We still can't input Coordinates for planet surfaces. Why?

[777Driver]

The output to the log is less than useless.

Given a stream output of ship x,y,z co-ords I'd write a GPS

Can you explain the first statement in more detail? I'll admit I haven't had a chance to look at the data. Are you saying the data is not streamed in real time? or there is short a delay? Reason I am asking is the game already gave our co'ods, EDDI seems to read it instantly when we land, my understanding was the game now also sends that data when in flight.

Being a bit pedantic here, think you mean that you would write some software to connect to our ships inertial reference system, GPS would imply satellites are orbiting every landable planet in ED.

 

[Red Martian]

It would be nice to at least have a LAT/LONG coordinate overlay for the planet/moon in the systems map when you zoom in. This will help in 2 ways; if you're on the ground you'll know (roughly) where you're at and at least be able to eye-ball a bearing to head to and if in the entry phase you'll know where to point your ship.
This feature shouldn't require too much of dev resources as the overlay can be modified straight from the planet/moon model and layer relabeled (i.e LATLONG_Overlay).

Should look something like this while zoomed in on a planet/moon
https://fthmb.tqn.com/DPQxHR_HXx9EO...de-and-Longitude-58b9d1f35f9b58af5ca889f1.jpg

See, this would be cool, too. At least I would have a good idea for approach and glide path.

 

[Helitony]

This may help fly safe cmdr's https://hotdoy.ca/ed/bearing/

 

[Khelder]

So they've ignored what the community wants, which doesn't seem to be even that much of a technical problem, and opened up the API in the hope someone will write a piece of software to do the very basic thing that should be part of their game?

Although from what I can gather, the output to the log files isn't fidelicious (my word, no you can't steal it) enough for people to do anything constructive with.

Double fail?

They didn't open up the API because the game client has no API. They've provided yet another text-based dump file that is updated every couple of seconds or so (have yet to properly time it). They've provided longitude, latitude, bearing, and altitude height above surface. It's a bare minimum really.

I'll be working on plugging that data into my original surface nav. Not expecting much, but I'll see.

Of course, none of this helps those who refuse to use third-party apps, or are using VR, or are on a console.

 

[sollisb]

They didn't open up the API because the game client has no API. They've provided yet another text-based dump file that is updated every couple of seconds or so (have yet to properly time it). They've provided longitude, latitude, bearing, and altitude height above surface. It's a bare minimum really.

I'll be working on plugging that data into my original surface nav. Not expecting much, but I'll see.

Of course, none of this helps those who refuse to use third-party apps, or are using VR, or are on a console.

I did two planetary landings last night, and I've checked the logs. There is no ongoing GPS co-ordinates being posted to the log. Am I missing something? If I am, and I hope I am, I'll have something written within hours. GPS is like college coding level stuff.

 

[DNA-Decay]

Just watched that video.
I love it that Ed can't figure it out.

But I can. And do.

And I like that you have to earn your Boy Scout badge in basic navigation to be able to look at someone else's Barnacles.

 

[robbyp]

*Cough* For PC players, try the new compass in ED Discovery..

 

[Deareim]

Hopefully, we have 3rd party tool. I will never thanks enough all these devs...
i ll be curious to see ED without 3rd party tools...

 

[TheSynopticVision]

Thoroughly agree with the OP. When the Focused Feedback forum for the new exploration mechanics will open, we all should absolutely flood that asking for some kind of planetary navigation system (and bookmarking).

 

[WR3ND]

Gameplay? Maybe they're waiting to implement it with dynamic terrain, gas giants, and so on. Not sure why though. Eh, probably not.

Maybe they just haven't settled on terrain generation and don't want to push out an update later that makes people's bookmarks worthless.

 

[WR3ND]

Just watched that video.
I love it that Ed can't figure it out.

But I can. And do.

And I like that you have to earn your Boy Scout badge in basic navigation to be able to look at someone else's Barnacles.

I think maybe some people get flustered by it. It's more a trial in patience and determination than skill, really. You do get better at it with a bit of practice, but it's still rather tedious.

 

[WR3ND]

Hopefully, we have 3rd party tool. I will never thanks enough all these devs...
i ll be curious to see ED without 3rd party tools...

Not sure what you mean. I don't use third-party tools other than one of the ship loadout ones to share builds and the like.

