Title says it all - gimmicks that simulators have that don't necessarily add a lot of gameplay value but do add 'immersion' to the game. I'm a big fan of the more technical aspects of Elite on my PS4...from Newtonian physics in FA Off to the simple (and not entirely useless) external lights function. I'm primarily an explorer that dabbles in trade and combat between journeys (both with and without my ASP-E)
Without further-ado, stuff I want but don't need:
1) An Odometer - either in the status section or actually displayed in the top right (or low center over radar) that lists my total distance traveled in this particular ship.
2) Wear-and-tear - essentially another odometer function that is aesthetic: scratches, flickering lights or ui, dirty external lights, grime on the engines, etc. A function at stations to 'clean' the ship could be available for those who don't like such a feature for a minor cost. (Like 50 credits).
3) Trip Meter - Odometer but can be reset. Get all fancy and give me two like a real car from the second millennium!
4) Adjustable cockpit lighting - currently you can adjust the brightness on the ui, but not the cockpit lights. Individual lights is probably asking too much, but it'd be neat to at least 'set the mood' for stellar viewing by being able dim cockpit lights.
5) "What Direction Is This?" Navigation Feature - activated from functions screen, the ship plots a line through space in the direction the ship is pointing that translates to the galaxy map. Earlier today while flying around Omega nebula, I noticed a bright cluster of stars. I had to jump in and out of map to calibrate the direction of warp to reach them because they don't show up in the map as a bright cluster. This is basically an aid for "Oooh, what's that and how do I get there?" because there are some really neat galactic sights the map doesn't help you find!
6) Initiate "hover" from functions - As a PS4 player, I have to give up precious buttons to set throttle speeds...I'm cool with just selecting 'hover' from functions to bring the ship to a standstill and level out over a surface. This doesn't necessarily mean I can land, but it would help in cases I can or when observing surface structures. That and if you ever develop air-drop / air-pickup for SRV, this would be a must anyways!
7) A radio! Ok, that's music that has to be made into a jukebox function, yada, yada...but really, I miss having a radio when I play simulators. Granted, at 35k lightyears from Gateway...I'd be playing a playlist anyways, but you get the idea. Being able to tune a couple different channels when in the bubble or colonized regions would be nifty too. Or listen to Thargoid opera while they gobble up escape pods.
8) Landing Lights Function: Also a development hassle, but I've been a bit miffed that the underside of my ship - that deploys a ground vehicle in the dark - lacks lighting, considering every sci-fi ever (literally) features UNDER lights...not forward lights. In all seriousness, under lights would be a really nice add for SRV deployment and photo ops. Coupled with aforementioned hover mode...*cue abduction tunes*
9) Activate Beacon has a visual and audible effect: for something you depend on if all goes wrong, I'd like to see the beacon actually be an audible and visual effect. Audibly, just an occasional lone 'ping' every 30 seconds would (it has to be spaced out...saving energy and all since you're DYING). Visually, in-line with the ping an antenna outfitted with a flasher that extends from cockpit area could work.
10) Lastly, I'd really like a journal function (yes, even with the awful typing of a PS4 controller). On a PC, I could easily use a separate application like word...but an in-game function would be much easier anyways, especially on console. The ability to take notes (or just catalogue the time and sights on a long journey) would add a lot of immersion for me.
There's my 10! If you have your own wants (but not needs) for immersion, please add them!
Without further-ado, stuff I want but don't need:
1) An Odometer - either in the status section or actually displayed in the top right (or low center over radar) that lists my total distance traveled in this particular ship.
2) Wear-and-tear - essentially another odometer function that is aesthetic: scratches, flickering lights or ui, dirty external lights, grime on the engines, etc. A function at stations to 'clean' the ship could be available for those who don't like such a feature for a minor cost. (Like 50 credits).
3) Trip Meter - Odometer but can be reset. Get all fancy and give me two like a real car from the second millennium!
4) Adjustable cockpit lighting - currently you can adjust the brightness on the ui, but not the cockpit lights. Individual lights is probably asking too much, but it'd be neat to at least 'set the mood' for stellar viewing by being able dim cockpit lights.
5) "What Direction Is This?" Navigation Feature - activated from functions screen, the ship plots a line through space in the direction the ship is pointing that translates to the galaxy map. Earlier today while flying around Omega nebula, I noticed a bright cluster of stars. I had to jump in and out of map to calibrate the direction of warp to reach them because they don't show up in the map as a bright cluster. This is basically an aid for "Oooh, what's that and how do I get there?" because there are some really neat galactic sights the map doesn't help you find!
6) Initiate "hover" from functions - As a PS4 player, I have to give up precious buttons to set throttle speeds...I'm cool with just selecting 'hover' from functions to bring the ship to a standstill and level out over a surface. This doesn't necessarily mean I can land, but it would help in cases I can or when observing surface structures. That and if you ever develop air-drop / air-pickup for SRV, this would be a must anyways!
7) A radio! Ok, that's music that has to be made into a jukebox function, yada, yada...but really, I miss having a radio when I play simulators. Granted, at 35k lightyears from Gateway...I'd be playing a playlist anyways, but you get the idea. Being able to tune a couple different channels when in the bubble or colonized regions would be nifty too. Or listen to Thargoid opera while they gobble up escape pods.
8) Landing Lights Function: Also a development hassle, but I've been a bit miffed that the underside of my ship - that deploys a ground vehicle in the dark - lacks lighting, considering every sci-fi ever (literally) features UNDER lights...not forward lights. In all seriousness, under lights would be a really nice add for SRV deployment and photo ops. Coupled with aforementioned hover mode...*cue abduction tunes*
9) Activate Beacon has a visual and audible effect: for something you depend on if all goes wrong, I'd like to see the beacon actually be an audible and visual effect. Audibly, just an occasional lone 'ping' every 30 seconds would (it has to be spaced out...saving energy and all since you're DYING). Visually, in-line with the ping an antenna outfitted with a flasher that extends from cockpit area could work.
10) Lastly, I'd really like a journal function (yes, even with the awful typing of a PS4 controller). On a PC, I could easily use a separate application like word...but an in-game function would be much easier anyways, especially on console. The ability to take notes (or just catalogue the time and sights on a long journey) would add a lot of immersion for me.
There's my 10! If you have your own wants (but not needs) for immersion, please add them!