Revised blip system... in the works?

[scubadave]

We all know that the blip system leaves something to be desired.

I have already made multiple tickets to Rockstar about this, but I'd like to get some crowd sourced suggestions that will help Rockstar with how the blips are handled in future patches. I suspect it's in the works because we saw the modifications to DMs in 1.11 (not good).

 

IV had positives and negatives, but it seems like they ignored the best parts of IV (colored blips, far/close blips settings, etc.) and instead went with some hybrid system where you don't even know who is who and now with the way blips are in DM's in 1.11, I think it's time to get a unified discussion going. I'll tally up the suggestions with a spreadsheet and submit the data to Rockstar.

 

After many previous, fragmented discussions, the following was the most comprehensive proposal from the community. Is this good enough or are there additional things needed?

 

 

Some additional things to consider and discuss:

• TDM/DM blip mechanics
• far/near/all/none blip settings for free roam
• 1v1 DM blips
• NPC blips (mercenaries, in particular)

 

DETAILS AND EDITS:

• Each player has their own color (a la IV)
• 2 or more in one car, the blip is multi-colored with # of players inside
• Friend has a blue outline (status quo), friend of friend has a light blue outline
• Bounty has red outline
• You are red if you have a bounty
• Crew color outlines, if applicable (status quo)
• Crew and friend split the outline half/half (status quo)
• Up/down arrowhead designates above you or below you
• X on a blip marks the last player to have wasted you
• Just got wasted are X's, person who did it flash briefly (status quo)

Edited March 21, 2014 by scubadave

[Art:Vandelay]

Lets just throw out everything rockstar did in v and make iv multiplayer in v

[Ninja_Gear]

Sorry but you forgot another icon for male players playing with female avatars:

[backward_axis]

I like the option for no blips showing.

Unless player has a bounty, firing unsilenced weapon, traveling above certain speed in certain vehicles. Didn't RDR have some sort of lobby like that?

[wanes]

Fixed.

[Realz]

Not bad, i like this!

[scubadave]

I like the option for no blips showing.

Unless player has a bounty, firing unsilenced weapon, traveling above certain speed in certain vehicles. Didn't RDR have some sort of lobby like that?

 

the no blips would be okay in a TDM or DM and missions but tbh in freemode it may get a bit boring seeing as you will virtually never see anyone unless by chance. in RDR, lobby was okay, but IV's map was interesting with the far/close blips settings. you could see blips far away so you could go drive over to their general area then the blips would disappear when you got within a block or two. the close settings I think was you couldnt see any blips unless you got near others then they would pop up. probably a far blips setting would work.

[ShinobiFixer]

How about just a crouch for stealth mode that turns it completely off, as well as standing in place keeps it off while in cover.

 

Running, shooting an unsilenced weapon, walking, being in plain view then you show up on RADAR.

 

Or a hardcore mode with the RADAR HUD just completely off.

Edited March 21, 2014 by ShinobiFixer

[Jolly Swagman]

This is how I picture Scuba Dave. Check out his Scuba Tank:

 

Edited March 21, 2014 by Jolly SWAGman

[WBaker]

How about a bullseye for GTAF staff?

[backward_axis]

 

 

I like the option for no blips showing.

Unless player has a bounty, firing unsilenced weapon, traveling above certain speed in certain vehicles. Didn't RDR have some sort of lobby like that?

the no blips would be okay in a TDM or DM and missions but tbh in freemode it may get a bit boring seeing as you will virtually never see anyone unless by chance. in RDR, lobby was okay, but IV's map was interesting with the far/close blips settings. you could see blips far away so you could go drive over to their general area then the blips would disappear when you got within a block or two. the close settings I think was you couldnt see any blips unless you got near others then they would pop up. probably a far blips setting would work.

