Will patch 4.5 finally give us cockpits?

[Hengist]

I read Milo saying, "It's a complete replacement of the GUI and 3D graphics engine"

Does that mean Cockpits and the associated immersion that accompanies them?

[Sky_walker]

NO
as same as not all mods for SS need to have cockpits

[Dragonlead]

Cockpits as we think of them aren't necessary and the technology is already here to eliminate the visual restrictions they impose. For those interested, try looking up a system called the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System.
In a nutshell, anything you want to look at will be displayed for you no matter where it is. Instead of looking at a radar screen and having to mentally visualize where your bogey will be, it will now appear as a box floating in space. Instead of your HUD only being directly in front of you, it will now show up wherever you look. It radically increases your situational awareness and keeps your head up and out of the cockpit. It also has a few other really neat features that don't need put in a forum like ths.

V/R

[Master]

I wouldnt mind some trackir support!

[crazyeddie22]

Weve tried cockpits before.. it didnt work very well at all.

should be one of the older demos around with cockpits still in em

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: crazyeddie22

should be one of the older demos around with cockpits still in em

Starshatter 3.7.6 has cockpit for Stormhawk. Press shift F1

[Diabolico]

They are on the to do list for a latter version (as well as briges).
From what I heard, they will be static (for immersion purposes only).
Keep the faith! [;)]


=S=

[DamoclesX]

cockpits and bridges, I dont see what they would add, people would turn them off, and to make them fully functional would require a TON of work.

[Orao]

Sorry it will give us an immersion. Right now I don't feel as a bridge commander. I rather feel like a combat pilot of one heavy bomber. IMHO you DV team could inspire from Star Trek Bridge Commander for bridge modeling. As for cockpits in fighter, well I don't bother at all. It is killing my view angle.

P.S

Don't try to repreduce bridges from Battlecruiser AD. It's really an unfrendly interface.

[Hengist]

I can only think of two other space sims that didn't have cockpits and that was Freespace 1 & 2. I wonder if the people who say they are not needed, have not played many space orientated sims and think that no cockpits are the norm (and god knows why people would want to turn them off?)?
My favourite cockpits were the ones in Starlancer, you could even see the stearing mechnism move when you turned. Cockpits also provide an superb reference point for situational awareness, unless you're a blinkers on, stare straight ahead person without a padlock button, coolie hat or Track IR.

Anyway, just to update you with a progress report. I already have the wireframes done, but before I texture them I need to still unravel how to add them to the stock spacecraft (I think I'm going to need some help from Milo with this). The other alternative is to make a brand new campaign with new space craft for the new cockpits (but that will take ages) and I'd sooner go back and play X2 than go through all that lol.

As soon as I've got something to release I'll upload them to my website for people to download. However these cockpits will be for the fighter/bombers, I'm not bothered about starship bridges as I don't fly the starships, oh and they wont be interactive/clickable, they will just give you the SA and immersive feeling that your in a fighter not a television screen

[Kuokkanen]

Has anyone in here played X-Wing Alliance? Or even just demo of it? Cockpit can be either on or off. When on, joystick's hat can be used to look around it. Pad lock is also available in cockpit mode and sometimes it is very useful. Like flying around enemy starship and pointing 2 turrets at it. With or without cockpit all player instruments are the same (and look the same).

If I remember right, in Starshatter 3.7.6 is cockpit for Stormhawk which works exactly like that. Try it out. You might find it useful.

[Pheagey]

Think about it. 5000 years in the future you wont 'probly' wont be able to see the cockpit. The pilots helmet would provide him with a completly unobstructed view of his surroundings put needed tactical information. Pilots love the F16 due to its large viewing canopy. Taken to the extreme the before mentioned cockpit would be, as far as technological progression goes, a requirment. Heck, take it far anof and fighters will not be piloted at all..

Just my 2 cent...

[DamoclesX]

Like the JSF

its suppose to have some sort of 360 degree VR helmet for the pilot so he can see anywhere even through his jet

milos original vision is the "cockpit" is solid armor that has photo cells on it that show the outside, you wouldnt need "dials and buttons" and all that 1940s crap

If that gets kept, or changed to pits is something that only time will tell

[Mr. D]

That is not that futuristic as it may sound, HIDs are currently being tested which makes cockpits somewhat "retro" considering it is placed in the future.
There is also a movie example you can take to imagine it: the "weapons control chamber" in "Legend of the Rangers". At least for capships it would be a logical step towards more overview in battle.
Though the bridges in "Bridge Commander" were nice and comfortable, they lacked the oversight Starshatter provides.

[Master]

the only problem is the complete lack of visual feedback. The ability to see in every direction only helps when you know the direction you are seeing.

[Mr. D]

Either an additional (3D) grid, maybe in the complementary colour, or a directional indicator, both only visible while panning would certainly help.

[Hengist]

If it was Milo's vision, then as far as gameplay is concerned, then it isn't a great one. When I spoke to Milo on the newsgroup before he released Starshatter. He said the reason why there weren't any cockpits, was because they would take too long to make lol.

In the future they may decide that using TV screens to view the outside world may be the wrong decision, and go back to cockpits. The truth is that we just don't know.

What we do know, however, is that practically every space game ever made has cockpits. They must do that for a reason, like it's popular?

[DamoclesX]

ORIGINAL: Hengist

He said the reason why there weren't any cockpits, was because they would take too long to make lol.

Um ya, whats your point lol.

Milo is not a graphics artist, he is a programmer.

[Mr. D]

ORIGINAL: Hengist
What we do know, however, is that practically every space game ever made has cockpits. They must do that for a reason, like it's popular?

Like Klingon Academy?
In Starfleet Academy I used to switch it off, for a reason...

[DamoclesX]

Any ways the point is moot.

Milo has stated a desire for cockpits in any future material, so they will be there(even if it kills me)[:D].