Name: The Aim Select Posture (ASP) Menu
Justin Sirois copyright 2012
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Breakdown for handheld melee weapons
Single posture handheld weapons
provide a limited range of attack.
Watch any film with a sword fight and you won’t see two
people holding their weapons with two hands the entire time. And you definitely
won’t see them swinging the same two or three swings over and over. Watch a
third person game created in the past ten years and you’ll see what I just
described – a stiff and limited posture for holding handheld weapons.
Although this mechanic has worked for a while, there is
room for improvement. The Aim Select Posture (ASP) Menu is the solution.
What ASP does for melee weapons.
The Aim Select Posture menu (ASP) adds a dynamic
dimension to third-person games by giving the player eight additional options
to hold their weapon. Depending on the scenario and environment, a player will
choose the best aiming posture to gain an advantage over their enemy.
By holding down the right button the game pauses and a
circular menu appears, much like Red Dead Redemption’s weapon select menu
(refer to diagram). This menu lets the player select eight different
postures / angles for holding a sword, dagger, axe, or mace in one hand. Depending
on the posture selected, the third-person camera angle pans slightly out and
over the shoulder, giving the player an advantage.
Some postures include:
Some postures include:
- Right handed, over
the head for striking the head for more damage or over shields or knocking off helmets
- Right handed,
over the right shoulder for striking exposed necks for beheading
- Right handed,
from the side for striking exposed arms, either damaging or dismembering
- Right handed hip
height for concealment or damaging / dismembering exposed legs / chopping tentacles
- Right handed
below waist for jabbing to keep enemies at bay or striking exposed areas
Armored and non-armored enemies
dictate varying game play:
Enemies with different types of armor will make ASP selecting crucial for making critical strikes. Smarter enemies will switch their own postures during battle to keep the player on his toes. Helmets, breastplates, shields, chainmail, and other armor types will make the game play infinitely variable, as players will have to study their enemy’s weaknesses.
Enemies with different types of armor will make ASP selecting crucial for making critical strikes. Smarter enemies will switch their own postures during battle to keep the player on his toes. Helmets, breastplates, shields, chainmail, and other armor types will make the game play infinitely variable, as players will have to study their enemy’s weaknesses.
Unarmored enemies including beasts will be vulnerable in
different ways. Striking quicker, more agile enemies in the legs will be key to
fending off large groups. Hacking tentacles might make an enemies bleed out
making head strikes unnecessary. Jabbing certain flying enemies might be more
efficient.
And of course, hacking through a horde of unarmored enemies after some tedious posture switching battles will be rewarding.
Switch it up:
Different types of enemies will engage the player at once. Knowing what type of weapon be it a quick, dagger or a slower broadsword, will make fighting more effective. Temporarily disabling certain enemies with low (leg) attacks, letting a player engage a heavier armed 2nd enemy will add strategy to the fight.
An important feature might be a regular strike button, one that just slashes. This button would not only deliver a medium "generic" attack, it would return the posture to a regular stance. When the play wants to select a specific poster, they will access the ASP menu.
Level design will be infinitely variable as different waves of enemies (armor classes) engage the player.
Different types of enemies will engage the player at once. Knowing what type of weapon be it a quick, dagger or a slower broadsword, will make fighting more effective. Temporarily disabling certain enemies with low (leg) attacks, letting a player engage a heavier armed 2nd enemy will add strategy to the fight.
An important feature might be a regular strike button, one that just slashes. This button would not only deliver a medium "generic" attack, it would return the posture to a regular stance. When the play wants to select a specific poster, they will access the ASP menu.
Level design will be infinitely variable as different waves of enemies (armor classes) engage the player.
Critical strikes:
Powerful, over-the-head strikes will be harder and harder to accomplish throughout the game. Whittling down an enemies armor and health will expose their appendages for critical strikes. The harder the enemy, the more whittling, but that final head shot (decapitated, split in two, or crushed) will be the most rewarding points during game play.
Weak vs. powerful strikes:
Like other games, there could be a weak strike and a more powerful (slow) strike button (A and X button). Coupled with the 8 varieties of ASP posturing, the variables double. Maybe an over-the-head powerful strike is slower than a weak over-the-head strike, but if you nail it, the power is devastating. Heads explode, not sever. Similarly, if a player is in a low posture for leg slashing and uses a weak strike, maybe it is much faster than a powerful leg strike. The possibilities are nearly limitless when applying these strikes to enemy armor classes and types of skins, scales, or fur.
Powerful, over-the-head strikes will be harder and harder to accomplish throughout the game. Whittling down an enemies armor and health will expose their appendages for critical strikes. The harder the enemy, the more whittling, but that final head shot (decapitated, split in two, or crushed) will be the most rewarding points during game play.
