Please add overlays for non-visible spectra

[Nicodemous]

I hereby suggest to add some way to display the non-visible parts of the em-spectrum. This would not only add some nice visual impact to the game, but could also be used to transport some information for exploration or mining. I.e. could hidden (pirate) stations or debris fields, which are not found by the advanced discovery scanner, be found by their IR signature, ships in supercruise could leave an x-ray trail for a few hours and neutron stars and black holes would be beautyful sights in the radio-band.

The display itself could be shown as part of the HUD. Maybe some new modules could be introduced to add this feature to a ship. I.e. a special sensor array, taking a utility slot and a spectral processing unit taking up a internal slot.

 

[KrustenKaese]

I like it.
IMO the whole view should change and not just a little, or they could use a little screen in the cockpit (but rendering the game a second time could proof fatal for some systems)
The different views should be toggle able and there should be a little animation of you change them (like in the "new" StarTrek movie, when they polarize the view screen)
I really want to turn on heat vision an fly around in a RES playing Predator xD

 

[Winterwalker]

Though I can't see this as being a big priority for FD in the short term, to me, yes, it could add value but I imagine there will be some concern especially about advantage in combat. If that was the case then "heat blinding" from your own lasers, could reduce any advantage that MIGHT be gained from seeing in the dark? I do like your idea about following an x-ray trail though, especially if it offers a second way to achieve the same thing as a hyperspace analyser. Giving options but no particular advantage between different methods of following a ship.

What I do think would be cool would be those "science missions" If added to discovery / minerals exploration data, some closer analysis (of spectra) adds credits value to that discovery, as well as being a pretty picture to look at.

For me all this is, "desirable" if likely to be some way off. +1

 

[The Natoorat]

Sth like that?
[video=youtube;OW1gGDbO_1U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW1gGDbO_1U[/video]

Btw, for what you are asking, a simple image filter will not cut it. It would requite writing completely new shaders, applied specifically to certain objects. It is doable, but might be quite difficult.

Still, I like the idea.

 

[DocLooshkin]

Multi-spectral visualisation is a good idea. At some point, we might get properly differentiated scanners and sensors - and, hopefully, the ability to control and display the results properly. It would be very nice to just park in orbit on the dark side of Mars and watch the sun come up. I can see the potential in hunting stealthy ships by following a hyperspace distortion trail (not sure about x-rays, but a Cherenkov wake of some kind is plausible). I would also like to see a gravitational distortion view, so I can observe the best likely course for a smooth, efficient flight (of course, this would require FSD travel that isn't quite as flat-as-a-pancake as it is now).

Creating a plausible, procedural rendering of the solar winds in a planetary system, a hyperspace variant of same, a proper scanning system and gameplay that makes use of them all are none of them minor tasks, so I wouldn't expect it soon - but it would be very nice to have.

 

[Julian Korolev]

I would also like to see a gravitational distortion view, so I can observe the best likely course for a smooth, efficient flight (of course, this would require FSD travel that isn't quite as flat-as-a-pancake as it is now).

Was thinking the same thing last night. It would be a great way to plan planetary approach/slingshot maneuvers to fly efficiently, lose pursuers and the likes. And it would add a new layer of optional gameplay for those who want to get more into it without forcing everyone to do it. I think in the long run, it would be a good element to have.

 

[Ziljan]

We sort of get this right now in a very basic form. After using the ADS, the planets show a visual hint of the composition. It would be much better to get this as spectral data though than as a simple tell-all picture which spoils the mystery entirely. This way, we'd actually have to use our brains to distinguish between different types of artificial and naturally occurring signals. Albedo (surface reflectivity) and size should matter at least as much distance, as well as the brightness of the parent star.

Also, the detailed surface scanner works from so far away, I have no incentive to fly close enough to actually see the objects with my own eyes. Exploration becomes a matter of jumping in scanning quickly from as far away as possible just make 1/3 the money I would made from trading.

 

[Psycho Romeo]

Though I can't see this as being a big priority for FD in the short term, to me, yes, it could add value but I imagine there will be some concern especially about advantage in combat. If that was the case then "heat blinding" from your own lasers, could reduce any advantage that MIGHT be gained from seeing in the dark? I do like your idea about following an x-ray trail though, especially if it offers a second way to achieve the same thing as a hyperspace analyser. Giving options but no particular advantage between different methods of following a ship.

There's hardly any balance issues here. It's not like it's only being given to some people and not others.

Personally I'd really like to see a neutron star in infrared. Or hunt at a shadow RES.