News Feature Requests Update #11- Systems Malfunction, Brace For Impact!

[Ashley Barley]

Feature Requests Update #11- Systems Malfunction, Brace For Impact!
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After our brief hiatus as I went and enjoyed the torrential rain in Spain (that apparently doesn’t fall mainly on the plain, as it happens), we’re back with a new Feature Requests Update!

This week we’ll be looking at some of the inquiries we received to do with control functions and input methods. One caveat I suppose it is worth giving before diving into these is that whilst we want the game to support as many control functions as possible, most planned input methods will most likely come as post-release updates. With that said, let’s get on with it!

One thing that several people have asked about is whether we have considered creating iOS and Android apps that will either allow players to monitor things such as in-game markets, or even provide additional functionality as a control method. Whilst this isn’t a priority, the idea of apps that allow players to monitor things such as market data is definitely something that the team have already looked at and would like to explore further post-launch, if possible:

Michael: There may be associated apps in the future, but not for intial release.This is something we want to look into though.

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The Oculus Rift is something that has been getting a lot of publicity recently and of course with 3D cockpits confirmed for Elite: Dangerous, support for it would be an incredibly cool addition. Without actually having our hands on a dev kit yet, and the priority pre-launch having to go to things more integral to the core game, this isn’t something we can absolutely confirm at this stage. That said it is something that we would be excited to look into:

Sandy: Would be nice. Can’t guarantee it, but if possible we will do this.
Michael: We will investigate.

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Several people also asked about head tracking tech such as Track IR and its various competitors. Unfortunately this isn’t a technology that we’re too familiar with within the office so it isn’t something you can expect to see close to release. That said, the team are interested in investigating it all the same:

Sandy: Not offhand familiar with the system – can discuss
Michael: We will investigate.

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Multi-monitor support is another thing that would of course make the game a lot more immersive for several players and is definitely something we intend to support. Whether native support will be implemented from day one is sadly the subject of time constraints, but we’re happy to confirm that we intend to support it eventually:

Sandy:We can probably support this, time-frames and priority of feature to be decided though.
Michael: We do intend to support multiple monitors.

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Some of you were curious whether voice recognition is something that we could implement. This is something that definitely won’t be a priority for first release, but we may look into for later.

Sandy: Can discuss, but not a priority feature.
Michael: Probably not for the initial release, but we can look into it.

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Finally this week, fans of joysticks will be happy to know that support for full axis joysticks will indeed be included. We would also like to support Force Feedback if possible:

Sandy: If possible [Force Feedback] – would like to support this along with joysticks.
Michael: Yes [full axis joysticks] and yes, we’d like to support this [Force Feedback].

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That’s it for another week. We also received a tonne of technical requests relating to in-game features, so that will most likely be the theme of next week’s edition. Thanks again for reading and if you’d like to give me any feedback please don’t hesitate to get in contact either via the forums, my email or Twitter!

Thanks, Ashley

 

[cassius]

Thanks for the update, very nice!

Don't mind so much about the TrackIR or Rift support as keyboard/mouse and joystick will do me. But extremely happy to hear about the multiple monitor support... i have something special planned for my ED setup that was needing this in part. Sounds ominous i know, lets just say i'll be posting something in the Fan Creations forum in a little while

p.s Hope you had a decent holiday despite the rain, Ashley

 

[OneViGOR]

I've never been a massive fan of gaming peripherals like joysticks. All the same, I'm sure plenty of people would enjoy the extra compatability. I guess it all depends on your gameplay style. Thanks, Frontier!

 

[bitrogue]

Great update, as always.

I'm really pleased to hear about full multi axis controller support will be included. Can't wait to get my HOTAS programmed up with everything the flight model has to offer. But I'll also be interested to hear what the devs recommend as the best controller type to use.

Also I'm following the whole Occulus Rift scene with great interest. I only hear good reports about it, but nothing in production yet so no constructive feedback from consumenrs yet. But if the technology is as good as the claims then it sounds like E: D could really be taken to the next level if this was supported. Good news all round.

 

[Slawkenbergius]

This is all pretty much as I expected and as it should be. I'm very keen on the Oculus Rift, and hope that the game is designed in such a way that getting it to work isn't a major headache. Day one support isn't important to me though - especially as the hardware may need a couple of revisions just in terms of screen resolution.

I'm also very interested in joystick support, and will be asking around on the forums about which stick people recommend closer to the alpha. The Saitek X52 Pro looks like the winner at the moment. Unless I'm mistaken, it doesn't seem like anybody is making Force Feedback sticks currently - so is it really worth supporting?

One thing you failed to mention is touchscreen support and Leap Motion support. I'm not sure what touchscreen could add, but Leap Motion would be awesome for the galaxy map. I'd hope to see something like this implemented at some point.

 

[Steph]

Thank you Ashley.

I've not used a joystick since the Acorn Electron, I'll have to sort one out in time for next March. Something simple to use for a clueless games numpty such as I that doesn't need half a desk for its gadgetry.

Thanks again.

 

[Dr Wookie]

Thanks Ashley! I'm most interested in smartphone/tablet support out of those, so it's good to see that they might be possible some time after the initial launch.

