PLEASE IGNORE THE POLL! IT'S BROKEN!
**LATEST NEWS**
Looks like an external camera is finally arriving in V1.2:-
Michael has confirmed the feature will allow you to view your ship from various angles and distances. It will also allow you to in effect obtain a cockpit/HUDless screenshot. And in both supercruise and standard flight. You cannot control your ship while in this debug camera mode. Your ship can be moving, but you cannot control your ship while in the debug view.
We have numerous threads all discussing a potential external view in Elite Dangerous. It's clear that the same concerns come up over and over again, typically with the same answers/solutions over and over again.
This is an attempt to consolidate this matter. This original post will always be amended and kept up to date so a definitive resource is available in one place/location. The proposal is in no way endorsed/supported by Frontier, and their own solution may work completely differently, if indeed they even offer an external view ultimately.
1 - Purpose
2 - Proposed Behaviour
3 - Limitations
4 - Common Arguments (Against External View)
5 - Compromises/Alternatives
6 - What we do know
7 - Miscellaneous
If you believe you can add anything to this discussion, by raising a valid concern, or improve how external view might be offered, please do post away and I'll keep this original post up to date so a resource exists.
PLEASE ONLY POST CONCERNS/SOLUTIONS! Thanks...
**LATEST NEWS**
Looks like an external camera is finally arriving in V1.2:-
Hi everyone,
The beta release for update 1.2 is rapidly approaching and I have some more details to share in this week’s update.
For people wanting to take screenshots or look at their own ships we’re also unlocking a debug camera. This allows you take limited control of the camera outside of your ship. This isn’t a gameplay camera and is purely a debug function to allow players to see their ship.
Michael has confirmed the feature will allow you to view your ship from various angles and distances. It will also allow you to in effect obtain a cockpit/HUDless screenshot. And in both supercruise and standard flight. You cannot control your ship while in this debug camera mode. Your ship can be moving, but you cannot control your ship while in the debug view.
We have numerous threads all discussing a potential external view in Elite Dangerous. It's clear that the same concerns come up over and over again, typically with the same answers/solutions over and over again.
This is an attempt to consolidate this matter. This original post will always be amended and kept up to date so a definitive resource is available in one place/location. The proposal is in no way endorsed/supported by Frontier, and their own solution may work completely differently, if indeed they even offer an external view ultimately.
1 - Purpose
An external view is not aimed at general game play. It is designed to allow a player to better enjoy particular moments of the game; To see an event/location more clearly and potentially immerse themselves even more fully into the Elite Dangerous universe.
In short it would be nice to be able to periodically enjoy this sort of view of your ship and the surrounding Elite Dangerous universe:-
An external view is not intended to allow general play from an external viewpoint. Cockpit view will be where the game is played from and an external view will simply be a view to enjoy it from periodically. No one wants Elite Dangerous to be this:-
In short it would be nice to be able to periodically enjoy this sort of view of your ship and the surrounding Elite Dangerous universe:-
An external view is not intended to allow general play from an external viewpoint. Cockpit view will be where the game is played from and an external view will simply be a view to enjoy it from periodically. No one wants Elite Dangerous to be this:-
2 - Proposed Behaviour
Note: An external view can be "dressed up" (explained) as a droid being deployed, or even a CGI rendered image projected to the pilots eyes. It's not important in reality.
1) At the press of a key external view will be initiated.
2) While in external view, you will be able to rotate around your ship to view it from any/all angles, easily and swiftly. I personally would suggest the players ship should always be at the center of the view.
3) The view can be zoomed in/out up to a reasonable distance from the ship.
4) The view will be full screen (or close to it) and as if you we actually looking from that external location with your own eyes. ie: It will not be displayed on a small little screen within the cockpit.
5) At the press of a key the external view will be terminated.
1) At the press of a key external view will be initiated.
2) While in external view, you will be able to rotate around your ship to view it from any/all angles, easily and swiftly. I personally would suggest the players ship should always be at the center of the view.
3) The view can be zoomed in/out up to a reasonable distance from the ship.
4) The view will be full screen (or close to it) and as if you we actually looking from that external location with your own eyes. ie: It will not be displayed on a small little screen within the cockpit.
5) At the press of a key the external view will be terminated.
3 - Limitations
Mandatory
1) Entering and leaving external view will take a few seconds (eg: 4-5). This time could simply show a pan in graphic to/from your external view and the cockpit.
2) No hud or other display will be shown. You will see the external view, and nothing else. (Optionally some of the HUD could be displayed and toggled on/off if this is not deemed an advantage.)
Optional
3) If a ship/object is not shown on your scanner, it will not be shown in external view - This is clearly to game balance - Some people don't believe it's required.
4) It is proposed while in external view, your ship will run hot so will appear on other ships scanners easily - Is this really required?
