Floating Text/Chat Bubble addon?

fabianff · April 2014

If it were allowed to modify their process memory, I could even make a chat bubble addon (simply by hooking 2 UI events, the drawing could even take place out-of-process).

CaptainFishSticks · April 2014

When you take out the social aspect of an MMO, why should it even be an MMO? Zenimax, please listen to your customers and improve the social environment of the game.

EDIT: I just realized something -- they have bealth bars hovering over characters' heads as an option, so is coding a chat bubble system really so much more different?

Bruro · April 2014

CaptainFishSticks wrote: »

When you take out the social aspect of an MMO, why should it even be an MMO? Zenimax, please listen to your customers and improve the social environment of the game.

EDIT: I just realized something -- they have bealth bars hovering over characters' heads as an option, so is coding a chat bubble system really so much more different?

I think the problem is the API not allowing it.

Cairenn · April 2014

What Bruro said.

class101 · April 2014

What Cairenn said

murklor007neb18_ESO · April 2014

Bruro wrote: »

CaptainFishSticks wrote: »

When you take out the social aspect of an MMO, why should it even be an MMO? Zenimax, please listen to your customers and improve the social environment of the game.

EDIT: I just realized something -- they have bealth bars hovering over characters' heads as an option, so is coding a chat bubble system really so much more different?

I think the problem is the API not allowing it.

Dont believe that was the point, think the point was that the "player linked UI element" is already there (ie a health bar, group tag, etc).

But yes, if the API exposed 3D coordinates of players that post something in the chat, chat bubbles through an addon could be done in a jiffy: Check Z distance to talker, if character is within range (20m, whatever) and in view draw chat bubble at X/Y+2m. Loop coordinate check/redraw and fade after 4s or if talker goes out of distance/view. Done.

For it to become perfectly smooth, ZOS need to do it in the engine though

Harva · April 2014

murklor007neb18_ESO wrote: »

Bruro wrote: »

CaptainFishSticks wrote: »

When you take out the social aspect of an MMO, why should it even be an MMO? Zenimax, please listen to your customers and improve the social environment of the game.

EDIT: I just realized something -- they have bealth bars hovering over characters' heads as an option, so is coding a chat bubble system really so much more different?

I think the problem is the API not allowing it.

Dont believe that was the point, think the point was that the "player linked UI element" is already there (ie a health bar, group tag, etc).

But yes, if the API exposed 3D coordinates of players that post something in the chat, chat bubbles through an addon could be done in a jiffy: Check Z distance to talker, if character is within range (20m, whatever) and in view draw chat bubble at X/Y+2m. Loop coordinate check/redraw and fade after 4s or if talker goes out of distance/view. Done.

For it to become perfectly smooth, ZOS need to do it in the engine though

Yea, and I think the reason they nerfed the API was to prevent abuse of being able to locate players in the game which could lead to add ons with hacks in them. Which is already a problem as it stands... Hopefully those creating add ons that hack accounts get caught before they completely get rid of add ons due to cheaters.

I was hoping to see chat fixes in the 1.1 patch updates. No dice, sadly. This game is getting really boring really fast with the lack of in game community that chat pop ups add. It's just dead.

I feel like I wasted my money on a game I won't play once my free month is up because there's nothing else to do other than quests and pvp or dungeons and that's not my mmo style.

murklor007neb18_ESO · April 2014

Harva wrote: »

Yea, and I think the reason they nerfed the API was to prevent abuse of being able to locate players in the game which could lead to add ons with hacks in them. Which is already a problem as it stands... Hopefully those creating add ons that hack accounts get caught before they completely get rid of add ons due to cheaters.

But the problem isnt exposing the location - its what you can do with it. Which mean that if cheaters/hackers can exploit this the problem is already there, coordinates exposed or not. Chat bubbles do not need any other function that isnt already there, ie moving an UI element.

You could of course also choose NOT to expose the location of the player and only reveal a single thing in terms of an actual number - distance. In order to position a chat bubble on screen, you'd have an in engine hardcoded location to place the UI element. You just specify "talkingplayer.whereheisonthe2Dplane" as location.

