8 replies to this topic

[Demerzel]

So last weekend I introduced my 11 year old nephew to MWO. I watched a couple games over his shoulder providing tips, and we dropped into a couple games together. During this time I noticed the issue that seems to be of concern to the devs about new players having real trouble with the difference between torso position and foot position. I also recall having to liberally use the center torso to legs in my early games to get the hang of driving. At that time I had an idea that I thought may be of use, but never bothered to suggest it as I became accustomed to driving over time, and gradually stopped thinking about those early days with the game. Now, with all the hubbub over the third person view, I thought that maybe it was a bigger issue than I considered and thus am here to make this suggestion:

Crotch Cam™: I envision a small window near the bottom or off to the bottom side that gives a view from a crotch cam. Something that does not swing with the torso, but reveals where the feet are pointing, and what obstacles you’re about to run into. I imagine it could look and work along the lines of the zoom window from the module, but not centered in the field of vision, possibly even being able to borrow much from the code that was needed to develop that.

If you’re looking for a solution to new player driving issues, maybe that would help, and still retain the feel a simulator over allowing third person view.

Thanks for your time,
D

[sakkaku]

Having a 2nd render target would slaughter lower end PCs. The PIP module gets around it (sort of) by rendering the backbuffer higher then extracting the center of the image and blowing it up.

[Sulf]

They have that. On the map.

[Squidhead Jax]

I would actually approve of this. Especially seeing as I doubt 21st century civilian automobile capabilities would become LosTech.

The supposed reason we don't have any sort of rearview mirror is that CryEngine is really bad at rendering multiple views at once, which this too would invoke, so not likely.

[Hauser]

Squidhead Jax, on 15 November 2012 - 12:48 PM, said:

The supposed reason we don't have any sort of rearview mirror is that CryEngine is really bad at rendering multiple views at once, which this too would invoke, so not likely.

To render a rear view mirror you'd have to render the scene once to a texture. Then render your cockpit with the rear view texture. This means you have to render the scene twice. Right now I get 30fps. If I'd have to render the scene twice I'd get 15fps.

This an oversimplification and it won't exactly go in half, but it shows why an extra view is hard.

[Jeye]

They have that on the map and also on the compass. The 'C' key will also centre your torso quickly.

[Skyfaller]

Demerzel, on 15 November 2012 - 12:18 PM, said:

So last weekend I introduced my 11 year old nephew to MWO. I watched a couple games over his shoulder providing tips, and we dropped into a couple games together. During this time I noticed the issue that seems to be of concern to the devs about new players having real trouble with the difference between torso position and foot position. I also recall having to liberally use the center torso to legs in my early games to get the hang of driving. At that time I had an idea that I thought may be of use, but never bothered to suggest it as I became accustomed to driving over time, and gradually stopped thinking about those early days with the game. Now, with all the hubbub over the third person view, I thought that maybe it was a bigger issue than I considered and thus am here to make this suggestion:

Crotch Cam™: I envision a small window near the bottom or off to the bottom side that gives a view from a crotch cam. Something that does not swing with the torso, but reveals where the feet are pointing, and what obstacles you’re about to run into. I imagine it could look and work along the lines of the zoom window from the module, but not centered in the field of vision, possibly even being able to borrow much from the code that was needed to develop that.

If you’re looking for a solution to new player driving issues, maybe that would help, and still retain the feel a simulator over allowing third person view.

Thanks for your time,
D

The only thing they need to do is make the torso remain pointed at the exact spot it is pointed at when you move the legs. This is how ALL previous mech games did it and it was very intuitive.

MWO however, tosses you around the cockpit like a bad pinhata. Its very disorienting and very annoying to fight someone like that.

[DeadlyNerd]

Skyfaller, on 15 November 2012 - 04:29 PM, said:

The only thing they need to do is make the torso remain pointed at the exact spot it is pointed at when you move the legs. This is how ALL previous mech games did it and it was very intuitive.

MWO however, tosses you around the cockpit like a bad pinhata. Its very disorienting and very annoying to fight someone like that.

And it's sadly the only thing that's preventing torso mounted high caliber ballistics from being OP. Imagine if you had independent torso movement on your 4G haunch, AC20 circlestrafing would be a far bigger problem than the gausscat.

[Jadel Blade]

Skyfaller, on 15 November 2012 - 04:29 PM, said:

The only thing they need to do is make the torso remain pointed at the exact spot it is pointed at when you move the legs. This is how ALL previous mech games did it and it was very intuitive.

MWO however, tosses you around the cockpit like a bad pinhata. Its very disorienting and very annoying to fight someone like that.

No it isnt.

Opinions, likes *****. Theres mine.

As far as OP goes. Like everyone has said thats prob not going to happen and it really isnt hard to figure out takes just a few games. However one suggestion someone made in one of the multiple posts about this is to use a 3 model like in MW3? then you can see what your legs are doing versus torso.

Whether or not they could do something like this without actually rendering the game again I have no idea but it would help. Just make it a toggle. I dont want to see it

Edited by Jadel Blade, 15 November 2012 - 05:01 PM.