The seventh panel of Citcon 2023, titled “Taking Flight,” discussed various improvements and features related to spaceship interaction, UI customization, g-force effects, AI ship AI, weapon balancing, and gameplay scenarios involving small ships against larger ones. The panel showcased demos of these features and emphasized the importance of properly conducting procedures and choosing the right equipment for successful space flight.
In the seventh panel of Citcon 2023, titled “Taking Flight,” Yogi hosted the discussion. He mentioned his passion for space flight and introduced a spaceship with a new relax pose for entering, allowing players to interact with buttons more easily. They showcased the revamped UI in the Gladius, emphasizing how different ship companies had distinct elements, and highlighted holograms portrayed in augmented reality. The UI can be customized and remains persistent with the ship. They also mentioned unique screens in development.
The panel then focused on player actor and the effects of g-forces on the body during navigation mode. The head tilts more, and the blackout effect becomes more pronounced. They showcased the new Quantum effect when jumping to a beacon, but the ship failed due to an improperly conducted procedure. They mentioned the importance of having a properly chosen and maintained Quantum drive to avoid mishaps. They also mentioned using Quantum boosting for quick jumps.
Diego discussed improvements in AI ship AI, and how they were working to make it better by conducting thousands of test hours and coding a prototype. The demo showed friendly NPCs changing states to assist the player, hinting at the introduction of AI wingmen. They discussed balancing hit scan weapons and burst weapons to preserve the Meta. Projectile ranges were shortened to keep combat close, but they planned to extend and balance them through spread. Additionally, the aiming system and Pips were undergoing significant overhauls for improved accuracy.
The panel concluded with a demonstration of a new feature being developed to help small ships or fleets take on larger ships. By painting a part of the ship, the player quickly disabled individual turrets on a Hammerhead, forcing it to retreat. They also showcased atmospheric flight, transitioning from winged flight to hover. However, the ship experienced difficulties hovering, and the pilot had to fly forward to recover. They demonstrated the landing process, including breaking to slow down, engaging precision mode with landing gear, and showcasing the relaxed mode and exit animation.
Overall, the panel provided insights into UI improvements, g-force effects, Quantum jumps, AI ship AI, weapon balancing, and new features for gameplay scenarios involving small ships against larger ones.