Not a 3D mini-map but 3D mini-radar ideas for a overview fast view jump interface.

Thinking about a minimap replacement for multiple spherical objects and I thought of the Radar from Elite on the commodore 64 it was similar to this:

You would have one for each planet in the system and it would give a tactical zoom style display of each planet clicking on any unit icon would jump your view there. and alerts would flash there location on the 3D radar. Clicking on a unit or alert on the radar would jump you to the air layer and if you scrolled in or out it could jump to the ground or orbital layer or you mouse click and it stays on the air layer. color coding for land air navel and orbital layer units and shading for distance from your view point on the radar should give a lot of information at a glance and let you jump from planet to planet like a SC2 pro gamer.

This would work best with a second monitor for the radars.

So what do you think is this a "Better" idea then the mini-map?

The problem with this is that everything is going to be touching the edge of that green sphere.

You are literally going to have a bajillion little white lines pointing up and down from the equatorial plane.

[EDIT] Start up a game on a planet with lots of metal spots. Turn on the metal spot toggle and zoom out a bit. That's what I think you're proposing, but for units instead of holes in the ground.

Yes with each line and dot having layers of translucent color on it so as they layer it would look a lot like a colored intensity map so big clumps of units would look like a hot spot blob and the color from the mixing of the unit type colors would change the color based on the unit mix like a color pallet. Although it may work better without the lines even if there a different color and faded to be see through like tinted glass.

You would also probably need alerts to flip the globe to click on the opposite side of the radar if the planet was full of units. and maybe a right-click or hot key to manually flip it so you only need 2 clicks to change your view to any unit in the solar system.

It would also need independent rotation and view settings for each 3D Radar as well as a full list of unit filter settings that can be set on / off or right clicked to set all other filters to don't show until the next click.

Seems like it'd take up too much screen space, especially if you wanted the information to be easily readable.

Mike

Multiple screens are coming for this game.
So maybe we could have one little screen that's always showing the planet's opposite side of what you're looking at.

And when clicking on that little screen, your main screen swaps with the little screen.
I hope this is understandable, my English isn't good enough to explain complicated stuff like this.

I keep hearing this, but does that mean multiple monitor compatibility, or does it mean having little windows ingame? just curious, as I would think that it would be awesome to play this game across all three of my monitors. As it is I'm ok with browsing the forums while I play though!

I think it means both.

Awww yissss!

You should have a look through the Confirmed Features List, a lot of things are listed in there, including Multi-Monitor support(in the Technology section).

Mike

Why thank you. I had checked that thread out in the past, but there is a lot of stuff on there! I think it might need some organisation of what's been implemented already and what has been changed from "unconfirmed" or "suggested" to "confirmed" or "implemented". Unless you've already done that, and I haven't gotten there yet in my reading, in which case, disregard the previous suggestion.

I'm not sure what you mean by "not there yet in reading" The first posts are all updated as things change. If you think something is wrong post(in particular with Dev comments backing you up) in that thread and we'll see if there are changes to be made.

Mike

I meant as In, if you have updated the posts in later comments, I didn't read it just now, I've just read it in the past (circa a month ago or so?) and noticed it seemed a bit out of date. I'll give it a quick scan now though.

As I just explained.....

So you never need to dig through the 12 pages of replies to find the most up to date post. I did a slew of updates as recently as Dec-30th as listed on the initial posts themselves.

Mike

The industry term is View Ports. Anyone who has booted up a AutoDesk product over the last ten years will know what I am talking about. It is different form multi screen (which will also be included by release) in that you have one view port looking at some location in space and you can have many more view ports looking at any other places in this case the map up on your screen in real time.


So taking your example you can have three view ports open in game. two small ones on the top half and one long one on the bottom half of your screen. If you want to focus on one planet you can have view port A look at strategic view of half the planet while view port B is looking at the other side of that planet. View port C would be your playing space as you can micro down at ground level but any of these views can be set and changed on the fly.


I have mentioned this already on the forum but this is one feature that I am most excited for to be implemented in game. I will tell you it takes time to get use to but once you do you will come to think how you have managed to get by without it.


Though sir with three monitors you could fit a lot of view ports across the entire system. Would give you the information advantage as you will know instantly what is going on in your games.

I know, I was just noting that that's what I meant, in response to your previous confusion to my statement. wow. I'm confusing myself with my own statements now.

Viewports! That's the term I was looking for. We have them in UDK as well, I know how they work.

I know, that's why I got 'em!