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"Floating head" problem in FPS?
Which games have this problem? Which don't? Why?
by Ubrasaur
When playing an FPS, have you ever felt like a disembodied head floating around, and not like you are actually walking around (as is usually intended)? I'd have to say I don't notice this problem, but I've heard of others complaining of it a lot. What games have a particular problem with this? Also, what FPS's have managed to avoid this problem, and do you have an idea of how?
(I'd like to avoid this problem in the game I'm writing.)
Comments
I do kinda feel like this in some games, particularly those that let you look down far enough to see that you don't have any legs. Of the games that I think avoid this the best, the Metroid Prime series gives the best sense of immersion, I think.
thats an interesting topic to bring up LOL
I'm studying Metroid Prime a lot, hopefully I'll be able capture what it has for my game. I really don't want to have to render feet though X_X, they are so easy to screw up.
The Darknes was the first game I really felt fixed this issue.
I've always felt a sort of cognitive dissonance when playing FPS games.
Thanks Karoshi, can you put a finger on how it was fixed in The Darkness?
When you look down you'd actually see his whole body. I don't get why this was so heavily hyped with Alone in the Dark.
It also gave the player a sense of his momentum.
I'd say give the Darkness a try. Stand Jackie in front of the mirror in a bathroom and study how he moves around.
:( maybe I'll have to try to do that, it will be a bitch to animate though.
Valve games have always felt great. For games that feel floaty...hmm. Any poorly rated FPS usually has that. It's a lack of polish.
I'd like to think that the "floating head" thing is done with in games but I'm not sure. I remember that the first Halo was a floating head FPS and then by the time Halo 2 & Halo 3 came about that issue was resolved and people had full bodies and shadows to those bodies.
And Coop's right about Valve games. No "floating head" going on at that developer.
I can't play certain 1st person games because I get motion sickness and it's usually in those where the movement is too fast. But it has more to do with the fact that you're zooming around like you're playing Gran Turismo instead of walking than it does the lack of visible legs/feet/other body parts.
For me it also helps if the "floating head" has some natural movement to it such as a "head bop", not for the sake of realism but so I don't throw up my lunch!
In Oblivion I had to hack the walking/running speed to where it felt comfortable - even if it meant it taking me a little longer to get around. But I had no problem on horseback where there was a natural bounce.