 

[CMDR Carbo]

Just watched that video.
I love it that Ed can't figure it out.

But I can. And do.

And I like that you have to earn your Boy Scout badge in basic navigation to be able to look at someone else's Barnacles.

To be honest, if you visit all the INRA bases you become an expert at navigation with coordinates.

Doesn't change the fact that it is really inconvenient.

 

[Stealthie]

Just watched that video.
I love it that Ed can't figure it out.

But I can. And do.

And I like that you have to earn your Boy Scout badge in basic navigation to be able to look at someone else's Barnacles.

This, I'm afraid.

If it is difficult and confusing then people who can manage it should be rewarded for their abilities.
If, OTOH, it isn't difficult and it's just a nuisance then it's hardly worth getting bent out of shape over.

If it was up to me, I'd make advanced surface navigation features a special-effect for the DSS.
That way, it'd work in a similar manner to the DC: people who're either clueless or lazy can fit a module to assist them with something that they can't/don't want to do manually.

Beyond that, I suspect part of the reason FDev don't want to implement it is that they don't want people to be able to just type in coordinates that they've found on the forum or on the Canonn website and then be able to fly straight to all the "mysterious things".
I'd guess they're trying to retain some element of "exploration" by doing this.

Again, if it was up to me, I'd make it so that it wasn't possible to target any surface POI's unless you have a DSS installed - just cos I'm nasty like that.
I would, however, add a C1 slot to every ship at the same time - cos I'm not that nasty.

 

[insanephoton]

It's not that it's hard. It's just tiresome and awkward. The very least that they should do is significantly increase the size and brightness of the figures so that they are readable without having to squint. It is at least part of the reason that people play via youtube rather than actually visit sites in game.

 

[Stealthie]

The very least that they should do is significantly increase the size and brightness of the figures so that they are readable without having to squint.

Can't argue with that.

I sincerely believe that using an orange HUD in a game where you spend a lot of your time around orange stars and beige/tan/sand coloured planets it deliberate maliciousness on behalf of the dev's.
It's like somebody at FDev thought it'd be good if all the ships had "quirks" that made them awkward to fly.
I bet the same person was responsible for putting that bloody blue light on the Cutter dashboard, where it obscures the landing-pad information.

 

[Mostly Awol]

Might as well give everyone the "I WIN" button. In a game about flying ships and navigating the galaxy why would you want to not navigate?

 

[WR3ND]

Might as well give everyone the "I WIN" button. In a game about flying ships and navigating the galaxy why would you want to not navigate?

You think watching numbers go up or down and moving your ship according is worthwhile gameplay for already known points of interest over and over again?

 

[Mostly Awol]

They didn't open up the API because the game client has no API. They've provided yet another text-based dump file that is updated every couple of seconds or so (have yet to properly time it). They've provided longitude, latitude, bearing, and altitude height above surface. It's a bare minimum really.

I'll be working on plugging that data into my original surface nav. Not expecting much, but I'll see.

Of course, none of this helps those who refuse to use third-party apps, or are using VR, or are on a console.

The netlog file update the lat long (or X,Y) only every time your cross a grid line that makes the geometry of the planet you are flying near. I tried to use this a while ago for help in navigating and realized it wasn't good enough.

You think watching numbers go up or down and moving your ship according is worthwhile gameplay for already known points of interest over and over again?

Well if jumping to a star and moving to align with the next jump point and hitting "j" is worthwhile gameplay is the reason why we can't get any form of auto pilot in the game then yes it is worthwhile game play.

 

[WR3ND]

...

Well if jumping to a star and moving to align with the next jump point and hitting "j" is worthwhile gameplay is the reason why we can't get any form of auto pilot in the game then yes it is worthwhile game play.

With each jump there's a lot of potential for additional gameplay as you're going to a new system, or if it's the same one you've been to already in the bubble or something it only takes 45 seconds or so to move on to the next. I don't think watching numbers going up or down to go to the same point of interest over and over again is all that comparable here as it doesn't offer other opportunities nor variability in the process really.

I'd be fine if they wanted to make it so that you had to first travel to an otherwise undisclosed location before marking it on your map or whatever. Being able to share marked points of interests with others would be nice though for exploration expeditions and the like.

I don't have an issue navigating this way, I just don't see much point in it.