But whatever, as I said this really need to be done by ZOS blah.

Sariias · April 2014

I wouldn't mind chat bubbles. Sometimes people are talking and you have no idea where the hell they are. I like the minimal interface, but when it comes to interacting with other players it is rather limiting.

Mrchavoda · April 2014

just got to keep asking and asking and asking and if by next month its still not re-enabled then just quit the game. money always speak louder then forum post.

nalimoleb14_ESO · April 2014

Mrchavoda wrote: »

just got to keep asking and asking and asking and if by next month its still not re-enabled then just quit the game. money always speak louder then forum post.

Very good point, Mrchavoda - if they're not going to listen to players, or if they're going to be selective about who and what they listen to, well then...I can't be a loyal customer. I was really hopeful that Zenimax would have had a change of heart about implementing chat bubbles at this point, but if even now their customer support is still saying 'if there's enough demand for chat bubbles then Zenimax will take it into consideration', then that just sounds to me like a company that's waiting until their customers to raise picket signs and protest outside their office building before they'll do anything.

lycanslerwb17_ESO · April 2014

I'd like chat bubbles, so many times i have had to try and work out what a player wanted just by watching them jump and point, then following them.

One-Winged · April 2014

As I see it, there are tools for socializing with others. Chat bubbles would help, undoubtedly. But as I still manage to get to know new friends and not be slowed down at socializing at any point. One has to be creative though.

This is nothing gamebreaking for me, as many of you consider it to be.

reagen_lionel · April 2014

One-Winged wrote: »

As I see it, there are tools for socializing with others. Chat bubbles would help, undoubtedly. But as I still manage to get to know new friends and not be slowed down at socializing at any point. One has to be creative though.

This is nothing gamebreaking for me, as many of you consider it to be.

Thats fine for you, for the rest of us, its considerable. Which is why we're talking about the option.

Harva · April 2014

Here we go... I'd love to attend this bad boy but gotta work. They are having an AMA on reddit tomorrow.

A lot of us should be persistent in asking why they don't have this and when they will add it and give reasons why it's needed. A lot of good reasons too.

It's an option for players to use! Add it for crying out loud! Or a lot of us will just get bored and stop playing.

It is game breaking for the communities that thrive on socialization within mmos.

http://www.reddit.com/r/elderscrollsonline/comments/24bd5b/zenimax_craglornpostlaunchgeneral_ama_this/

reagen_lionel · April 2014

Harva wrote: »

Here we go... I'd love to attend this bad boy but gotta work. They are having an AMA on reddit tomorrow.

A lot of us should be persistent in asking why they don't have this and when they will add it and give reasons why it's needed. A lot of good reasons too.

It's an option for players to use! Add it for crying out loud! Or a lot of us will just get bored and stop playing.

It is game breaking for the communities that thrive on socialization within mmos.

http://www.reddit.com/r/elderscrollsonline/comments/24bd5b/zenimax_craglornpostlaunchgeneral_ama_this/

Good. Excellent. I may not be there at the time. But I hope those who would who want this, ask the questions for a clear cut way for them not to weave around it and get a straight answer. And cite this and many other threads where many people want this.

nalimoleb14_ESO · May 2014

Signing up for a reddit account right now! I'll be at work, but I'm sure I'll be able to sneak on and participate.

So how will it work, is there going to be an AMA reddit thread, we post in that thread, and Zmax replies to our posts?

Harva · May 2014

Yea I'm pretty sure they open a new thread and everyone can ask any question they want to ask even though they are trying to make it related to craiglorn. It does say "beyond craiglorn." as well, hinting at questions we can ask about what can be seen coming later on or requesting things to be added.

The devs do their best to answer questions, it seems the ones most asked get answered as opposed to those shooting a one off question. So if we can get a good amount of people to constructively ask or demand a better chat interface I think that could help us a lot.

Remember the devs did say after the game is released they were going to reevaluate what the community is asking for in ESO, we just need to make it clear that this is needed as an in game option they have to make.