Also I'm following the whole Occulus Rift scene with great interest. I only hear good reports about it, but nothing in production yet so no constructive feedback from consumenrs yet. But if the technology is as good as the claims then it sounds like E: D could really be taken to the next level if this was supported. Good news all round.

Have you read the Digital Foundry assessment? Here it is. I am concerned that they report the number of useful pixels to be low, making text hard to read and pixels seem jumbo-sized for the dev kit; they also say that the release version might still have these low resolution issues to a lesser extent. Apart from that, OR does look very exciting

 

[bitrogue]

I am concerned that they report the number of useful pixels to be low, making text hard to read and pixels seem jumbo-sized for the dev kit; they also say that the release version might still have these low resolution issues to a lesser extent. Apart from that, OR does look very exciting

A good read. I was thinking that a lower pixel count on a condensed display wouldn't show off any pixellated artifacts, but the reviewer here seems convinced that it does. Of course, it is version 1 so I guess it will only improve from here.

 

[Cmdr Andy B]

Thanks Ashley! I'm most interested in smartphone/tablet support out of those, so it's good to see that they might be possible some time after the initial launch.

give us a decent selection of JSON feeds from the game server and the community will take care of the rest - he said posting via a web based app that reads/displays the forums RSS feeds

 

[Telstar2001]

Nice update thank you, I like the idea of Joystick support, I use my PC Xbox joy-pad for other games as it seems the most compatible pad for the PC and I would recommend this to anyone who likes to play this way instead of keyboard & mouse. I shall give both a try and see whats suits best.

 

[Zplintz]

Great update - thanks.

I have always been a fan of the pc style joystick (with the 3rd axis as a twist on the stick + seperate throttle control) or keyboard/mouse but after being told by someone in the know that the ps/xbox style controller is the best all round device, I bought a couple.

So far they are a lot better with the dual analogue sticks than the last time I used one (which was just buttons). I've never liked the chasing-the-mouse-pointer control method either, so perhaps I will be a convert.

As I now have a wheel (speed control on pedals for anyone?), flight style joystick, gamepads and mouse/keyboard it will be fun finding the best combination during testing.

At this point I am hoping FD will offer a fully configurable control system (that would allow me to connect/use multiple devices) rather than choosing mouse/wheel/gamepad/joystick etc and at 3+ slots to save configurations... I have no idea of the technical implications though.

 

[Tranquility]

If you are planning to support the Rift (which is fantastic news) then by default (almost) you will be supporting the TrackIR because both devices require head tracking across 6 axes (although the Rift is still missing one of those axes in its first iteration).

 

[Cathy]

Yay for joysticks! I haven't touched mine since 1999. I wonder if it still works? Like others I may have to take forum advice on a new purchase.

Apps for market-monitoring etc. are a nice idea. I'd love to try the Occulus Rift but I suspect it will make me nauseous. Multiple monitors may be better for me and, again, I will be seeking advice on the best way to take advantage of that.

Thanks very much for the update.

 

[DrBaggy]

Thanks Ashley,
I dusted off my old Saitek when Kickstarter was announced, so delighted by this. Joysticks make the experience much more visceral IMHO, so a big plus, and bucking the trend started by Freelancer of mouse-only controls.

It's all looking good....thanks for keeping us all posted. Sorry Spain was wet!

 

[IsaacS]

If it is not possible to make json data feeds from the Internet, maybe at least make it available from the executable on the local network. The community can make some nice JavaScript to view the data on various devices.

 

[Hudson]

Yep, if you build the interface, the apps will come from the community.

Cheers,
Hudson

 

[Brodie]

Thanks for another "not at launch" special

But seriously, I'm a little disappointed and surprised you guys have not heard of TrackIR and wont be including it in ED for the foreseeable future, its fairly well known and apparently it's implimentation has been made extreemely easy with the software they provide (although not being a programmer i can only rely on the word of others here).
Here is the link to the Track IR Game Developer Page, this includes the link to receive the software development kit.

A quick question....

Does "support for full axis joysticks" include Throttle support for joysticks such as this...

 

[AndrewF]

Feature Requests Update #11- Systems Malfunction, Brace For Impact!
​

One thing that several people have asked about is whether we have considered creating iOS and Android apps that will either allow players to monitor things such as in-game markets, or even provide additional functionality as a control method. Whilst this isn’t a priority, the idea of apps that allow players to monitor things such as market data is definitely something that the team have already looked at and would like to explore further post-launch, if possible:

Michael: There may be associated apps in the future, but not for intial release.This is something we want to look into though.​

Just as a matter of interest...

I would like to offer my services for testing the iPad version of this when you guys are testing.

I have the iPad 3 Wifi only version...

 

[withnail]

Don't forget that if you do release an app that some of us use Android phones an tablets!

I note that Frontier have only released apps for the iphone and ipad so far. I know android is more difficult for a number of reasons but there are quite a few of us!!

 

[FS3DPete]

Just as a matter of interest...

I would like to offer my services for testing the iPad version of this when you guys are testing.

I have the iPad 3 Wifi only version...

On a similar note, I have two Android devices for testing (a Note 2 and a Note 10.1) for when the beta comes along.