OHB wrote:
We had a discussion about the question of avatars being able to pick things up. What it came down to is because of the nature of the game - we'd want to see the avatar picking up said object. Whether off of a table or off the ground, or off a shelf, etc.
And that comes back to the mechanics of animating such a thing. Completely disregarding the technical side of how avatar animations currently work...assuming there is a mechanism for doing such a movement - it instantly becomes a question of mathematics.
I am standing here. The object is D feet ahead of me and A feet off the ground. The object's weight is W and it's basic dimensions are X by Y by Z. It can be gripped at point IxJxK by the right hand.
Coming up with an algorithm to take that data and dynamically animate an avatar is rather complex. That's why Spore is so expensive and innovative. Everything there is procedural.
So...you can see the problem.

But, it is one of those things on the "Would be nice to have" list.
This I'm curious about. I don't understand the goings on about the work required to do this (though I understand it is a behemoth to code and create), but I'm curious about whether or not a system could be implemented slowly?
For example, the current system for levers and such have it so that when you click on them, you walk into a certain spot before the animation begins. I don't see why such an action couldn't exist for picking up objects.
Furthermore, couldn't these items be classified by relative size, weight and type? For example, have all cups and glassware exist within similar parameters, so that each of potentially a dozen or so objects could utilize the same "hold_glass" animation without requiring too much excessive coding? This could be built upon to hold small rocks, two-hand-hold larger rocks, pick up tools, lift cones, et cetera.
Or am I living in a fool's dream where this is much more complicated than I make it sound?

EDIT: On the subject of tools such as wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers and the sort, couldn't they be "held" on our belts (up to a total of 3 objects on each side perhaps) and be more cosmetic than actual "inventory?" (Similar to how the Relto book acts?)