(This article is currently under construction!)
1 Information
Virtual Presence Shift (VPS) is a core gameplay mechanics that allows the player to directly assume free control of a unit in the first-person mode. The unit controlled by the player can override AI-specific behaviours and restrictions, while enjoying the benefits of reinforced stats compared to the normal AI-controlled units.
2 Overview
The ability to freely assume manual control of any unit at anywhere at anytime in the first-person mode in the full 3D environment is one of the main gameplay element and feature of Urban Assault. In VPS mode, the player has a full control over the controlled vehicle while sharing the first-person vision of the unit to survey the 3D world around it.
3 Background
In Urban Assault storyline, thanks to the heavily decimated global human population following the events of the Big Mistake as well as the accelerated developmental emphasis on advancing unmanned military and artificial intelligence technology, the wars have become entirely and thoroughly roboticised by the time the game's main storylines begin.
Since all military hardware and equipment under the direct command & control system and battle network of the host stations are all equipped with fully autonomous and artificially-intelligent combat AI modules, it is always possible for the cybernetically-enhanced human commanders of the host stations (who comprise the only human presence on the battle-zones in this new paradigm shift of the future combat) to electroincally jump into any vehicles and manually control them in the first-person view mode for optimal combat peformance.
The integrated neural link senses and the first-hand experience of the frontline combat that the pilots undergo under VPS mode are so vivid and intense, that it has been described "as if you were living simultaneous lives, and suffering simultaneous deaths" with the AI drone units in battle.
4 Mechanics
The VPS technology allows the player to perform tactics and manoeuvres that are otherwise not possible for the pre-set AI behaviours of the units. Not only that, but being in the first-person control mode of any vehicles provides substantial stat boost to the vehicle that is currently occupied by the player, regardless of their types.
4.1 Unit Stat Boosts in the First-Person Control Mode
These stat boost effects include but not limited to:
- x2.5 improved shielding (or 2/5 incoming damage, which means the player vehicle will only receive 40% of full weapon damage).
- Enhanced weapon damage output (the weapon reload times between AI vs player vehicles are dependent on the individual weapon script values).
- Increased turning rate.
- Ability to override any unique pre-set/programmed AI behaviours of the unit such as preferred AI flight altitudes or AI attack patterns.
(Note: These stat boost effects are not directly displayed nor reflected numerically in HUD under the first-person control mode. The unit HUD will only show the base unit stats)
These substantial advantages encourage and incentivise the player to assume direct control of a vehicle whenever possible, and fight alongside the friendly drones in a combat to gain tactical supremacy over their enemies. Thanks to the VPS technology, the player can turn the odds and tides of the battle through skilful operation and manoeuvre of an individual vehicle, and even potentially overcoming the standard rock-scissor-paper counter systems of the units.