DevNotes: "something rather brilliant from RoverDude"

[RAINCRAFTER]

I'm betting on giving more survivability (of heat) to the aero parts. I said that because Roverdude himself said that his ears were burning predictions and it had something to do with that idom, as well as someone pointing out the last week's denotes heavily implying some new aero related things popping up in 1.0.3. Actually, I'm either betting on them going for the survivable aero parts OR changing the re-entry sound effect.

EDIT: Wait, rather brilliant? I guess we'll just have to keep looking.

[ToyotaTim]

Judging by their last hyped secret feature (smoke dispersion near surface) I'm not very optimistic.

We need stock dV, radar altimeter outside cockpit, warp-to fix, better support for multiple missions (KAC?), atmospheric trajectory calculation, hoses,... and we get smoke.

To be honest, I was really glad when they finally decided to implement smoke dispersion near the surface. It was one of the features I realy missed in game.

As others mentioned, I also put my money on Landing Approximation as well

[Wallygator]

Judging by their last hyped secret feature (smoke dispersion near surface) I'm not very optimistic.

We need stock dV, radar altimeter outside cockpit, warp-to fix, better support for multiple missions (KAC?), atmospheric trajectory calculation, hoses,... and we get smoke.

So the next update will likely add mirrors? lol.

In all seriousness, The majority of actionable gameplay input (not parts additions or changes) from the community focuses on the above snip of core info needed by players to ensure long-term sustainable enjoyment. The idiotic philosophy of restricting game play information is redundant considering the real world improvements in HUD and flight controls. Squad would do well to release themselves from their old unfounded paradigm and embrace what their community is telling them.

I'm confident Roverdude will provide a nice feature - his work is fab and I have great respect for his efforts. Unfortunately he likely cannot effectively change the KSP product paradigm - so sadly, no its not going to be usable flight data IMHO.

When the community channels its inner V'ger and exclaims "Give us the information!", that is when Squad channels its inner Kirk.

[RoverDude]

So. I will say this.

The correct answer is in this thread.

Also to repeat from the other thread - set expectations appropriately. This is a featurette, not anything overly massive. A very cool one, and one I think people will like (and I expect modders to extend - I made sure there were appropriate hooks, and the coding bits were done with modding in mind).

It's more than just a single part (like the Flea or the Xenon Tank), but not as large of a thing as, say, asteroid mining. Size wise (to get a feel for what to expect) I'd put it at roughly the same magnitude as the heat shields, maybe a bit bigger in scope, but not much.

Let the speculation intensify.

[Warzouz]

Then I bet for heat management set of parts. (If it's not parts, then you're very sadistic RoverDude )

[heng]

[...]

The correct answer is in this thread.

[...] a featurette, not anything overly massive. A very cool one, and one I think people will like (and I expect modders to extend [...].

It's more than just a single part [...], but not as large of a thing as, say, asteroid mining.

[...] roughly the same magnitude as the heat shields, [...]

Let the speculation intensify.

So far we had: (classification based on my sole opinion!)

Too Big:

- USI Kolonization Systems

- Karbonite (Plus)

- Freight Transport Technologies

- Asteroid Recycling Technologies

- USI Exploration Pack

- USI Survivability Pack

Probably not:

- Alcubierre Warp Drive

- Lumigrids

- KSC Highlighted from space

Not sufficiently interesting for modders:

- Sounding Rockets

- Pipes for transferring resources

- Reentry Sound effects

- Clouds

- Landing Site Approximation

Just plain no:

- Magic Boulder

- v1.1

- Mirrors

Maybe? (order of my personal likings)

- Rover Wheels (because Roverdude)

- Radiators (because "a very cool one")

- Navigation Lights (because I would like it :-D)

/my 2 cents

Edited June 10, 2015 by heng

[Superfluous J]

The correct answer is in this thread.

This is a featurette, not anything overly massive.

I expect modders to extend [it]

It's more than just a single part (like the Flea or the Xenon Tank)

Not as large of a thing as, say, asteroid mining.

I'd put it at roughly the same magnitude as the heat shields, maybe a bit bigger in scope, but not much.

Let the speculation intensify.

Let it! Let's look at everything that was guessed so far, broken into 2 categories:

USI Kolonization Systems - Bigger than Asteroid mining. Also, this doesn't sound like a parts-only pack.

Karbonite - Bigger than Asteroid mining. A superset of it

Karbonite Plus - Bigger than Asteroid mining.

Freight Transport Technologies - I have no knowledge of this.

Asteroid Recycling Technologies - Bigger than Asteroid mining. Well, the same size at least

USI Exploration Pack - I don't know this either.

USI Survivability Pack - Again don't know it.

Alcubierre Warp Drive - Never going to happen in stock. I suppose it fits the rest of the criteria though.