Well, friends/crew could show up all the time in FR. But, being as it is GTA, people tend to be noisy pretty often, so I don't think finding others would be by complete chance. This way, that BMX guy could just BMX without being targeted for immediate destruction. It would also give a reason to own cars like the Voltic and Surge; other than Virtual Environment Protection Smuggery.

[ShinobiFixer]

 

 

I like the option for no blips showing.

Unless player has a bounty, firing unsilenced weapon, traveling above certain speed in certain vehicles. Didn't RDR have some sort of lobby like that?

the no blips would be okay in a TDM or DM and missions but tbh in freemode it may get a bit boring seeing as you will virtually never see anyone unless by chance. in RDR, lobby was okay, but IV's map was interesting with the far/close blips settings. you could see blips far away so you could go drive over to their general area then the blips would disappear when you got within a block or two. the close settings I think was you couldnt see any blips unless you got near others then they would pop up. probably a far blips setting would work.

Well, friends/crew could show up all the time in FR. But, being as it is GTA, people tend to be noisy pretty often, so I don't think finding others would be by complete chance. This way, that BMX guy could just BMX without being targeted for immediate destruction. It would also give a reason to own cars like the Voltic and Surge; other than Virtual Environment Protection Smuggery.

 

 

 

Love that idea, stealth vehicles like the voltic and surge would skyrocket in the market... BMX'ing too... I would already think along those lines while driving those cars. They'd even work if Los Santos was ever invaded by a zombie horde.

[LordVukodlak]

I think a color for friend of a friend would be good. That way you know that guy approaching you and your friend X is a friend of X.

[homeskillet]

I'd bet R* has put you on an ignore list.

You do get a +1 for the boobie icon but that's about it.

Edited March 21, 2014 by homeskillet

[j0hn_d0e]

I like the last player to kill you blip.....

 

A lot.

[Franceska]

Why do girl gamers need their own blip ?

Some actually like to play without people chasing her more than some do..

[Stephen]

As far as the revised blips for the DM and TDM in the last update, I haven't really noticed any negative impact from it, and I play allot of them everyday. Removing it completely wouldn't be a bad idea, but the Lester spamming would get out of control. It's one thing to use him once or twice in the match. I was in a match last week and no exaggeration, 30 minute match, one guy on the other team must've used him close to 20 times. If you want to see blips go back to free roam. As far as your idea for a new system, it probably would work great, but I would like to see others things attacked such as the console freezing, and the wall breaches over anything else.

Edited March 21, 2014 by SteveNYC81

[The47Finn]

To be honest I see nothing wrong in the way the blips work in freemode. Knowing exactly where other players are is a plus. It's simple.

 

In this suggested system, you'd have 16 multicolour blips, some with indescernible outlines, some with a pair of tits, some seemingly playing a crimson triangle, disappearing and reappearing randomly from view? Only for some kid with a BMX and an RPG to appear from nowhere next to you - just before you become an X.

 

I love to see suggest changes, but only if they improve the game. I think in this case, too many changes are being suggested.

[PancakePoon]

Why do girl gamers need their own blip ?

Some actually like to play without people chasing her more than some do..

you'll eventually get the joke

[G37]

I don't need or see the point in having a separate blip for just about everything. What I would like is a simple hybrid between 4 and what already exists for 5.

 

I want:

 

1) 16 Solid Color Blips

a) 1 color per person in lobby

b) Each color also corresponds to lobby name

c) Display mic icon on Lobby Info Menu (down on d-pad)

d) Display most recent entry to Lobby (show assigned color) + you retain your color

 

2) Solid Rings Around Blips

a) Black ring = Crew (avoid Crew Color, too much color confusion otherwise)

b) White ring = Friend

c) Black ring supersedes white ring (I.E. no reason for both if both are true simultaneously)

 

3) Retain Enemy + NPC Blips + Bounty Blips

a) Enemy vehicle remains large off-red dot

b) Enemies remain respective off-red dot

c) Enemy/police/friendly helicopter remains

d) Police/army blips remain + cones of vision

e) Bounty blips remain (take precedence over Friend/Crew/Player color blips/rings)

