External View [A definitive discussion]

[NeilF]

Frontier have not stated that drones are out of the question but their implementation would be cockpit based. Thus you would still be "in your head" looking at a screen or something.

Any links to support this?

If an external view is on a small little monitor (in the cockpit), frankly it would be pointless for purpose IMHO. If external view is on a big monitor (in the cockpit) then why not simply allow it to be full screen? Just like the galaxy map for example.

I really don't see what's so sacred about it being on a monitor in the cockpit or full screen?

 

[Rog]

Any links to support this?

If an external view is on a small little monitor (in the cockpit), frankly it would be pointless for purpose IMHO. If external view is on a big monitor (in the cockpit) then why not simply allow it to be full screen? Just like the galaxy map for example.

I really don't see what's so sacred about it being on a monitor in the cockpit or full screen?

I think it was Michael Brookes who said that (in lore) certain UI elements are interfaced directly with the pilot's brain. In that case, I see no need for an external view on a tiny cockpit monitor.

Doesn't happen with the maps, outfitting, commodities, etc.

 

[Andrew Sayers]

If external view is on a big monitor (in the cockpit) then why not simply allow it to be full screen? Just like the galaxy map for example.

Less off-topic than my last post, but a thread in the alpha forums asked whether the galaxy map would ever be added to the cockpit interface. Michael replied:

Unknown at the moment, the original plan was to project it into the cockpit, but it's not usable in that state.

I don't have an especially strong opinion on this one, but I can definitely see an argument that the galaxy map is a special case. Most third-person views work against the "one man in his ship" part of the aesthetic, whereas an out-of-body map experience speaks very well to the "lost in the vastness of space" part of the aesthetic.

 

[hawkenfox]

I really think it will give the community a tool to draw in more players and attract more players with beautiful imagery and videos they could produce. Even if the drones could be deployed to give an edge to any combat senario, I still think I still require some response time and skills to switch between both external view and cockpit view. And I am quite sure FD would not put a crosshair on the external view. I think the focus should be purely for cosmetic purposes, during boring flights super cruising could be really enjoyable with the exterior view. It did be so cool to see ice forming during mid super criuse and de icying hardware melting the ice in just before the reaching destination! Just ask any eveonline players who only zoom around space looking from a camera drone. It's satisfying. XD

 

[4verse]

+1 to external view

 

[Jack Booted Thug]

I'm sure this would be very popular with some.

But for many it doesn't address the key point of external view. To better enjoy the moment!

External view needn't "break a fundamental design decision of Frontier". Cockpit should be the place to play the game from. But other views are better suited to other purposes. No one is suggesting playing the game from external view. Only enjoying looking at the game from external view

Increasing Yaw and introduction Faction control would add to some people enjoying the moment also. Elite: Dangerous is just not that game.

Frontier have made it clear that they want to create the definitive experience where you are actually the plot in the game.

I don't have a problem with that personally. Many do.

 

[Jack Booted Thug]

Any links to support this?

If an external view is on a small little monitor (in the cockpit), frankly it would be pointless for purpose IMHO. If external view is on a big monitor (in the cockpit) then why not simply allow it to be full screen? Just like the galaxy map for example.

I really don't see what's so sacred about it being on a monitor in the cockpit or full screen?

Nope no link. You can dig around though as I have seen a Dev state that drones are not out of the question. When and where I could not tell you.

 

[Jack Booted Thug]

Less off-topic than my last post, but a thread in the alpha forums asked whether the galaxy map would ever be added to the cockpit interface. Michael replied:



I don't have an especially strong opinion on this one, but I can definitely see an argument that the galaxy map is a special case. Most third-person views work against the "one man in his ship" part of the aesthetic, whereas an out-of-body map experience speaks very well to the "lost in the vastness of space" part of the aesthetic.

That is a pretty interesting point there.

 

[NeilF]

Nope no link. You can dig around though as I have seen a Dev state that drones are not out of the question. When and where I could not tell you.

