Fine tuning game mechanics
So, I've been playing probably 50 hours in total now and I will preface all of this by saying, I am a long term fan of the franchise. I played all three originals, I've also played session and Skater XL while waiting for this and used to skate IRL but still keep up (to a degree) with the skating world, and it's a fair portion of the content I consume. When I want to play a skating game solo, I want to get clips that feel real but when I'm playing co-op, the arcadey non-realistic stuff is also really enjoyable.
All that being said, I think Full Circle have managed to nail the core gameplay mechanics.
Overall, this map is by far the worst in any skateboarding game for skateboarding. I'm not here to complain about that because I know it's just early access and this demonstrates well a lot of the wild, silly fun you can have in skate.
To my point, there are a few things that don't quite hit with realism but could be "easily" tweaked in my mind. One think that I was extensively testing is the mini pop Ollie. On flat ground this feels perfect. Not too floaty or massive and the perfect height for quickly going up a curb.... that's where the issue lies. When you quick pop up a curb, it floats longer, as if it's finishing the animation rather than naturally landing. I think this is an issue with several elements of realistic skating. It can make getting into grinds seem less realistic because you have to do a massive ollie then crash into the grind rather than making a targeted ollie to the ledge or rail for a natural connection.
Grinds is the next thing on the list. Being able to adjust friction would go such a long way. I understand this game isn't going for a skate sim feel and I'm not saying we need full customisation like in session, but grind friction and gravity, I feel, would make such a difference for realistic skaters. The way you mount dismount from a grind rarely feels realstic in skate. and that feels like something that can be "fixed" by full release. The other gripe I have with grinds is how the trucks are absolutely locked in place. I don't mind it in early access, but if the full release doesn't let me pinch a crook on a ledge it will be a shame.
I feel like these are things that aren't being mentioned because there are so many glaring issues with the game, such as the tone, the terrible AI voice acting and dialogue (again, people complain about things like saying the word "footy", context is key here. When Rena says it, with his skater dialect and accent, it's not cringe, but when a corporate AI says it, it's like your parents saying something is Skibidi (I'm 30 and typing that made me cringe) great example, Owen Wilson in "Yeah Right", not a skater but the dude hits the vibe perfectly and what he says doesn't sound scripted at all, but it probably is! You've got Sean Malto as a voice actor already, just get him to talk how he would normally talk and you'll be fine!), the overall art style, the horrible shop and MTX corporate greed, the lack of challenge variety and difficulty, the santised map (I'm guessing this will change for higher end devices later on because the game file is very small presumably to get maximum player count in early access), the terrible cosmetics (I get that you are peddling cosmetics to make money but getting an astronaut costume before black socks is quite tone deaf), the lack of real story mode and pros, the lack of offline mode (honestly, I wouldn't mind online only as much if I could be in a private lobby. I was trying to get a realistic clip the other day and saw some flying through the sky behind me -_-, add to this, the fact other people's objects show up in my replay when I have them turned off needs to be changed, or even better just don't show them at all. It is really off putting skating through semi-invisible objects!).
Other things I imagine will already be in the works but definitely need to be if they aren't:
Day/night selector (LOCAL ONLY) it would be devastating if you add a day/night cycle that keeps on cycling because if I'm grinding for a clip that would look best at night and it takes too long that would suuuuuuck. Similarly, dynamic weather/seasons could be cool but no where near as important
Camera filters and lenses for gameplay and replay editor. Even just a couple, like VX1000, fish eye lenses and a camera flashlight would go a long way then a few colour filters, grain and lense flare options would be great too.
Replay editor key frames. If a tiny indie studio can make the absolute perfect replay editor in session then you guys should be able to make something at least that good. The camera shake, key frames, tilt and zoom, speed adjustments. Everything in their editor is perfection, so I'm not saying rip it off but that is the best example anyone will be able to give.
Lastly, I know you won't ever do this because of the whole online only cash grab but allowing mods would be an absolutely elite decision. Don't think of it as people trying to circumvent paying for stuff in game. Take the rockstar games approach. Part of the continued success of GTA online is the modding community. Imagine if people create mods that you can then bring into the game. People might add bmx's or scooters for example. Just look at Session and Skater XL, both of those games are held up by the modding community. To the point I don't feel like anyone plays Skater XL with default settings unless they are on console. This is not just something that would make the game better for more people but it's intrinsic to skate culture when you think about it. Taking something the system made and bending it to how you want it. Thing of a mod like the love park gap. That fountain wasn't made so that skaters could jump into it, but how glad are you that they did! Skating is about freedom and expression and this game has made the worst first impression possible for showing that it understands skate culture, but it's not too late!
Hopefully this is actually useful constructive feedback. This game is currently a 9/10 for the feel of the skating controls, 8/10 for a fun free-to-play goof around experience with the climbing and sky diving stuff but a stone cold 1/10 for just about everything else. I honestly don't feel like it is that far off but if you want an authentic feeling game, you need to listen to the right people. Garrett Ginner was on your player council, he is a skater and a gamer and that is the type of person who can guide you the right way and some of his recent videos make me feel like you wasted your time even having a player council.
Please please please, try to make a game for the fans like you keep saying you're doing because the people who commented you back into existence have not been listened to at all so far.
