Flight Direction Indicator.

[LumpTheNoLeggedDog]

I play this game since beginning and I'm talking about Elite games. I play Elite Dangerous since around 2015-16 and all that time I knew there is something missing from what there is in old Elite and Frontier games, Flight Direction Indicator. HUD needs FDI, little particles flying by cockpit can't be considered a flight direction indicator and it would be rubbish to think or say that's what it is.
Any "space flight" simulation must have FDI. I was actually playing Kerbal Space Program when I realized, Elite Dangerous is missions flight direction indicator.
So, come on Fdevs, apply FDI to our HUDs.

 

[Riverside]

This has come up before. I think a transparent ball surrounding the 'our own ship' representation on the lower right main HuD that has an indicator dot representing the current vector. Most of the time it would just point forward & should be an unobtrusive addition.

 

[varonica]

I play this game since beginning and I'm talking about Elite games. I play Elite Dangerous since around 2015-16 and all that time I knew there is something missing from what there is in old Elite and Frontier games, Flight Direction Indicator. HUD needs FDI, little particles flying by cockpit can't be considered a flight direction indicator and it would be rubbish to think or say that's what it is.
Any "space flight" simulation must have FDI. I was actually playing Kerbal Space Program when I realized, Elite Dangerous is missions flight direction indicator.
So, come on Fdevs, apply FDI to our HUDs.

That's a novel idea, first time I have heard it......nah just kidding you.

Why aren't the particles flight direction indicators? I use them all the time for that purpose.

Of course I don't do combat so it may not be suitable for that use, but I would have to let others with experience in combat express their views.

 

[LumpTheNoLeggedDog]

That's a novel idea, first time I have heard it......nah just kidding you.

Why aren't the particles flight direction indicators? I use them all the time for that purpose.

Of course I don't do combat so it may not be suitable for that use, but I would have to let others with experience in combat express their views.

Using particles as FDI is unprofessional, I would expect that from arcade games but any respected space flight simulator should have and as far as I know have FDI. Like I mentioned in my OP, even old Elite and Frontier games have FDI.
Combat is one thing but players who solely relay and fly in FA Off mode, FDI is basically necessity. I fly in FA On mode but I would love to have it. Imagine what happens when you try to land on high gravity planets, sometimes you can barely see those particles and you don't know how fast planet is pulling your ship downwards.
Well, like I said, I believe every respected space flight simulator should have FDI.

 

[cmdr milesred]

Even though this is not a new request, I want to know what you want it for?

There are things on the HUD that tell us this is forward.
Besides the indicators, we have built in forward, backward, up , down, left, right sensors in our bodies and the ships.

upon approach to a body or on one we have alt, compass as well as the same FB UD LR indicators.

I mainly ask because Flight Direction other than FB UD LR is relative to something such as a planet, a star, a station.
and even FB UD LR are relative to your position relative to something.

Is it a thing I am not aware of that some people can't tell what direction their ship is going?

 

[LumpTheNoLeggedDog]

opss..wrong button

 

[Morbad]

Why aren't the particles flight direction indicators? I use them all the time for that purpose.

Biggest reason is that the space dust is not always clearly visible (this is often the case in foggy/dusty rings) and that in some situations the space dust itself can be distracting clutter. Also, anything that features interpreting a temporal motion vector perforce takes more time than interpreting an instantaneous/static indicator.

 

[CardioTherapy]

I play this game since beginning and I'm talking about Elite games. I play Elite Dangerous since around 2015-16 and all that time I knew there is something missing from what there is in old Elite and Frontier games, Flight Direction Indicator. HUD needs FDI, little particles flying by cockpit can't be considered a flight direction indicator and it would be rubbish to think or say that's what it is.
Any "space flight" simulation must have FDI. I was actually playing Kerbal Space Program when I realized, Elite Dangerous is missions flight direction indicator.
So, come on Fdevs, apply FDI to our HUDs.

Like the idea. FDI would help me a lot with FA Off orientation.

 

[CardioTherapy]

Even though this is not a new request, I want to know what you want it for?

There are things on the HUD that tell us this is forward.
Besides the indicators, we have built in forward, backward, up , down, left, right sensors in our bodies and the ships.

upon approach to a body or on one we have alt, compass as well as the same FB UD LR indicators.

I mainly ask because Flight Direction other than FB UD LR is relative to something such as a planet, a star, a station.
and even FB UD LR are relative to your position relative to something.

Is it a thing I am not aware of that some people can't tell what direction their ship is going?

When flying FA Off you will see the need. Especially if you are like me - not very professional. I can manage the ship very well in term of targeting but have issues determining the exact directions at which the ship is drifting. If I had something to show me the exact direction I could apply the appropriate imputs to control it better. Sometimes the space dust helps but very often it is not visible

 

[Imo]

The small radar is your fligth direction indicator sir.

 

[LumpTheNoLeggedDog]

The small radar is your fligth direction indicator sir.

