38 replies to this topic

[Alistair Winter]

Ever since I changed the FOV from 60 to 80 degrees, I've really started appreciating the cockpits a lot more, since they take up more of your view in many mechs. It makes the whole game feel more immersive, because it feels more like you're inside a mech. And to a much larger extent than before, I can see the way the cockpit moves independently of my pilot's head. In the Raven and Awesome, the cockpit will bank heavily to the side when you make a sharp turn. In the sluggish Atlas, it takes a long time for the cockpit to center itself when you aim to the side.

And it's especially cool on some mechs where you really recognise the features of the cockpit as part of the external model. Of course all cockpits are based on the concept art, but in some cockpits, the unique design is a lot more easy to identify.

Also, as someone who wasn't really aware of the big design differences between IS and Clan mechs until recently, it's a lot easier to notice and appreciate these differences now.

Anyway, I just thouht I'd share this here. To anyone who hasn't experimented much with the FOV yet, I really recommend increasing it if you enjoy the slight claustrophobia of sitting inside a giant mech. I'm a former crew member of a tank (gunner, to be specific), so the claustrophobic view feels very much like home to me



See how the cockpit banks to the side as the AWS-8Q leans over to turn!





The concept art doesn't show it very well, but the cockpit does fit the 3D model somewhat. Getting some real old school vibes from it though.



Victor! One of my favourite cockpits now!



Last, but not least...



The Atlas! Such an iconic mech. And of course, a little bit of a TIE Fighter vibe as well..



Glancing to the side as the torso slowly turns to face its target.

EDIT: Note, I'm not even using the Ctrl button here! This is just normal turning, but it still reveals a lot of the cockpit!

Edited by Alistair Winter, 18 June 2015 - 12:33 AM.

[Sergeant Random]

I agree, cockpit claustrophobia=immersion. Just need to feel I'm inside something.

[Widowmaker1981]

Sergeant Random, on 18 June 2015 - 01:17 AM, said:

Just need to feel I'm inside something.

As the vicar said to the nun

[Sir Wulfrick]

Setting the FOV to 74 degrees and using my Track IR provides an incredibly immersive experience. Now, if we could get working cockpit displays...

[Technocentrisme]

Sir Wulfrick, on 18 June 2015 - 01:51 AM, said:

Now, if we could get working cockpit displays...

Will they ever

[Sarlic]

I always likes the Atlai cockpit.

[Mudhutwarrior]

Took some time to find a happy medium across my mechs. Would be nice if it could be set for each one.

[MeiSooHaityu]

Yea, I agree. Having more of the cockpit visible is cool.

I like all those mentioned above, but I also like the Vindicator's cockpit a long with the Panther and Urbanmech's too.

Its a nice immersion tool plus it gives s bit more peripheral vision too.

[The Flying Gecko]

Sir Wulfrick, on 18 June 2015 - 01:51 AM, said:

Setting the FOV to 74 degrees and using my Track IR provides an incredibly immersive experience. Now, if we could get working cockpit displays...

What do you think this is? Some sort of simulator like Star Citizen?

Pretty sure they marketed MWO as an arcade game

[Alistair Winter]

The Flying Gecko, on 18 June 2015 - 02:42 AM, said:

What do you think this is? Some sort of simulator like Star Citizen?
Pretty sure they marketed MWO as an arcade game

Thinking man's arcade shooter?

[MechWarrior3671771]

I feel bad for the cockpit artist. Before they moved to this FOV slider, all my mechs were defaulted at 60 (I don't really have the knowledge/experience to mess around with config files, I am sure I would break something) so I never even knew of her work.

This is SO much better now.

[MeiSooHaityu]

The Flying Gecko, on 18 June 2015 - 02:42 AM, said:

What do you think this is? Some sort of simulator like Star Citizen?

Pretty sure they marketed MWO as an arcade game

Now MechWarrior 2 for the PlayStation, THAT was an arcade game.

The people who ported the PC simulator version to the PSX were like...

"Console players are idiots that can't possibly understand the complexity of a PC game. Let's take out the Mechbay. Oh! And console players need power-ups, let's put power ups in the game just scattered without rhyme or reason in game on the ground.. We will make them spinning icons that auto reload weapons or repair all damage. Yea, that's simple enough for a console player."

Ugh! I hated how they dumbed down MW2 for the PlayStation.

[Lugh]

MeiSooHaityu, on 18 June 2015 - 03:27 AM, said:

Now MechWarrior 2 for the PlayStation, THAT was an arcade game.

