Animal Instinct aka 'That cool but problematic feature'

[IceT]

Description of the matter

Animals, in Ultra Off-Road. Moose, bear, wolfs, foxes, eagles (and all sorts of other birds), rabbits, fishes, goats.
We currently don't have them in game...

The Statement

...and we would like to have them in game.

The Problem

'Organic' objects are expensive in both money and time. They are much more complex, needs rigging, animations, extra sounds, extra collision maps and some AI. But we can probably squeeze them into our budget. The real problem is something else...

...You wouldn't be able to interact with them. They would run around quickly or in distance, escape when you are near. Pure decoration. Why?

Because the first thing people would do is to try and run over them lol. Nah, really - I've been there, trust me. The temptation is just to strong, the Dark Side has cookies and all that. And when the player hits those animals - the animals should bleed. Otherwise our biggest feature 'realism' is becoming a joke.

But when you kill them - then they need to bleed and well - die. o.o

And guess what happens with games that includes optional animal brutality and blood? Their reach is being limited. Suddenly the game stops being 'All-Ages'.
Just because you can turn that wild, fluffy bunny into a pancake. And we don't want that.

The Solution

Having animals but keeping them purely as decoration. So the game world feels more real and alive. But you won't be able to touch those Happy Tree Friends.

The Question

a) Is that ok with you guys?
b) how bad do you want animals in game?
c) will it be fine if they are 'just there'- without an option for you to interact with them?

I really want to avoid 'Alaskan' rabbit hunting... thing :P

Ready, set - go!
Voice your opinion! :D

[Paul Blythe]

The inclusion of animals will be very welcome, adding a bit of live to the wilds. I'd be happy with them purely as decoration, being visable at a distance before disappearing again.

[Boss 429]

animals in the distance would be cool and even if you could run over them I wouldn't, cause it's cruel

[SzczeryJerry]

Personally, I think that this is not a necessary addition and if it would have a significant effect on the performance of the game or replace some functions of the car, I would prefer that they would not exist.
I think it's okay in the mudrunner (when you honk, some birds fly out of the bushes)

[Dr. Jester]

I think it is ok, and I like it!

An idea to pursue in regards to that would be something similar to the old Midtown Madness games. Where the vehicle got close, the pedestrians would all jump and run scared. If for some reason any of them got hit(nearly impossible), they would just clip through the vehicle..

Maybe something like that for smaller animals, like rabbits and birds. But for largers animals, make them run away from a distance.

[Simon said EAT DUST PLAYER_1 !]

guess it is a good idea to keep this as much a driving-game/sim as possible. No need for guns, long-knifes, sabers or other superfluous weaponry. And should someone attempt and hit an animal with brutal commitment riding his 4wd-tank, I think the reaction to a let's play would be hilarious once a nice little pop-up hits the player upon contact-detect with the creature, telling him to f off and play idk, maybe far cry instead and link to an animal rights watch faq or something.
Maybe offer a geo-location based phone index for the nearest practitioning psychiatrist as a bonus. job done ;-)

Seriously, i bit of life in the distance could help colour in the scenery. As an easter-egg you could of course provide a bear as a special treat that – if chased for too long a distance– would turn hostile and creep up on the player when not sitting inside the car for too long. Don't mess with mother nature. Enjoy it, don't toy with it. How does that sound?

[IceT]

Originally posted by Simon said DIE ♥♥♥♥♥!:

As an easter-egg you could of course provide a bear as a special treat that – if chased for too long a distance– would turn hostile and creep up on the player when not sitting inside the car for too long. Don't mess with mother nature. Enjoy it, don't toy with it. How does that sound?

WHERE'S MY NOTEPAD WHEN I NEED IT?!?!?!?
THIS IS GOLD!!!

[« RoughRider »]

Originally posted by ❄️IceTorch Interactive🔥:

Ready, set - go!
Voice your opinion! :D

I think that certain animals can add to the realism and immersiveness of the game. I don't think you need alot of species, but having deer run through the woods or a bird fly out of a tree is where you should go with this feature. It would add the feeling of life into the game, which other offroad games have ZERO of.

[IceT]

Originally posted by « RoughRider »:

Originally posted by ❄️IceTorch Interactive🔥:

Ready, set - go!
Voice your opinion! :D

I think that certain animals can add to the realism and immersiveness of the game. I don't think you need alot of species, but having deer run through the woods or a bird fly out of a tree is where you should go with this feature. It would add the feeling of life into the game, which other offroad games have ZERO of.

That is exactly what I am thinking. Most simulator games feels like the game takes place in a desolated Post-Apocalyptic world, or the one from that movie "Quite Place" XD

By no means I want to turn a Car Game about off-road driving into freaking zoo or theme park. But I also want to fight the feeling of emptiness.

TL;DR - If we CAN do something better than others - we HAVE to do something better than others.

[Blurfester]

I say add a sasquatch viewing as an easter egg. But all animals should be decoration.

[skyline1589]

Animals are not a priority. I would rather see deformable mud or snow and invironment effects like in spin tires.

[|(amikaze]

But can I still have my Shotgun and case of moonshine in the truck? They are standard issue off- roading kit.

[iktheone]

Originally posted by Simon said DIE ♥♥♥♥♥!:

guess it is a good idea to keep this as much a driving-game/sim as possible. No need for guns, long-knifes, sabers or other superfluous weaponry. And should someone attempt and hit an animal with brutal commitment riding his 4wd-tank, I think the reaction to a let's play would be hilarious once a nice little pop-up hits the player upon contact-detect with the creature, telling him to f off and play idk, maybe far cry instead and link to an animal rights watch faq or something.
Maybe offer a geo-location based phone index for the nearest practitioning psychiatrist as a bonus. job done ;-)

Seriously, i bit of life in the distance could help colour in the scenery. As an easter-egg you could of course provide a bear as a special treat that – if chased for too long a distance– would turn hostile and creep up on the player when not sitting inside the car for too long. Don't mess with mother nature. Enjoy it, don't toy with it. How does that sound?

Wait, can you already get out of the vehicle?

[LnX0R]

Animals would be great! The world would feel really alive then.

No interaction, well, ok. But, if you could hunt or collect your food from the ressources around (animals, plants) that would be greatawesomeamazing.

[IceTorchPR]

Originally posted by Blurfester:

I say add a sasquatch viewing as an easter egg. But all animals should be decoration.

Sasquatch and easter egg in one sentence sounds... interesting. Hmm,let us think ;)

[IceTorchPR]

Originally posted by iktheone:

Originally posted by Simon said DIE ♥♥♥♥♥!:

guess it is a good idea to keep this as much a driving-game/sim as possible. No need for guns, long-knifes, sabers or other superfluous weaponry. And should someone attempt and hit an animal with brutal commitment riding his 4wd-tank, I think the reaction to a let's play would be hilarious once a nice little pop-up hits the player upon contact-detect with the creature, telling him to f off and play idk, maybe far cry instead and link to an animal rights watch faq or something.
Maybe offer a geo-location based phone index for the nearest practitioning psychiatrist as a bonus. job done ;-)

Seriously, i bit of life in the distance could help colour in the scenery. As an easter-egg you could of course provide a bear as a special treat that – if chased for too long a distance– would turn hostile and creep up on the player when not sitting inside the car for too long. Don't mess with mother nature. Enjoy it, don't toy with it. How does that sound?

Wait, can you already get out of the vehicle?

No, there is no such an option like getting out of your car.