Alternate Character Appearance Model Schema

[xordevoreaux]

Back when Sony owned the Everquest 2 franchise, Sony made the decision to add an alternate set of character models, basically a completely different set of faces (it takes but seconds to flip between the models in the game because all are downloaded all the time).

 

The reason given for adding this alternate set was that the alternate appearances were more in keeping with Asian pop culture expectations of what characters should look like, rather than being so Anglo-looking (beast races were not affected).

 

For example, default male barbarian versus the alternate model.

 

Another example is the halfling model, which changes not only the face, but the geometry of the body.

 

In citing another game's introduction of alternate appearances, I'm not suggesting that SWTOR has failed to address a wide variety of racial differences in its current character appearance schema.

 

What I'm suggesting is to leave the existing system alone, and create a new, second, alternative system that players can opt into, just as they opt into the alternate system in Everquest 2.

 

I make this suggestion because I know that scuttling the existing appearance system for a more flexible one would be more disruptive than what it's worth, both in terms of possible bugs, as well as people wanting things to be exactly as they are (re: battle royale on the forums over the eye texture updates).

 

I realize there would be grief with cut scenes. To this day, cut scenes with the Treek dialogue one one's starship doesn't reflect that fact that she's wearing a particular companion customization (I didn't bother to bug it).

 

I also realize there would be potential issues with clipping regarding gear (no idea how Everquest 2 models are set up which mostly avoids that when switching).

 

By providing a suite of alternative character models, developers would be free to introduce new models over time, with new features, such as sliders / fine hair textures / age variations / etc. It would also given developers an opportunity to abandon the old char gen character programming code altogether.

 

Not to mention giving Bioware a new product channel on the cartel market, something like this.

Edited March 19, 2021 by xordevoreaux

[Tofu_Shark]

I would say Hispanic faces got the shaft in the Character Designer. Even though Hispanics run the gamut in appearance, certain ethnic groups have distinctive traits. And a not-insignificant portion of non-white faces are unsightly at best. They look like they were bashed in with a shovel. Compare this with the number of Caucasian face options that look like this (none) and there is a very glaring problem.

 

You can't expect bugs to get fixed that go unreported. If you noticed the bug with Treek, you should've reported it. Odds are small, but there is a chance a bug could go unreported because everyone thinks someone else will do it. This is called diffusion of responsibility.

 

While it's a good idea on the surface, I don't think this will ever go through, and you highlighted some very important reasons:

• It will break immersion in cutscenes, probably the one place nearly all players agree immersion is important
  
• It will be rife with clipping problems. Many of the added appearance options and quite a few outfits have clipping problems already and have not been corrected
  

 

This is the real dealbreaker. Even if they would go through with it, charging real money for something like this is out of the question. It punishes players from cultures that may represent people differently from the dominant culture that had the most or all influence during game design. You hopefully avoid this by having a diverse team in the design process. This is why diversity in all fields, especially the arts, is important. And in game design, you have a diverse group of beta testers as a backstop, because hopefully some will notice these deficiencies, speak up, be heard, acknowledged, and the changes made. You don't charge for that lack of vision.

 

As you pointed out, Sony at the timed owned Everquest. They would've been foolish to ignore the East Asian market, specifically their own Japanese customers. You certainly don't charge people for this to be added later on because, "oh sorry, we lacked the foresight to realize not all our players may have the same idea of how the appearance of people are somewhat abstractly interpreted and that this may actually be important to them." The fact SWTOR shut down their servers long ago in Japan and Oceania isn't a viable excuse. Star Wars is recognized internationally. In my personal opinion, any game developer whose game heavily emphasizes customization and immersion ignores cultural representation differences at their own peril.

Edited March 20, 2021 by Tofu_Shark

[xordevoreaux]

Why Sony implemented alternate character sets (expanding race appearance options) wasn't my point, it was that they did it.

 

Meaning, rather than toss the current system overboard, which we all know Bioware isn't about to do, I'm lifting up what Sony did as an example that Bioware could do the same, thereby answering player calls for sliders / wrinkles / additional faces / what have you without any danger of wrecking the char gen system currently in place.

 

Secondly, as shown in the first screen shot, the alternate character models are not offered as an all-or-none solution, but species by species, meaning a player can have a mix of original and alternate models, meaning that Bioware wouldn't be stuck holding back alternate models until they're all complete, but roll them out one by one as they're completed. Some people might prefer the old Cathar over the new, but like the new Sith option.

 

Tossing the Skyrim screenshot in there was more tongue-in-cheek than anything else. I know full well what would serve better and prove more attainable is something far more modest but still offering an alternate system with the features players have been requesting.

 

As far as not reporting the Treek issue, it's from bug reporting burn out more than anything else. I may get around to it.

Edited March 20, 2021 by xordevoreaux

[Tofu_Shark]

Then why even mention it? What you've done is pointed out a glaring oversight, and then proposed they make people pay actual money for that oversight if they ever took action to correct it. That's a pretty ballsy move, and even more Western-centric than if they did nothing.

 

I also don't think it will look good on Bioware if they introduced another feature that is buggy, even if this time, it's an engine limitation. It will not instill confidence in the playerbase.

 

I never said anything about the Skyrim screenshot, so I don't know why you're bringing it up.