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Player Features and Ideas Discussion

 
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Joysticks: The idea everyone loves to hate

Author
Somal Thunder
Pator Tech School
Minmatar Republic
#1 - 2011-11-21 14:39:55 UTC  |  Edited by: Somal Thunder
Since the beginning of time, people have been whining about why there isn't a first person view in ships, why there isn't joystick support, etc.
Now, I don't have a joystick, nor have I ever used one; this would perhaps convince me to buy one.

I'm going to try to keep this as brief as possible since I know people don't like reading stuff that is unnecessary - I am not here to design an implementation, simply here to introduce an idea.

The idea is as follows and involves the following implementations in some form:


  1. Joystick support
  2. Picture-in-picture view to for "first person" view


Joystick support
Obviously this is a difficult implementation for CCP and obviously, the player base understands if it takes years to do this. This game isn't built like flight simulator so a lot of vector arithmetic will probably be necessary.
Some may complain that gameplay will be harder or unfair for some...
EVE doesn't tick fast enough for this to be possible! - We're not talking about real time movement, we're talking about the joysticks emulating mouse clicks in given directions based on how the joystick is manipulated. If you want real-time joystick movement, play freelancer or flight simulator.
Two people will be able to play at the helm of one computer (one guy on the joystick, the other clicking on modules etc) - it's already possible to do this, one guy uses the mouse and the other uses keyboard shortcuts for modules. Sure, it probably isn't done, but we wouldn't be introducing the possibility.
Also, won't people with joysticks be at an advantage? - Honestly, joysticks cost a lot less than a graphics card that supports shader 3, so if you're whining about money, stop whining. If portability is an issue, then please, don't humor us all.
Other concerns - Not actually relevant. If this idea gets taken up by the CSM, they will do their best to find faults and if it's really that bad of an idea, it won't be implemented.

Picture-in-picture
This one can actually be done without joysticks. It could even be done now (as in, expansion after next at the soonest, probably). People already play on two monitors, why not introduce the idea that a "first person" view could be displayed on one monitor while the conventional view is on the other. All right, maybe not first person with cockpits and all that, this isn't freelancer after all. A fixed third person view perhaps, just enough so that you could see clearly where the ship is and what it's doing on the main screen while still knowing what's in your field of view.
What about people without dual monitors? - That is why I introduced the idea as picture-in-picture. People with one monitor could simply place a small window somewhere on their views that would mimic the second monitor of the previous scenario.
What about other things, like increased CPU usage, lack of space, etc? - You don't have to use the feature. If it's really that necessary, you shouldn't be running on low-end hardware. EVE-Online is constantly evolving and sooner or later you will inevitably have to upgrade your hardware. EVE-Online has never been a poor man's game. You don't have to spend a lot of money to be successful, but if you're trying to play EVE on a six year old laptop and expect to be on-par with the Swedes with their over-clocked liquid-cooled shiz, then you're way in over your head.

Anyway, those are my ideas and I hope someone approves of them. As a bittervet I generally don't like new stuff but I've come to realize that change is necessary and inevitable for the evolution of a game such as this.
Jafit McJafitson
Viziam
Amarr Empire
#2 - 2011-11-21 14:58:55 UTC
+1 because lol

Also we should combine this with my amazing idea: Flying in Stations (FiS). Combine the thrill of ship spinning with the thrill of flying! Fly around inside space stations, asteroid tunnels, Titans. Solve puzzles! Defeat enemies! Kill the final boss, blow up the reactor! FLY THROUGH A CORRIDOR WHILE EVERYTHING EXPLODES AROUND YOU LIKE LUKE F*CKING SKYWALKER BLOWING UP THE DEATH STAR!!!

Basically I want Eve to be more like X-wing and Tie Fighter.
Mirima Thurander
#3 - 2011-11-21 15:13:46 UTC
lol real time FPS in eve think of the lag

All automated intel should be removed from the game including Instant local/jumps/kills/cynos for all systems/regions.Eve should report nothing like this to the client/3rd party software.Intel should not be force fed to players. Player skill and iniative should be the sources of intel.

De'Veldrin
Republic University
Minmatar Republic
#4 - 2011-11-21 15:16:23 UTC
Somal Thunder wrote:

Joystick support
Obviously this is a difficult implementation for CCP and obviously, the player base understands if it takes years to do this.


This would not just be difficult, it would in fact, require a complete reqrite of the entire game from the ground up because the current system doesn't tick fast enough to keep up with a never ending stream of data from one joystick, much less 5 - 600 in a single fleet fight on one grid.

Imagine playing freelancer at two or three frames per second. That's what Eve would feel like played with a joystick.

De'Veldrin's Corollary (to Malcanis' Law): Any idea that seeks to limit the ability of a large nullsec bloc to do something in the name of allowing more small groups into sov null will inevitably make it that much harder for small groups to enter sov null.

Somal Thunder
Pator Tech School
Minmatar Republic
#5 - 2011-11-21 15:49:07 UTC  |  Edited by: Somal Thunder
Mirima Thurander wrote:
lol real time FPS in eve think of the lag


No, it wouldn't be real time. The joystick would just emulate clicking at a corresponding distance from the center while moved, ie moving the joystick to full left would cause the ship to try and turn 90° to the left on the next tick (each tick in eve is one second, slower if time is being dilated). It would be the same functionality as with a mouse, although easier to achieve (since you wouldn't have to move the camera all the time). In essence, the PiP view would make this possible with the mouse.

