The CryENGINE Free SDK will continue to be updated with the latest tech. We’re not discussing anything in regards to a Crysis 3 “Mod SDK” at this stage. Console commands will be more flexible than that of Crysis 2, but details on this we’re not going into yet.
2.What tools will server admins have access to?
If you rent a server from an RSP then you will usually start, stop and configure this server using web-based tools. There is no industry standard for these tools so you will often find that each RSP provides their own bespoke web frontends with customisations for Crysis specific features. As well as all the standard configurations you would expect (Names, Messages, Max Players, Time Limits and Custom Playlists) you are also provided with a suite of monitoring tools. These allow you to see who is currently playing, view historical technical telemetry and allow you to kick, ban and manage players who are not being good sports. There is also the live console where you can change game configuration variables in live games. On Crysis 2 we provided a GUI Tool which allowed users to connect to and configure console variables on their servers from their desktop PC's, and we are also looking to update this tool for Crysis 3.
3.What kind of anti-cheat is Crysis 3 going to employ?
Cheating in multiplayer games is something that we all despise and we recognize this was a huge issue in Crysis 2. We have a number of solutions that we are looking at right now, but we all need to understand that anti-cheats are just a means to something that may never get solved in our lifetime. Anti-Cheat systems combined with solid community support are really the two systems that help control these issues. Giving server admins the tools and empowering the communities to deal with the issues is what can really help make a great experience for everyone. We’ll be talking about this more as we edge closer to release.
4.Will the laser act as the same way it did in Crysis 2? I.E. giving the guns less recoil while aiming down sight?
The purpose of the laser sight (amongst other attachments) is to give players more weapon control through variables such as recoil and weapon spread. We’re continuing to improve and diversify the weapons of Crysis 3, including the iconic real-time weapon customization that you may have seen in other Crytek games, which is making its way into Crysis 3 MP. This ultimately gives the player choice in their play-style and where their strengths and weaknesses are.
5.Will there be an option to auto-download custom map content in the server browser?
Unfortunately, we’re not discussing any “Mod SDK” topics at this time. We’ll be talking more about this closer to release.
6.Will the Pinger and Alien weapons spawn location and time be random?
Yep! To prevent location spam/squatting, the aliens, weapons and item spawn locations will be randomized by the server on level load.
7.Other than making the game easier to play, why did the developers implement a separate energy system without consulting anyone outside of the franchise?
The energy system changes were made based on many tests both internally and externally, as well as monitoring of feedback and telemetry data. There was a clear issue with players, specifically players new to the Crysis franchise, being unable to manage suit energy, which would result in players thinking the Nanosuit was weaker than it truly is and not having an enjoyable experience. One clear and frequent example was players sprinting into the battle, only to die almost instantly as they had no more suit energy left for armour. Players sapping their cloak energy and then having none left for armour is another example. With the separate energy pools it gives new players an easier entry into the game without wondering why the suit is apparently weak, but it also gives veterans of the franchise more control over the suit with individual pools, timing of energy regeneration and ultimately more control over situational usage. Cloak, sprint, take some damage in armour, go back into cloak while armour regens, etc. It’s a deeper level of management but also more forgiving.
8.Will you support the MP scene by hosting tournaments or advertising to Fragged Nation/ESL/MLG?
We currently have no plans to enter into this arena, but that’s not to say it’s something we aren’t watching. If something ends up forming out of this organically we would look at the possibility of seeing how we could support it.
9.Will there be a disparity between equipment in SP as compared to MP? Equipment such as modules, weapons, attachments, etc.
We’re trying to keep the two modes the same as much as possible but there will be certain elements where it makes sense to do it in one but not in the other. For example, the suit energy changes make sense for multiplayer but not so much for single player, especially from a challenge standpoint.
10.Did the integration of Stealth Enhance into all of the Nanosuits cause you to add any clever extra anti-stealth measures to the game?
We’ve got some cool new features in Crysis 3 which will hinder your stealthiness if you’re not careful. Things like the electronic fields in doorways will sap your suit energy instantly and bring you to a grinding halt, but a smart player will hack these things before they get caught. We’ve also made a lot of heavy changes to the AI as well and they also have the ability to use EMP grenades which will also remove your energy and force you to take a different approach.
11.In comparison to C2 maps, will C3 maps be larger or smaller?
The maps are larger in more than one way. Especially in terms of the mix of outdoor and indoor spaces you’ll be able to traverse through.
12.Will power struggle make an appearance in Crysis 3?
At this point we can’t confirm or deny the presence of it. Let’s just say we wouldn’t rule it out as a possibility. It’s a mode that a lot of us that work on Crysis really enjoy and would love to see come to fruition.
13. Why did you add more “area of effect” explosives after seeing nearly all dedicated C2 servers ban the L-tag?
The Alien weapons are rare, short on ammo, on a respawn timer (once taken) and not always in the same location. It hasn’t been an issue in our playtests so far but we’re open to feedback from the community on gameplay balance. The detonation delay module now also works for L-Tag grenades. The L-Tag damage itself has been lowered to ensure it is not overused.
14. Does sprinting get canceled when taking damage?
No - players do not get knocked out of sprint when taking damage. This is new for C3MP and fits with the more fast-paced action.
15.What was the idea behind having dead CELL troops come back as Hunters? The Hunters already have Nanosuits augmented with infinite stealth and a one-shot weapon, they don’t need more. Why not have them not come back at all, or come back as weaker Nanosuits?
Hunter mode has undergone many, many hours of playtesting. It is a finely tuned game mode that is centered around balance. At face value it seems completely unfair, but wait until you play it and you’ll see how exciting it can be to play on both Hunter and CELL teams! The key thing here is tension, the game starts off at a slow pace with hunters stalking prey, as CELL get taken out the amount of hunters increase and it becomes about pure frantic survival. Initially we tried no respawning, however the final 20 seconds of a match would be a real anti-climix. We think stating that Hunter has gone through a lot of iterations to get us to where we are is an important point.
16. What kind of vehicles will be in SP?
We can confirm that there will be vehicles in-game, but we aren’t going into details as of yet and what role they will play in single player. We still have some time until release and will talk more about those in the near future.
17. Will there be a health meter that shows the specific amount of remaining health in Crysis 3?
No. We’ll continue to use the HUD to portray elements such as health and suit modes. It gives a more direct and immersive feel, rather than an old school number on the HUD that doesn’t engage the player.
18. Will Crysis 3 support SMAA 2x and 4x for PC?
We’ll be commenting on tech in more detail at a later date.
19. Will Xbox 360/PS3 have dedicated servers?
No, consoles will support peer-to-peer networking.
Enjoy! Good job, community, getting those questions out there! You guys rock!