mattfatmarrow.bsky.social
Unreal Engine game dev (game mode design & code / UI coding / c++ / lua / BPs / mods / &c). Some familiarity with dev ops, but it bred contempt. UK & EP patent attorney. Pro photographer for a while (weddings, festivals). Writes bad sci fi. Give ☕ pls.
2,592 posts
648 followers
1,697 following
Active Commenter
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Cool enough. Can recommend.
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What email? Sorry, I didn't read the whole tattoo
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I am so committed to Dick that I read all his early short stories. Individually, some good stuff and interesting ideas, but when you read them all in one sitting, well, a guy had to make a living.
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People who aren't really into stuff will never understand how weird I find it when other people aren't really into stuff. Why would you not be really into stuff? What fills the void?
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Nice tattoos. It's just lies put out by Big Tattoo Removal.
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Client will be delighted, I'm sure.
"Did you get to make all of the points in your time slot?"
"Oh, listen, honey..."
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I feel this is a bit rich coming from someone who clearly uses the acreage filter on HotOldFarmers dot com
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That job is a bit brainy for me. I prefer quantum tunnelling.
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I don't want to brag, but my memory is so good that I can remember being an insufferable wanker ever since as well.
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"Final" Fantasy -- the most dishonest word in gaming
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But it is not beyond the wit of man to make games use fewer controls.
Or, fuck it, do a full ARMA.
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...but the main take-away I got from people here is that you're really fixing a problem that can only really be solved by colour-blind compatible visual design from the bottom-up.
Probably similar things apply to typical controller button layouts. But if you've got them all, people will use them...
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That's pretty cool.
I did a bit of work on colour-blind support as well - one aspect was allowing players to change laser and UI highlight colour from red to whatever they wanted. Another thing was to apply look-up tables to apply colour correction of an appropriate type. .../
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That is simply my preference, and I was expressing it. I apologise if my post came across as hostile to other PC controller users.
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That's fantastic. I worked in a relatively small team on a tactical shooter and we did what we could, but the most advanced peripheral we were asked to work with was a bog standard controller. I imagine there are probably utilities to adapt more advanced kinds of controllers to generic games.
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No, I am not saying that. Happy to clear that up.
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I am nowhere criticising a game having controller support.
The issue is the launch pop up making me feel like playing it without a controller is not worthwhile.
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I'm put off by what I'm put off by.
As a game dev, I would consider that useful feedback.
If you just want to be judgemental and tell me what I should have known, but didn't, go for it.
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I do now wish I had phrased my original post differently. Fair. Not trying to take a stand on whether controllers are good or bad, or should be used. Mainly annoyed at this particular bit of UI.
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I'll accept that - apologies for the clumsy phrasing.
I don't begrudge anyone wanting to or needing to use a controller or other device. I don't begrudge devs wanting their game to be played with one.
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GamerHate > GamerGate
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The framing and wording "This game needs a controller..." is awful.
I am not dunking on people who want to use controllers. Go for it. But I think game devs need to be aware of this huge amount of friction, and do something better and more inviting in-game.
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In fairness, I think the problem is someone ticking a Steam tick box saying they thought the game was best played with a controller (not my bag, but a legitimate belief) and then Steam popping up this uninviting wording that casts doubt on whether other controls are supported.
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In a tactical shooter game I was working on, it was more the other way round. Keyboard and mouse were standard, but people wanted to use controllers. We had to do increasing amounts of things to support them, but mostly things could be setup using utilities outside the game. Seemed fairly easy.
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On further reflection and discussion, the issue is that Steam presumably let you just tick a box to say you prefer use of a controller, and the first words of their standard pop-up are "This game needs a controller ...".
It's just so off-putting for anyone that would rather not use one.
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Reading it again, "This game *needs* a controller ..."
The words that follow soften this of course, but it's such an off-putting way to frame it.
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At a superficial level it seems a great idea that makes things a lot easier for developers. Don't worry about making your own custom stuff; just tick this box if you think your game is best played with a controller!
I wonder what % of players don't have a controller to hand.
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In all likelihood, as discussed elsewhere, other controls are probably supported. But it's a combination of the timing of this horrible pop-up, and the poor wording of it, that IMO creates unnecessary friction. Why would you want that in your game?
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The game in question (I won't name it) is apparently a commercial success, so what do I know. But as a game dev I wouldn't want to create any unnecessary friction, especially before the game even ran.
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Also the immediate impression I got (trying to see this as a player and not a game dev) was that anything other than controller would be a disappointing experience. Again, that's partly the choice of wording that you probably have no control over.
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I take it that the wording is optional, but it could be a lot less ambiguous and inviting to non controller users. I also get that this seems to be some kind of Steam tick box.
From a user experience, I think it can be handled a lot better with custom UI (see my other posts).
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The biggest problem I have is the immediate chunk of friction that pops up before the game even begins. I am a game dev but also a filthy casual. I have used many consoles and many controllers. But I want things nice and simple if I'm firing up a dumb PC game.
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Apparently a controversial position.
You think your game is best played with a controller. Fine. Let the game run, do an intro cutscene or whatever. Bring the player in. Do a pop up: "You can use keyboard and mouse controls if you wish, but we recommend using a controller for the best experience"
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Sorry, simply not feeling it today
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You have a great day too, but please keep the gaslighting to yourself.
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Imagine that someone on the Internet not liking the way controllers are demanded for a game causes you so much distress that you come on here for an argument about it.
This isn't productive. Shall we leave it there?
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Whether you love controllers or not, that is just not a great bit of game design IMHO.
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It's a pop up before you launch the game, and makes it unclear if you can play the game any other way. It an immediate huge piece of friction, and it's not friendly at all. Imagine designing a game with a specific interface in mind and making that not at all clear on your store page.
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Imagine releasing games on the Playstation and popping up 'this game is best played with a mouse and keyboard. Please plug those in'.
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I have been playing games on computers for approximately the last 40 years, and for 39.5 of those years, neither I nor the game developers were snooty about me not using a controller.
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"Why are they forcing me to use AI in ..."
The answer is this.
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Talk about REMF
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Sounds entirely normal. Who amongst us isn't offered $100m sign on bonuses on the regular?
Bonus: if I farted into a cup I would have created more shareholder value than these bozos.
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You got this
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They gathered. Does what it says on the tin.
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I wonder what horrible sociopathic method they have devised to squeeze dollars out of it - because they will have one.
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"Do No Evil" was their corporate motto, can you believe it.