Weak vs. powerful strikes:
Like other games, there could be a weak strike and a more powerful (slow) strike button (A and X button). Coupled with the 8 varieties of ASP posturing, the variables double. Maybe an over-the-head powerful strike is slower than a weak over-the-head strike, but if you nail it, the power is devastating. Heads explode, not sever. Similarly, if a player is in a low posture for leg slashing and uses a weak strike, maybe it is much faster than a powerful leg strike. The possibilities are nearly limitless when applying these strikes to enemy armor classes and types of skins, scales, or fur.
Fun with armor:
Think about the possibilities with knocking off an enemy's armor. A critical strike to the head might knock off a helmet. It rolls away, but another enemy picks it up and wears it as he attacks you. Imagine knocking a large weapon or shield out of a large enemy's hand only to have a smaller enemy try to use the same weapon or shield. It slows them down and makes them almost easier to kill.
A free hand:
When using the ASP, the character’s free hand will be useful. When surrounded, a free hand can shove (using the B button) one enemy when the player turns to strike another. Picking up and throwing severed limbs or decapitated heads (that you’ve just cut off) could distract enemies and beasts. Knowing that a certain beasts prefers human flesh, you can lob a human arm into a group of beasts and attack them from behind. Lobbing a severed head of a human at an unsuspecting human enemy might scare them, making them drop a weapon or shield.
When using the ASP, the character’s free hand will be useful. When surrounded, a free hand can shove (using the B button) one enemy when the player turns to strike another. Picking up and throwing severed limbs or decapitated heads (that you’ve just cut off) could distract enemies and beasts. Knowing that a certain beasts prefers human flesh, you can lob a human arm into a group of beasts and attack them from behind. Lobbing a severed head of a human at an unsuspecting human enemy might scare them, making them drop a weapon or shield.
Agility:
ASP will give player added agility and speed when a one-handed weapon is selected.
ASP will give player added agility and speed when a one-handed weapon is selected.
Concealment:
The ASP will allow players to conceal a dagger or small weapon by their side to stealthy close encounters. Posturing from the hip will make the character turn slightly to conceal the weapon. This might be handy for around-town encounters or when trying to trick an enemy.
The ASP will allow players to conceal a dagger or small weapon by their side to stealthy close encounters. Posturing from the hip will make the character turn slightly to conceal the weapon. This might be handy for around-town encounters or when trying to trick an enemy.
Incentives and rewards
Throughout the game, players will gain experience that
will help steady one-handed striking. Players will choose a weapon class they
want to develop first, making them more proficient in small, medium, or large weapons.
Switching between weapon classes within battle will be key which will make the
game play varied and ever-changing.
Players will adapt
The benefits of different postures will quickly become
obvious to the player. Players will adapt their own style according to their
favorite weapons.
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Breakdown for shooters
Shooters are starting to function the
same.
There is a glut of cookie cutter first-person-shooters on
the market. Though they make hundreds of millions now, the novelty may soon
wear off. Military shooters are starting to all look the same. Groundbreaking
games like Gears of War introduced
minor advances to the genre like an easy cover and dodge system and active
reloading.
First person shooters are also rigid. There are many more
creative ways to win a firefight. ASP is the answer.
What ASP does for shooters.
The Aim Select Posture menu (ASP) adds a dynamic
dimension to third-person shooters by giving the player eight options to hold
their weapon. Depending on the scenario and environment, a player will choose
the best aiming posture to gain an advantage over their enemy.
By holding down the right button the game pauses and a
circular menu appears, much like Red Dead Redemption’s weapon select menu
(refer to diagram). This menu lets the player select eight different
postures / angles for holding a pistol, sub machinegun, or shotgun in one hand.
Depending on the posture selected, the third-person camera angle pans slightly
out and over the shoulder, giving the player an advantage.
Some postures include:
Some postures include:
- Right handed, over
the head for firing over obstacles
like walls, barriers, cars, etc.
- Right handed,
over the right shoulder for firing over
and around walls, barriers, cars, etc.
- Right handed hip
height for concealment
- Right handed
below waist for firing under cars and other obstructive objects
A balanced approach
Scenarios dictate varying game play:
The game will balance shouldered long distance aiming both from a standing position and from cover as well as one-handed, close quarters shooting. Scenarios will mix the two like taking out three enemies up close with a one-handed pistol then quickly switching to a rifle to hit far-off enemies. Co-op campaign mode will stress long and close range cooperation.