The people who ported the PC simulator version to the PSX were like...

"Console players are idiots that can't possibly understand the complexity of a PC game. Let's take out the Mechbay. Oh! And console players need power-ups, let's put power ups in the game just scattered without rhyme or reason in game on the ground.. We will make them spinning icons that auto reload weapons or repair all damage. Yea, that's simple enough for a console player."

Ugh! I hated how they dumbed down MW2 for the PlayStation.

But DUDE they needed to capture that HARDCORE Mario Brothers market sector!!

[Paigan]

Not having played an IS mech in a long time, I'm amazed by how futuristic they look.

Clan cockpits in comparison look like some 1950ies old-crap-bomber cockpit
(and that's exactely where they got their inspiration from, see the recent VLOG. Imho one of the greatest points of incompetence in cockpit design. If you read this, cockpit-design-lady, yes, I mean you)

THIS is how clan cockpits would, should, could if not HAVE to look (with clearer forward view, of course):

Edited by Paigan, 18 June 2015 - 05:01 AM.

[MadMaxMKII]

would u make a picture of a shadowhawks cockpit pls? just if u own one.

[Almond Brown]

Technocentrisme, on 18 June 2015 - 02:10 AM, said:

Will they ever

If everyone would sign a waver stating they would not WHINE and QQ about a drop of 3 FPS due to the inclusion of "working" cockpit screens they might. Otherwise the FPS whines will always win out.

P.S. This assumes everyone wants "RT Dynamic" displays right?

[TwentyOne]

MeiSooHaityu, on 18 June 2015 - 03:27 AM, said:

Now MechWarrior 2 for the PlayStation, THAT was an arcade game.

The people who ported the PC simulator version to the PSX were like...

"Console players are idiots that can't possibly understand the complexity of a PC game. Let's take out the Mechbay. Oh! And console players need power-ups, let's put power ups in the game just scattered without rhyme or reason in game on the ground.. We will make them spinning icons that auto reload weapons or repair all damage. Yea, that's simple enough for a console player."

Ugh! I hated how they dumbed down MW2 for the PlayStation.

you must mean mech assault 2. Im pretty sure the playstation didnt get Mechwarrior 2


BTW mechassault 1 and 2 are excellent games.

[MeiSooHaityu]

TwentyOne, on 18 June 2015 - 05:15 AM, said:

you must mean mech assault 2. Im pretty sure the playstation didnt get Mechwarrior 2


BTW mechassault 1 and 2 are excellent games.

Nope, I mean Mechwarrior 2 for Playstation. Yes, it existed and I own a copy too. (along with the DOS PC version).




Footage if your curious...

[MeiSooHaityu]

Paigan, on 18 June 2015 - 04:58 AM, said:

Not having played an IS mech in a long time, I'm amazed by how futuristic they look.

Clan cockpits in comparison look like some 1950ies old-crap-bomber cockpit
(and that's exactely where they got their inspiration from, see the recent VLOG. Imho one of the greatest points of incompetence in cockpit design. If you read this, cockpit-design-lady, yes, I mean you)

THIS is how clan cockpits would, should, could if not HAVE to look (with clearer forward view, of course):

I think of Mechwarrior or Battletech as a bit of a retro future representation. Think Fallout franchise where the future is modeled after the 1950's version of what they believed the future should look like. Battletech is the 80's version of what the future should look like. It's so 80's, they named one of the best light mechs after a late 70's olympic champion, Bruce Jenner (although he is famous lately for other things now :/ ).

Yea, saying the Battletech is a representation of the future through the eyes of the 80's seems odd...but hey, why not.

Edited by MeiSooHaityu, 18 June 2015 - 05:38 AM.

[charov]

The Flying Gecko, on 18 June 2015 - 02:42 AM, said:

What do you think this is? Some sort of simulator like Star Citizen?

Star Citizen a sim? It's a terribad arcade (btw, Veteral Backer here, I gave 'em more than 1k). CR promised a sim but he's developing a crapgame not better than cod or bf.
I'm not asking for a title realistic as my beloved DCS: World, still..
/OT

Sir Wulfrick, on 18 June 2015 - 01:51 AM, said:

Setting the FOV to 74 degrees and using my Track IR provides an incredibly immersive experience. Now, if we could get working cockpit displays...

I use 74deg too, works very well with the Track IR.
Fun fact: with the TIR you can see some errors or missing textures / surfaces, such as the rear surface of an element in the Hellbringer.