City of Heroes: Taking Questions For Jay Doherty

Who is the mighty Jay Doherty?
'THE Character Artist.' I grew up in the filthy slums and gutters on the mean streets of Chicago. In 1981; the coldest winter to date, is when I was ripped out of my mother womb by a pack of circus clowns that had thought that my mother had just stole some of their pies. I was soon taken in by the clowns and spent years as a foot stool, but thereafter I was abandoned and left to be raised by hobos and riffraff. I later was sold into urban slavery by "No Toes Pierre McNugget" where I used my small deformed hands to dislodge broken video tapes stuck in VCRs. Most nights were spent under a subway station trying to keep warm by a fire that I fueled with my own hair. I had 5 friends, a rat and 4 turtles. I would log our adventures through the sewers and toxic waste using bacon gravy and tears as my ink. Years later I traded the stories to a Japanese businessman for cowboy hat and he turned my stories into a successful movie and cartoon series called "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon." I have always had a passion for art and one day an old man came looking for me and told me I was from an extremely rare long line of royalty. It turned out I was the last surviving blood member of the Royal Zillionaires of the Moon. Apparently my parents went back in time to give me a chance to live because of "The Great Moon War 2, The Moons Revenge." Also I guess in the future a zillion dollars was more like 350 bucks. So the old man took some pictures, gave me 350 bucks and left. Finally, there it came to be; I was destined for greatness, I traded in my concrete canvas and my dog turd magic marker for more gooder things of awesomeness.

What does he do?
Well my business card says that I'm a character artist, but I prefer "Grand Lover x 6." What I do is make characters and costume pieces for the game, among other sexy deeds. I first start with a marble slab about 9 feet high, I then chisel it into a rough idea about 3 feet high. Then I take that and whittle a wooden version so that it can be taken to meetings over seas in Korea. After it gets approved, I then make an actual costume out of it and test market it on the streets of San Jose for likeability. After that, we hire a super model to wear the costume while I scan it into the computer. I take all of that raw data and condense into a single vertex point. I then take that point, delete it, put on my virtual reality sculpting suit and do it in 3D computer space! Voilà, art!

Does He have a "Persona" in the game?
Yeah, but I'm not going say. I'm not any of the signature characters. I'm usually the dead guy in the corner; not moving, cause I'm dead. Sometimes I go into the game as a box, move when no one is around, and then wait for someone to notice. If you know me it's because of my tireless efforts on the costume forums or most likely because it was foretold that the sexiest man alive would be born, his name would be Jay, and Paris erected the Eiffel tower in the prophecy of my coming.

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Hello Mr. Doherty,

Here's some questions if you don't mind answering.

What goes into creating and designing a costume piece? Aside from artistic skill is there anything you would need or have to take into consideration in creating something a massive group of people will or will not use.

Is there a costume piece or set that you hated and wished never implemented, and for the reverse, is there a piece or set that you wish was in the game but couldn't get in for some reason or another?

What goes into consideration when you read the costume suggestions thread on the official CoH/V site? What would make you say "Hey that's a great idea, let me see if I can do it." vs. "Wow, that idea is awful, I wouldn't do this if someone paid me to." when reading player suggestions for new costume pieces.

Also how much has the players suggestions influenced your designs or decisions in creating new costume pieces?

From your profile you mentioned Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon. Do you watch anime, if so what other anime do you watch, any favorites, and what are you currently watching if you do watch anime?

How come you haven't gotten a red name yet?

That's about it for questions from me, oh yeah and before I forget, Jay is Sexy!!!

Sexay Jay, when will get flowing hair, or at least when will hair no longer stab our capes like some backalley drug deal gone sadly wrong?

OXOXOX
-Lady Athyna

What is the most in demand item for the game that you have not yet made, and why have you not made it?

If you were a character, you'd be a Dominator with power types Sexy/Sex.

Hi Sexy Jay,

I love many of the costume pieces that have been added to the game since you've come on board. :)

I know that there have been requests for third color options for costumes. From what I know about the process, that doesn't seem likely; however, by creating textures with large sections of varying grey scale we can have the illusion of a third color option. In the future will we have more textures like that? Futhermore, will there be an expansion of the color palette that would include more skin shades and possibly more color values like pastels.