 

4) Your Blip Is Retained + Other

a) Vehicle occupancy retained

b) Add height indicator to players

c) Retain death marker + blip of person that killed another flashes 3-5 times (singling them out on radar)

d) Retain High Priority Vehicle/Armored Trucks/Etc.

e) Ability to toggle on/off Mission (DM/Races/etc) + Store Markers

 

5) DM/TDM Reset

a) Reboot to previous system minimally

b) Blips become visible due to non-silenced weapons + explosives + non-electric vehicles + Kill Streak

c) No Lester

d) Possibilities: Blip discoverable due to RUNNING (not jogging) + excessive continuous firing of silenced weapon

 

That's all I can think of for the moment. Would I like to see a No Blip system in FR? Absolutely, it would really heighten the experience in my mind - playing with an actual sense of urgency should amplify things. I doubt that'd ever happen, make it similar to DM/TDM blip systems of old + a mix of things from the current set up (show friends/crew/bounty).

Edited March 21, 2014 by G37

[am30]

Another terrible idea from Scubadave, still pretending to play GTA O. Keep up the good work.

 

We need a poll on this:

 

Q: Shold the blip system be revised?

A: Yes

A: No

A: WTF is a Gerald?

 

Work your magic Wbaker.

 

Why do girl gamers need their own blip ?
Some actually like to play without people chasing her more than some do..

 

The answer is virgins. If a female gamer is a picture of tits then surely a male gamer should be a picture of a cock?

 

 

This is how I picture Scuba Dave. Check out his Scuba Tank:

 

So bad it's funny!

Edited March 21, 2014 by am30

[LuapYllier]

My opinion...

Unknown player -white blip only seen when within line of sight or making noise within earshot.

Crew member -solid green blip always seen.

Freind -solid blue blip always seen.

Freind of crew -white blip with green outline only seen when within line of sight or making noise within earshot.

Freind of freind -white blip with blue outline only seen when within line of sight or making noise within earshot.

Has killed you -solid red blip always seen.

Freind of "has killed you" -white blip with red outline seen when within line of sight or making noise within earshot.

Player who has not killed anyone this session - white blip with yellow outline only seen when within line of sight or making noise within earshot.

Bounty the same

Cops the same.

Passive player -never seen.

Paused player- never seen.

Using phone -flashing blip.

Muggers and other NPC targets the same.

Noisy people can be seen for 10 seconds after noise. Line of sight stay visible after hiding for 5 seconds. Every 60 seconds all blips will flash on for one second.

 

Edited some typos and a couple omissions.

Edited March 21, 2014 by LuapYllier

[bensons]

 

• no blips pls

 

[AwesomePlayerr]

Color coat the blips and make the gamertag/psn name bold like in IV and I will be happy.

I will never complain about anything on GTA Online ever again!

[iiConTr0v3rSYx]

Anyone miss that classic GTA sound when you kill someone?

 

And I'm all for the return of colored blips. It can determine who to avoid and who you just helped. That's why everyone is so trigger happy now.

[Thr33X]

I could go for an improved elevation indicator, because i assumed one of the hotfixes enable the up/down arrows on a blip in freeroam to indicate if they were above or below you like in DMs, but I haven't seen that yet.

 

Also, highlighting a player should be an actual highlight that pinpoints their location better than just a flicker that gets lost in the gaggle of location icons and other blips. As it is, it's easier to just try to track them down on your own or with a waypoint.

Edited March 21, 2014 by Thr33X

[scubadave]

 

 

 

I like the option for no blips showing.

Unless player has a bounty, firing unsilenced weapon, traveling above certain speed in certain vehicles. Didn't RDR have some sort of lobby like that?

the no blips would be okay in a TDM or DM and missions but tbh in freemode it may get a bit boring seeing as you will virtually never see anyone unless by chance. in RDR, lobby was okay, but IV's map was interesting with the far/close blips settings. you could see blips far away so you could go drive over to their general area then the blips would disappear when you got within a block or two. the close settings I think was you couldnt see any blips unless you got near others then they would pop up. probably a far blips setting would work.

