Techwright

I never saw the NBC one-season show. This quirky comedy got me wonder how such a concept could be incorporated into the game. From the video's description: The original "Powerless" pilot was shown and acclaimed at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con and later discarded by NBC, that changed the whole series plot for the other 12 episodes of the first (and only) season. The show was originally created by Ben Queen, that quit the job after creative conflicts with NBC. "Powerless" is the first sitcom set in the DC Comics universe. Vanessa Hudgens stars as Emily Locke, who works at an insurance company who specialize in superhero-related claims. When her kindly boss is killed in – you guessed it – a superhero battle, Emily is none to happy to meet his replacement, Del Heller (Alan Tudyk). Coldhearted and exploitive, every move Del makes infuriates Emily, who begins to push back hard.

A bit more info regarding Skeleton Crew. I especially like the pun in the name of the ship's droid first officer.

Time travel is the actual means to get to Cimerora. Spoiler comment: As to whether they are a Lost Worlds group...hmm...I personally don't think so, though I'm sure there are reasonable counterpoints to be made. Lost Worlds genre material tends to focus on cities, civilizations, and environments that are in the same time period as the book's "civilized" societies, but so secluded as to be unknown to them, and lacking in parallel development. The Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan series has some of these, such as a Roman city still functioning as it has for the last 2000 years (if I recall correctly as its been decades since I read the books). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Professor Challenger series began with an environmental lost word, a journey to a plateau with living dinosaurs previously unknown to the Victorian world in the book titled (specifically enough) The Lost World. A modern counterpart might be the 1995 movie The Last of the Dogmen in which a tracker and a professor stumble across a secret, walled-in valley, previously unobserved, where a tribe of Native Americans have been living in the same manner as their ancestors for the past few hundred years. There's no time travel involved, just a singular entrance and a wall of rugged hills to hide a valley and thereby the tribe, arresting their potential for development. One counterpoint to be made would be the Sid & Marty Krofft 1970s production Land of the Lost, which many see as part of the Lost Worlds group. In it, only the entrance to the land is in the modern world. The show calls the travel devices encountered "time doorways" but that is misleading. As Wikipedia notes; Though the term "time doorway" is used throughout the series, Land of the Lost is not meant to portray an era in Earth's history, but rather an enigmatic zone whose place and time are unknown. Indeed, within the first few minutes of the pilot, the Marshall family father tells his children that he spotted three moons in the sky.

I appreciate the request for courtesy in dealing with this. That said, I'm not certain there's much that can be done. I don't know if anyone has ever submitted it as a suggestion for the development team, but I've long felt there's a need for a team/league leader override: a command the leader can activate that flashes a central message on the individual player's screen: "READ YOUR TEAM/LEAGUE CHATS!" Something that cannot be hidden or ignored. Barring that it seems you only have a couple of choices: Have a significant portion of the team place their avatars in the face of the offending player's avatar and jump up and down, or something until the player realizes they are trying to communicate. This is not very practical, and may actually put the team in some danger for failure. Have the leader issue a 3-strike warning on team/league chat that refusing to pay attention on said chat will result in dismissal from the team. Then fulfill it if those warnings go ignored. I'd personally follow up with an in-game email to the player explaining why they were cut from the team. You must remember, short of a sudden malfunction of the UI chat box (which I admittedly have never heard of) the player themselves has made a deliberate decision to either close their chat box, or ignore what's going on within it. They do not get a berth on a team/league without initiating some form of chat, demonstrating their ability to work in chat sessions. Even on those occasions where buddies ask to join a team/league, the one who is speaking up for both should be able to communicate with his/her colleague. It really is in the player's hands as to how this plays out, including consequences for their actions/inactions. I'd also like to note that its not just new players who have done this. I've been on many BAFs where players get so into combat that they fail to pay attention to chat. I suppose it is possible that they may also not like what's playing out in the chat. Not everyone likes corny jokes or innuendo conversations, and that might lead to a few chat turn-offs.

I suppose the question is whether there was an abused advertising budget. Firefall (game not band) was on track to eventually be a successful game back in 2011 and was having an extended beta test. However, much of the budget was diverted for ridiculous things like an expensive custom bus and role players in very professional costumes (including John Cena). All supposedly as advertising techniques, but it was 1- well beyond the advertising budget, 2- dipping heavily into the development budget, and without a completed game. I do admit the beta was, from 2011 to 2013 pretty awesome, but only had a handful of zones, and some zones had been shut down for retooling. This advertising fiasco destroyed the company, the game was sold, then slowly destroyed. Just an example, but Concord may have had similar failures.

Thanks for the feedback @WanderingAries. Regarding the comment on the controls, did the game feel like it was actually designed for another system and the PS5 was just quickly inserted?