Many comic book characters have costume pieces that seem to defy gravity or hang suspended off the body. Costume pieces such as those would be a great addition to the inventory. Could we get some new pieces for this purpose? I would like to see shoulder, cape and chest emblems that have that feature.

Are there any plans for new auras?

Will most of the future costume pieces be associated with the upcoming Issue 9 Invention System.

Lastly, are any of my costume suggestions, from the forum, being considered for the game http://www.maxered.com/sexyjay_coh (shameless question)?!

Sexy Jay needs a redname!

ZNRGY_XERONUS

Jay, why do cabal hats lack the option for hair?

Hey Jay,

In between bouts of being sexy and getting even more sexy (tough as it may be for you), are there any plans to add patterns for the hands and feet that aren't on the chest patterns? There are a bunch of patterns that you can get for the chest and legs, but not for boots and gloves, and sometimes that annoys me, since I have trouble making a costume where there isn't a unified theme, and sometimes the patterns get in the way.

Any updates on this would be great to hear about.

Your equal in sexiness,
Aett Thorn

Hey Jay,

will we ever get to see costumes that effect our power for exaple lord recluse spider things do blat for him black scorpian tail doe blast for them will wee ever see costume pieces like these in the future, or cape symboles like having the chest symbol for caps thanks sexy jay

Sexy Jay,

What are the most common costume suggestions you're getting? What are the chances of them being implemented?

P.S. GIMME MY BISHONEN HAIR!

Hello Sexy Jay,

I'm curious as to when we might see some of the more commonly requested costume items, especially ones that would complete some of the partial sets that currently exist *cough*heroicanimalheads*cough*. As it is now, it can be a bit disappointing to create a themed character, only to have one aspect of that character not match since the costume option doesn't exist *cough*wolftails*cough*. Any estimate on when we might see this would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Terminotaur

Hiya Jay,

I'm wondering if you ever plan on incorporating more villain-group related costume pieces in due time. I, and several other players I know, enjoy roleplaying characters faring from the numerous and interesting criminal groups that inhabit both Paragon City and the Rogue Isles, and I think it would be very awesome if we had access to some particular costume pieces belonging to such groups. It would be great to see Arachnos players in full regalia menacing the populace of the Rogue Isles, or perhaps a Gold Bricker or Sky Raider blazing through the air with their shiny new jetpack (whose time does not expire) for example.

Also, I was wondering if you could touch up the Arachnos pre-order helmets a bit. The Wolf and Crab Spider helmets really should have those pulsing red glows that make them so intimidating, and it would be cool to see some color customization for them, even if it's limited. I ask this on the behalf of all Arachnos players in the game.

Anyways, Thanks in advance!

MGoblin256

hey jay,

I have been playing coh for a while, and have been really impressed with how you guys fleshed out most of the costume concepts ingame, beast stuff, robot things,military outfits. But one thing that i noticed has kind of been forgotten has been tails. is there any plans to add new tails, like the oft asked for wolf tails,and will we ever see the option for tails with robes? and of course, in the distant future, maybe animated tails?

and if i may grab for a freebee , since we have now gotten the "butt capes" with trench coats, will we ever see some form of long dresses, quipaos ( the high-collared chinese dresses), or wizard robes? i love the martial arts looking robes, but was wondering if this ever made your white board.

If it isn't sexy Jay! The sexiest of the sexiest of the sexiest of the sexy! Alright big guy, enough of the flattery. It's time to get down to the nitty gritty: When the hell are our archers gonna get quivers! My guy is a natural, how the hell do I explain pulling arrows out of thin air?

Hello Jay!
We've seen LOTS of requests for NPC costume items, such as waist capes similar to those worn by the Arachnos fortuntas, as well as Tsoo skirts, and others. Will we ever get those?
I have several characters who would look awesome with them, and they would definately NOT look like fortunata clones. The creative things we could do with NPC costume bits might be quite impressive if we had access to them.

Also, we see LOTS of requests for ankle length skirts, such as the Tsoo and CoT wear. Are robes like that for players being worked on? I sure hope so;)
Heck, I would take the robes as they are, right now. Just so my characters could look cool.

Also, there seems to be a sense of disappointment on the message boards right now, as to the lack of new costume options for I9, aside from a couple of new pairs of boots, and wings we've known about for a long time. Will we be seeing lots of new costume options added in at a later date, or in future updates? I sure hope so.