Well, friends/crew could show up all the time in FR. But, being as it is GTA, people tend to be noisy pretty often, so I don't think finding others would be by complete chance. This way, that BMX guy could just BMX without being targeted for immediate destruction. It would also give a reason to own cars like the Voltic and Surge; other than Virtual Environment Protection Smuggery.

 

 

 

Love that idea, stealth vehicles like the voltic and surge would skyrocket in the market... BMX'ing too... I would already think along those lines while driving those cars. They'd even work if Los Santos was ever invaded by a zombie horde.

 

 

yeah make the evehicles actually useful for something.

 

I think a color for friend of a friend would be good. That way you know that guy approaching you and your friend X is a friend of X.

 

great idea. I've wasted a few players before somebody could tell me "he's cool"

 

I'd bet R* has put you on an ignore list.

You do get a +1 for the boobie icon but that's about it.

 

possibly. or R* has me on an instant alert list and is doing screenshots of some of these ideas for future DLC.

 

I like the last player to kill you blip.....

 

A lot.

 

thats the one thing that I see no easy way to do. somebody kills you then takes off, you know his GT, though. so you have to exit to the map, zoom around, try to pinpoint his blip OR flilp through a dozen names on the list to find him. esp when there are a lot of people around u and u dont want to just kill everyone you want to pay him back.

 

Why do girl gamers need their own blip ?

Some actually like to play without people chasing her more than some do..

 

just trying to include everyone.

 

As far as the revised blips for the DM and TDM in the last update, I haven't really noticed any negative impact from it, and I play allot of them everyday. Removing it completely wouldn't be a bad idea, but the Lester spamming would get out of control. It's one thing to use him once or twice in the match. I was in a match last week and no exaggeration, 30 minute match, one guy on the other team must've used him close to 20 times. If you want to see blips go back to free roam. As far as your idea for a new system, it probably would work great, but I would like to see others things attacked such as the console freezing, and the wall breaches over anything else.

 

hate that too sometimes takes the entire tactical part out of TDM and just a big firefight. i can understand 1 or 2 times when everyone's camping, but 20 times too much.

 

To be honest I see nothing wrong in the way the blips work in freemode. Knowing exactly where other players are is a plus. It's simple.

 

In this suggested system, you'd have 16 multicolour blips, some with indescernible outlines, some with a pair of tits, some seemingly playing a crimson triangle, disappearing and reappearing randomly from view? Only for some kid with a BMX and an RPG to appear from nowhere next to you - just before you become an X.

 

I love to see suggest changes, but only if they improve the game. I think in this case, too many changes are being suggested.

 

probably the lowest priority for me too is the far/close blips. I like the all blips, some think the far blips or even none should be an option.

the outlines may seem confusing first, but its one of those things where u dont need to use it if you dont want to (still the dominate color is a unique full color blip) but You'll start using the crew/friend/etc outlines and codes if thats the way u are paying. probably not all would be implemented, just a few at a time.

[scubadave]

I don't need or see the point in having a separate blip for just about everything. What I would like is a simple hybrid between 4 and what already exists for 5.

