blowing in Dark and Light.

    http://www.darkandlight.com/Downloads+index-req-getit-lid-4.html

    Really interesting how it effects visabilty and objects (in this case, trees and sand).

     

     

  • WarcriminalWarcriminal Member Posts: 244
    looks nice, but nothing new...Sandstorms on Tattoine (SWG ) works in the same way 

    image

  • blacksacblacksac Member Posts: 1,045

    Thats cool War. How did it effect gameplay? Im curious to know if this is just a good but pointless feature, or great to have in a MMORPG, where it effects gameplay in a seriously positive way.

     

     

  • VipermmxVipermmx Member Posts: 96

    AO os the only one I know of with a Sandstorm and dynamic weather system. You can actually see a rain storm comming before it hits. Clouds roll in slow and cause it to rain. Its really pretty and cool to watch. Sand Storms reduce view by ALOT.

    As far as I know only AO has a very cool weather system that feels real...storms rolling in not just appearing(EQ and such). As far as effects on gameplay only sandstorms do and there is no snow in AO unless it changed.

    image

  • ElernetElernet Member Posts: 68
    From reading Dark and Lights website this looks like it can be a very good game. It has more new/original ideas and features then almost any other game. The weathe is amazing.

  • MagpieMagpie Member Posts: 63

    The weather realy is dynamic in DnL.  Check out this slide show.

    http://www.darkandlight.net/index.php?module=My_eGallery&do=showpic&pid=155&orderby=dateD

    Magpie


    There are only 10 types of programmers. Those that understand binary and those that don't.

    There are only 10 types of programmers. Those that understand binary and those that don't.

  • WarcriminalWarcriminal Member Posts: 244

    apart from adding atmosphere to the game, beeing noisy and reducing visiblity. It also gives some negatives modifiers to hit-chances.

    Not sure if your radar is affected but I dont think it is.

    The slideshow is really impressive. I have not seen that kind of incomming snow in any other game. Totaly changing the scenery. Very impressive 


    image

  • herculeshercules Member UncommonPosts: 4,925
    This is the game i tip for been the wild card of the year but i fear it will get overshadowed by WoW and EQ2 if released too close to those 2 big names.

  • blacksacblacksac Member Posts: 1,045

    Does anyone know what weather system WOW and/or EQ2 will have?

    Since they both such highly hyped games, it would be interesting to know how they will handle this feature.

     

     

  • KeldarKeldar Member Posts: 135

    I think they don´t.
    Other games coming with a weather ystem are Dragon empires and Mourning, but none of those with one so great as DnL one.


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