In the run up to release, we'll be updating the Mideast Crisis 2 website every Wednesday, with new information and new screenshots. If you want to be first in the loop, head to the official MEC2 site every Wednesday, but don't worry if you're ModDB-addicted; we'll still be mirroring the updates the next day here!
Augmented RealityHave you seen our past screenshots and said that "Mr.Stop doesn't fit in with the mod" or, perhaps, asked, "Why have bright neon occupation points?"
In-game you're seeing everything through Augmented Reality. Imagine you are the commander at a remote location, viewing the map on a monitor. Above the map exists the HUD, as well as digital overlaid elements to aid your efforts like the occupation points. Your units in combat don't lift up their headsets and see magical green objects, those objects don't exist in the real world. The same goes for Mr.Stop. Without your commander's HUD, you'd only see affected units as if they were stopping.
Really though, we use Augmented Reality to plausibly explain the 'game-y' aspects of the mod. We decided to make them brighter colored and more cartoony so they offer a nice visual contrast.
ScreenshotsThroughout MEC2's lifespan, we've been constantly updating our maps. The latest pass at the maps has been done to differentiate them from each other better in both look and feel. The first two screens here are from Small Town Israel, our 2-player map. This map tends to be brighter, more colorful and more cheerful than our others. Additionally, its the only map that will have MC Burger Kong on it, and it will also have billboards and signs.
In the screen below you'll see all of that, plus if you have a keen eye you may also have noticed that the SLINGS on the occupation points look different from the one in the parking lot. Something we added a couple weeks ago, was the ability to merge the SLING and the Mechanic Drone together, to enable the SLING to rapidly self-repair. This makes it a much more effective unit for scouting, and holding occupation points without additional support.
Something else that we haven't mentioned before is just how we're going to make it easy to find tech buildings. MEC2 has a lot of them, and its important for players to know at a glance which they can capture. Our solution? Huge, floating, bouncing green arrows above them. If it has the GOI emblem, it means it's a GOI-only tech object (such as the Wireless Tower and Town Hall). These arrows go away when captured.
For a quick comparison of how the map's overall look has changed you can see the same area of the map in this older screen. Below is the updated one:
The following screen is from the updated Highway of Death 4-player map, which we've been changing from its previous style to have a mood a bit more befitting to its name. You'll also notice that we've implemented groundbreaking new AI for the civilian cars so they now understand that they should drive between the lines of the road not on them.
As you see, we use Augmented Reality on this map in other ways as well this time with the "No Fire Zone" warning and the helpful Weather/Traffic status sign. Both of these aren't there for pure decoration, they serve a use which we'll be discussing in future updates.
You can also see part of our ingame interface, most notably the minimap which helpfully points out where the occupation points and fuel buildings are located.
That's it for this week's update, please remember to bookmark our site and check in next Wednesday for more MEC2 news!
In the screen below you'll see all of that, plus if you have a keen eye you may also have noticed that the SLINGS on the occupation points look different from the one in the parking lot. Something we added a couple weeks ago, was the ability to merge the SLING and the Mechanic Drone together, to enable the SLING to rapidly self-repair. This makes it a much more effective unit for scouting, and holding occupation points without additional support.
Something else that we haven't mentioned before is just how we're going to make it easy to find tech buildings. MEC2 has a lot of them, and its important for players to know at a glance which they can capture. Our solution? Huge, floating, bouncing green arrows above them. If it has the GOI emblem, it means it's a GOI-only tech object (such as the Wireless Tower and Town Hall). These arrows go away when captured.
For a quick comparison of how the map's overall look has changed you can see the same area of the map in this older screen. Below is the updated one:
The following screen is from the updated Highway of Death 4-player map, which we've been changing from its previous style to have a mood a bit more befitting to its name. You'll also notice that we've implemented groundbreaking new AI for the civilian cars so they now understand that they should drive between the lines of the road not on them.
As you see, we use Augmented Reality on this map in other ways as well this time with the "No Fire Zone" warning and the helpful Weather/Traffic status sign. Both of these aren't there for pure decoration, they serve a use which we'll be discussing in future updates.
You can also see part of our ingame interface, most notably the minimap which helpfully points out where the occupation points and fuel buildings are located.
That's it for this week's update, please remember to bookmark our site and check in next Wednesday for more MEC2 news!
ken je tell me why there is a arrow in the sky a wheater sign and text haning in the sky in picture 3 :S?
For the Arrow, maybe it's the objective =s
"quote
As you see, we use Augmented Reality on this map in other ways as well this time with the "No Fire Zone" warning and the helpful Weather/Traffic status sign. Both of these aren't there for pure decoration, they serve a use which we'll be discussing in future updates.
quote"
sorry dint read the news :p ;)
The arrows are on all of our tech objects, if they are faction specific they'll have symbols of the faction that can capture them on them (eg the wireless towers have the GOI emblem).
Hey the first picture : It's Red Alerte 2 fast food =P
yes, nice Red Alert 2 fast food
"Burger McKing" or maybe its "McKong" but anyway, lol
McBurger Kong. :P
McBurnana
(the logo thing is a banana..)
Maybe the logo is a banana =o But in CnC RA 2 there's the name, here it's in... Hebrew cuz it takes place in Israel.
Does that mean it'll come in Arabic too?
Also regarding the Mr.Stop smiley, I don't have any problem with it. It's kind of psychological warfare. Think about it: It's annoying enough for the player that the enemy has frozen-halted a game-ending tank rush. But to have a big smile on top on them as a mockery sign... well, if that doesn't get on your enemy's nerves, I don't know what'll do. It follows Sun Tzu's quote: "If your opponent is of choleric temper, irritate him."
However, in my opinion, I think a >:D would fit better than a :D. I say this because the :D would mean something like "lol" while the >:D a "Ownd!", which might prove to be more insulting to the opponent.
What I find kind of odd are those arrows above the capturables. I still don't know why... perhaps it's the fact that they're too much of a sign. I mean, if you want to know if it's a capturable, you can check your minimap and see if the cursor changes when you pass it on the object.
i thought the :D is to show that the soldiers get free beer and babes and have a fun time, so they stoped and make peace and love. and ignore the commands of the general.
xD