External View [A definitive discussion]

[Verz]

An outside camera view would be great! But purely just to look around, and see your ship. No controls except being able to move the camera in a "view mode". Like middle mouse wheel to zoom in and out and click drag buttons to rotate and pan the camera. That's it. All gameplay is defunct when in view mode. If you are attacked/interdicted or about to endure an impact, maybe it could automatically switch you back your seat to take control.

But I read earlier that we are getting an external view similar to what I write in 1.2...So I'm good with that! Yay for screenshots!

I was thinking of the view mode in Galaxy on Fire, if anyone has played that.

 

[cmdr lowest]

Hot off the press:

This is welcome news.

Hopefully we'll be able to finally take some truly awesome shots without a hud or window frame getting in the way. Been waiting for this before I head off into the unknown...

 

[BedLamPing]

Hot off the press:

Cool... we can now look forward to galleries of ship-selfies!!!

 

[NeilF]

Hopefully we'll be able to finally take some truly awesome shots without a hud or window frame getting in the way. Been waiting for this before I head off into the unknown...

I've asked Michael if he can clarify if the degug camera can be made to point forward, thus in effect giving us a cockpit/HUDless screenshot (video) ability... Not heard back yet sadly...

 

[Jer the Stampede]

Huh? What?

I don't see how it's arcade-like at all.

For me personally it's one feature I've been waiting for. It would have been nice to be camera drones but in the case of everything or nothing, I'd like something.

+1
I'd have actually preferred a drone, heck would still like a drone but for now this will do.

 

[Kiblams]

+1
I'd have actually preferred a drone, heck would still like a drone but for now this will do.

As I understand it, you control it like you do your ship, so thinking of it as a.drone shouldn't be difficult to manage.

 

[Genar-Hofoen]

+1
I'd have actually preferred a drone, heck would still like a drone but for now this will do.

As I understand it, you control it like you do your ship, so thinking of it as a.drone shouldn't be difficult to manage.

I love this debug camera idea.

I also don't mind about camera drones - as long as the debug camera stays as well.

 

[jgm]

It should be somthing to use just for estetics and such, so, something to use only for that... disableing it during fighting, mining, or just when a "red" is close. I think there are lot of ways to implement an external view that you can't use in combat.
Imo saying no to external view for this reason is pointless.

I didn't say no to external view, I said no to having full control of your ship whilst in external view.

 

[Marc Alexander]

I've asked Michael if he can clarify if the degug camera can be made to point forward, thus in effect giving us a cockpit/HUDless screenshot (video) ability... Not heard back yet sadly...

Looks like he answered!

 

[Nutter]

[AWESOME] 1.2 Brings external View! - A debug camera!

Yes... that's right! An External View!

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.

Oh My!

Thank you FD! Thank you SO much!

Lost for words... Brilliant!

We have waited a long time for this!

AWESOME!

Nutter

 

[Harbinger]

All current clarification below:

Michael, any details on the limitations of the Debug camera?

Free positioning, range limit, available in Open mode?

It will have a limited range from your ship and you fly it like a ship. It's available in all modes.

Michael

Michael, would I be correct in thinking that using the camera comes with its own risks as your ship remains vulnerable to attack while you are lining up the perfect vanity shot? There is no true "pause" mode after all

Yes you are vulnerable while using the debug view.

Michael

Sorry to repeat the question Michael, but they have a big bearing on two threads I'm involved in?

With the "debug camera", can you:-
- Get a simple external view of your ship from a variety of angles/distances?
- Point the camera away from your ship and in effect get a cockpit/HUDless image of the view ahead of you?
- In supercruise and in standard flight?[/indent]

Apologies again for repeating the question(s).

Yes on all counts.

Michael

 

[[VR] Frank_G]

I see lots of incredible screenshots of immense beauty and awe coming up, making this game more popular all over the web. Great decision by FD to give us this feature. Thank you

 

[Jer the Stampede]

As I understand it, you control it like you do your ship, so thinking of it as a.drone shouldn't be difficult to manage.

But debug cameras can't have mini battles or races.

 

[Nutter]

Additional Info - Added here as I think will be lost in the external Poll Thread

With the "debug camera", you can:-
- Get a simple external view of your ship from a variety of angles/distances
- Point the camera away from your ship and in effect get a cockpit/HUDless image of the view ahead of you
- Use it in supercruise and in standard flight
-It will have a limited range from your ship and you fly it like a ship and is available in all modes.

NOTE:you are vulnerable while using the debug view.

 

[Roybe]

So many new desktop backgounds featuring....ME! ;P Now I just need a duckface paintjob for all my ships! FDEV, make it so!

Seriously, this is something I've wanted and hope to see the creative uses people can come up with for their videos!

 

[777Driver]

This is going to be awesome in the rift. And a huge distraction from the actual game

 

[Gédéon_Lecanard]

Well sorry for the useless post but

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

FD, your awesomeness knows no boundary!

 

[Nutter]

So excited, I wonder if it will be visible, fly it to a buddy and mock up some sort of service drone thingymabob!

 

[Doctor Axel]

PERFECT - a nice screenshot tool that is 99% useless in an actual gameplay sense. =D Looking forward to it.

 

[Troz]

Selfies. I feel a great thread coming on.