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Thread: ZONE / Zone Battle thread of vEry awEsomEnEss

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    Post ZONE / Zone Battle thread of vEry awEsomEnEss




    Ladies 'n Gents,

    welcome to the ZONE / Zone Battle thread of vEry awEsomEnEss!

    Within this thread you can share whatever you have to say about the ZONE
    mode and its multiplayer counterpart Zone Battle. Share your feelings, your love,
    or even your hate. Post your records, your pictures, your tips & tricks, or just
    simply have some chillin' discussions over here. Everyone is invited!

    Enjoy!



    .ZONE



    .Zone Battle
    Description:
    Zone Battle is a multiplayer variant of the ZONE mode included within the Fury
    downloadable content for WipEout HD. Contrary to the ZONE mode, Zone Battle
    has a preset target zone to be reached. The one who reaches the target zone
    first wins the race. To rabidly progress towards the target zone fly over Zone
    Pads that are distributed all over the track. These pads will load your craft
    with Zone Energy indicated by a Zone Bar displayed on your HUD. The
    accumulated energy can either be converted into a boost that will accelerate
    your craft to a higher zone level or into vital lost energy your craft depends
    on. Each time you boost, a Zone Barrier will be left in your wake as an
    obstacle. Avoid these barriers by all means necessary. Hitting a barrier
    without being shielded will cost you Zone Energy and a large fraction of your
    craft's vital energy. A brief shield is provided by just absorbing your Zone
    Energy.

    Technical details:
    Running over multiple Zone Pads, without using the current accumulated
    Zone Energy in-between, will increase your total Zone Energy a lot faster. The
    following table shows how the Zone Energy translate to zone levels and vital
    energy upon use either by boosting or absorbing the Zone Energy;

    [pads, boost, absorb]
    01, 0.0, 00.0
    02, 0.3, 18.6
    03, 0.6, 27.9
    04, 1.1, 37.1
    05, 1.7, 46.4 -- being save for one barrier hit
    06, 2.5, 55.7
    07, 3.4, 65.0
    08, 4.4, 74.3
    09, 5.6, 83.6
    10, 6.9, 92.9
    11, 8.0, 100

    The given values will be indicated by your Zone Bar.

    However, there are also some other ways how you can gain some Zone Energy
    for example by doing a barrel role, a perfect zone, or a perfect lap;

    [action, boost, absorb]
    barrel role, 0.1, 12.9
    perfect zone, 0.2, 15.7
    perfect lap, 0.3, 20.0


    based on an empty Zone Bar with one pad already taken. Note that a perfect lap
    amounts for about 2 pads.

    Hitting a Zone Barrier will decrease your Zone Energy and your vital energy as
    follows;

    -4 boost, -29.1 absorb, -40 vital energy.

    Getting destroyed will cost you 5 zone levels that you had already attained.

    Tips & Tricks:
    First and formost, get youself familiar with a track where you wanna race a
    Zone Battle on. Know where the pads are located and get used to the handling
    of your Zone Battle craft. Pretty obvious, isn't it? Wait! How you can
    gradually improve will be described on the end of this section. But let's have
    a look at some things you should care about when doing Zone Battle;

    • remember the target zone
    • watch the rate at which you opponents improve
    • watch who got eliminated
    • always try to fill-up your Zone Bar
    • expect more barriers close to the general racing line, on straights, and
      right after and before pads
    • an opponent having the shield put on won't likely to boost within the next
      few pads, but stay sharp, don't necessarily ride straight behind
    • always remember where you saw a barrier last time around


    Filling up your craft with Zone Energy depends on your piloting skills and at
    the situation at hand. As longer you can hold up filling your craft with Zone
    Energy as further you can go while boosting, but as higher the risk becomes
    loosing Zone Energy and vital energy due to a possible barrier hit.

