Why no 3rd person?

[WR3ND]

You already can go to external view as long as you don't want to control your ship. If the debug view could be improved is a different topic (I think you would get a lot of support for it).

First person only was a very early design decision which is not going to change. People bought a first person only game, some people like it first person only and this is reason enough to not change it. The other reason is that FDEV doesn't want it to be 3rd person. Why? Because it's their game and they don't want it. If you look around with you'll find more games that are restricted to one view, basically 95% of all existing games. The reason for this is that it makes it much easier to let people experience the game like the developers intended. If you want a different experience you'll need to find a different game.

Yes, I don't mind so much the idea of enhancing the "drone view" and think it could make enough seance lore-wise. The debug cam as it is though, understandable being able to clip through things and whatnot, wouldn't really make much sense to enhance, at least not lore-wise.

A drone probe might be a cool bit of exploration kit that could be added into the game.

 

[kalniel]

3RD person view is unrealistic, anti-simulation.

This game is realistic or a simulation?! I'm playing a different Elite I think! Maybe we should only be using the exact control methods the pilot does - no gamepads, single joysticks or keyboard and mouse! No toilet breaks either - ever!

On topic, I don't see any problem with a playable 3rd person view - the ship models are utterly gorgeous - I was stunned the first time I enabled dev mode for a screenshot. It would add some enjoyment to be able to spend more time enjoying these fine ship models IMHO.

I doubt there are any more differences in competitiveness than say allowing different control schemes - I'm happy with my set up for fun, but I could be better at combat if I used something else.

 

[Patrick_68000]

Elite without the view in the 3rd person, and Elite with the view in the 3rd person

 

[_ZT_]

Hmm, that's an interesting spin... Could make a comic out of that!

 

[WR3ND]

Elite without the view in the 3rd person, and Elite with the view in the 3rd person

http://savepic.net/8243590.jpg

http://savepic.net/8250758.jpg

To be fair, your first image should be more like this...

 

[Trogster]

I'm not too bothered by the lack of third person view however I would like the ability to record a battle and watch it back from external views. No advantage gained but the chance to review how good or more likely badly it went!

 

[Infidel Deity]

3RD person view is unrealistic, anti-simulation. You don't control yourself from the third person either.

But still; we DO HAVE 3rd person view in this game!

 

[Patrick_68000]

To be fair, your first image should be more like this...

https://i.imgur.com/4OfwcYk.jpg

Beautiful image, also representative

 

[Infidel Deity]

We have it and its called debug cam. "anti sim" arguments fells flat on the face - every simulator have 3p view DCS, Falcon 4.0, Flanker 2.0, Xplane, Prepare, Orbiter, name one with out it
Also it would give you zero advantage - you have that ball in the middle of the screen, its called radar and and it can see everything 360.

Exactly! [yesnod]

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This is an old debate. And I think it is a scandal that we not have the view in the 3rd person. This view would bring us the perspective of extraordinary vision

Amen!
The camera view should be wider as well. [yesnod]

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I would love to see the outside camera view to be improved (more range and flexibility). And I would LOVE TO SEE a FLYBY camera mode with 3, 4 or 5 different flyby settings. That would be awesome!

I posted and posted many many posts in favour of the external camera. And when we finally got it, everyone was super mega happy. Finally, you could take cool screenshots of your cool ship and make awesomeness with the camera. FDev refused for a long time, now they see how cool it is and even ask people for cool screenshots.

The some would happen with a flyby cam. Image you in a wing flying by and making some cool airshow manouvers.

Nothing but awesome!
Think of all the super cool pictures and videos that could be made!

 

[Lobstris]

A fair number of 'hardcore' 90's simulations (ah! the Golden Age!) had proper 3rd person views (and padlock views... <hint, hint!>)

I don't think either would offer two much of an advantage if properly implemented (i.e. lack of ship/target info in 3rd person, time delays + gimbal and line of sight limitations in padlock views).

 

[avow555]

The idea was to make Elite a dog fighting style game as the main focus for combat. This was the design intent for the game. It is a feature and not a bug so to speak. Using a 3rd person view could allow people unfair advantages. However the external camera was added for people who want to see their ships and take pics.

Elite 2 & 3 shipped with 3rd person views including full cockpit controls and there is no advantage, just people like you saying there is.

 

[Parmo]

I'm not too bothered by the lack of third person view however I would like the ability to record a battle and watch it back from external views. No advantage gained but the chance to review how good or more likely badly it went!

Just like X-Wing and Tie Fighter!
Yes, I would like this too. People could then review their tactics etc to improve their chances of survival (AI threads!). It could also be used as evidence.
Sadly I don't think it is possible never mind probable for ED.

 

[Dakron Nova]

Im not a fan of full third person............

But I guess that now we have drones in the Law, there is no reason pilots couldnt launch proximity camera drones to surround the ship. That way you make the strategic choice whether to have 3rd person. i.e. the drones and drone controller would take up slot space. Strategic choices are a good thing it encourages decisions that affect your game, i.e. do I fit this camera drone controller or a chaff launcher? etc

 

[WR3ND]

Im not a fan of full third person............

But I guess that now we have drones in the Law, there is no reason pilots couldnt launch proximity camera drones to surround the ship. That way you make the strategic choice whether to have 3rd person. i.e. the drones and drone controller would take up slot space. Strategic choices are a good thing it encourages decisions that affect your game, i.e. do I fit this camera drone controller or a chaff launcher? etc

I wouldn't be a fan of a third person view for combat. Even less so if it could offer a strategic advantage.

Something like rear and side facing cameras might be alright though, if you could access them from the HUD. I'm not sure if there's really that much of a need for it though.

 

[h347h]

Elite 2 & 3 shipped with 3rd person views including full cockpit controls and there is no advantage, just people like you saying there is.

Were you dog fighting human players in Elite 2 and 3?

 

[babelfisch]

A fair number of 'hardcore' 90's simulations (ah! the Golden Age!) had proper 3rd person views (and padlock views... <hint, hint!>)

I don't think either would offer two much of an advantage if properly implemented (i.e. lack of ship/target info in 3rd person, time delays + gimbal and line of sight limitations in padlock views).

It's not about sim aspects or advantages. The only reason is that FDEV doesn't want it because they have a different vision for the game.
This has been said several times over the last year.

 

[Insomnia]

Edit: I was a little cranky when I wrote this. OK a lot cranky.
Didn't mean to offend anyone.

 

[Lianachan]

Were you dog fighting human players in Elite 2 and 3?

This is exactly the kind of thing I mean when I've said that Solo mode isn't a single player game, it's a multiplayer game where you don't see any other humans. The single player experience, which should have an external view, is compromised by considerations which are only relevant to the multiplayer experience (such as a perceived notion, as it is, that such a view could give a combat advantage).

 

[babelfisch]

They're just defending the nonsense... No need to bother with them.
And the whole unfair advantage crap? Shove it. It . Flight controls in third person without HUD or the ability to use weapons doesn't add any unfair advantages whatsoever. And if it bothers people soooo much to have this feature, don't use it then. Or make it available in solo mode only, if steering a spaceship with no ******** clue where you're going is giving people such a huge advantage...

I know that you are around long enough. Do I really need to tell you that advantages in combat are not the reason? I even remember posting all the dev comments last time we discussed 3rd person view...

Anyway, as said above most people are not against improvements for the existing debug cam but against combat and general gameplay in 3rd person.

 

[WR3ND]

...

You're right about one thing at least; some comments might not be worth responding to.

Good luck with the "nonsense" of playing this game the way it was intended and the way many of us prefer.