Suggestion: improved commands

Groggy F · **Posted:** Mon May 07, 2012 6:01 pm

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Currently, if you're playing with random people, it's hard to communicate and coördinate your team. I don't know what the situation is on the PS3, but on the Xbox360 almost nobody uses the mic, even when you get one with the Xbox for free. The D-pad allows for some very basic commands, but that's it. This stands in the way of the teamwork that is so vital to this game.

Now, I may have come up with a simple control scheme that would alleviate these issues. Note that while this scheme may seem to complicated or unviable, please read and think it through before you comment. Also note that these commands are from the perspective of the red (right) team. It may or may not be better to flip left and right for the blue team.

The following commands are mapped to the D-pad and work exactly like the current ones, and are pretty self-explanatory. Commands would show up as: '[player name]: [message]' on the screen (instead of the current 'an ally').

> : Forwards/push!
< : Backwards/retreat!
^ : Well done!
V : Too bad/better luck next time. (nothing too 'offensive' that annoying players would be able too spam)

Now, the crux of my plan is this: by holding one of the -currently unused- triggers, you can bring up a different command menu. The L2/LT trigger brings up the defense menu, and the R2/RT trigger brings up the attack menu (again, this may be flipped for the blue team). In these menus, the D-pad directions are objectives. So, to say: 'Defend our lower turret!', you hold L2/LT and press V (down).

L2/LT: Defend-
R2/RT: Attack-

t^ k: -upper turret!
kV k: -lower turret!
</> : -core! (arrows for defend and attack, respectively)
>/< : -! (for defense in general) (same)

Some examples:

R2/RT + > : Push!
L2/LT i+ V : Defend our lower turret!
R2/RT + > : Attack their core!
R2/RT + ^ : Well done!

Now, it might look that this scheme is too complicated to be viable, I want you to know that another very similar game has pulled of a -less streamlined- version of this with aplomb. The game I'm talking about is Gang Garrison 2*, a freeware, somewhat popular 2D 'demake' of Team Fortress 2. It is, like Awesomenauts, a sidescrolling 2D objective-based action game. While it focuses more on shooting and less on upgrades, the dynamics and flow of battle are very similar; teams push and retreat to gain territory and take objectives. That game had no chat system because it would cause the game to lag. Instead, they came up with a inventive and succesful message system that was the inspiration for my idea.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. It would be great if one of the developers could reply on this. If you have any comments or suggestions, please comment, but please think it through first (also goes for devs).

Optional stuff:

-The command system may have to be slightly reworked. It would help if the messages where more visible, and if there could be more messages at a time, about three should do. Also, to prevent spamming, the ability to 'mute' other players would be useful. Perhaps muting a teammates mic automatically also ignores their commands, to keep things streamlined.

-Another idea is to have bots react to this commands too. If we could tell them what to do, like telling human players with a mic or commands, they could be more useful and less in need of an AI upgrade.

-There are some other commands that would be useful, and perhaps could be placed on the 1-triggers/bumpers:
Yes/understood!
No/negative!
[specific player] (for example: 'Defend our Voltar!' or 'Well done, Yuri!')
? (to ask if something is a good idea)
*taunt* (would show up on enemy's messages)

-If customizable controls are ever added, maybe make the 1-triggers/bumpers and clicking the sticks customizable shortcuts to commands you often use.

* I'm not entirely sure if I can name other games on this forum, but since the Romino devs have openly called Awesomenauts 'a 2D League of Legends/DotA', I guess it's fine.