How useful is PadLock?

[J_A_B]

Since I can't post this in the WW2OL forum (no account set up and don't want to make one for a nonexistant game), I will post this here.


How useful is a PadLock view mode in an online flight sim?

The only online sims I have played extensivly are AirWarrior and Aces High, and WarBirds on the occasional free weekend.  None of these games had a PadLock mode.

What I wonder is--how could a padlock possibly be useful in any situation other than a 1 on 1 fight?

It seems to me, that if your views are "locked on" to a single plane in a furball, you will die a quick death.  I think it's called "target fixation".  You'll never see the other plane that gets on your 6 and you'll be an easy kill.

PadLock mode seems like "auto target fixation"

How could this possibly help someone?  It would, IMO, be of assistance for someone who can't use the view keys, but in the end would actually be a great hindrance, not a help.

Even if you frequently "rotate" locked targets to check for other NME's, padlock seems like it would slow you down.   When I press my view keys, I KNOW where I am looking....I don't have to "wait and see" like I would have to with a padlock.  And in air combat, speed is of the essence.

PadLock might be useful in offline games against AI-controlled planes.  I don't know; I don't play offline flight sims.  But it honestly seems like a great hindrance to good SA in the online environment, except in 1 on 1 situations.

I for one, am confident that people who use PadLock, are shooting themselves in the foot (or maybe tail).

Opinions?


J_A_B

[Fury]

Depends on the implementation of the padlock feature.

Fury

[Tailslide]

>I for one, am confident that people who use
>PadLock, are shooting themselves in the
>foot (or maybe tail).
>
>Opinions?

 You don't know how to fly with padlock well  

   TS

[Snoopi]

JAB:

I was thinking along the same lines.

Padlock is great in Jet combat games when the target is 14 miles away, but in ww2 combat I think it is pointless and unrealistic.
Target fixation is a valid problem for some people using padlock.
You can constantly switch "lock" and keep "glancing" for other cons, but for me it just increases workload.
Give me a 8-way hat and 1 or 2 extra buttons any day. Especially with the good view system AH has.

Regards,
Snoopi

[Pongo]

I cant fly without it..

[hblair]

I haven't tried it yet. Gonna do that one of these days...

[NUTTZ]

Ya'll screamed for it, You got it, You better USE IT!!
Personally i don't use it, and i never asked for it. besides i'll probably break my neck ( or monitor) trying to Auto track warping studdering planes
NUTTZ

[Thunder]

I find it of little use in combat but have been working with it in formation flying. It is very good when in route formation winging. I can get within 7 to 16 and hold formation regularly.

Thunder

[Tailslide]

 The padlock in aces high has some bugs that make it not very usable I'm still using hat views.  A good padlock view makes it alot easier to fly a nice smooth rolling scissors and does a good job simulating the view i get when in a real plane.

  TS



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www.airsims.com

[TBone]

I tend to agree with Tailslide. Although I may be speaking out of turn since I haven't taken the time to find out how to use it yet.

A padlock should allow you to make fluid moves. At least that's my experience in other
games. But just because it's available doesn't mean you should depend on it to do your work for you and loose overall SA - especially in close quarters with multiple enemy aircraft.

[Minotaur]

I am trying to use padlock, but it I can't quite get used to its "Knee Jerk".  

IMO if the transistion between padlock view screens was a bit smoother, it might be easier to use.  

The sudden view jerk, is pretty dis-orientating for me, because I am never really expecting it.  This forces me to re-acquire my "padlocked" target every time the view changes.  It ends up being more work.

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Mino
The Wrecking Crew

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Naso