[Human 4.0 Dev Blog] Part 3: Let's Take A Tour

[Senda 472]

Dev Blog 3: Let's take a tour

 

Hello, and welcome to the third Human 4.0 Capitol Dev Blog! I'm Senda, the person in charge of the Oren construction team, and in today's edition we're going to delve into the third stage of this (somewhat) massive undertaking.

 

On behalf of everyone involved, I can tell you that we are all incredibly excited to finally start lifting a few of the curtains that will, for the most part, continue to block and obscure the full view of 4.0, till the eventual release.

 

 

Today, I will be taking you all into the first building people will see upon visiting the new Capitol:

The Visitor Centre, marked by signatory yellow banners suspended on its exterior.

 

 

 

For most people, the first venture into a new city is sadly met with more obstacles then needed. More often than not, one will find him (or her)self lost, attempting to figure out where to go.. and what there is to be found to begin with.

 

In New Abresi, we pioneered the so-called Visitor Centre for the first time, with relative succes.

 

The aim: To provide a new arrival to the city with an in-game map, to quickly come to understand the various features (and their location) within the city.

Get people the orientation they need, to promote them finding the roleplay opportunities that they seek.

 

One learning point we managed to take from New Abresi was the placement of this building.

 

You either put it right next to the main entrance into the city.. or the effect is has decreases dramatically. It is something we did not do properly back then, but have managed to remedy now.

 

Upon your first venture into the new Capitol, the building is obvious enough to draw attention, then lead new arrivals down the stairwell..

 

 

 

..And to the main chamber, with a sculpted map of the city:

 

 

 

This map gives an instant overview of the entire city, with a colour code matched by the surrounding alcoves, where additional information about the various key points of interest can be found.

 

I am a big believer of 'putting the information into the game, not the forum'.

 

Now, do not take this the wrong way. I am by no means against the forum (as one might glean from my postings on it), yet I strongly believe that when building, designing and constructing a city, one should keep the general level of usability as the very centre of the planning.

This means putting whatever one would put up on the forum, into the game itself.

 

Some people will read about the city on the forum before visiting it.

However, experience has shown that the vast majority does not.. and instead simply strolls into the city to have a look for themselves.

 

At this point, we (as designers) strive to make the information that makes people go 'This is a nice place' – Into the design itself.

 

And thus, the Visitor Centre was made.

 

 

 

What follows is a viewing of the various alcoves.

Read and come to know the various parts of the future Capitol.

 

Disclaimer: Some of these are noteworthy enough for their own, upcoming, Dev blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the next Dev Blog: Scaffolding Intensifies.

 

 

[Parading 302]

Looking great, but why make every home the same model? That gets really bland, a variety of different homes/shops is much more tasteful, and will suit everyone's needs.

[Jistuma 1996]

Why is a palace, church, prison, barracks, museum, park being made already? Or is it just planning?

[monkeypoacher 8055]

sexy

[Wobbajack 119]

Looks good.

[Hanrahan 2983]

Are there any Fantasy components, or is the Ban of Fantasy still upheld in Oren?

[Senda 472]

Looking great, but why make every home the same model? That gets really bland, a variety of different homes/shops is much more tasteful, and will suit everyone's needs.

 

As noted in Dev Blog 1, more information on houses is to follow in a future Blog.

Essentially, we are using a modular design, ensuring all houses have varying shapes and interesting differences to distinguish each house from the next, while ensure they all commit to the same overall style.

 

Why is a palace, church, prison, barracks, museum, park being made already? Or is it just planning?

 

This is merely the planning.

 

Having said that, we are allowed to prebuild up to 30% of the Capitols on the 4.0 Development Server.

This means we, as bulders, get to pick and choose the buildings we feel are most important to prebuild.. and what can be left barren/in scaffolding.

 

The Visitor Centre serves a single purpose: Informing people about the city.

 

Even though some of it may not yet be built, it has already been planned out, therefore included into the 3d map and alcoves.

 

 

Are there any Fantasy components, or is the Ban of Fantasy still upheld in Oren?

 

 

I am afraid you will have to further define this "Ban of Fantasy", as I am not quite sure what you mean by this.

[John Ivory 4547]

Good read!

[Hanrahan 2983]

I mean things that are whimsical, buildings that are grandiose, and not everything looks muddy and hyper-realistic. Is it a city from the 11th Century Europe, or is it a fantasy city?

[mmat 7460]

 

I mean things that are whimsical, buildings that are grandiose, and not everything looks muddy and hyper-realistic. Is it a city from the 11th Century Europe, or is it a fantasy city?

 

Not Oren's style. Plus most fantasy stuff on minecraft ends up looking bad.

[Senda 472]

I mean things that are whimsical, buildings that are grandiose, and not everything looks muddy and hyper-realistic. Is it a city from the 11th Century Europe, or is it a fantasy city?

Perhaps we will surprise you with the 'grandiose' part.

[Parading 302]

As noted in Dev Blog 1, more information on houses is to follow in a future Blog.

Essentially, we are using a modular design, ensuring all houses have varying shapes and interesting differences to distinguish each house from the next, while ensure they all commit to the same overall style.

 

Ok, that's a relief then. Its good to have one atmosphere in a town, but not everything exact copies. Keep doing what you're doing!

[Lago 2572]

 

I mean things that are whimsical, buildings that are grandiose, and not everything looks muddy and hyper-realistic. Is it a city from the 11th Century Europe, or is it a fantasy city?

 

It's a fantasy city but it's muddy and lived in. Like the humans, it's one of the more down to earth areas of the server. I personally like it.

[Senda 472]

Images should be visible again 

 

(for some unknown reason the bandwith restriction from Photobucket seems to be gone.)

 

Should they become shrouded again, I have them backed up on Imgur.

[TheBareSheet 194]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.