The game will balance shouldered long distance aiming both from a standing position and from cover as well as one-handed, close quarters shooting. Scenarios will mix the two like taking out three enemies up close with a one-handed pistol then quickly switching to a rifle to hit far-off enemies. Co-op campaign mode will stress long and close range cooperation.
Rifles vs. pistols:
Most first person shoots focus heavily on rifles. The ASP will allow developers to exploit the maneuverability and design of semi automatic pistols, revolvers, and sub machineguns. A game that employs ASP should exploit customized pistols with longer barrels, silencers, extended magazines (full auto Glocks) and laser sights. Cut down one-handed rifles like sawed-off shotguns would play well with the ASP. Lever action shot guns and rifles, which can be cocked one-handed, would excited players. Specialty weapons like the Rossi Ranch Hand would also work extremely well.
Most first person shoots focus heavily on rifles. The ASP will allow developers to exploit the maneuverability and design of semi automatic pistols, revolvers, and sub machineguns. A game that employs ASP should exploit customized pistols with longer barrels, silencers, extended magazines (full auto Glocks) and laser sights. Cut down one-handed rifles like sawed-off shotguns would play well with the ASP. Lever action shot guns and rifles, which can be cocked one-handed, would excited players. Specialty weapons like the Rossi Ranch Hand would also work extremely well.
A free hand:
When using the ASP, the character’s free hand will be useful. Like in Kane and Lynch 2, players will be able to pick up gas canisters, fire extinguishers, and abandoned munitions. A free hand will allow the player to grab enemies as human shields after pistol whipping them or shove them off railings or into other enemies. A free hand can carry an extra magazine or a revolver’s speed loader for faster reloading.
When using the ASP, the character’s free hand will be useful. Like in Kane and Lynch 2, players will be able to pick up gas canisters, fire extinguishers, and abandoned munitions. A free hand will allow the player to grab enemies as human shields after pistol whipping them or shove them off railings or into other enemies. A free hand can carry an extra magazine or a revolver’s speed loader for faster reloading.
Agility:
ASP will give player added agility and speed when a one-handed weapon is selected.
ASP will give player added agility and speed when a one-handed weapon is selected.
Advanced cover:
With one hand free, ASP will allow players to lean over cars, stretch an arm around a corner, or lean under an obstruction to stealthily attack enemies.
With one hand free, ASP will allow players to lean over cars, stretch an arm around a corner, or lean under an obstruction to stealthily attack enemies.
Concealment:
The ASP will allow players to conceal pistol by their side to stealthy close encounters. Posturing from the hip will make the character turn slightly to conceal the weapon.
The ASP will allow players to conceal pistol by their side to stealthy close encounters. Posturing from the hip will make the character turn slightly to conceal the weapon.
Pistol whip:
With the ASP, each of the eight special postures will have a different swing, resulting in a different blow to the enemy. Over the head will kill an enemy; over the shoulder will knock them out; in the stomach will knock the wind out of them; in the knee will drop them to the ground.
With the ASP, each of the eight special postures will have a different swing, resulting in a different blow to the enemy. Over the head will kill an enemy; over the shoulder will knock them out; in the stomach will knock the wind out of them; in the knee will drop them to the ground.
ASP with rifles:
One-handed rifle shooting isn’t ideal; some rifles are heavy and hard to aim one-handed. The ASP will be an option with all weapons, but one-handed firing of large rifles will be a novelty. While aiming, the reticule will wobble more and more the longer the player aims. Close range one-handed shots or point-blank will be a challenging reward.
One-handed rifle shooting isn’t ideal; some rifles are heavy and hard to aim one-handed. The ASP will be an option with all weapons, but one-handed firing of large rifles will be a novelty. While aiming, the reticule will wobble more and more the longer the player aims. Close range one-handed shots or point-blank will be a challenging reward.
Incentives and rewards
Throughout the game, players will gain experience that
will help steady one-handed shooting. Players will choose a weapon class they
want to develop first, making them more proficient in small, medium, or large
pistols. Steadier aim, faster reloading, and less recoil will make a huge
difference in game play.
Players will adapt
The benefits of different postures will quickly become
obvious to the player. Players will adapt their own style according to their
favorite weapons i.e.; heavier pistols vs. lighter pistols – shotguns vs. sub
machineguns.
Customized
firearms
Although illegal in the real world, there are nearly
limitless ways to customize firearms. First-person-shooters haven’t exploited
this as far as they would. A chopped down lever action .44 magnum rifle would
be devastating and fun to shoot. Single shot shotguns with slugs would send a
smoking shell spinning with every reload. Fully auto pistols might be difficult
to aim in long bursts, but the customizing possibilities are endless.
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