Would Really Love to Hear More About "Custom Cosmetics"

[Ansgar Odinson]

"We're introducing an upgraded cosmetics system, letting players forge their own visual masterpieces for structures, costumes, and more. Best of all, they can be used on any server without the need for the servers to download a mod."

This sounds really interesting, but I would love to know what the heck this is going to look like or how its going to function. Are we going to be able to mix and match existing pieces to piece together cosmetic items? It mentions cosmetic items for structures too. Does that mean we will be able to create pieces for say, the wood tier, that make the wood tier look unique?

I seriously need to know more!

[Ale]

Maybe the structure part is just having different colors of wall to place around instead of going all over the place to paint them after placing them?

[Scheneighnay]

Originally posted by Ale:

Maybe the structure part is just having different colors of wall to place around instead of going all over the place to paint them after placing them?

it says they'll "automatically download in the background" which brings more questions than answers to me, but it doesn't sound like something so simple as a paint template.

[Ansgar Odinson]

Originally posted by Ale:

Maybe the structure part is just having different colors of wall to place around instead of going all over the place to paint them after placing them?

While that would actually be nice, what little description we get makes it seem more than just paint. It sounds like we will somehow be able to do in game, what would normally require a mod.

[Powerferret]

It sounds like it is client side only. So, say, you could replace the hat with a skin that looks like the skyrim helmet, but only you would see it. To everyone else it would look like a regular hat unless they also have the cosmetic downloaded.

[Scheneighnay]

Originally posted by Powerferret:

It sounds like it is client side only. So, say, you could replace the hat with a skin that looks like the skyrim helmet, but only you would see it. To everyone else it would look like a regular hat unless they also have the cosmetic downloaded.

That was my first thought until it said they download in the background

[Brother Rogue]

it'll work like diablo 1, everyone will look generic until they "load in"

[Elgar]

The last part of this anouncement is the most interesting in my opinion :

In a later update, these custom visuals will automatically download in the background while you explore, so get ready to discover fresh surprises on structures, items, and characters every time you venture around the ARK!

This statement seems to imply that our client will automatically download stuff while exploring, allowing us to see the custom visuals used by other players. "Get ready to discover fresh surprises every time you venture around" means that it's not something installed by you, otherwise the word surprises wouldn't make any sense.

[Nethiuz]

It's called an in game micro transaction shop.

[Ansgar Odinson]

Originally posted by Nethiuz:

It's called an in game micro transaction shop.

You know this how?

[Far-Seeker]

Originally posted by Ale:

Maybe the structure part is just having different colors of wall to place around instead of going all over the place to paint them after placing them?

I mean you can do that if you want, but the announcement included things like skins for basic walls that turn them into various forms of glass windows, and a table that allows a persistent tic-tack-toe game that recognizes players by their unique ID strings. So there's obviously a lot more functionality possible than just re-coloring existing textures.

[Nethiuz]

Originally posted by Ansgar Odinson:

Originally posted by Nethiuz:

It's called an in game micro transaction shop.

You know this how?

They said on multiple occasions Snail wants it to happen.
If it's not this, it will be after release. Which may never happen given the failing player count.

[Far-Seeker]

Originally posted by Nethiuz:

Originally posted by Ansgar Odinson:

You know this how?

They said on multiple occasions Snail wants it to happen.
If it's not this, it will be after release. Which may never happen given the failing player count.

Skins from Snail may or may not a micro transaction in the future. However I think in the foreseeable future if these skins will be monetized, they will be as part of the optional "premium content packages" that will be released with each reworked map/ESA DLC. An obvious example of these would be the western clothing skins for armor, and at least some of the western style structures (though I'm sure there will be new structures included as well).

Besides, they also mentioned modders being able to create skins that others can use. As a result they Snail or Wild Card won't be the only source for them. It was also mentioned there will be one or more official whitelists, maintained by Wild Card, and that unofficial servers and single player games can use these as the basis for their own (i.e. in the worst case Snail can restrict community modded skins from the official servers, but I doubt they will do so completely).

So yes, they will probably monetize this new system in some form and to some degree, but it's also will be something the modding community will be able to make full use of as well.

[Heyasu Kawee]

Hope they can just make the base glass clearer. Don't get why it needs to be a mod for something so basic.