would like for zoom panning to make it back into the game

No way! Greatest threads ever! Please don't stop!

Uber any thoughts about this idea?

My thought is that I'm really unhappy with the current camera and it needs a big revision. We still have a lot of experimentation to do in that area and certainly some of the ideas here can be tested.

YAY!!!
Can't ask much more than this

I loved Ozone's fan engine. I think the zoom would work *exactly* like it does in his sim. A few changes could be made, like how smooth the transition is between planets, how precise you have to be with zooming to a new planet, and how planet rotation affects the camera, but aside from that it is entirely spot-on.

MushrooMars! you would know, did the engine have units? what am I doing wrong?
when I start a system I have a system with planets that i can look around on but nothing is clickable and there are no units.
is it incompatible with chromium?

No, the units were just a concept by Ozone. What you see there is as far as the engine ever got. He also planned on adding exploding asteroids and headlights to units, but never got around to it because he didn't have enough free time.

Those "screenshots" of all that awesome stuff happening are mockups.

awww phoosie!
oh well, still great work. it looks gorgeous. and works brilliant, navigation mechanism-wise.

2d top down view is more user friendly

Ironically Ozone's engine is more user-friendly than Uber's top-down view. I'm not criticizing Uber, I'm just pointing out that for once logic didn't work like we thought it would.

I guess going from 3d -> 2d is more confusing than being whipped about haphazardly in 3d space.

It's not just the jump to 2D, but the jump back into a planet view is problematic as well.
You lose your last zoomed location. When it comes to UI design, the player looses continuity.
Zoom in/Zoom out should be exact opposites.
It's like Undo/Redo. They should be affecting the exact same thing in opposite ways.


Whereas with an entirely live view, you can fine tune your approach when zooming back in.

this. THIS, like ....so much!

Can more people weigh in on this thread please?
I think it's rather important part of the UI experience.

The "hopping between planets" is just a saved view.
But we've lost true strategic zoom out to the solar system level.

Personally I don't see much reason to discuss too much about the UI (zooming being a part of it) as its obviously not finished/not a good UI yet and I fully expect that uber knows that.

There hasn't been much fundamental UI work done so I expect it to be revised greatly and then feedback would be appropriate.

(Or the current UI is nearly done and then we're all doooooooomed.)

I dissagree, now 's the time or never.

I'm going to be obnoxious and bump this one.
I'd like to hear what else the community has to say.

Ooooh, look at the zoomed out planetary level...

+infinite, i love the idea, its beautiful.

It's IN!!!!
mother freaking gorgeous!!!!!!


And HELLS YES.
Friction control.

Please continue to do the lord's work, Culverin
The loudest voices must be the most informed and educated to keep discourse healthy.