New Robot Arena 2 Game Modes Built Into Arenas.

[ianh05]

So we all love new arenas which offer us new places to play deathmatches etc. but what about new arenas that give us brand new ways to play the game? they are possible and very rarely explored. Here we can discuss these new game modes. To start with here are 2 of the newest game modes you'll be able to use with the Robo Zone Arena and one brand new idea for it that might be added in the future.

Gauntlet Mode - Coming Soon!:

Compete for the first time against 3 opponents, starting of as a 1vs1 match this mode makes the match more difficult as time goes on if you don't defeat the first opponent in time and new bots enter the match from their cages. This mode will be available with the brand new Robo Zone arena.

Robo Zone Rumble - Coming Soon!:

This mode has 2 robots start the match while another 2 are waiting in their cages, this provides the caged robots with an advantage as they come in when the first 2 have already beaten on each other. This mode gives you the chance to put top seeded robots from tournaments such as Robo Zone in cages to give them a well deserved advantage. This mode will be available with the brand new Robo Zone arena.

Tag Team Mode - Idea:

This mode is still in the idea stage, here is what I have so far. 2 Teams of 2 will compete in a match in which one robot from each team is locked in a cage, the robots starting the match will attempt to tag in their partner when they get below 50% health. Their partner will then come in and the damaged bot will go into the cage and be locked in until it's partner needs to make a tag.

This mode might be possible with a modified version of the new Robo Zone arena. The tagging system could use a button next to each cage for the current robot to push and raise the cage to switch with it's partner.

[Badnik96]

for a second I thought Gauntlet mode would be like the RW gauntlet... D:

[ianh05]

for a second I thought Gauntlet mode would be like the RW gauntlet... D:

I'm a big gladiators fan so the mode gets the name from that (the game where they had to get past multiple gladiators in a tunnel). I'm also a Wrestling fan which is where I got the idea for the Robo Zone arena from (elimination chamber match).

[Natef]

I liked the Robotica gauntlet.

[Philippa]

for a second I thought Gauntlet mode would be like the RW gauntlet... D:

Yeah same here. Shame.

But they all do sound quite good.

[Resetti's Replicas]

Tag Team Mode - Idea:

This mode is still in the idea stage, here is what I have so far. 2 Teams of 2 will compete in a match in which one robot from each team is locked in a cage, the robots starting the match will attempt to tag in their partner when they get below 50% health. Their partner will then come in and the damaged bot will go into the cage and be locked in until it's partner needs to make a tag.

This mode might be possible with a modified version of the new Robo Zone arena. The tagging system could use a button next to each cage for the current robot to push and raise the cage to switch with it's partner.

Love this one!  Do you think you can add some variation, maybe they tag out after a minute regardless of damage?  I'm imagining a bot fighting a non-damaging flipper, and hogging the entire match because he's not damaged.  Or in the spirit of Robot Wars, the cages disappear when 2/3 of the match has elapsed, and it becomes a free for all.

[ianh05]

I'm yet to show Trovaner the idea, I figured he's already done so much but maybe if another modder was nice enough to implement this mode it could happen :) I like to think I have a lot of cool ideas floating around in my head but I have 0 modding knowledge sadly and just AI'ing gives me headaches... it's really kind of frustrating >.<

[Trovaner]

As far as modes go, I've heard quite a few over the years but they were rarely implemented due to a lack of advanced modders. I'm not even sure if others know how to control the AI from the Arena.py (which is ideal for special modes because most people play alone).

As far as offering a different way of playing RA2, I have made and modified some arenas that fall under this category:
1. Soccer Arena - modified so that the AI actually plays competitively.
2. Obstacle Course Arena - modified so that the AI can navigate the arena.
3. Remote Housebots - each bot controls a housebot and with its ungodly power must destroy an enemy's shield.
4. Tug of War - pull or fall into a pit, you decide.
5. Race - several modified arenas that involve the AI following a given track.
6. Capture the Flag - get the flag and get out of there.
7. Robo Zone Arena -a new arena from an old idea.
8. Joust Arena - modified so that JoeBlo didn't have to AI the bots weird and capable of determining when the target component breaks off.
9. Intelligent Housebot - a housebot that plays like a normal bot (with the obvious damage issues)
10. Practice Arena - lots of stuff that I'm trying to keep hush hush about.... but failing.

