Online Meetings, Pulse

[Rapier Racer]

Hmm FCK-CHEATERS now does the back quake? He didn't do it in any of our races, I guess he got curious when I did to him.

[infoxicated]

And so it spreads.

I notice how you commented about how the bomb is such an imbalanced weapon for the guy in the lead, Stephen, yet you don't make any complaints about how annoying it is for backmarkers when some willy-waver with a big lead can afford to turn around and use the Quake in that way.

[NeXaR_QroN]

touché

[Rapier Racer]

I think I can see the point your making here, if everyone started doing it things would get out hand? But then if you don't let someone get a huge lead in the first place then back quakes eliminated surly? If I'm that far ahead I feel I earned the lead and so, why should I not back quake? You said Del Stepho did it 3 times in one race?? OK that is taking the piss I do one if I got the chance and no more. It's not like I'm doing this in every race either its somewhat of a rare opportunity when it presents itself. Much rarer than the old timing out bomb lark, which constantly occurs

I'm also stuck in the mentality of "Other people are doing it to me I'll do it back"

[NeXaR_QroN]

And then, that sentence from Gandhi:

"An eye for an eye, and soon we'll all be blind" (I think it's the correct translation)

Sorry, I just had to.

[phl0w]

It'd be nice if there was a "random" option that selected the tracks at random!

I can't count the times I wished for that option. So many people just race Talon's and Moa over and over and over and... you get it. Also, when I host a race I always get the feeling that people might think I'd only choose the tracks I'm best at, while I actually put a lot of thought in my selection.
@Backquakes: I always thought that weapon pads have different probabilites what weapons they give away, depending on your position and the number of contenders. Maybe it's just my imagination, but it seems I hardly get Quakes when leading, but plenty when I'm chasing the pack. Speaking of unfair: There's really no need for the guy up front to get a Quake pick-up, or a ridiculous amount of Turbos.

[Rapier Racer]

So your suggesting the weapon pads should not spit out random pickups, you want a catch-up style system?

[phl0w]

They should, what I'd like to know though is, if there are different probabilities what pickup they spit out.

[CR4SH3D]

i dont think a catch up system would work too well because youd get loads more turbos and be able to catch up pilots much better than yourself if theres enough striaght sections

i never seem to pick up what i need when i need it, but then again i miss most of the pads

[zargz]

stuck in the lobby again

will try again later tonight

[Lion]

I've won races because I got lucky and had 2 laps of nothing but turbos and mines, and I've lost races where I've picked up nothing but bombs, mines and shields when middle to rear of the pack
it just goes with the game. There's a set probability of each weapon, so I just accept that "**** happens" and move on

my favourite thing about backquakes is when fate has smiled, so you have a shield ready. you can get through the quake with minimum impact and gain some serious ground on the leader.
I've had a couple of really close finishes thanks to people backquaking near the end of the last lap, then catching them as they turn back around

[Medusa]

I've nothing against backquakes. If I'm so slow I let the leader have time to turn around and fire one off, then I need to practice more. And as was mentioned, it gives you a great chance to catch up sometimes. Particularly if you've got a shield and then pick up a quake to toss back. I love the "riding the wave" feel to going over a backquake.

And I think whatever randomness there is to Pulse's weapon pick-up is absolute crap. I picked up 3 quakes in a row online last night. I don't recall that type of "randomness" happening in any of the other wipeouts. Anyone else?

[lunar]

I always felt with Pure online that pick ups were not completely random, and that there were probabilities attached to weapons pick-ups, depending on your situation in the race relative to the other ships. I could describe some situations that I feel make you more likely to get certain pick ups. On the other hand, we often see patterns where none exist so it could have been paranoid insanity caused by late night Kai action. I haven`t played enough Pulse to get that feeling.

As for back-quakes, I think they`re valid if you need to kill the other guy to win the tour, and occasionally they`re fine for a laugh or to make a point , but I believe in moderation and when people get more interested in blasting than racing it gets tiresome. The racers behind may be in a good fight for second, or just trying to improve their play, and a back-quake screws it up for them. Also if you beat someone because they turned and quaked you, which happens often enough, it feels kind of cheap; especially when you thought you might catch them anyway. I kind of think that in a racing game everyone should race to win, and win as fast as possible (didn`t Pascale Rouser say something similar), and when the play loses sight of that I don`t really enjoy it.

[zargz]

congrats xuzen!

energy low on the last race?

[ZenDJiNN]

LOL!! Thanks zargz - That was one of the best Tourneys i've had fro ages. Shame that all the others DC'd..... Last race one of the children woke up just as i was about to finish, and as you'd already pretty much won i put the PSP down & went to see what she wanted.

I wanted to stay around for another set of races as well, but had to get some work done. Hopefully we'll get the chance to do that again sometime..... but i'll have to polish up my Arc Prime Black i think!

[Lion]

if you beat someone because they turned and quaked you, which happens often enough, it feels kind of cheap

I don't find that at all, to backquake is the action of a showboater, so if I sneak past and gain a victorym I think "haha, serves you right"
I've tried to deal out backquakes before and been passed too.. and my thoughts are "oh well, that'll teach me for getting cocky"
so basically I disagree strongly with your point

[lunar]

I think you`re probably right to disagree with me If somebody BQs you, let `em have it! I think also that your "c`est la vie" attitude to weapons pick ups is admirable. Whatever the system, we just have to get on with cards we`re dealt.

[Frances_Penfold]

I always thought that weapon pads have different probabilites what weapons they give away, depending on your position and the number of contenders.

I have wondered this as well-- it's clearly not such a conspicuous system as in Mario Kart (first place always gets weak pickups), but it seems possibly non-random to me.

Maybe sometime we could do some statistical tests with online races between WOZ members. Or maybe the good people of Studio Liverpool could simply tell us how the pick-up system works

[Vincent_VII]

I have noticed that in AI and online matches I almost always pick up shields or turbos while in the lead. If I am dead last and far behind, I usually get shields and turbos. When close behind the leader I usually pick up missles or leach beams. When in the middle of the pack I almost always pick up rockets, mines or bombs. Quakes seem totally random.

There is slight randomness to pickups but.... not. Very rarely am I surprised by what I pick up. If I need a turbo, that is usually what I get. If I am in a situation where I need a missle, I usually pick one up. Usually being maybe 8 out of 10 times.

[Rapier Racer]

Hmm this is an interesting question. I believe theres a probability system and its not as random as we think, the sheer number of Turbos the game spits out should be proof enough, when was the last time you got 2 quakes a lap from the same 2 pads for 3 laps? All those turbos allowed me to close down what was a huge lead I don't remember the opponent just the 'Where the hell did you come from!' afterwards.