It looks like auction housing is the most common thread on the forum right now. I have seen a few smaller ones for name tags and crafting options so we have to compete with those being the most popular right now.

reagen_lionel · May 2014

Yeah. So lets try to get as many people involved for the chat bubble option. For I think that would be the easiest thing and quickest they can implement anyway if they see enough people for it. And does little harm to the game itself in the aspect of change but make things better for everyone.

murklor007neb18_ESO · May 2014

Besides asking for chat bubbles directly, someone need to bring up if they will cater to roleplayers.

Dont mix the two up in the same sentence however. The last time we asked about chat bubbles and roleplaying, remember that the answer was that roleplaying in ESO is all about putting on an ingame disguise (like, "OMG I'm a skeleton!") and nothing else.

reagen_lionel · May 2014

murklor007neb18_ESO wrote: »

Besides asking for chat bubbles directly, someone need to bring up if they will cater to roleplayers.

Dont mix the two up in the same sentence however. The last time we asked about chat bubbles and roleplaying, remember that the answer was that roleplaying in ESO is all about putting on an ingame disguise (like, "OMG I'm a skeleton!") and nothing else.

Yes I definitly remember that. Roleplay and chat bubbles should be seperate topics in questions.

nalimoleb14_ESO · May 2014

Lol, I literally posted on every pro-chat bubble user's profile wall, letting them know about the AMA. Hopefully it helps to get the word out!

nalimoleb14_ESO · May 2014

I don't mean to doublepost, BUT GREAT NEWS EVERYONE!! This happened just a few minutes ago during today's AMA session:

My Question:
Are you aware of the demand for optional (toggle on/off) chat bubbles that players have been asking for since July of last year? Do you plan on listening to the players and adding back the optional chat bubble feature?

Zenimax' Answer:
Yes. We have chat bubbles working internally. So we want to enable them soon, and testing will dictate which update they arrive in.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cairenn · May 2014

nalimoleb14_ESO wrote: »

I don't mean to doublepost, BUT GREAT NEWS EVERYONE!! This happened just a few minutes ago during today's AMA session:

My Question:
Are you aware of the demand for optional (toggle on/off) chat bubbles that players have been asking for since July of last year? Do you plan on listening to the players and adding back the optional chat bubble feature?

Zenimax' Answer:
Yes. We have chat bubbles working internally. So we want to enable them soon, and testing will dictate which update they arrive in.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great news. Now to get them to add optional (toggle on/off) name plates (disabled completely in PvP so as to prevent unfair advantage).

nalimoleb14_ESO · May 2014

Cairenn wrote: »

Great news. Now to get them to add optional (toggle on/off) name plates (disabled completely in PvP so as to prevent unfair advantage).

Haha definitely agreed, Cairenn!

More confirmation from Zmax during the AMA:

"Chat bubbles is something we're actively working on, and are actually testing them internally now. As Paul said earlier in this AMA, we hope to enable this soon."

reagen_lionel · May 2014

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*M.Bison.gif*

Aurilis_Sungaze · May 2014

/cheer !!! This is a realy awesome news!

Harva · May 2014

I feel like the cheshire cat! I am so happy!!! Hahaha now my husband will finally buy the game to play it with me! He loves to role-play so much that thats his deciding factor in a game.

I can't wait to see ESO bustling with life now!

reagen_lionel · May 2014

Harva wrote: »

I feel like the cheshire cat! I am so happy!!! Hahaha now my husband will finally buy the game to play it with me! He loves to role-play so much that thats his deciding factor in a game. I can't wait to see ESO bustling with life now!

I'm glad to hear that. Roleplaying is a major major factor for me in any MMORPG. If I cant do it to an acceptable degree, I wont play it much.

Also relating to that and this topic. It was also mentioned they are looking to bettering the phasing in the game. So communicating and meeting people will be a bit easier.

murklor007neb18_ESO · May 2014

This is indeed great news. So little it takes to make a whole bunch of people happy... They could have told us earlier