There is no question some gameplay decisions in the game add to gameplay fun value no mater how strange they are. The "low tech" "do it manually" feeling of the game may be completely illogical but it does add up to fun experience. For example manual docking that is replaced with auto docking module that takes the space of 2 Ton module in the ship. When even in our backwards 2015 , your phone has enough processing power to calculate ship landing. But yes, it clearly adds to gameplay fun.
But even such gameplay design has to have its limitations.
One of them surely is the fact that you can only look trough cockpit window.
Lets analyze this decision:
Does not having side view adds to gameplay experience? For some part it does.
During combat and landing you are practically blind and have to relay on sensors most of the time.
But in other situations it does not.
For example having to watch emptiness of space while my ship is docking blindly on that gorgeous space station. Or hitting the pole in space station that was above my ship landing spot.
Immersion wise lets consider this :
On earth even bicycles have rear mirrors. Our cars have mirrors for each side (even cameras today). Its beyond any logic that hundred tons ship size of a building would not have some kind of back mirror ?
And finally, faithfulness to original ELITE gameplay:
Well it had side cameras as well. In fact they were integral gameplay tools :
Ok. So we established the logical and gameplay need for side view , and its tradition in ELITE games.
Are there any problems implementing it in ED ?
Yes. In fact there is one : OCULUS
Switching to new view is highly strange for oculus, and it breaks the immersion. It might be the reason why developer hesitates to implement this view.
But the solution is very easy:
Suppose the views are tiny cameras mounted on ship sides.
We can access these cameras just as any other menu on the left (or right side)
They are turn of the head away, for oculus users - same way you will look at actual cctv monitor , or in today vehicles a side mirror.
And if you are not Oculus user and want bigger picture. You just select menu item and you are now watching full monitor picture , that looks like cctv feed - in order to maintain in game immersion.
And there is a nice solution for side views.
Good point about them:
1.Oculus user friendly
2.Not practical enough to give combat advantage (break gameplay)
3.Maintain ingame immersion , with realistic User experience seemingly integrating in ED look and feel
4.No more reason to be blind bat and watch empty space while interesting things are happening around you (or you are bumping side of space station)
There, hope my idea will be helpful
But even such gameplay design has to have its limitations.
One of them surely is the fact that you can only look trough cockpit window.
Lets analyze this decision:
Does not having side view adds to gameplay experience? For some part it does.
During combat and landing you are practically blind and have to relay on sensors most of the time.
But in other situations it does not.
For example having to watch emptiness of space while my ship is docking blindly on that gorgeous space station. Or hitting the pole in space station that was above my ship landing spot.
Immersion wise lets consider this :
On earth even bicycles have rear mirrors. Our cars have mirrors for each side (even cameras today). Its beyond any logic that hundred tons ship size of a building would not have some kind of back mirror ?
And finally, faithfulness to original ELITE gameplay:
Well it had side cameras as well. In fact they were integral gameplay tools :
Ok. So we established the logical and gameplay need for side view , and its tradition in ELITE games.
Are there any problems implementing it in ED ?
Yes. In fact there is one : OCULUS
Switching to new view is highly strange for oculus, and it breaks the immersion. It might be the reason why developer hesitates to implement this view.
But the solution is very easy:
Suppose the views are tiny cameras mounted on ship sides.
We can access these cameras just as any other menu on the left (or right side)
They are turn of the head away, for oculus users - same way you will look at actual cctv monitor , or in today vehicles a side mirror.
And if you are not Oculus user and want bigger picture. You just select menu item and you are now watching full monitor picture , that looks like cctv feed - in order to maintain in game immersion.
And there is a nice solution for side views.
Good point about them:
1.Oculus user friendly
2.Not practical enough to give combat advantage (break gameplay)
3.Maintain ingame immersion , with realistic User experience seemingly integrating in ED look and feel
4.No more reason to be blind bat and watch empty space while interesting things are happening around you (or you are bumping side of space station)
There, hope my idea will be helpful
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