 

I want:

 

1) 16 Solid Color Blips

a) 1 color per person in lobby

b) Each color also corresponds to lobby name

c) Display mic icon on Lobby Info Menu (down on d-pad)

d) Display most recent entry to Lobby (show assigned color) + you retain your color

 

2) Solid Rings Around Blips

a) Black ring = Crew (avoid Crew Color, too much color confusion otherwise)

b) White ring = Friend

c) Black ring supersedes white ring (I.E. no reason for both if both are true simultaneously)

 

3) Retain Enemy + NPC Blips + Bounty Blips

a) Enemy vehicle remains large off-red dot

b) Enemies remain respective off-red dot

c) Enemy/police/friendly helicopter remains

d) Police/army blips remain + cones of vision

e) Bounty blips remain (take precedence over Friend/Crew/Player color blips/rings)

 

4) Your Blip Is Retained + Other

a) Vehicle occupancy retained

b) Add height indicator to players

c) Retain death marker + blip of person that killed another flashes 3-5 times (singling them out on radar)

d) Retain High Priority Vehicle/Armored Trucks/Etc.

e) Ability to toggle on/off Mission (DM/Races/etc) + Store Markers

 

5) DM/TDM Reset

a) Reboot to previous system minimally

b) Blips become visible due to non-silenced weapons + explosives + non-electric vehicles + Kill Streak

c) No Lester

d) Possibilities: Blip discoverable due to RUNNING (not jogging) + excessive continuous firing of silenced weapon

 

That's all I can think of for the moment. Would I like to see a No Blip system in FR? Absolutely, it would really heighten the experience in my mind - playing with an actual sense of urgency should amplify things. I doubt that'd ever happen, make it similar to DM/TDM blip systems of old + a mix of things from the current set up (show friends/crew/bounty).

 

good suggestsions ... esp 1-c the mic one you cant tell who's talking anymore unless u go to pause menu, players, etc. 2-c I think just half/half like they do now. it is sometimes useful to know friendlists from just crewlist (bigger group) not all crew people are cool, tbh.

4-e needs to happen, too. 5-c is needed sometimes, but needs cooldown.

 

 

My opinion...

Unknown player -white blip only seen when within line of sight or making noise within earshot.

Crew member -solid green blip always seen.

Freind -solid blue blip always seen.

Freind of crew -white blip with green outline only seen when within line of sight or making noise within earshot.

Freind of freind -white blip with blue outline only seen when within line of sight or making noise within earshot.

Has killed you -solid red blip always seen.

Freind of "has killed you" -white blip with red outline seen when within line of sight or making noise within earshot.

Player who has not killed anyone this session - white blip with yellow outline only seen when within line of sight or making noise within earshot.

Bounty the same

Cops the same.

Passive player -never seen.

Paused player- never seen.

Using phone -flashing blip.

Muggers and other NPC targets the same.

Noisy people can be seen for 10 seconds after noise. Line of sight stay visible after hiding for 5 seconds. Every 60 seconds all blips will flash on for one second.

 

Edited some typos and a couple omissions.

 

not sure of friend of killed u being highlighted, but yeah, might be good. passive could use the never seen to get close to people to kill.

 

I could go for an improved elevation indicator, because i assumed one of the hotfixes enable the up/down arrows on a blip in freeroam to indicate if they were above or below you like in DMs, but I haven't seen that yet.

 

Also, highlighting a player should be an actual highlight that pinpoints their location better than just a flicker that gets lost in the gaggle of location icons and other blips. As it is, it's easier to just try to track them down on your own or with a waypoint.

 

the highlighting is broken first its only one player, second lots of players are highlighted either for recent kills or for some other reason. etc. just need to be able to highligh and also a auto waypoint tracker so it just continually GPS him around the map .

[Franceska]

Just trying to include everyone?

 

Your idea of a girl gamer is just a pair of tits?

Most play the game to play. Not for the attention. You're either really stupid, or desperate for tits.

 

It's kind of disrespecting that you want to include gamer girls by just a pair of tits.

[helresa]

Just trying to include everyone?

 

Your idea of a girl gamer is just a pair of tits?

Most play the game to play. Not for the attention. You're either really stupid, or desperate for tits.

 

It's kind of disrespecting that you want to include gamer girls by just a pair of tits.

A pair of tits for a girl gamer how misogynistic and demeaning is that, how about we make you parade around with a cock icon.

 

go back to looking at the underwear models in the catalogue.