One last question- from now on will veteran rewards and inventions be the way we get most major new costume pieces, or will there be cool pieces added to the costume editor as well, without having to invent them?

In addition to the requests above.. I'd like to ask if there's hope of getting some of the costume option already there to be "filled out" some? For example... we have the Egyptian headdress for both male and female characters. Is there any hope of getting other costuming options that fill in that niche'? Like this for the guys:

or

Something like this for the women:

There are, of course, other pieces that *need* to be filled out.. but those are some that I'd always hoped would be included.

Speaking of which, any hope in getting full-on robes? Something similar to the CoT Robes that are already in-game?

Thanks

As a mastermind i've noticed how similar my precious creations seem to be to the other people's, maybe i'm just paranoid, but i think they're copying my henchman design. Now if henchman customizing was possible, we wouldn't have this petty idea stealing now would we. Just wondering if you also did the work for the henchmen in CoV and if so, if in the future we would be able to customize our pets in almost the same way as costume creation.

This question is about something that was hinted about since issue 0. Where's my "batmobile"? Could this become a new travel power? Maybe title the bonus powerset "Vehicle". I mean we could have cars, motorcycles, helicopters (or VTOL personal flyers), something cool! Maybe some multicraft that can handle ground/sea/air travel that other travel powers can do now. Maybe this could be a veteran reward! Yeah! I like that!

Heeeeeelloo Sexy! From the looks of the other postings, everyone is asking for when their specific requests will be implemented into the game, so I won't go that route. What I would like to know is that with so many suggestions on the CoX forums that I know you take time to read, how do you get any work done? For that matter how do you decide what to actually work on and what actually gets into the game?

Being a fashionista in RL and in the game the costumes are the one of the features that keep me in the game and I'd really like some insight into your thought process. As always (and now proven by your pic) you are the sexiest!

Dear prophisized one,

Like the being that is known as Terminotaur I also would profoundly like to ask in no hidden terms..WHERE ARE THE HERO FREINDLY ANIMAL HEADS AND OUR WOLF TAILS!! While we do relize that one as sexy as you cannot be bothered by the day to day bothersome trials of everyday life one wonders if you have listend to this suggestion posted by others. Also if you do not respond in favorible tones I will be forced to enlist the aid of the clowns and say you stole thier pies like your mother before you. :)

I hope you're the creative genius who made the neat Bio-Organic skin, Jay; It keeps my radioactive mad scientist looking super geek-sexy with his green skin and yellow veins over on CoV Infinity!

With issue 7 and 8, CoX got a huge overhaul in terms of graphic effects and artistic improvements done in both the world and for characters. Are there any specific artistic/graphic engine features you'd like to personally see added or expanded upon for CoX in future issues?

Dear Grand Lover x 6,

Haha, first off all, props on the intro. I almost fell out of my chair from laughing. Thanks again for taking the time to do this. Ok, here are my questions:

1) I don't know if you do any of the work on Auras, but if you do or can get a hold of the guy that does work on them (smack him around a bit to get him to talk), can you let us know if there is any work being done or planned for new Auras in the future?

2) Did you make the gloves that Dr. Aeon wears during Statesman's Taskforce? I have to tell you, those things are gorgeous. Any chance of ever having something similar to them show up either via Inventions or in the regular Costume Creator?

3) A while back you wrote:

"I also make the bad guys that you fight in the game, so not all of my time goes to the costume pieces. I just finished a really cool bad guy set that you guys are going to love. They are going to make my PPD Hard Suits look like poop."

How's that coming along? Any hints or clues you could give us as to whether it's a group that we'll be seeing sometime soon?

4) From the sound of your bio and your general attitude when you post, you seem like a person who really loves what they do and has a passion for it. Do you ever have those moments where you'll either hear a song or see something that suddenly inspires you to passionately start work on an idea and keep working on it until you finish it? If so, is any of that work in-game right now or going to be?

I ask because I've had one or two moments like that when I work on my CoH videos and I've seen that it's moments like those that help me to make some of my best work, even though I'm up all night like a fiend working =P.

Thanks again for all your hard work Jay! Keep it Sexy, we lova ya =D

Regards,
Neutra

Greetings Sexy Jay,

In issue 8 we were able to see the introduction of many new features and costume parts: ears, patterns, trench coats, wings, and jet packs. Are there any plans to expand on specific features and costume parts in upcoming issues, like with the inventions system that allows characters to create wings, thus focusing specifically on wings?