The request was for any link to endorse your comment regarding external views - "Thus you would still be 'in your head' looking at a screen or something."

You only have to look as far as the first post on this thread for comments from FD staff regarding drones, and their desire to hopefully give us external views.

 

[Zak Gordon]

Frontier and FFE's external view was never useful in combat......

Slightly off-topic, but FFE's external view was incredibly useful in combat, because unlike in ED you could stop time and have a look around. My general combat strategy (especially with the larger ships) was to stop time as soon as something appeared on the radar, scan round until I found it, select it as a navigation target, then autopilot towards it firing lasers. A boring solution, but an extremely effective one.

Ok well except in that case! You stopped time, just to target an enemy! That is most ungentlemanly. I found with never more than a few attackers getting you at once, i mostly had plenty of time to simply pan around and target them in real time (1x gave you as much time as stopping the game in effect in relation to the distances involved).

 

[Pete Clements]

they're just dev tools at the moment. We are looking at ways to allow external views like camera drones.

Michael

like it!

 

[4 Sagan]

Outside View ?

Well Howdy from Colorado:

Can't seem to find the outside view keyboard command.:S

Gerry

 

[Hobbs]

Howdy!

I'm afraid there is no outside view at the moment, though I believe this is currently under discussion as to whether one will be provided in future.

 

[Cody]

Welcome aboard - there is no 3rd person view.

Ninja'd!

 

[Mack71]

Love the idea of camera drones it would be nice if they could be damaged to either not function properly or not at all.
I remember seeing an excellent video useing 2 dome shaped magnets oposeing each other one upturned like a cup with a hole in the bottom and the other faceing downwards with a sheet of perspex inbetween them then a normal steel ball not magnetized was rolled towards the oposed domes on the perpex with the suprising result that the steel ball settles in orbit at a distance from the domes, even when pushing or proding the steel ball either away or towards the domed magnets it would settle back in orbit it was very fascinating to view.
I thought maybe this tech could be used for external cams held in place by a sort of magnetism, hmm i wonder how much heat they would generate you could possibly make it so you had to retract them during stealth mode :smilie:

P.S. just found the video called Primer Fields which also show some very interesting insights into light.
https://www.youtube.com/user/davelapoint777

 

[Zireael]

I think it was Michael Brookes who said that (in lore) certain UI elements are interfaced directly with the pilot's brain.

Can I have a link? Is there a lore thread anywhere?

they're just dev tools at the moment. We are looking at ways to allow external views like camera drones.

Michael

That's great news!

 

[CaptainSodom]

This epic video from the newsletter is reason enough to get external view.

Yes, I realize it is shot with the current build which doesn't have an external view. But to my understanding you can only shoot it using one ship, and then you have to lock your view through the ceiling of the ship and fly awkwardly.

 

[nats]

I am certainly really missing a third person external view from the present game I am playing (combat 1.00) there is not a moment goes by when I dont wish I could see my ship from the outside. I think the lack of good visuals from the game have indicated that an external view is flipping essential and for me a variety of views would be preferred. Please Frontier dont just listen to the hardline fans who just want to play the game from the cockpit. External views are mainstay of sims for many many years it would be heartbreaking for this game not to have a good selection of them. Personally I love looking at my ship from the outside because it just opens up the whole amazing view of the world and I think this game would look amazing in external view. But views like flypasts are great fun as well. This is just a game at the end of the day remember, dont lose sight of that. Dont take it too seriously. A variety of good external views are essential.

 

[Robert Maynard]

Please Frontier dont just listen to the hardline fans who just want to play the game from the cockpit.

In terms of actually piloting the ship, it is Frontier that are driving the first person view.

There has been a recent concession that a third party view may be possible using a drone.

 

[Dangerdog]

If 3rd person view is enabled then I don't see why there shouldn't also be a front facing "bumper cam" view with just the bare essential information for a UI/ non-cockpit view.