No sir, small radar shows you possition of point of interest you have targeted in your Nav panel. :/

 

[Northpin]

I wonder how people managed to FA Off (most of them going full time FA Off) until now, without any other proper FDI except particles
One would say that lacking proper FDI is a non-issue.

Or as they say: We have solutions, you just need to make up problems.

 

[LumpTheNoLeggedDog]

I'm just saying that any proper space fight simulator needs a FDI. Particles are not a proper FDI. You wouldn't be able to call a Microsoft Flight Simulator a "simulator" if planes didn't have a compass like all planes do have. As far as I know, FDI is one of the most important instruments on any spaceship.

FDI would make Elite Dangerous so much more like space flight simulation then it is right now. Just because Cmdrs got used to not having FDI, doesn't mean it shouldn't be there, that is a bad excuse for rejecting this suggestion.

 

[HRDiagram]

I would like to see the vector displayed on the HUD.
I've always used the particles all right (although they can be invisible in some circumstances), but it baffles me that they are the solution that's been adopted.
I am sure there has to be a reason (technical or in lore) why this effect has been chosen over an HUD indicator, and I am curious to know what it was.
Does anyone know?

I mean, they have even explained the reason why the main gun on the Scorpion shoots the way it does.

 

[cmdr milesred]

This is why I asked.

I fly FA off a lot.
I always know my direction, my heading, my speed. altitude if applicable , N,E,W,S if applicable.
The indicators are all available.

How do you think people do this? And have been doing this..

Apparently some need to become more familiar with flight and controls and the vessels they are trying to control.

Assume no-one else can do something, a bit presumptuous.

Oddly, many thousands of us can fly FA off , and so many scenarios where we actually have full control and know exactly where we are and where we are aimed.

I know IRL many people can't tell orientation, can't detect direction.
These folks usually don't qualify for aircraft pilots or space flight. Should not mountain climb or drive.
And my absolute favorite are the ones that have other left....OFC you can't fly if you don't get direction, orientation...fly like a rock , yes. Like a hawk, no.

Every one has their opinion.

I am glad the safety of the universe is not depending on the non directional capabilities of some.

Talk to the cats... even they seem to get it., birds, fish. amazing that not one has a FDI, yet they can always find their way. Only man gets lost and confused.
For many these are basic natural survival skills.
Getting into a hi speed craft and testing them is fun.
Gauges be dammed, the feel of the machine going against nature.
Nature going with the flow and learning the machine and becoming one.
Elite.

Not everyone can do everything
RTD, Rangers.

 

[cmdr milesred]

FWIW
Freelancer is a similar style
its more obvious in the ships there.
All I can really say, is the dust is always there, markers, indicators.
You might try various adjustments to how you see what is being displayed.

Knowing that many people can get motion sickness and many can be brought to convulsions and vomiting from VR is knowing your body has visual sensors that are very sensitive in some people and not at all in some people.

A trained Astronaut and or an experienced pilot will have the, as we all know it, 'The Right Stuff' or not.
OFC being a combination of natural skill and so much more, but knowing, feeling is a very large part of it.
Rank and status awarded accordingly
Snoopy vs The Bloody Red Baron.
as opposed to Charlie and Lucy.

If cats never landed on their feet, they would simply be snacks.
Birds would be darts
Fish would be rocks

 

[LumpTheNoLeggedDog]

FWIW
Freelancer is a similar style
its more obvious in the ships there.
All I can really say, is the dust is always there, markers, indicators.
You might try various adjustments to how you see what is being displayed.

Knowing that many people can get motion sickness and many can be brought to convulsions and vomiting from VR is knowing your body has visual sensors that are very sensitive in some people and not at all in some people.

A trained Astronaut and or an experienced pilot will have the, as we all know it, 'The Right Stuff' or not.
OFC being a combination of natural skill and so much more, but knowing, feeling is a very large part of it.
Rank and status awarded accordingly
Snoopy vs The Bloody Red Baron.
as opposed to Charlie and Lucy.

If cats never landed on their feet, they would simply be snacks.
Birds would be darts
Fish would be rocks

Once again, it is about being as realistic as possible when playing a simulation game. Your not going to have a correct Airplane simulation game without airplane having a gyroscope, your not going to have correct Seaship simulation without ship having a compass and it only logical for Spacship simulation for spaceship to have FDI. Just like old Elite and Friontier games do.

btw...Freelancer is not a spaceship flight simulator, it is a third-person spaceship combat shooting game.

 

[Imo]

great simulation where in space the spaceship gets slower and slower as soon as you turn off the thrusters after accelerating.

 

[CardioTherapy]

great simulation where in space the spaceship gets slower and slower as soon as you turn off the thrusters after accelerating.

the space force is pushing it back

 

[Northpin]

Once again, it is about being as realistic as possible when playing a simulation game.

IF you think it's a simulation game, i'm looking forward to your next request for the removal of speed limiters and for the addition of BVR combat.
After all, speed limits in space and radar/weapon ranges below 10km is... well.. so WW2

So, no - "It's a simulation game" is not much of an argument