Bullet Sponge Health

[EKublai]

In most shooter (3rd-person or 1st person), a variety of methods have been developed to display health and injury. let's look at some of the ways.

Blood on screen (killzone or call of duty)
blood flecks (battlefield 3)
Black and white screen (Infamous 2)
Blurring (Splinter Cell)

What I've noticed is that they never try to actually present damage on the player. The character you're playing in nothing more than a "bullet sponge" who never shows the effects of the bullets. I for one think this could be worth looking into.

1st person shooters:
When people get shot, they don't keep shooting, they look at where they've been shot, and they keep glancing at the blood lost. Something like that should be implemented

3rd person shooters:
With mo-cap technology these days, there should be multiple animation sets for when people are at varying degrees of injury. Like nathan Drake should cluth his leg when he's been shot in the shin.

I feel like we're at the point where it is technologically viable to do these sorts of things to make the experience more immersive. I'm tired of looking at healthbars and unrealistic depictions of injury. I want to see the pain on my character's face?

[naronic]

We have a lot of technology that games never use. It's quite sad really.

[POTaTOS]

Mass Effect and Deus Ex say hi.

[unconsidered]

I say Farcry 2 comes really close, from pulling bullets from you arms and legs, to burning the wounds, to popping joints.

[EKublai]

At 6 minutes ago, unconsidered wrote: I say Farcry 2 comes really close, from pulling bullets from you arms and legs, to burning the wounds, to popping joints.

I totally agree with this. Farcry 2 is proof positive that this can work. But I still wish it would go further.

The main reason why I don't play first person shooters at all is that I feel like I'm moving a bullet-spitting camera around, not a character.

And here's my argument. The character shouldn't react the same way. He should react depending on where he's been hit and how many times he's been hit. For instance, after you've been hit once, depending on your situation you might not look at the second wound because you've gone into a "survival mode", Idk. I am not convinced that psychology cannot seamlessly be interwoven with gameplay.

[PoloPancake]

At 1 day ago, unconsidered wrote: I say Farcry 2 comes really close, from pulling bullets from you arms and legs, to burning the wounds, to popping joints.

Yes, but most online FPS games realize this would take away from the fastness and arcade-like theme they've established. Better stick with the money making formula, eh?

[SineRider]

At 1 day ago, POTaTOS wrote: Mass Effect and Deus Ex say hi.

totally realistic....

[Jester]

L.A Noire did a good job at letting you know you've been shot by giving you a visible and bleeding wound while Cole Phelps swore through gritted teeth, but not like what you're talking about.

I guess Fallout is pretty close, certain injuries affect your character's movement and combat efficiency, and do so in an obvious way.

[LostFaceInTrain]

At 1 day ago, POTaTOS wrote: Mass Effect and Deus Ex say hi.

I don't get how they show damage in any way

At 1 day ago, unconsidered wrote: I say Farcry 2 comes really close, from pulling bullets from you arms and legs, to burning the wounds, to popping joints.

It's hardly that good, the fire one works fine, but if you lose health through drowning the healing mechanic can be you pulling a bullet or barbed wire out of yourself, still innovative.

The best 'shooter' to show limb damage would probably be Fallout, if you actually got hurt or lost the ability to use a limb the game would be boring, if they gave you a disadvantage if they where hurt that'd be cool

[Cootie]

I am sure games will have much better movements and realistic reactions when the new consoles come out. They probably could do it now, but people will EXPECT it and demand it when the new consoles are released.

[Bobbybroccoli]

Whenever I play shooters, I imagine the first few hits to be "grazes" tearing your clothing and not hitting you. Then the next few bullets hit your bullet proof vest, and when you die you actually got hit in a critical area.

I just don't as long as it's fun.

[MultiCanimefan]

Operation Flashpoint takes it above and beyond with this.