In this episode of Frontier Friday, the developers discuss the new WASD manual control scheme in EVE Frontier, highlighting its current unpolished state as a foundational step toward a more skill-based and immersive piloting experience while inviting player feedback for improvements. They address challenges such as balancing realism and gameplay, camera mechanics, ship physics, and the removal of automated systems, emphasizing the iterative development process and the importance of community involvement.
In this episode of Frontier Friday, host CCP Yoten is joined by CCP Wizard and CCP Paragon to discuss the recent implementation of the new WASD manual control scheme in EVE Frontier. The conversation opens with an acknowledgment of the absence of other team members and quickly moves into an in-depth discussion about the new controls, which represent a significant shift from the previous point-and-click system. The team explains that while the current iteration is not perfect, it serves as a foundational step towards a more skill-based and immersive piloting experience. They emphasize that this release is still in an early, unpolished state intended for testing and feedback from the player community.
The discussion highlights the challenges of balancing realism and gameplay accessibility. The developers clarify that the game is not intended to be a traditional flight simulator but aims to innovate within the space simulation genre by offering intuitive yet skill-demanding controls. They acknowledge the complexity of implementing six degrees of freedom movement and the technical challenges this poses, especially regarding performance and server load. Despite these hurdles, they remain optimistic about overcoming them and view the current state as a stepping stone toward more advanced control options, including support for various peripherals like joysticks and controllers.
Camera mechanics and player feedback are also addressed, with the team recognizing the need for improvements in camera behavior and situational awareness. Currently, the camera orbits the ship without a fixed chase view, which can make navigation and spatial orientation challenging. The developers have plans to enhance camera controls and integrate better visual and audio feedback to improve the overall player experience. They stress the importance of player feedback in shaping these features and invite the community to share their thoughts, emphasizing that all constructive criticism is valuable for refining the game.
Another major topic covered is the handling of ship physics and inertia. The team discusses how different ship sizes should feel distinct, with larger ships conveying a sense of heaviness and smaller ships feeling more agile. They acknowledge that this aspect is still a work in progress and involves both balancing numerical values and designing the game world to complement the new movement mechanics. The conversation also touches on the removal of automated systems like approach, keep at range, and autopilot, which has led to some player frustration, particularly around looting. The developers explain that these removals are intentional to encourage active gameplay and skillful piloting, though they are open to reintroducing or redesigning such features based on player feedback.
Finally, the team reflects on the iterative nature of game development and the importance of community involvement. They stress that the current WASD controls are a test to validate design hypotheses and build a foundation for future development. The decision to keep or revert the controls after the testing period will depend on whether the new system proves to be a stronger foundation for the game. They encourage players to engage with the test, provide honest and constructive feedback, and remain patient as the game evolves. The episode closes with announcements about upcoming streams and ongoing efforts to improve EVE Frontier, reinforcing the collaborative relationship between developers and the player community.