In other word what are you most specifically focused on at this point: wings, tails, masks, trench coats, auras... and what groups are hanging in the balance for the next updates and patches. Also, what should we be requesting to help you with what you are working on now, what requests are most relevant?

Gleetings oh sexy one. I have been wondering if there's ever a chance to include the height slider and gender options when editing a costume at the tailor. Many of my characters have a dramatically different height or body frame depending on what form they're in.

As it is my little dragon chipmunk must remain a mere four feet tall when she changes into her nightmare monstrocity demon chipmunk, when she should be eight or so feet. It would be skull-popping awesome if this was implemented into the tailor editor.

-Kaiserin

This is often requested on the forums, and while I can understand the difficulty with clipping issues, but...

Why can't we: Choose what hair length we get with hats and what color the hair can be? It's not always an option, and some options, like the witch's hat and santa hat have the character bald! It has also been requested that we have a three or greater color option for hair, for a true punked-out look. Is there somewhere in all that sexiness that can solve these dilemmas, or at the very least give us a reasonable answer as to why they aren't done?

I feel that if the most common requests were either implemented or given a reason why they won't be, the thread would be toned down some. I took the tedious task one day (okay, it was several days) to read the entire Costume Request thread. Trenchcoats have been answered. Wings have been answered. Even jetboots and jetpacks (in a roundabout way, but still...).

The hair thing with hats, though, is quite persistent. An answer would be greatly appreciated.

Hello Mr. Sexay!

I have a couple of questions

Are there any plans to put "non flapping" glider type wings into the game?

Are there any plans to allow some sort of jet/jump pack as a back option in the game?

Are there any plans to add the missiing costume items in the game? For instance, if I select a huge frame, and select the upper body to be armored, I have different shoulder options than if i selected average/armored. However if I select average/tight, I have the missing options.

Why cannot I not use sinister or justice gloves w/plate if my character wears a sleeveless trenchcoat?

Any plans on fixing that?

Thanks for your time.

Just a simple question. Will we ever be able to apply patterns to all aspects of a costume? Or at least to all of the options under headings for which patterns already exist? I ask this because certain patterns just don't look good at all when used on the options they are restricted to. For example, on a male toon, the "blast" pattern on legs looks like a pair of ripped tights has been put on over another pair of pants, making it look kind of stupid. It would look great as a pattern applied to the bare legs option, but that option doesn't allow patterns.

OH GREAT AND MIGHTY JAY

You've done an awesome job on the costumes for the game already, and I know that your plate is full, but how about more love for the players of the Collectors editions of CoH/CoV? With CoV, we were given 2 items: The Arachnos Emblem and the Arachnos cape? How about adding some more Arachnos items to liven the game up for the Collectors Edtion peeps? Say an Arachnos brooch, or Arachnos tattoo's? How about an Exclusive Arachnos set of wings? Arachnos Emblem sunglasses?

Also, on behalf of my lovely bride-to-be, Melissa (Arachnos Countess): What about more dress options for the females?

Later this year we will be celebrating our engagement by getting married in-game before we do it for real and she's been pestering me on asking you to get a wedding dress in-game because "It's not fair that the guys get tuxedo's and we (women) don't get wedding dresses."

That is all for now,
Arachnos Commander

Grand Lover x 6!

I just remembered something I forgot to ask >.< Do you ever do any of the artwork for powersets? As in, did you design the Mace or Axe or Katana or Claws? I ask because I'm wondering if it was you that did any of the work on the supposed Shield set that was supposedly being developed, but then cancelled. If so, do you think you could let us in on what it was going to look like or what problems you encountered while trying to make it? Heck, any insight on what you go through when designing a powerset item or things you've done in the past would be fun to hear. Thanks again!

Regards,
Neutra

Dear Sexy Jay,

I was wondering if you were the one who designed the weapons in the game. Like the bow, rifle, battle axe, ninja sword, etc. If so do you think it possible for auras to extend to all parts of the costume. For instance, I have a tech based mastermind and it would look AMAZING if my electricity aura would cover my tech wings as well. And all the stalkers with ninja swords or claws could have glowing, flaming, or whatever swords/claws. And the same for all the other archtypes.

Thanks for your time,
Red