Sounding Rockets - Not sure what coding hooks would be needed for these (which is why I don't think it'll be a parts-only pack)

proper navigation lights - I don't know what this is so can't judge on it.

clouds Keep dreaming.

magic boulder

light grid I like this idea but ... I don't know. I just don't think so

dV See "clouds"

radar altimeter outside cockpit Would be nice, but doesn't fit the modder coding hooks line.

survivability (of heat) to the aero parts I will admit I don't know what this is exactly. Do you mean making the parts more survivable, or the heat? In any case I can't see this being it, as that would be part of the whole rebalance that is going to make 1.0.3 take so long. I doubt they're hire out for that.

changing the re-entry sound effect Not a coder's job.

pipes for transferring resources between crafts and bases - This seems to fit the criteria.

landing site approximation a la trajectories - This could fit the criteria, though what coding hooks would modders need for it?

radiators or some other kind of active heat management This technically fits, but isn't all the code for this already in the game? All that's missing is the parts, and I already ruled out parts only packs.

new rover wheels / Folding/Retractable rover wheels This sounds pretty good and fits the criteria, but is there anything particularly new here? We have things that fold out, and we have wheels. Marrying the two is new but would it require code that would need hooks for modders?

KSC is now highlighted from space Cool, and I suppose possible. Maybe something a bit more general like the Waypoints Plus mod?

Out of the 5 MAYBEs above, I am leaning toward the first in my list. And not only because its the one I want the most

AAAAAND I've been ninja'd by a like minded poster

Edited June 10, 2015 by 5thHorseman
I accidentally left a "maybe" in the "no"s

[Yukon0009]

....

Bigger heatsheilds?

Or inflatable ones?

[Laie]

As Roverdude always point out just how "cool" it is, I'm still tending to something heat related. Retractable something would technically also be heat related, but there'd be little for modders to extend.

Radiators seem most likely, maybe with some framework for active cooling of particular parts -- "heat pipes" of a kind. Possibly even a coolant resource, that can be replenished so we're no longer stuck with single-use heat shields.

That said, would there still be time to equip the service bays with sliding doors so they will no longer collide with other parts?

[Wjolcz]

It's gotta be fuel hoses. Maybe not a big addition but would be super useful.

[psychopoak]

please make it be the hoses! I was considering installing KAS just for these, I would love to have that possibility. but at this point, anything that could reduce my number of mods is greatly appreciated

[Holyvision]

Don't forget about his newest USI-life support mod that adds basic and easy life support to the game!

Perhaps it's clamshell stock fairings, who knows. Regardless at least we know it will be cool!

Edited June 10, 2015 by Holyvision

[RoverDude]

That said, would there still be time to equip the service bays with sliding doors so they will no longer collide with other parts?

That would not change the colliders tho.

[selfish_meme]

A third Kerbal ....

[Melfice]

Squad would do well to release themselves from their old unfounded paradigm and embrace what their community is telling them.

Naw.

I'm okay with them listening to some things. But naw. A game without a paradigm is a massive pile of .... waiting to happen.

[LostOblivion]

It could still be landing site approximation. ferram4 will need hooks to have it work with FAR, for example.

[RogalDorn]

Maybe they finally fixed whatever bugs were keeping them from putting dV and thrust to weight information into the skills for the engineers. That was supposed to be 1.0, but they couldn't quite finish it. That's my vote...

[Robotengineer]

This is RoverDude's post from the Devnote thread. Parts with keywords that might be hints bolded for emphasis.

heh, I thought my ears were burning.

It's a small thing - but super cool, and thrilled we were able to get it green lighted for 1.0.3 - it's something I had been tinkering with in anticipation of a future release, but I'm pretty pleased with where it landed, and have been doing a ton of personal play testing in my own save for the past month or so. I think folks will be pleased.

Oh... and there was a hint in that previous statement. Let the speculation begin.

[tater]

Might it be exactly 4 parts?

[Snarfster]

This is RoverDude's post from the Devnote thread. Parts with keywords that might be hints bolded for emphasis.

It's obvious. Kerbals will have ears.

[Whirligig Girl]

Plot Twist: Roverdude singlehandedly made 1.1 in a matter of weeks.

I would not be surprised.

[Orbital Vagabond]

I'm sorry, but I really don't care for Squad's vague hints. I thought they would have learned by now that encouraging speculation is an irresponsible way to build up hype, but, oh well, the community just seems to keep eating it up.

I still don't think we ever got told what HarvestR's "little last minute addition that KSP just wouldn't feel right without" was just before launch.

Edited June 10, 2015 by Orbital Vagabond

[match]

How about a heat-dispersing part in the shape of an ice cube tray and a new 2-man pod in the shape of a martini glass?... I'm terrible at this game... It's a breadbox, isn't it?

A radiant breadbox?

[Ignath]

I'm sorry, but I really don't care for Squad's vague hints. I thought they would have learned by now that encouraging speculation is an irresponsible way to build up hype, but, oh well, the community just seems to keep eating it up.

I still don't think we ever got told what HarvestR's "little last minute addition that KSP just wouldn't feel right without" was just before launch.

That was revealed to be the dust that kicks up on takeoff/landing I believe...more accurately, that the exhaust is now affected by and can collide with objects like the ground and the launch pad (you'll notice that smoke now comes out of the underside of the launch pad when you lift off now, rather than just blowing down into the planet).

Edit: I agree that the hype that builds around things in this community can border on the absurd; however I think, while they hype is promoted by SQUAD, it's entirely driven by the fan base.

Edited June 10, 2015 by Ignath

[RoverDude]

I dunno, I think the guessing games and speculation is fun Both as someone fueling it, and someone speculating on it.