EDIT: This addresses your concern as well, De'Veldrin. I should have explained this in my OP.
De'Veldrin
Republic University
Minmatar Republic
#6 - 2011-11-21 16:07:29 UTC
Somal Thunder wrote:
Mirima Thurander wrote:
lol real time FPS in eve think of the lag


No, it wouldn't be real time. The joystick would just emulate clicking at a corresponding distance from the center while moved, ie moving the joystick to full left would cause the ship to try and turn 90° to the left on the next tick (each tick in eve is one second, slower if time is being dilated). It would be the same functionality as with a mouse, although easier to achieve (since you wouldn't have to move the camera all the time). In essence, the PiP view would make this possible with the mouse.

EDIT: This addresses your concern as well, De'Veldrin. I should have explained this in my OP.



Oh ho!
Well, that is indeed a completely different kettle of fish.

De'Veldrin's Corollary (to Malcanis' Law): Any idea that seeks to limit the ability of a large nullsec bloc to do something in the name of allowing more small groups into sov null will inevitably make it that much harder for small groups to enter sov null.

Satav
Aliastra
Gallente Federation
#7 - 2011-11-21 19:01:36 UTC
Umm. no.

Eve is not a flight simulator. And i think CCP made it that way deliberately.......

Somal Thunder
Pator Tech School
Minmatar Republic
#8 - 2011-11-22 00:51:06 UTC
Satav wrote:
Umm. no.

Eve is not a flight simulator. And i think CCP made it that way deliberately.......



Your inability to read astounds me. Read what it says above. It wouldn't be anything like flight simulation, it'd simply be an extra UI feature on your screen that mimics the main view except the camera is locked behind the ship and the joystick would mimic double clicking on this little UI feature as if it were the main view. Read. Read.. READ for crying out loud.
T'amber Anomandari Demaleon
#9 - 2011-11-22 10:02:25 UTC
eve would no longer be a single world, its just not possible with the available technology or budget.

www.shipsofeve.com

T'amber Anomandari Demaleon
#10 - 2011-11-22 10:03:04 UTC
Somal Thunder wrote:
Satav wrote:
Umm. no.

Eve is not a flight simulator. And i think CCP made it that way deliberately.......



Your inability to read astounds me. Read what it says above. It wouldn't be anything like flight simulation, it'd simply be an extra UI feature on your screen that mimics the main view except the camera is locked behind the ship and the joystick would mimic double clicking on this little UI feature as if it were the main view. Read. Read.. READ for crying out loud.


but its much more fun when you post in a thread you didn't actually read properly.

this is eve.

come on...

www.shipsofeve.com

Ismaus Taeus
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#11 - 2011-11-22 11:23:19 UTC
If you were using a ps3/x360-similar joystick... I have a superb layout for ship control.

Thought of it myself.Blink
Rina Asanari
CitadeI
#12 - 2011-11-23 07:54:48 UTC
People have been clamoring for WASD for years, to no success.

And now you're proposing joystick control?

I think that's the very first posting where I can legitimately ask:

U MAD BRO?


But, honestly. The chances for getting something like that are slim to nil.

StukaBee
Native Freshfood
Minmatar Republic
#13 - 2011-11-23 07:58:33 UTC
use the joystick to move the mouse cursor around the screen Lol
Ismaus Taeus
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#14 - 2011-11-23 09:17:39 UTC  |  Edited by: Ismaus Taeus
Why not just use a joystick for ship navigation and targeting / drone launching?

As well as rotating the camera, which should be dependent on ship rotation.

I take it no one has played any of the X³ games yet. Sad
Markus Reese
Deep Core Mining Inc.
Caldari State
#15 - 2011-11-24 03:23:22 UTC
Looks like other people said, but I will say again. Eve doesn't have the coding in it plain and simple for their to be any form of analog imput. Ie works via data packets. Also, ships do not have orientation, from a coding point of view, they are dots moving around dots. Your computer interperates a direction based on was at A, now at B, so must be pointing C and probably other stuff (Just assuming because seems the most server kind way to do it) Due to these facts, I prefer the rts form of mouse point and click play. If you want rage, fly with an analog control, pull back and then wait for the data packs to communicate. Am sure you would be raging in no time.

To quote Lfod Shi

The ratting itself is PvE. Getting away with it is PvP.

Ismaus Taeus
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#16 - 2011-11-24 05:51:37 UTC
Markus Reese wrote:
Looks like other people said, but I will say again. Eve doesn't have the coding in it plain and simple for their to be any form of analog imput. Ie works via data packets. Also, ships do not have orientation, from a coding point of view, they are dots moving around dots. Your computer interperates a direction based on was at A, now at B, so must be pointing C and probably other stuff (Just assuming because seems the most server kind way to do it) Due to these facts, I prefer the rts form of mouse point and click play. If you want rage, fly with an analog control, pull back and then wait for the data packs to communicate. Am sure you would be raging in no time.

I see what you mean. So what needs to happen is for CCP to implement client-side input/interpretation (which would increase the risk of hackers manipulating their client, therefore affecting EVE gameplay) which would most likely consist of a brand new client engine built from scratch - much needed, btw. But, if there was a better way to control ships there would be a new requirement for player skill. I'm not really sure hardcore players are ready for that.
Jint Hikaru
OffWorld Exploration Inc
#17 - 2011-11-24 12:47:13 UTC
Who even has a joystick these days anyway?

Jint Hikaru - Miner / Salvager / Explorer / SpaceBum In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.

Esunisen
Les Tueurs de Killer
#18 - 2011-11-24 12:53:13 UTC
I do. No clue where it is though LolLolLol
Ismaus Taeus
The Scope
Gallente Federation
#19 - 2011-11-24 13:24:52 UTC
I use a SpacePilot PRO... and I have a ps3 joystick at my disposal as well. Am I wrong?P