Ingame blueprint screenshots

[thakyZ]

So, I have been trying to figure out what blueprint is what in my catalog, and so I came to think if there was a way we could preview each blueprint.

So I was thinking we could have something like Space Engineers has with taking a picture of the blueprint and attaching it to the blueprint's file. Also Crusade suggested that we could instead have a rotating 3D model without textures and just colors for the preview of the ship/station.

I don't think I can explain this any further since it is a basic idea...

 

[aceface]

really good suggestion. i think it would make an excellent addition to our current blueprint system.

i do however, think the game should take images for you instead of taking the screenshot yourself, because it could lead to pornographic images etc etc.

 

[jorgekorke]

I guess an low-quality 3d model based off the BP data will do it fine.

 

[Mariux]

I picked screenshots, since it seems less difficult to program, but if Schema can find a way to make 3d models efficiently, that would be even better.

 

[jayman38]

A 3D preview would use existing code and allow the user to look at the structure from multiple angles. Even an automated picture preview would require the extra step of generating an image from a 3D preview, and the image would provide a limited view of what the structure will look like. Not to mention that I've always liked 3D views better, and it's a more "space-y" way to look at something, as if it's a holographic projection. A moving 3D image just looks better in most cases.

 

[Nauvran]

I say screen shots
3D models might be too much for the game and for most peoples computers,
at least screen shots should be the default option and models an optional setting.
Otherwise it is a brilliant idea, it helps a lot to see exactly what ship it is you are buying/spawning.

 

[jayman38]

I say screen shots
3D models might be too much for the game and for most peoples computers,
at least screen shots should be the default option and models an optional setting.
Otherwise it is a brilliant idea, it helps a lot to see exactly what ship it is you are buying/spawning.

If a 3D view is too much for a player's computer, the whole game is too much for the player's computer. That is to say, if they can't handle a 3D view of the blueprint, they certainly won't be able to handle the full, spawned ship in their universe, with all the additional metadata that a 3D preview won't require. 3D views can use the game's core engine, already in memory, already doing what a 3D view needs, to simply create a new window showing the blueprint's data. Plus, it's scalable, so the player might possibly be able to zoom in on features as desired.

Note: I'm not talking about a second 3D modeling instance. I'm talking about using the game's core modeling and visualization engine to create a secondary viewport. This sort of functionality might also be reusable for cameras and display screens some day. A lot of the folks who are voting for screenshots seem to think we need a second 3D modeling instance to get a 3D view of the blueprint. I just don't think a secondary 3D visualization instance is necessary.

Screenshots, especially on a small scale, just won't do a blueprint justice. Plus, it leads to a situation where the best scene-setters win out over better builders, only because their screenshots look better. With 3D views (possibly with user input to adjust the view angle), the computer dictates the presentation, so all blueprints are presented to the player equally well.

http://www.java-tips.org/other-api-tips/jogl/multiple-viewports-nehe-tutorial-jogl-port.html

 

[Nauvran]

If a 3D view is too much for a player's computer, the whole game is too much for the player's computer. That is to say, if they can't handle a 3D view of the blueprint, they certainly won't be able to handle the full, spawned ship in their universe, with all the additional metadata that a 3D preview won't require. 3D views can use the game's core engine, already in memory, already doing what a 3D view needs, to simply create a new window showing the blueprint's data. Plus, it's scalable, so the player might possibly be able to zoom in on features as desired.

Note: I'm not talking about a second 3D modeling instance. I'm talking about using the game's core modeling and visualization engine to create a secondary viewport. This sort of functionality might also be reusable for cameras and display screens some day. A lot of the folks who are voting for screenshots seem to think we need a second 3D modeling instance to get a 3D view of the blueprint. I just don't think a secondary 3D visualization instance is necessary.

Screenshots, especially on a small scale, just won't do a blueprint justice. Plus, it leads to a situation where the best scene-setters win out over better builders, only because their screenshots look better. With 3D views (possibly with user input to adjust the view angle), the computer dictates the presentation, so all blueprints are presented to the player equally well.

http://www.java-tips.org/other-api-tips/jogl/multiple-viewports-nehe-tutorial-jogl-port.html

I was more thinking on how the model would be showed and how many would be shown at the same time and so on, also it would probably decrease performance while in the catalogue menu(would probably only be shown when you click on details of a ship but still), at least if you got a station and some ships being loaded in the background.
Pictures will most likely also load quite a lot faster.

I believe it would be challenging to get the game to make a 3D model of a ship or station in a previewer but that depends on Schema and his skills, I guess

I agree, models would be much nicer to have, getting a good screenshot isn't about being a good builder, it's about being a good photographer.
hmmm models would be all grey a bit of shaders on in the actual colours of the ship/station?

 

[Crimson-Artist]

awesome idea but does anyone know if the descriptions for blueprints can be exported? would love to put down some basic stats along with a picture

 

[jath]

A3d view, and the ability to insert empty blueprints into display modules.

 

[Valiant70]

There should be more information about the ship in general, like being able to access the structure menu without building the ship, or even entering something similar to build mode in order to inspect the ship. Perhaps this could be a part of the shipyard update.

 

[JimmyJamba]

I believe this is how SMedit was born. It started as a Offline Blueprint Viewer and quickly turned into much, much more.

 

[SoulSolarflare]

I'd say throw in a toggle option so players can switch between a 2D and 3D preview. That way if the 3D preview causes a problem, they can just switch to counter it. Sometimes that one minor display addition is enough to push your system into "NOPE! Not doing this!" mode.

 

[NeonSturm]

Screenshots
because then it can be simply extracted for the community content page.

 

[shadowulf]

Pity I couldn't vote for both, as both would be good, and give players options, I.e. I like this screenshot, I wanna see the whole ship. Also, maybe have a few screen slots cycling, as some ships features cannot be adaquetly displayed by a single screenshot?