Drop items or drop containers when looting enemies?

Development Programming & Scripting
1

So this isn’t a question of how to do it but what to do. Should i drop items or containers the player can open?

So the pros for dropping items (similar to games like satisfactory where items just fall to the ground)

  • It gives the player an immediate look at what is available to pick up.
  • Its more satisfying when enemies explode into loot instead of just dropping a chest

Cons

  • It creates lots if actors
  • small items can be hard to find if you’re using a point and click pick up system for inventory vs a vacuum pick up

Now for the enemies dropping containers or becoming containers. (similar to fallout where when enemies die you can click on them and look through their inventory)

Pros

  • much easier to find enemies then small loot items
  • Much less engine intensive

Cons

  • Not as satisfying for the player
  • a little more complicated to set up

I am just interested in other peoples opinions.

2

really just depends on your game,

you could have a different actor for pickups that’s as cheap as possible.

i have the same question for my game since each item also has its own visibility check but i’ll just wait and see how performance goes.