LtCmdr_Tsusai wrote:

I was thinking among the lines of a SDK release, someone makes the animation, make them sign a release form, devs import into MxO proprietary format, the end.

I'll tell you a few things

1. When you buy an MMO you get the rights to play it, but that game isn't your property per say, the disks and everything on it is but it isn't your game because the game is played on their servers, that makes it a service. That is why they can terminate your account. Legally that would make it illegal for anybody outside of SOE to add to the game. For that reason SDKs are not released on MMO's
   
2. Animation software is expensive because of the subtle complexity of the actual game and would be pushing 5 figures to put it in a package that was for mass distribution.
3. The game mechanics are extremely difficult, when SOE devs took over 2 years ago around about they knew nothing, now 2 years on, they still know extremely little, and these guys have been adding/changing for 2 years it's their job so I don't know how people who don't know a peep about design are going to manage.
   

I would have to disagree with #2 as the original game has already been mass distributed, I would assume you could just add animations with new patches. City of Heroes does it, why not MxO? But the main problem is SOE doesn't care about MxO, I think the YouTube Ad thing was a good idea.

Maya personal is something i had in mind.

I suspect this is less a problem of "can we build a custom MXO SDK?" and more a question of too many cooks:  let's not forget that this was a Warner Brothers property, farmed out to Sega, who recruited Monolith...and it promptly got dumped in Sony's lap--rather unceremoniously, from the employee side of things, if what I had heard during the transfer was true.

Technically, I would imagine there's a common format underneath:  use existing models, paint up some new textures, throw in some new loops of movement.  Devs then integrate.

But that doesn't necessarily mean an animator wouldn't have to be, for instance, heavily schooled in how the LithTech engine works, in order to understand the limits of how they can build.

SOE could hire a freelancer--plenty of those about--but maybe the skillset needed would seriously jack up the price.

What kind of animator are you asking for?  A 3D animator for the models or someone to make the cinematics a little more ... colorful?

Monolith were the ones who made the original content.  Models, textures and animations.  When they sold it they probably sold it as one big package.  So - there is no need for an animator as the game is now.  Although the inclusion of more models, and animated moods would be a super cool thing.  To work with has been done already one needs access the source stuff Monolith made the objects and models with.  Probably some new code.  It takes money and time to do that.  And obviously Sony care about none of it.

 I'm an animator - mainly 2D but I studied some 3D for games in school.  I would love to add content to this game, if I could.  And getting some compensation would be nice too.  But I'd do it mainly for the love of doing it as a fan.

There are several animations and such that do need to be perfected in the models.  Maybe some more facial animations.  New models and textures and the nine yards might require and expansion pak of some sort as everyone would have to install all the new content on their computers.  Like with Warcraft BC.  I would like to see new robot models, maybe some more dungeon creatures, boss creatures - more insentive to get players into dungeons and such on a more regular basis. 

 As for the cinematics - I think it should go back to the in-game filming.  Sorry Rarebit, but the black&white film noir style isn't cutting it for me.  And it could be much more animated instead of being so simple if they had someone who knows how to work Flash on a higher level of 2D animation experience.  Heh - like me.  Anyway - I feel that if the fans can make the cinematics on a free basis with their own software - why can't the company?   

I love the 2D cinematics, especially how they are now, they have a very strong graphic novel theme.  Another reason we may not have the in-game engine cinematics is because they were motion capture and would require an animator.

But, the main reason we could do with an animator is to do some brand new content, new abilities, /emotes and lots of other stuff. 

Also, expansion packs are the bringer of death for MMOs, all your doing is asking the players to fork out for more money for more content they should be getting with their monthly subscription anyway.  All new stuff to MxO shall be patched just like CR2, from what I remember, that was a pretty big patch.

Another option would be one many of us have already gone through with the transition to SOE.  The story was put on hold to work on bugs and many other aspects of MxO.  I would be more than happy to continue paying even if it meant I would not be able to play for X amount of time.  However, I would only do this if the MxO site stayed online and had regular detailed updates on progress and what was being added/tested etc.  It would also have to be an expansion pack size addition i.e. new areas, drivable vehicles, new abilities, massive combat fix etc.

All comes down to money. ;P

I just don't think this game, whatever kind of money it brings in will take off again. I just get the feeling now that all the money for this game is being sapped and moved to new projects, and even if we were to get a heck of a lot of new subscribers, the big shots will probably just sift it off into The Agency or something.

I love the 2D cinematics, especially how they are now, they have a very strong graphic novel theme.  Another reason we may not have the in-game engine cinematics is because they were motion capture and would require an animator.