Never heard of it, and I've viewed 3720 titles according to Steam, including a host of titles that at one point were "coming soon". Judging from similar comments, that's part of their problem, I think. Which is weird because I've lost count as to how many low-budget-for-advertising indie games have been pushed before me. Anthem can breath a little easier now, with such a contender taking the heat for short durations.

This is the first I've heard of Whisper. Is there a demostrated comparison with Respeecher? As to why, I'd have to know if Whisper is pure AI or an AI to modulate an actor's voice to sound like another actor. If pure AI, the challenge is to get the AI to know both subtlety and creativity. The best voice actors have these skills, and I suspect no AI for a while will be completely able match or exceed both. I could be wrong, though, I admit.

Yes, but since we know that they know, we should be able to enhance our psi powers and overcome the dampening. Unless they know that we know that they know, you know?

The answer lies in Crimson's arc. If anyone wants to spoil it for themselves, then...

There's a thought...pay an actor's estate to create great movies with his/her likeness and avoid his/her toxic meltdowns. I look forward to the next Rex Harrison musical. 😁 Responding to what you've mentioned in the spoiler box: Keep in mind, this is all in today's costs and standards. Alien: Romulus is a 2024 film. Rogue One is a 2016 film. An 8 year difference. In CGI terms that's probably 2.5 generations, assuming something similar to Moore's Law. Of course the 2024 movie CGI is going to look better. Extending that thought, we should look beyond today. CGI has greatly advanced in the last decade. A.I. may speed this. Just like computer technology, this increase is going to always cost more on the cutting edge, but less on the well-established end. Sharknado 2030 is going to be a lot more realistic and scarier than the previous version, while still being budget friendly for SyFy. (I just made up an example. No need to get worried.) At some point, possibly sooner rather than later, we're going to cross that point where a CGI character is indistinguishable from the real thing, and then...we'll have Running Man. (j/k...I hope.) ...we'll have a situation where "perfection", if I can call it that, is very costly, but in a few years, it becomes more affordable since CGI will find new things to push the horizon. Eventually, it will be affordable to have "perfection". That's the point everyone needs to look towards right now and come up with the best balance of rules, guidelines, permissions, and artistic freedom.

Why does the Team Transport only transport a percentage of the 8-person team on first try and not the full team? At first glance, one would think inclusion of the entire team would be design 101, but perhaps there's a code reason? Why do the enhancement storage tables in bases flip-flop the listings of items if one is pulling several of one type out of them for use? I've lost track of the number of times I click on a wrong item because the table re-sorts the order. Insert your "Why does [X] in the game do [Y] here.

I'm actually rather surprised at the Malta Titans resistance level due to their, um, shall we say "unique" nature.

I think it really depends on the project. I'm actually surprised this is coming up now. It's been, what, 15 years ago or so when a beer commercial used John Wayne's likeness from one of his war films to pitch a product? I was of the understanding even back then it was considered extremely bad form, and a potential lawsuit, to use a deceased actor's likeness without the estate's blessing. It made incredible sense to use Peter Cushing's likeness in Rogue One (and I happened to like the results. It was the Princess Leia one I found cheap.). It made less sense for Laurence Olivier to be cast posthumously as the big bad in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Boris Karloff or Vincent Price might have been a better fit, but I think it was intended as an homage to Sir Larry. I think using an AI version of an actor has to make sense in context. While I could see AI Jackman as Wolverine (and how tall would you make him, hmm?), I'd probably opt for another actor, but then we've largely been conditioned for that with comic book roles. How many Batmen have we had? How many Supermen? I could see an AI Marlon Brando as Jor-El on a future Superman project. It would be an homage, and I could respect it as such. (Plus the parody of him in Megamind was hilarious.) The question, I suppose is how to define "make sense in context". I, for one, would love to see a superb new Sherlock Holmes movie with the energy of the modern interpretations, but starring "Basil Rathbone" and "Nigel Bruce" (and where "Nigel" plays Watson as whip smart, and not a kindly bumbling yes-man.) To me, that makes sense in context, assuming all parties are in agreement to do it. The real Basil WAS Sherlock Holmes, despite other good performers, until Jeremy Brett came along. Similarly, I'd like to finally see a quality Lone Ranger film with "Clayton Moore" and "Jay Silverheels". Oh, and I do mean "superb" and "quality". If you're going to necro the performers, have the decency to make certain the script is outstanding first. Jason Isaacs just performed Cary Grant in Archie. Geoffrey Rush played Peter Sellers back in 2004. Might these performances have hit home more if the actors performed in AI-connected mo-cap with a Respeech to match the voice? I'd at least find it intriguing. I think the possibility of AI's use goes up in correlation to how brief the appearance is. Back a decade ago, Matt Smith had a whimsical moment as The Doctor when they placed his character into a clip of Laurel and Hardy from Way Out West. It was a fun moment, but how much more impactful if for a dozen extra seconds he wasn't just in front of a green screen, but actually interacting with Laurel and Hardy? Then the moment is gone and the Doctor moves on. It moves from "That's cute" to "Oh, wow! Imagine the potential!" The estates would have to sign off, be paid royalties, and personally, I'd want to see the performers credited if mo-cap was involved. But handled respectfully, I don't see such moments as a problem.