    Techniques: How to treat a Zone Barrier?
    A Zone Barrier will be indicated ahead of time by a new device installed in
    every new Fury craft, called the Barrier Prediction Unit (BPU) displayed on
    your HUD. But be careful, this device has its limits.... The BPU will give
    you a hint ahead of time where on the track a barrier is positioned once you
    are in close proximity. If the BPU flags a barrier then immediately plan an
    alternative route and adjust the craft accordingly whether you can just
    actually see the barrier or not. Always try to swing-by in a rather smooth way
    to not mess up your steering on high speeds. However, if there isn't enough
    time or room for a proper swing-by maneuver then, odd as it seems, target the
    barrier and to a quick side-shift just before you would actually hit it.
    Side-shifting is quite effective on being 'close' to a barrier. Finally, if
    there isn't even enough time for a side-shift then the last option left is
    your shield.

    Hence, depending on the proximity to a barrier, we have the following
    techniques one can use to get rid of them;
    • smooth swing-by
    • side-shift
    • shield


    Hints:
    • Don't smash into a wall to dodge a barrier. This would mess up you steering
      and will cost lots of vital energy on high speeds.
    • Since a barrier hit cost 40 vital energy, always try to keep at least this
      amount of energy. However, going for victory sometimes means to take the risk
      of running sub 40 to collect Zone Energy for the final boost.
    • If your Zone Bar is almost full and if you got plenty of vital energy
      (>> 40) then don't put the shield on for an "inevitable" barrier hit, just
      boost through the barrier and refill your vital energy shortly thereafter.
    • If the BPU fags a barrier (that is currently not within your sight) on the,
      for example, left side of the track, then prepare to go for the clear right
      side because the indicated barrier may stay closer to the middle of the track
      as you might think by just looking at the BPU.
    • if you got caught by a tie in your brain whether you should go left or
      right around a barrier -- activate your shield (if you can)
    • Wanna annoy your opponents? Then just place a barrier at a blind spot
      or watch at what places the BPU fails and place them over there. xD
    • special: Show that you own the competition by winning a 55 Zone Battle
      with 62.9 zones.


    I pwn at Phantom Speed Lap, but I suck at Zone Battle. How to git gud am
    cry!?
    xD : I've thought off a way on how everyone can make real progress
    in Zone Battle. Go to Racebox and choose Zone Battle (max. zone 55, difficulty
    Novice) and choose a track where you wanna improve. Now start the race and
    boost up to the zone level you feel quite comfortable with (you can do perfect
    laps easily etc.). From there on never boost again! Just let the zone level
    increase by itself and try to lap perfectly by practicing to dodge all the
    barriers on the track. The AI takes ages to catch up (if you boost up to zone
    10 or so). So you got plenty of time practicing the whole thing. If you wanna
    have some more barriers on the track then switch over to Skilled.

    For additional information see Vartazian thread; Zone Battle Strategy Guide.
    (btw; Ignore my first two comments. )



    .Gallery
    Photos:

    1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ,

    5 , ...

    Videos:



    .Miscellaneous


    .ZONE Rankings [needs some serious updates]


    --

    The content of this post will change over time. Do not necessarily quote
    directly. The image size of some pictures shown do exceed the 50KB limit of
    WipeoutZone, but for this post there exists an exception to the rule to go
    beyond this limit, which was *explicitly* granted by the owner of WipeoutZone to
    not hinder my on-going creativity in creating something very unique for all the
    ZONE fans out there.
    Last edited by ProblemSolver; 16th August 2010 at 01:22 PM. Reason: took the rankings offline

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    WipEout HD version 2.0 was released just yesterday. The patch also includes
    some (unofficial) changes to the ZONE mode. Here are some things I've spotted;

    01: far-view is now as fluent as cockpit-view
    02: the low-shield sound is back
    03: less tearing at some well known spots
    04: handling + controller update

    10: not fully verified: the ZONE craft can take more damage
    11: halo effect during color-scheme transition; removed
    12: voice before start; removed

    20: some bugs on low-shield sound
    21: more polygonal aliasing
    22: random huge frame drops now and then


    more to come ...