5) When in external view, with no scanner/HUD etc, if a new ship is detected on the scanner, the pilot should be warned of this. ie: It would be frustrating if while admiring your ship in front of a pretty nebula pirates arrived and the first you knew about it were laser blasts.
6) Rotation speed should be limited. ie: The speed at which the view around a ship (the speed of the droid) should be limited to a reasonable speed to prevent users quickly looking around. eg: 4-5 seconds to rotate from front to rear view.
1) Entering and leaving external view will take a few seconds (eg: 4-5). This time could simply show a pan in graphic to/from your external view and the cockpit.
2) No hud or other display will be shown. You will see the external view, and nothing else. (Optionally some of the HUD could be displayed and toggled on/off if this is not deemed an advantage.)
Optional
3) If a ship/object is not shown on your scanner, it will not be shown in external view - This is clearly to game balance - Some people don't believe it's required.
4) It is proposed while in external view, your ship will run hot so will appear on other ships scanners easily - Is this really required?
5) When in external view, with no scanner/HUD etc, if a new ship is detected on the scanner, the pilot should be warned of this. ie: It would be frustrating if while admiring your ship in front of a pretty nebula pirates arrived and the first you knew about it were laser blasts.
6) Rotation speed should be limited. ie: The speed at which the view around a ship (the speed of the droid) should be limited to a reasonable speed to prevent users quickly looking around. eg: 4-5 seconds to rotate from front to rear view.
4 - Common Arguments (Against External View)
See around things
Issue: You will be able to look around objects you can't from cockpit view. eg: Hide behind an asteroid and see ships around it.
Solution: See limitation (3)
Gain a greater FOV in combat
Issue: An external view will give the player a greater FOV than while in the cockpit.
Solution: While this is partially true, limitation (1), (2) and potentially (4) would seem to completely overcome any such advantage.
Note: It could also be argued that devices such as the Oculus Rift give a combat advantage.
It will break immersion
Issue: It will break the illusion you are the pilot.
Solution: Don't use it.
It's not realistic
Issue: Certain features of the external view are not realistic. eg: Limitation (1) or limitation (3).
Solution: A maximum speed limit is not realistic. So is not having a simple rear view camera/mirror. So is not being able to see your own legs. These are all example of game play or technical limitations. Any such limitation for external view is no more/less realistic.
Issue: You will be able to look around objects you can't from cockpit view. eg: Hide behind an asteroid and see ships around it.
Solution: See limitation (3)
Gain a greater FOV in combat
Issue: An external view will give the player a greater FOV than while in the cockpit.
Solution: While this is partially true, limitation (1), (2) and potentially (4) would seem to completely overcome any such advantage.
Note: It could also be argued that devices such as the Oculus Rift give a combat advantage.
It will break immersion
Issue: It will break the illusion you are the pilot.
Solution: Don't use it.
It's not realistic
Issue: Certain features of the external view are not realistic. eg: Limitation (1) or limitation (3).
Solution: A maximum speed limit is not realistic. So is not having a simple rear view camera/mirror. So is not being able to see your own legs. These are all example of game play or technical limitations. Any such limitation for external view is no more/less realistic.
5 - Compromises/Alternatives
Below are listed some alternative compromises and related suggestions...
Cockpit'less screenshot
Allow a key to take a screenshot without any cockpit or hud.
Replay editor
Allow the game to store data while playing (either constantly, or at the press of a button) which within an out-of-game editor can then be used to replay game play, viewing it from different angles, with control over time (eg: slow motion/pause/reverse) etc.
Cockpit'less screenshot
Allow a key to take a screenshot without any cockpit or hud.
Replay editor
Allow the game to store data while playing (either constantly, or at the press of a button) which within an out-of-game editor can then be used to replay game play, viewing it from different angles, with control over time (eg: slow motion/pause/reverse) etc.
6 - What we do know
Frontier's plans for any sort of external view is unclear. What is clear is they wish to keep in tone with the fact you are a captain in a cabin. As such any magical instant external view (like many games offer) is unlikely. The most likely approach, if any, is via some sort of drone.
Mention of a "cockpit free" screenshot.
This comment is from Mike Evans, in this very thread. Does it mean no external view at all? Or why the cockpit approach is the predominent one?
In Development Diary #12, the video does demonstrate what appears to be an external view in action. One can only assume this is for use by the developers so does not suggest it will be available for regular players - Click here!
External view confirmed? It seems a Lead Designer has confirmed some sort of external view will be available?
In Newsletter #25, the video does demonstrate what appears to be an external view in action - Click here!
Michael Brookers (Executive Producer) suggests FD are actively looking into providing an external view via drones.
Sandro Sammarco (Lead Designer) gives some more info on hopefully what will be offered.
Michael Brookes (Executive Producer) gives an update.
