My specualtion (as that's a buzzword we're throwing around at the moment) is that it's more of a matter that it's deemed to be an unimportant element of the game, even if it is cool. I cannot speak from the programming side, as that's one category I'm very poor at, except to say that it's obvious the game can track and record coordinates of entities that aren't even loaded into memory at the moment, so it should be just a simple matter of applying some ocillating algorythm to one constantly in motion or add some sort of 'Entity:Elevator Coor X = (planet coor x&y(x&y)+1 when [signal] until X(2), then -1 until X(3))' It fits less in a game like Terraria, which is more fantasy based than sci-fi, and I imagine it is actually a bit more to work with in a game like Minecraft, what with all the collision possibilities and other things. But it would fit wonderfullly into StarBound, so, if it takes someone modding it in, I wish someone would get on that.
I wish that people would stop saying "It would work in Minecraft" or "It would work in Terraria". Yes, they are semi-similar, but that doesn't mean anything with code and things like that. Yes, Starbound is based off of the basic system that Terraria presented, but they are entirely different in most ways. It might be easy in other games, but probably not as easy on Starbound.
Well, I hear what you're saying, but just the notion that we're using the words "Probably" and speculating about concepts means we really, and I mean that mutually, have no idea whether that's true or not. And, it's the comparison of similar things, especially those that draw direct inspiration from one another, that lets us see the difference between them, in a sort of live Venn diagram. Starbound definitely occupies its own area away from those similar projects around it, but it definitely shares space with them too. Coding, even between different code languages, share a lot of the same syntax and rules, and the only thing limiting a given function from existing in a program is how intent or creative its creators are (including modders).
In place of elevators, especially in ships, have this mod implemented in to the game and add switches to change the direction on the ships: http://community.playstarbound.com/index.php?resources/force-gates.1406/ Not only do you get elevators, but you get all sorts of fun things that you could do with them, like protecting your space station from meteors. Or mazes, acceleration gates, fun-physics-related-trampolines, no-entry barriers, etc. Tons of possibilities with a simple solution. Either way, + for elevators.
Elevators doesn't have to be platform based, it could be gravity based too. There are some games where there are 'elevator tunnels' where air or gravity flows in a single direction and pretty much 'sends' anything in it to a destination like a vacuum. Pretty much it can be as primitive as a 'fan' on the ground which blows a character upward, though there is a lack of 'landing' safely in that case of going downward. Then it can evolve to a technological type where you use anti-matter materials to construct a 'anti-gravity' panel which repels or attracts things in like a tractor beam. Then when deploying it must be attached to a surface, meaning you can aim it sideways or vertically, and can be attached to a wire to change it's properties. Basically what it can do is 'push' or 'pull' a player and disables gravity penalties on them unless they aren't in the line of sight of the tunnel/beam. Maybe they have a limited range of functionality seeing how these things are actually powered. Seeing how it's a wired prop, it has to be created from materials and then replicated via 3d printer, though it does take up a large cost in doing so.
I agree with this post in most aspects. It could easily be something that sends you up, but only sends you up so far, so you must jump between air tunnels (See below for example). For this part, Maybe, you can loot them from dungeons or craft them with Titanium Bars and the Propellers from Avian Airships. You could also invert it by putting power to it, so you can go up, press a button, and have it send you down softly. Example: |--....| |....--| |--....| |....--| | = Walls -- = Gravity Platform .... = Open Space
I think the simplest thing is to have a platform that effectively turns off gravity for a tiered set height (say copper = 25 blocks or 4 floors). Simply hold the jump button while above it, and float until you reach your desired floor. For highest tiers, could go into orbital stations, and as such would require acceleration the longer you hold jump.
I am very confused by the issue at hand. Not trying to troll or anything and my knowledge is admittedly limited but I do have a rudimentary understanding of coding and game mechanics. So here is my question. How is collision detection a problem with elevators? I mean clearly if you put something in the middle of your shaft it is going to stop the elevator I just don't see how that is in any way a problem or reason to not implement elevators. The solution is to simply not put dirt blocks in an elevator shaft. So I started thinking about how your character might bump into floor tiles, or how the floor of the elevator might bump into wall or other floor tiles but even then I don't see how this is an issue. Aren't the background tiles on a completely different layer so they wouldn't affect a moving platform? I just picture something similar to minecraft where you lay down the track, and the elevator is able to move along the rail you have set down. Couldn't this be done with elevator cable in the exact same fashion? I mean even if they cant make a moving platform for whatever reason (hopefully you can explain it to me) they could at least do something like the Sky-Rail from bioshock infinite. The rope in terraria works similarly. You just jump onto the rope and hold up and zoom up the rope. Also if they made a sky-rail you could make a transportation system that worked both horizontally and vertically. Or they could make pneumatic tubes like they have in futurama and we could all get thorough nerd boners.
Simply making vertical sky-rails would solve this. (Directional to go up, pool of water or directional change to go down)
Not having any experience with the skyrail system yet, I wounder if use of the vertical track jumping sctiones might be usable for this? dig a double wide shaft, one side to go up, the other to go down. I'm not yet familiar with the sky rail system so if this is not a viable method, please let me know.
You could have custom made 'rails' that is 5x5 in size, so it's one gigantic tile you are placing rather than 1x1 tiles in small segments. Then the elevator itself can be 5x5 or any size within that scope. Maybe make it so it's green to be placed when it's properly aligned with a existing elevator shaft tile, or a elevator stop point tile. It can be red if the requirements aren't met. Like a jigsaw puzzle that can only connect on two sides opposite of each other: Code: ↑ [_] ↓
To be fair, there are several mods that go about 'solving' the elevator problem-each with their own unique problems. It CAN be done, the real question is 'how efficiently and in what design' I've tested several and to be honest the most effective elevator system I've found has been based off the magnets in the Starfoundry mod. It takes some finesse, but I've been able to launch myself high enough to lose heat. (The difficulty lies in building a straight shaft and a solid exit point.) Elevators are inherently more trouble than their worth in Starbound; if you're building one than chances are you won't leave that planet for a while. They are almost solely for base building. That being said, in a very Starboundy way: it's up to your own ingenuity to solve the problem. Everyone has a different playing style and different solutions will work differently. This thread shouldn't be about 'what should the devs include' but 'Elevators: here's my solution, what's yours'
I agree things like elevators and teleportation beacons are all about lazy convenience. Starbound, by its very nature is meant for the player to attmept to solve problems and puzzles using their own methodology. and rewards those players who come up with effective and creative solutions. Outside using a mod, achieving such conveniences should remain do-able, but should also be a measure of one's skill and creativity. Such feats should be something for players to brag about. "Hey! I figured hout how to make any elevator!" "I can get to core of the planet on the side with just pressing two buttons!" As with any modern convenience they are intially difficult to accomplish, but once discovered how,to do so, they become an easily duplicated system for those with knowledge and resources to employ them. That is part one of the major philosphies of the game after all.
The moment you got the resources to hit the core of the planet easily is when you've already mined out most of it before you got the elevator up. Elevators are mainly base building yes, but in general makes the most sense for multiplayer due to more kinds of interaction between players.
Actually i think 'elevators' would be useless, to me could be something more inovator, like teleporters, and then it would be 11/10
i dont see why everyone is getting upset over this marvelous idea, making a city would really be way better if i didnt have to use stairs all the time.
I would like to have elevators too or some form of transportation... like a tram of sorts. A vehicle that's fixated onto a horizontal set of tracks, moving back and forth ( could be wired ).