    Can somebody please verify point 10? I'm not quite sure about it. I hardly
    noticed anything on Anulpha Pass (not the best track to test for such a thing,
    for me), but I did some test-runs on Vineta K, Moa, and Metropia, and I was
    just wondering why the shield didn't decreased as fast as usual when hitting
    hard.
    Last edited by ProblemSolver; 23rd July 2009 at 11:05 AM.

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    I just reached Zone 82, a personal best. I was excited, just thought that maybe I was having a good night. I guess you've shot that down, though...

    btw, shields have a little green meter and countdown on your health during races, I've noticed.

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    Heh, I don't get why they removed the bloom again, it was a cool effect. Epilepsy tests didn't agree once more? Or the framerate in Zone Battle?

    Control update makes zone zeus imo even more easy. I had a piss poor run trying to test your damage theory (I'm still unsure, though I think the ship seems fairly resistant as it can have two light scrapes and remain at the same energy percentage) and still got to 76. I made a perfect lap on zone 60, that doesn't happen.
    Last edited by Darkdrium777; 22nd July 2009 at 05:42 AM. Reason: removed pop in issue, it's the track, not the mode.

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    I noticed an improvement in controller responsiveness as well... got 37 consecutive perfect zones on my first post-patch zone attempt (though I suspect the removal of the beautiful but annoying bloom effect has a major part to play in this), my previous record being 26. The accuracy was very unusual at higher speeds, though, but I probably just need to get used to it... maybe I can get to zone 80 now.

    The return of the beeping when under 10% shield is probably going to drive me crazy, though.

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    I also broke my record on AP reverse (55, was 52) it's not much I know....

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    #10 could be true I suppose. I was trying out wipeout 2097 hud yesterday, so its hard to tell how much shield you have left when you're below 50%. Eg when you have 70 shield I think the bar itself is half full. So it appeared to me that my shield went down slower, but I may have just had more initially if you know what I mean. Anyway I'll see when I go back to HD hud.

    Also am I the only one who prefers the close up view? The craft feels more easier to control that way.

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    I got zone zeus post-patch first go after having been stuck on zone 67 for many months - placebo effect?

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    I've not beaten any PBs as yet but am preferring the bleeping noise below 10 energy and its not as bright as you change between "levels" as it was.

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    You're mine PS*, watch out!






    *Disclamer: May not actually be true.

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    Head might not fit between chicane at high speed on Anulpha pass

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    Rita Linsley at
    WipEout Fury Developer Diary - Creating The New Zone Tracks

    One word; Spectacular!

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    Regarding #10: I'm not convinced. I've beat a couple of my zone scores since the update, namely moa therma and anulpha pass. But both of those were down to more perfect zones/laps and a couple more barrel rolls. On Anulpha I actually died around zone 71 I think, zone 75 being my furthest. And on Moa I died on zone 59, the same zone as my previous record.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Darkdrium777 View Post
    ... Heh, I don't get why they removed the bloom again, it was a cool effect. Epilepsy tests didn't agree once more? Or the framerate in Zone Battle? ...
    Framerate. But still, the transition effect isn't as smooth as it could be.

    Within the next days I will link a 720p@60fps video from the pre-build version
    of WipEout HD ZONE, Anulpha Pass, that clearly shows that they got the thing
    right before. To whet your appetite, it looks awesome!

    Quote Originally Posted by Reezy View Post
    ... Also am I the only one who prefers the close up view? The craft feels more easier to control that way.
    I use it as well, but not for a record run. Not just yet.

    Quote Originally Posted by silverfox073 View Post
    I've not beaten any PBs as yet but am preferring the bleeping noise below 10 energy and its not as bright as you change between "levels" as it was.
    I got a BIG smile on my face as the bleeping noise kicked in. Holy!
    Everything is possible now!

    @Reezy: It might be possible that only some given impacts are effected.

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    Ok, here is my take about the ZONE score.

    Quote Originally Posted by guillaume View Post
    ... I'm wondering about two little things:
    - Zone scores are sorted first by score, then by zone, not the other way around. ... Why did you choose to do it this way? ...
    Quote Originally Posted by Roz View Post
    It makes sense to be sorted by score. Score also shows how many speed pads and BR's you've done, and that takes skill since it's a risk / reward system. Many BR's = many points but less shield. You have to compensate this by doing perfect zones. Also, speed pads are dangerous so they should also be rewarded.

