"Jefferson" Project Forum News
Posted Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 2:14 CET by Veldrin

Here are today's "Jefferson" project forum highlights. Please take into account that these are only single parts of various threads and should not be taken out of context.

J.E. Sawyer, Lead Designer

Dialogue: Jefferson is a Protagonist-centered game. The Protagonist does the talking. CNPCs talk only when they specifically have something to say. Sometimes the CNPC bursts in without the Protagonist being able to stop him or her, and sometimes the player has a reply that says, "CNPC X, you look like you have something to say. What is it?" If an NPC sees a CNPC and he/she wants to initiate dialogue, he/she will either a) not initiate dialogue or b) float something to the effect of, "If you're not , I'm not interested in talking to you. Beat it."

Quote: Is the viewing angle fixed, or can you tweak it within a small range, as in NWN? I already know you can zoom in/out, but I don't know if the angle itself is flexible.

The viewing angle can be adjusted between 38.5 degrees above the horizon to 90 degrees above the horizon (straight down).

Quote: You do realise that, with a 3D engine, you're going to have hordes of people demanding an unlocked camera and a first person mode? Better start preparing your reasons why it can't be done now...

Feel free to demand away, it's not going to change how the engine is optimized. You can't take the camera into the large intestine of an enemy and navigate through its body, either. If people want to play a first-person action RPG, they can go buy one. Jefferson is an isometric third-person RPG.

Quote: Not why it can't be done, but simple the fact that they don't want to do it.

Radically switching what geometry is being displayed in the camera frustum is a good way to ruin any efforts made towards optimization.