In the development announcement for V1.2 we get some good news: Michael has confirmed the feature will allow you to view your ship from various angles and distances. It will also allow you to in effect obtain a cockpit/HUDless screenshot. And in both supercruise and standard flight. You cannot control your ship while in this debug camera mode. Your ship can be moving, but you cannot control your ship while in the debug view.
There's no third person view for flying the ship, the game is about you in your cockpit and based around that central premise. There may be some external cameras views in certain situations, but the game is played as a commander in the cockpit.
Michael
Michael Brookes said:There's no external view, it's cockpit view only. We may add camera drones or similar for the final game, but it won't be a third person view that you can fly in.
Michael
We absolutely think the cockpit is necessary, we are looking at some situations and methods for external views, but the primary interface is the cockpit. It is the environment in which you exist as much as the method by which you control the game.
Michael
Some of the HUD comes via implants, so there will be some commonality and visibility when you're not in the pilot's chair. However the cockpit has always been a physical presence for us, so the simple answer is that we want it that way
Michael
* Players can take photographs (essentially screenshots) from their view ports (with and without cockpit and GUI etc)
This comment is from Mike Evans, in this very thread. Does it mean no external view at all? Or why the cockpit approach is the predominent one?
Pretty much. The experience is the main issue and the reason we did it. The fact it has implications for multiplayer (those implications being that everything is conveniently fair) is a bonus really.
In Development Diary #12, the video does demonstrate what appears to be an external view in action. One can only assume this is for use by the developers so does not suggest it will be available for regular players - Click here!
External view confirmed? It seems a Lead Designer has confirmed some sort of external view will be available?
Sandro Sammarco said:Other points you make will almost certainly be addressed, such as the ability to ogle your ship via camera/drones or some such functionality. We are darn proud of our ships and we want to eat them up with our eyes just as much as you do!
In Newsletter #25, the video does demonstrate what appears to be an external view in action - Click here!
Michael Brookers (Executive Producer) suggests FD are actively looking into providing an external view via drones.
They're just dev tools at the moment. We are looking at ways to allow external views like camera drones.
Sandro Sammarco (Lead Designer) gives some more info on hopefully what will be offered.
To add a little developer clarification:
We are looking at external camera views, with the following caveats:
* They are contextualised as camera/drone systems
* They are not designed to be used as alternate flight views
* Their primary function is to allow "beauty shots"
* They may have occasional tertiary game play functions (such as seeing how close you are to something)
No ETA at the moment though.
Michael Brookes (Executive Producer) gives an update.
Not at the moment, but that might change in the future. We're aware of the desire for an external view, but it's not integral to the game so has a lower priority for now.
Michael
In the development announcement for V1.2 we get some good news: Michael has confirmed the feature will allow you to view your ship from various angles and distances. It will also allow you to in effect obtain a cockpit/HUDless screenshot. And in both supercruise and standard flight. You cannot control your ship while in this debug camera mode. Your ship can be moving, but you cannot control your ship while in the debug view.
Hi everyone,
The beta release for update 1.2 is rapidly approaching and I have some more details to share in this week’s update.
For people wanting to take screenshots or look at their own ships we’re also unlocking a debug camera. This allows you take limited control of the camera outside of your ship. This isn’t a gameplay camera and is purely a debug function to allow players to see their ship.
Michael
7 - Miscellaneous
External View HUD
"Dejay" knocked up a simple graphic to demonstrate what a HUD from a droid's external view may look like. Seems to set the scene quite nicely. Ideally this view could be displayed as small image within the HUD, or expanded to bigger and/or fullscreen?
Issue: A problem with this view is that is allows the best of both worlds? ie: You can pilot your ship and have a increased FOV at the same time?
Solution: A proposed solution is the external view HUD still takes X seconds to enter/leave (as suggested in Limitations) and also takes up most/all of the HUD. ie: So you lose all/some weapon/scanner elements of the HUD. This HUD could then optionally be zoomed to become full(er) screen. Ultimately, if the external view is in HUD or fullscreen, the same limitations/behaviour would exist.
"Dejay" knocked up a simple graphic to demonstrate what a HUD from a droid's external view may look like. Seems to set the scene quite nicely. Ideally this view could be displayed as small image within the HUD, or expanded to bigger and/or fullscreen?
Issue: A problem with this view is that is allows the best of both worlds? ie: You can pilot your ship and have a increased FOV at the same time?
Solution: A proposed solution is the external view HUD still takes X seconds to enter/leave (as suggested in Limitations) and also takes up most/all of the HUD. ie: So you lose all/some weapon/scanner elements of the HUD. This HUD could then optionally be zoomed to become full(er) screen. Ultimately, if the external view is in HUD or fullscreen, the same limitations/behaviour would exist.
If you believe you can add anything to this discussion, by raising a valid concern, or improve how external view might be offered, please do post away and I'll keep this original post up to date so a resource exists.
PLEASE ONLY POST CONCERNS/SOLUTIONS! Thanks...
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