The false realism of canopy frames

[jedi]

Leph--

By using "one-sided" objects, you can indeed create a canopy frame that is "semi-transparent" from inside the 3D cockpit, yet "solid" when viewed from outside.  You simply make an "inner" and "outer" frame object.  Both are "one-sided," i.e. they are visible from one side, and invisible from the other.  You make the inner object semi-transparent, and face it inward.  It will look like "tinted glass" to the pilot.  You make the outer object non-transparent, and face it outward.  It will look like the solid canopy frame from outside the plane.

You're right tho: it's a rebuild of the canopy area for every plane...

[CJ]

automatic view switcher.. padlock... whatever.. there's something that allows you to designate targets and it manipulates view directions..

i've used it; i know how it works..

[Kweassa]

CJ what I suggested previously is basically the same concept as your idea for 'head tilting pad lock'(which, i think is a very good idea... if HTC can implement it).. except in my 'alternate view' idea, u preset the 'tilt' or 'altered angle of view' and switch between the original and tilted views manually.

 One more button may be hard to deal for you, but I think practically that's the closest thing we can get in AH without major reprogramming of the cockpits or implementing limited AIs. The alternate view would need just another set of programmable views exactly same to those we have currently. All you do is switch between those two. Probably the easiest to implement into AH if the idea is ever implemented.

 ...

[CJ]

You're probably right about that.  With a decent joystick throttle combination, it wouldn't be too difficult to use either

[MANDOBLE]

A transparency effect applied to all the "obscuring" polygons would imply a serious hit in rendering performance for a lot of "old" video cards.

In the other hand, making some cockpit polygons to be rendered before any other moving object would be an easier solution. I suppose all of you have noticed that, sometimes, the hit sprites are drawn "over" the instrument panel.

[Lephturn]

It's possible, it's just not simple or easy.  It would be a whole lot of work, and the potential benefit isn't that big a deal.

I'd rather have more planes, wouldn't you?

(P-47-N!)

[StSanta]

Well, one thing that I think is also worth metioning is the effects of the 3d modelling: it makes the situation worse in some planes. I have two screenshots to illustrate:



The bars or whatever they're called are quite small, and the pespective show 'em as same width etc. But, come in closer:



and the 3d modelling make them very big. They obscure a lot. Unfortunately, due to the way perspective is done in 3d modelling, there's really no good way around it.

It's a bit annoying that the 190s get a really big visual penalty (take A5 in Forward Up view) in the game because of the perspective thing,  whereas in real life, the obstruction of that slider was really minor.

[BigCrate]

What about little mirrors in the top of the canopy.. The 38s had this as well as the F4us.. I dunno about the other US planes.
But I know for sure the F4us and 38s had em.. In AH you can't see
your hand in front of your face when looking at your 6 in a f4.. Its not as bad in a 38 but the 38s still had em.. So before HTC goes changing the canopy frames look at what planes had mirrors in the top of the canopy.. then go from there..

Cw

[-lynx-]

StSanta - from what you showing it looks about right. It all depends on how close you are to the object (in this case canopy bar). When viewed from the cockpit your head is just a few inches away from it hence it covers alot in your FOV.

Kweassa's ideas would work but I'm missing that ever so important sixth finger to press that extra button .

Car examples above are actually quite good - it's as close to a canopy as some of us get. The problem with bars is that we get all of them brushed with the same brush when thin ones are, in fact, "invisible". If a bar is thinner than ~1/2 distance between your eyes stereoscopic vision kicks in and you don't notice it, it stops being an obstruction. If it's wider - it's a nuisanse but it "belongs" there. What would be great if we could program that mini stick on the new CH throttles to move pilots head;). Although I don't think HTC would go into all the programming rush just to satisfy a few customers with CH gear... (OTOH if they feel so inclined - don't let me stop you guys!!!:D)

BTW, nobody says it's easy to do, but if the new planes were being "built" with this in mind it would be a great start.

[smoe]

See Rule #10

[Karnak]

Serious necromancy going on here...

[Bronk]

And since you have 6 degrees of freedom.....

[Motherland]

Seeing as these complaints seem to have been logged before the introduction of the current viewing system, I would say that they have been fixed with that aforementioned viewing system...

[The Fugitive]

IN..... just for the post count   

[gyrene81]

Serious necromancy going on here...

No doubt...7 years worth... 

Think Smoe has been flying the 109's lately?