Starfield background

[laforge]

Hello,
i got a question related to the starfield background in systems. How will ED handle it? Will we see a standard background or a location-dependent one? For example in space you should clearly see the milky way, but when it is - in principle - possible to travel near the center of the milky way, then you may see a completely different picture.

Also the Orion Nebula M42 is the closest star forming region near Sol, while still around 1350 light years away and around 24 light years across it should be visible in the sky. What happens if you manage to travel there? Will the background change dramatically in that way that you see only the brightest stars or perhaps no stars?

Will the galaxy generator include star forming regions with proto star systems or binary star systems with accretion disks to explore?

Last but not least: Is it possible to travel into the empty space between systems?

 

[Maxeren]

Hello,
i got a question related to the starfield background in systems. How will ED handle it? Will we see a standard background or a location-dependent one? For example in space you should clearly see the milky way, but when it is - in principle - possible to travel near the center of the milky way, then you may see a completely different picture.

Also the Orion Nebula M42 is the closest star forming region near Sol, while still around 1350 light years away and around 24 light years across it should be visible in the sky. What happens if you manage to travel there? Will the background change dramatically in that way that you see only the brightest stars or perhaps no stars?

Will the galaxy generator include star forming regions with proto star systems or binary star systems with accretion disks to explore?

As i understand it the background will be dependant on where you are.

 

[Nagual]

They plan to use the Galaxy Map to create the skybox. In real terms this means the stars you see in the background are in their relative positions in the game. In other words, quite literally, if you can see it, and it's in range of your hyperdrive, you can essentially aim at it and attempt to jump there ( other data may be needed first though )

 

[laforge]

They plan to use the Galaxy Map to create the skybox. In real terms this means the stars you see in the background are in their relative positions in the game. In other words, quite literally, if you can see it, and it's in range of your hyperdrive, you can essentially aim at it and attempt to jump there ( other data may be needed first though )

But in that case the galaxy map must have a sufficient depth of several hundred up to thousands of light years (dependent on the location) full of stars to create a realistic background. In FFE for example the depth were maybe 20 light years with only a couple of stars in each sector. I am curious of how this will be handled

My question were also related to extended objects like nebulae or 'pillars of creation' which will look different from various perspectives.

 

[Nagual]

But in that case the galaxy map must have a sufficient depth of several hundred up to thousands of light years (dependent on the location) full of stars to create a realistic background. In FFE for example the depth were maybe 20 light years with only a couple of stars in each sector. I am curious of how this will be handled

My question were also related to extended objects like nebula or 'pillars of creation' which will look different from various perspectives.

The Galaxy map, is all the star systems they have at the start of the game, a few hundred billion. This should cover it I think.

 

[Slawkenbergius]

But in that case the galaxy map must have a sufficient depth of several hundred up to thousands of light years (dependent on the location) full of stars to create a realistic background.

I think they'll only plot the brightest stars, rather every than every single one in the Milky Way 'smudge', for instance. They might have several layers to the galaxy map, going from massive stars on one layer, going through a few layers down to tiny stars.

Deneb is the furthest star visible with the naked eye from our position in the solar system, at around 2,600LY away. So you would map every blue-supergiant within that distance, which will be realtively few, and then every medium-sized star within X distance, and so on. You only have to plot a couple of thousand points, which I imagine isn't that hard for a modern computer, especially as it can do all the calculations during the hyperspace sequence.

Possibly.

 

[izzy]

Last but not least: Is it possible to travel into the empty space between systems?

I think it is possible to travel into the empty space ... I don't know if it is confirmed by FD

 

[Slawkenbergius]

I think it is possible to travel into the empty space ... I don't know if it is confirmed by FD

You can only jump between gravity wells, so you can only visit interstellar space if there's something else there. That could be a rogue planet, or a dark nebula, or something of that ilk. You can fly towards another star using super-cruise, as far away from a system as you like probably, but it will take an exceptionally long time to get anywhere on a galactic scale. You're travelling sub-c, so it would literally take years to get to our nearest star.

So the answer is probably yes, but no...

 

[laforge]

You can only jump between gravity wells, so you can only visit interstellar space if there's something else there. That could be a rogue planet, or a dark nebula, or something of that ilk. You can fly towards another star using super-cruise, as far away from a system as you like probably, but it will take an exceptionally long time to get anywhere on a galactic scale. You're travelling sub-c, so it would literally take years to get to our nearest star.