Yes, I've seen that a lot over the years. I'd hoped, when Heath Ledger won the award for playing a comic book character brilliantly, that those walls were starting to come down. Apparently, only for those playing the Joker. I hear and understand regarding the perception of an Oscar category increasing stunt danger. In counterpoint, wouldn't that be a bullet point in the award's definition? The best stunt team doing the best stunts without compromising safety?

Reynolds makes a good point here: why is there not an Oscar category for stunt people? https://www.superherohype.com/movies/582655-deadpool-and-wolverine-stunt-team-praise-oscars-ryan-reynolds

There would be those in the Isles who say this fits Ms Liberty and Longbow to a "T". 😉 I think we actually have one, though it's small, incomplete, and certainly not combat ready. I'm referring to W.I.S.D.O.M. the Korean superhero group that Mirror Spirit and Foreshadow are a part of. I've stated it on the forums before: I'd like this group to be completed, and brought with vigor into the game. But yes, foreign-sponsored groups would be a welcome sight, and would be a natural, given that Paragon City is ground zero for dimensional portal activity that affects the entire planet. Are you referring to something like the Techno-mages of Babylon 5's franchise? Assuming I'm not making a now-obscure reference.

If we're talking about limited usage temp powers (and not something like the Nem Staff), I almost never use them unless they provide a significant effect, not a minor one. I run out of all other powers. This usually happens when something has significantly slowed my power recharge. To that end, I usually set one or two of them on a side tray, just in case. they thematically boost my character. For example, I mentioned elsewhere my sky pirate whose main weapons are swords but has a full charge of the pistol power for thematic effect. A good example of a significant effect one is Amy's Ward. I'll use it sparingly and only for when the team is in a serious bind and needs an additional player in the game.

When in doubt about a name it's usually safe to go with "John", or possibly "James". If it's a girl icon, you'll likely find a version of "Elizabeth" though there are so many variations, you may have to hunt a bit. Yeah, I got nothing, unless there are date stamps next to them?

Huh. Pretty vocal crowd, I'd say. I hate spiders with a passion, but I don't go around telling every Arachnos agent that.

Um...wow. It's interesting that other search engines don't have a beef with us. Okay, thanks. I'm sorry it is this way, but I'm deeply appreciative of the effort made, @Cipher.

Thanks for that! Heroic mercs sounds very much like Hero Corps, which admittedly have almost no fighting presence in the game. (The wiki lists 3 named bosses, but that appears to be it.) Good call with the Lost being the "downtrodden". Works for me! An excellent list of group types! Thank you for that contribution! What about a "Lost World" type? This would be something like Gorilla City in DC Comics or residents of the Savage Land in Marvel Comics. Outside comics, there's the Sleestak of Land of the Lost. You might also add in lost Roman legions in the heart of Africa in the Tarzan stories. Basically this kind of group is previously unknown, often highly skilled in older weapons (though not always. sometimes they're more advanced but living in a primitive environment). The concept stems from the Lost Worlds genre. The closest I can think of is Chimerorans, but that's not so much a discovery of a lost civilization as returning to a previous civilization using time.

Should work well in Siren's Call. 😉

That a very reasonable question. If my suggestion does turn out to be the context, I suspect that cost is a factor. Why CGI a face the stunt guy won't use when a rubber mask gets the job done? Save the CGI for the main actor who has to portray details.

I use the word "Antagonist" in the title as I realize an opponent group might appear anywhere on the morality scale. I got wondering if there are any antagonist group types that show up in Marvel, DC, or other popular comics that we don't currently have an analog for in the game. Just looking at blue side we've got an elemental group (Outcasts), dark (Skulls), dark magic (CoT), insane biological science (Vahzilok), cybernetic (Freaks), assassin (Knives of Artemis), mercenary and pirate (Sky Raiders), black ops (Malta), etc. A couple from the red side would be the sea society (Coralax), and an intelligent animal society (Snakes). Mirror universe is obviously Praetorians, and a certain less-obvious one I'll not spoil for new players, as it is part of the mission storylines. What group type might the game not have tapped yet? Also, do we have a "just cause" antagonist group like Marvel's Brotherhood of Mutants often considers itself to be? Or a "downtrodden" group like Marvel's Morlocks? I'm drawing a blank on both.