- Joined
- Jun 29, 2013
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As many of you may already know, you can get a little peek at the current really-rough in-progress "map prototype" currently in-game by pressing shift-P. As it happens, that map is... well, rather iffy. I'm fairly certain most of us could think of some better ways to represent things with maps. So lets do so. I'll start first.
First thing's first, if every single randomly spawned station, planet, and other whatnot get automatically put into maps, using them will be a pain in just about ANY configuration due to the sheer clutter of stuff in the map. Which is one of the issues with the current prototype. As for how to deal with this... well, once maps get worked on a bit more in any form, perhaps a new block type could be added that adds objects its placed on to the map when turned on. Options to allow you to show/hide natural objects could also work. Finally, a way of being able to track players would be good. Only fellow faction members, for sanity reasons, but still.
If maps were to get added as customizable items, some coding work would be needed to get it so that inventory items can be made to be useable while inside a ship (so you can look at it without getting out). An alternative for "personal maps" could be to have it saved as part of a player's data. In this event one would not be able to "trade" them, but then captain's logs could be used to record coordinates if the need to trade arose.
Now then, how should the map be laid out? The current prototype is, well, reasonably straight forward, but too cluttered in appearance due to the way it draws out sectors (this is BEFORE we add all the objects to it as well). It also doesn't indicate your current direction very well.
So what better ways are there? Perhaps a 2D map with height indicators would work. That is, a flat grid surface represents the universe as it is at sectors with a Y value of 0. An object on this map is marked at the X and Z coordinates on this grid. If the Y coordinate is not 0, then a line extends from this mark either upward or downward an appropriate distance to indicate how far off the horizontal the object is. Its by no means perfect, and will be just as troublesome if every. single. shop. and. station. is shown on it. But would be workable. Preferably, an indicator will show which way you are facing.
On that note, some things that could be nice:
1. Some form of "compass", so we don't need to have HUD indicators for adjacent sectors. This "compass" could be any number of things. It could for instance have a fighter-jet style artificial-horizon-HUD with attitude markings to indicate your pitch relative to the horizontal X-Z plane.
2. There is currently a visual graphic for the background that shows the galaxy. It is also about 20 degrees off from "actual horizonal," which makes it troublesome at times because I keep subconsciously trying to use it as a visual reference. Rotate the darn thing.
3. A toggleable option for "auto-level" When enabled, your ship will attempt to automatically roll until the roll-axis is level with the X-Z plane. It would not turn the ship in any way (neither left-right or up-down). It would only affect role. Having an option for turning on automated system to keep you right-side up would be nice. This would be unnecessary if artificial horizon attitude indicators are around, though, as those would convey your roll status along with your pitch status.
So, anyone have other ideas for styles of maps that would work? Be they examples from other games or whatever, lets hear them!
First thing's first, if every single randomly spawned station, planet, and other whatnot get automatically put into maps, using them will be a pain in just about ANY configuration due to the sheer clutter of stuff in the map. Which is one of the issues with the current prototype. As for how to deal with this... well, once maps get worked on a bit more in any form, perhaps a new block type could be added that adds objects its placed on to the map when turned on. Options to allow you to show/hide natural objects could also work. Finally, a way of being able to track players would be good. Only fellow faction members, for sanity reasons, but still.
If maps were to get added as customizable items, some coding work would be needed to get it so that inventory items can be made to be useable while inside a ship (so you can look at it without getting out). An alternative for "personal maps" could be to have it saved as part of a player's data. In this event one would not be able to "trade" them, but then captain's logs could be used to record coordinates if the need to trade arose.
Now then, how should the map be laid out? The current prototype is, well, reasonably straight forward, but too cluttered in appearance due to the way it draws out sectors (this is BEFORE we add all the objects to it as well). It also doesn't indicate your current direction very well.
So what better ways are there? Perhaps a 2D map with height indicators would work. That is, a flat grid surface represents the universe as it is at sectors with a Y value of 0. An object on this map is marked at the X and Z coordinates on this grid. If the Y coordinate is not 0, then a line extends from this mark either upward or downward an appropriate distance to indicate how far off the horizontal the object is. Its by no means perfect, and will be just as troublesome if every. single. shop. and. station. is shown on it. But would be workable. Preferably, an indicator will show which way you are facing.
On that note, some things that could be nice:
1. Some form of "compass", so we don't need to have HUD indicators for adjacent sectors. This "compass" could be any number of things. It could for instance have a fighter-jet style artificial-horizon-HUD with attitude markings to indicate your pitch relative to the horizontal X-Z plane.
2. There is currently a visual graphic for the background that shows the galaxy. It is also about 20 degrees off from "actual horizonal," which makes it troublesome at times because I keep subconsciously trying to use it as a visual reference. Rotate the darn thing.
3. A toggleable option for "auto-level" When enabled, your ship will attempt to automatically roll until the roll-axis is level with the X-Z plane. It would not turn the ship in any way (neither left-right or up-down). It would only affect role. Having an option for turning on automated system to keep you right-side up would be nice. This would be unnecessary if artificial horizon attitude indicators are around, though, as those would convey your roll status along with your pitch status.
So, anyone have other ideas for styles of maps that would work? Be they examples from other games or whatever, lets hear them!