[Suggestion/Request] Ultimate solution for the "stationary ferry" problem

So the water in this game is basically 2 texture shader thingies which moves in the opposite direction of each other. It makes it seem as if the water is, well, water. To create an illusion of movement while riding the ferry, SE has tinkered with said water texture to make it seem as if though the ferry is moving ahead.

Here's a sophisticated rendition of the current water texture in the ferry instance. The length of the blue arrows represent the speed of which the water planes move in their respective directions.

http://i52.tinypic.com/yp3wo.png

As you can see, one of the texture planes is barely moving at all (It's actually moving in the SAME direction as the ferry is supposed to be moving! How was this overlooked? :eek:). Which means the water will seem to be stationary. Which means we've found the culprit in this drama!

Solution:

http://i52.tinypic.com/29tv2x.png

It kind of frustrates me that this hasn't been "fixed" yet. I know you've got better things to do SE, but we're talking editing a texture or two. It would improve the ferry ride tenfold. Please try to squeeze this in with 1.17.

Or just revert it to how XI did the barges and ships (actual routes.) It's more than a texture change, it depends on how the boat is actually being utilized.

I think they need to add more visual references to other objects. Why don't we pass other boats when traveling? There's a ton of airships, and only one boat? Where are the fisherman? Cargo ships? Or small islands to pass by?

As it stands, we really only have the water to look at as a point of reference. Even in real life, when you only have water to look at, you seem to be stationary.

It's like walking down an up escalator!

You're right about where it sits in the big scheme of things, but it bothers me because if you remember back to all those "EORZEA - Building a World" or whatever it those youtube mini-documentaries were called, one of them focused specifically on the ferry, and how they put a lot of effort into making the boat seem "alive".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ayerc

I think they need to add more visual references to other objects. Why don't we pass other boats when traveling? There's a ton of airships, and only one boat? Where are the fisherman? Cargo ships? Or small islands to pass by?

As it stands, we really only have the water to look at as a point of reference. Even in real life, when you only have water to look at, you seem to be stationary.

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This too. In XI, no matter where you were on the boat, you could still see landmarks in the distance.

Let's crawl before we walk. Editing the water textures takes minutes. Adding additional scenery takes longer.

But yes, I agree completely. The lack of landmarks and point of interests in the water disappointed me too. Was the first thing I looked out for during my first ride. The water didn't make it any better.

The ferry is essentially a loading screen and it drives me nuts.

Great work with those state of the art images, Kibo.

It needs pirates, and pugils, but no ninjas! They'd get in the pirates' way.

the ferries where machine powered in ffxi. I saw a ferry vid and it looked moving to me. Has a nice enya song with it so i watch it often. Maybe you guys feel its not moving because you don't see the water moving fast. I saw the water in the ferry vid that is very nicely made water compared to ffxi.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ayerc

I think they need to add more visual references to other objects. Why don't we pass other boats when traveling? There's a ton of airships, and only one boat? Where are the fisherman? Cargo ships? Or small islands to pass by?

As it stands, we really only have the water to look at as a point of reference. Even in real life, when you only have water to look at, you seem to be stationary.

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I like your idea, hopefully someone from SE will see this.

Yeah, in XI we pass (and get boarded) by Pirates from Norg, we can see for example the Star Tree or whatever it's called when sailing towards Windurst, we can see the Undersea Ruins when sailing to that Nashmau city and so on.