Other than the ones that I've started, I've also wanted to do:
1. Maze Arena - a random maze that challenges both AI and human players to find a path.
2. RW Arena - modified to include housebots, CPZ zones, AI alternatives to housebots, and AI that takes advantage of the arena's unique features. I keep mentioning this arena but its pretty daunting for one person.

My problem isn't a lack of ideas, its a lack of time. That said, I'm always interested in people's ideas. I even implement some of them. Unfortunately, I tend to stretch myself out a bit thin so things rarely get finished. For this reason, I was thinking of starting a mods showcase to get motivation and get input on which arenas I should be spending time on. Also, group mods tend to work well for me. I did quite a few mods with Madiaba but he hasn't been very active lately. I'm always looking for someone to co-mod with me so here's a shout out to all you modders and modder want-to-bes. It doesn't really matter how much knowledge you have as long as you have an interest in learning or have a skill that you can bring to the table (skin, GMF, PY, GIB, etc.). With the 10th anniversary less than half a year away, I think it would be pretty cool to work on a big mod (the bigger the team; the bigger the mod).

[ianh05]

I'd love to learn this stuff, perhaps we need some RA2 school topics in the mods section with modders giving tutorials and holding Q&A in the topic. Perhaps if we all try and learn how to mod together the community will see the benefits with brand new gameplay.


I've always wanted some RA2 boss levels with tactics etc. just you vs one big bad bot on his home turf. The boss bot could be given special unique abilities for you to try and counter, such as lava walls that you have to dodge or special AoE's that you need to line of sight in order to avoid damage. These abilities could happen ever 30+ seconds while the rest of the match is just you battling the boss bot normally.


Also just imagine how fun single player tournaments would be if it was like this:

Soccer        - Joust          - Gauntlet
Race           - Tug-of-War  - Robo Zone
Boss Battle   - Tag Team    - Maze

[NFX]

I do like the idea of a maze arena, particularly if the walls of the maze could be made to lower or raise, like the CC3 Arena walls did, continuously revealing or blocking paths.

[Scorpion]

I'd love to learn this stuff, perhaps we need some RA2 school topics in the mods section with modders giving tutorials and holding Q&A in the topic. Perhaps if we all try and learn how to mod together the community will see the benefits with brand new gameplay.

I'd also agree with this, I'd be very interested in this.

Very useful topic BTW ian

[Naryar]

So you'll make three different arenas starting from the same, one for each mode ?

[ianh05]

So you'll make three different arenas starting from the same, one for each mode ?

Nope We already have 2 modes available within the one arena, gauntlet mode is the Robo Zone arena with hazards on. I wanted it this way to make it easier to toggle between the normal Robo Zone rumble and gauntlet mode. I'm hoping the tag team mode could be enabled just by using the Robo Zone arena in a tag team match.

[JoeBlo]

Ive explored 2 new game modes among my unseen project files.. but same as Trov.. not enough time to polish off these things

[RpJk]

I would love another obstacle course arena. Being honest the DSL is OK but it's just not lengthy enough.

[ianh05]

Capture the zone?:


*Bots are assigned different colours(Red, Blue, Green and Yellow?).
*When a bot enters a zone it is marked with that colour.
*each zone captured awards a certain number of points per second (between 1-3 seconds anyway).


Simple idea, kinda like KOTH but on a larger scale and obviously more difficult to make work.

[RpJk]

I definitely do think there should be a better obstacle course arena.

[Trovaner]

Capture the zone sounds like a cool idea. It sort of reminds of one of the game modes in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. The only issue that I have with it is that you can't turn things around after the opponent has the majority of the zones.

Though small, the DSL Obstacle Course has a lot of features. Making a bigger/better one would require quite a bit of time, planning, and experience. That said, what did people like about the first one and what are they interested in having in a new one. Also *IF* I were to work on this, would anyone be interested in assisting?

[MassimoV]

Someone better help. I can't mod arenas, but maybe if Joe has some time off...

[RpJk]

I could skin and plan what obstacles there could be in it.