So the answer is probably yes, but no...

Thanks for the insight, however when you say that super-cruise is sub c or approx. c, then it also may take around 8 minutes for every AU. Traveling within a star system may not be comfortable even at this speed.

 

[Maxeren]

You can only jump between gravity wells, so you can only visit interstellar space if there's something else there. That could be a rogue planet, or a dark nebula, or something of that ilk. You can fly towards another star using super-cruise, as far away from a system as you like probably, but it will take an exceptionally long time to get anywhere on a galactic scale. You're travelling sub-c, so it would literally take years to get to our nearest star.

So the answer is probably yes, but no...

Don't think that is entirely correct...

3.3 SUPER-CRUISING
...
- They can manually control the direction of the vessel
...

3.4 SUPER-CRUISE EXPERIENCE
...
- When travelling at super-cruise the commander pilots the ship using standard controls. They can speed up, slow down, pitch, yaw and roll.
...

 

[Sparticus]

Will you really be looking at the star-field whilst in combat ? Though it might be nice to see the odd recognisable constellation - however - if we recognize something - then our ship must be near Earth.

 

[Capt. Hook]

I think I read somewhere that the nebulas for example will change depending on one's position in space. This could be used to give different regions of space distinct hues.

Would like to see other deep space objects having a similar lighting effects such as Quasars, glowing aftershocks from supernovaes etc

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

Last but not least: Is it possible to travel into the empty space between systems?

I'm not 100% sure but I think that may be possible only if you're attempting to travel to an unexplored system that no known hyperspace route exists for. The way the exploration mechanic works is you scan for nearby systems and based on the info you receive you then need to align your ship as best you can to that system. Depending on your accuracy you can end up pretty close to the system or have a complete mis-jump (which *could* mean you exit hyperspace some distance from your target - possibly out in the void of interstellar space). Then you would need to realign and try again.

The other way is to use cruise control but as has been pointed out, its technically possible to travel to interstellar space, but not practicable (it'll take years of real time).

 

[laforge]

Would like to see other deep space objects having a similar lighting effects such as Quasars, glowing aftershocks from supernovaes etc

Quasars are a 'little bit' too far away...and nebulae are in fact aftershocks from supernovae in many cases.

(Ok, one can think of the thargoids or another advanced alien race have established a way to travel to other galaxies)

 

[Slawkenbergius]

Will you really be looking at the star-field whilst in combat ? Though it might be nice to see the odd recognisable constellation - however - if we recognize something - then our ship must be near Earth.

I think there'll be augmented reality stuff going on, so if you select a star in your galaxy map, it will be tagged and highlighted from your cockpit. You may even be able to select a star from your cockpit, and then when you open up your galaxy map, it will bring up info on it.

 

[Associat0r]

As Braben said here, real stars properly positioned.

To be used to ‘print’ the night sky skybox on arrival in a system.

 

[laforge]

As Braben said here, real stars properly positioned.

To be used to ‘print’ the night sky skybox on arrival in a system.

Thanks alot!

 

[jamieboo]

Has there been any hints as to whether or not the visual aesthetic will favour ubiquitous lurid nebulae, vapour, and dust saturating every starfield?
It's something that I've always found disappointing with recent space games. In striving to be 'beautiful graphixy' they paint an environment which rather makes me feel as though I'm in a psychedelic aquarium. Throwing up on a goose.
Personally, I find a glittering, superficially monochrome firmament endlessly beautiful.
The fact that Frontier seem to be going for a more realistic depiction of the galaxy suggests nebula placement will be a little more discriminate!
Splendid!

 

[Cody]

Personally, I find a glittering, superficially monochrome firmament endlessly beautiful.

<nods> I too hope that dust and nebulae are not over-done - occasional, rather than standard.

 

[Slawkenbergius]

Has there been any hints as to whether or not the visual aesthetic will favour ubiquitous lurid nebulae, vapour, and dust saturating every starfield?

I keep on glancing suspiciously at the pics we're sent, checking to see if any unicorns have micturated in the spacewater. There's normally a faint trace of widdle, which is just enough to keep me suspicious and on guard... If we end up with Acid Trip #240, I'll be quick to voice my disapproval.

On the whole though, the nebula have been a reassuring brown. Mind you, they may go disco-crazy when we're travelling at superfast speeds, but I'd probably enjoy that.