66 replies to this topic

[NitroDev]

We have touchscreens and stuff now, you'd think by 3050 they could come up with something other than all those switches, *****, buttons, and dials in a thousand years, right? I'm thinking Minority Report type interface by then, or maybe even something from District 9 where you have to put your hand in some bowl of goo or something to run your mech.

[Hysteria]

If I'm piloting an advanced walking death machine I want lots of buttons to press. Touchless interface would be cool but something tells me it wouldn't be as satisfying as pressing a big red button. People of the future have spoken, and buttons they shall have!

[DaZur]

NitroDev, on 07 February 2013 - 07:56 AM, said:

We have touchscreens and stuff now, you'd think by 3050 they could come up with something other than all those switches, *****, buttons, and dials in a thousand years, right? I'm thinking Minority Report type interface by then, or maybe even something from District 9 where you have to put your hand in some bowl of goo or something to run your mech.

Actually I find the utilitarian design to be more reflective of solid, functional, rugged militaristic design.

Think cold-war "Russian aircraft cockpit"...

Edited by DaZur, 07 February 2013 - 08:01 AM.

[Tarman]

Technology is not a linear upward progression into the future, not even IRL, let alone the BT universe. These guys were two or three wars away from wiping out the entire human race across known space. Most of the hi-tech stuff is stuff they managed to re-figure out how to use and make, and a lot of times just the using part. Some of the technology is not replicable at all - NOBODY destroys jumpships because nobody can make them anymore.

[KuruptU4Fun]

Humans basically nuked themselves practically back to the stone age while at war with each other. So can't advance from sticks and stones combat to goo on goo combat without stepping on a few stones between.

[Apoc1138]

big red buttons are way cooler than touchscreens or wavy hand interfaces, everyone knows this

[Elkarlo]

*Snotnose*:Sorry Seargent didn't know it.

*Seargent*:YOU SHOULD CHECK IF YOUR CONSOL IS RUNNING

*Snotnose*: I followed only your Order to keep my Cockpit clean and dusted it off

[Taurick]

NitroDev, on 07 February 2013 - 07:56 AM, said:

where you have to put your hand in some bowl of goo or something to run your mech.

Ya you thought clan mechs were OP, just wait til you see what the cylons invented

[XR17]

If you hack the sensor of the touch-controls or damage it, maybe you lose control of all the systems. Maybe the old button and switches are useful for some weird reason. Also they look kind of cool IMHO

[Mycrus]

where i'm from this is how cockpits look like... ah the good old days...

[deleted image]

Edited by miSs, 07 February 2013 - 01:37 PM.

[Bhael Fire]

Mechwarrior has always had a distinct utilitarian military vibe; that's what's appealing about it to many fans.

Mechs are not supposed to look like Apple devices that would break if farted upon. They are supposed to be rugged and able to withstand punishment. Not win fashion contests.

[Viper69]

For the same reason people like keyboards over touch screen monitors.

It is the future but you never know, maybe more advanced mechs will get more asvanced pits. I would like to see if you bought advanced tech that systems in the pit would change to reflect that.

[Ilwrath]

NitroDev, on 07 February 2013 - 07:56 AM, said:

We have touchscreens and stuff now

The good old mobile phones I could use while stressed and driving a car. I tried that with my new fancypants HTC and it almost ended in disaster.

Tried to hit fire on the mechs touchscreen, ended up with eject. Fumble fumble.

[AlexEss]

Well let me make a comparison with something we have today.

I have two cellphones.. One is an old Ericsson from the time of "dumb as a rock"-phones and i used to have a Iphone 3s in all it's touchscreen glory.

Both today have a broken screen... Guess which one i can still make calls from. So if i was running a multi million walking tank i would prefer buttons, especially if the best techs in the universe have a hard time keeping that running.

[Larkis]

NitroDev, on 07 February 2013 - 07:56 AM, said:

We have touchscreens and stuff now, you'd think by 3050 they could come up with something other than all those switches, *****, buttons, and dials in a thousand years, right? I'm thinking Minority Report type interface by then, or maybe even something from District 9 where you have to put your hand in some bowl of goo or something to run your mech.

The point is, Mechs are military technology. This technology must work every time, even if there are get shootet a lot of time.

Military technology, as simple as possible.

For Example; Cockpit of the A10C:

http://cdn-www.airli...3/7/1956731.jpg

[merz]

battletech is in many ways a post-apocalyptic setting for the reasons mentioned above. the succession wars (1-3) brought overall tech level down to 20th century levels, though on many worlds the effect was far more dramatic and had people living in medieval-style dark ages. you do start seeing direct neural interfaces by the late 3050s and onward though, which is what you'd probably imagine in the game itself as a smoother control scheme with greater field of view, no 'head' hitbox to aim for, enhanced imaging capabilities (magnetometer, etc..) and no clunky cockpit visualisation at all. I don't think we'll be seeing those kind of systems in the game, but they do exist in the setting.

also, the property was developed in the 80's.. and forever remains in the 80s. my average game consists of late 40 to 50 somethings.

[Father Dougal]

I want a big button with "FIRE EVERYTHING" on it.

[SI The Joker]

Is there an app for that?

[Ngamok]

As people have said, buttons and switches are almost guaranteed to work unless there is a short. Touchscreens do not always work. Lots of times I go to the ATM and I have to bang on the screen for the thing to give me my money! Even my mobile phone sometimes when I tap on the icon it doesn't launch the application. Also, imagine if you cracked the screen in battle somehow. Now what, lol.

[DrnkJawa]

People who dont not want to press the big red button should simply jump off a bridge