    A pretty interesting system if you ask me.
    I have to agree. The thing is, it wouldn't be half as interesting if total zones
    cleared comes first. One can always catch someone on the leaderboard
    just by the score, which will bother both parties if you think about it. Ergo,
    both start to improve and the thing becomes even more heated. Even
    worse, there is no special reward for reaching a higher zone xD, since the
    rate of change of the (default) score counter remains constant. The only
    thing, in the end, that really pays off is doing perfect laps at higher zones,
    since as higher one goes as less time it takes to go around the track.

    Quote Originally Posted by guillaume View Post
    I'm not saying that the score should not be taken into account, I'd just rather have:
    . Rank 1: 130 Zones, 400000 points
    . Rank 2: 129 Zones, 400001 points
    . Rank 3: 129 Zones, 400000 points
    Than:
    . Rank 1: 400001 points, 129 Zones
    . Rank 2: 400000 points, 130 Zones
    . Rank 3: 400000 points, 129 Zones
    I tell you what. Your than-case is the one that builds up the competition!
    The one ranked in position 1 is pissed xD coz he didn't do a 130 and he
    essentially feels the pressure form the one in second place. The one in
    second place is also pissed being only in second place despite he can hold
    up for ten seconds longer. And the one in third place even thinks he can
    be first!

    Quote Originally Posted by guillaume View Post
    ... But in the end did people go for the score or the zones?

    My feeling is that score seems more important because the leaderboards are made this way. Make them the other way around and we'd enjoy Zone even more. Wouldn't we? ...

    EDIT: And Rita agrees!!

    Quote Originally Posted by Rita Linsley, WipEout Fury Developer Diary
    ‘Zone’ is speed experienced in its purest state
    ZONE can be considered as a path leading to perfection, a kind of perfection
    that has a memory (your score) that depends on all the previous things you
    have done. So one essentially carries a load around when doing ZONE. Being
    in the need for doing perfect zones / laps at very high speeds, given that
    load, builds up a huge pressure. And now it depends on you whether you can
    hold up or not.

    One will never get the feeling being in the ZONE if he won't carry a very
    valuable thing around. Further, perfection is always a limiting process and
    not a lucky shots.

    ZONE is walking this special path leading to perfection. Everytime I seriously
    try to go for a record I feel like being on a mission, a mission toward a goal
    that is virtually untouchable.

    And speed, speed is only one part of the equation. The speed gradually
    isolates one from all those things not necessary, it essential puts you right
    on track....



    EDIT:
    But guillaume, don't get me wrong. I had once the same opinion like you.
    Zones cleared and nothing else! But everything has turn around never
    thought possible. ZONE is something one has to get in touch with until one
    see the clear picture. So even from my text above one might likely not get
    it. One needs to be 'there' by his very own. It's hard to put in words.
    Last edited by ProblemSolver; 22nd July 2009 at 11:16 PM. Reason: an edit a day keeps the doctor away

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    Has anyone checked out the link at the bottom of Rita's blog that goes to the Flickr page with the new Zone photos? Man, they look amazing! I love fractal imagery and to be able to race round something like that will be mindblowing! Hurry up tomorrow!

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    ...I don't even know/remember what my score was when I finally managed Zone Zeus! That's how much I care about scores

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    @YouAreFubar: These pictures goes totally unnoticed. xD

    @okam: I've heard you girlfriend got a better score than you.

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    Cool

    I'm a girl, and I own my BF in any videogame we play ::ninja::

    Guys suck at videogames, true story!

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    We all know that girls don't play video games. Pure fiction.

    Now as for the original topic - Problem Solver - we all want a piece - you gonna deliever? I expect to see some bleeding thumbs and eyeballs in your Zone rooms.

    I will be one of those people - at least, I hope. Just to fight the Zone God himself.... just once.

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