Spacecraft avionics

[Cheri50000]

Hi, guys!

I got a feature request for the next update of evochron Legacy: is the step-step startup/shutdown of spacecraft avionics such as turn on/off fuel pumps, electrical system, instrument displays and many more. Thanks!

Cheers,
Vincent & Cheri

[CS-ACI-]

Hello,

Do you mean more like MS Flight or Space Shuttle Simulator?

That is not what most gamers want.

There is enough buttons to press and remember in this game already.

Steve

[Cheri50000]

Hi, Cs-aci-!

Yes like in MS flight simulator and the space shuttle simulator. When the game loads in evochron legacy before I get into the cockpit I saw the space craft avionics is starting up. I would like to start from cold & dark & power up the spacecraft avionics myself. This is something to look into for the next update of evochron legacy. Thanks!

Cheers,
Vincent

[Sinbad]

Hi Vincent,

That's something I'd love to see. Would nudge this game even closer to the technical-simulator-type game. However, I believe many players prefer the gamey-type end of the spectrum, and less of the technical sim. Vice has done well to get the balance. My suggestion about the avionics start-up would be to have an option to toggle: fully automated start-up (as it is presently) or manual start-up in which the player has to flick the switches for each sub-system.

[Marvin]

... manual start-up in which the player has to flick the switches for each sub-system.

What switches? (First, we would need the switches.)

[Cheri50000]

Hi, Marvin!

The switches would be on the left/right console which is on the left/side of the astronaut but the switches are very blurry but Vice will code the switches to do this and that.

Cheers,
Vincent

[Marvin]

Will he, now? I wonder what a fully operable cockpit will require in terms of additional coding. And DL size.

[SeeJay]

The easiest (I think) solution to a manual start up sequence would be if Vice added a new "Avionics Panel" that you bring up
like you bring up Nav with F1. There you'll have your switches to flip. (No need to code anything in the cockpit panels)

[CS-ACI-]

Hello,

Having played and used the aforementioned simulation software, I would say that having more complex systems in this game just to start your machine would be a lot more to learn and remember.

Although having an extra panel would look good, would it be any more functional that what happens now?

1 - if you have to flip every switch before a launch, there is no point. As all it would mean id a load of button/mouse clicks ( and the delay needed ) before game launch.

2 - if you could launch without flipping all the switches, would it mean you would not have that/those systems available? Again pointless as you would die or be killed pretty quickly.

Think of the current system like a high end car, you jump in the seat and it starts up automatically.

Steve

[Cheri50000]

Hi, Cs-aci-

I think I go for the realistic spacecraft avionics start up/shutdown!! I really enjoy flipping switches!!

Cheers,
Vincent

[matchbox2022]

There's a game coming out that tries to make it more flight simulator esk. I'd love to see this myself, but a lot of people that are new would likely give up if it wasn't really laid out.

If you're looking for a bit of a more immersive experience where things sound like they are powering up more like a real spaceship, you should check out my sound mod, I included a new startup routine that plays as your ship turns on.\\

All the button pressing, switches, alerts, voices and rumbles you could want.
Suggest a sub-woofer,,....highly. The warp will blow your mind.

There's a link over at the mods section of these forums if interested. Its all I use now, most of the original startup routine and sounds I found were good / amazing but missing the key...buttons and dails approach like you're wanting.

[Edited on 5-25-2016 by matchbox2022]

[Marvin]

For true realism, you'd need a routine which powers down your ship each time you dock or land ... then the power-up sequence before lift-off. Cool idea for maybe the first half-dozen times but, considering how often most players dock (required to accept a contract), the power down-up sequence would get old really quick.

[DaveK]

The year is 2880+. Mankind has been flying space ships for nearly a millennium; the start up sequence is automated - when you load the game you can already see each section as it starts up and is checked. Your ship also does an auto shut down and restart when you save in open space; would you want to do that manually each time?

Needing a set of start up switches (switches???) would be like having a couple of guys hand spinning the turbines on a Typhoon Eurofighter like what they had to do with Tiger Moths!

Your ships AI can already aim your canon fire at rapidly moving targets and do lots of other impressive stuff so automated startup is a doddle ... come on, guys and gals - embrace technology when it eliminates the boring jobs.

If you really need to flip switches, get a 20th Century flight sim add on for your ship's R&R lounge!



Actually, I'm with Marvin - manually starting up sounds quite cool, just like watching the start up sequence that fills in time whilst the game loads; but after a few times it's lost its fascination!

[Sinbad]

Why don't modern day jet fighters have a one-switch automated start-up?

[Marvin]

Why don't we just use drones? (Actually, the question is whether or not a gamer would be willing to flip switches every couple of minutes ... after each docking. Real fighter pilots fly for an hour or more and only complete one or two sorties a day. Gamers who play FSX or Mighty 8th or some other flight simulation where they must flip switches ... they, too, only do it once before embarking on an hours-long flight. It's the constant repetition that would be the killer for EL.)

[Cheri50000]

Hi, Marvin!

Everybody have their own opinions but I prefer manually starting up the spacecraft before the flight and manually shutting down the spacecraft after the flight.

Cheers,
Vincent

[Marvin]

Well, assuming you get your wish, I'll be more than happy to log on to MP with you to insure you stick with it.

[DaveK]

Why don't modern day jet fighters have a one-switch automated start-up?

Your ship is between 35m (Talon) and 50m long (Starmaster). Your AI makes a modern RL avionics look like clockwork. Basically auto startup isn't a plausible option on a modern fighter because of its size and processing power requirements for the rest of the planes functions. And as Marvin said, modern pilots only fly a few sorties a day - I do dozens in a single gaming session.

This thread got me thinking ... I started my car this morning and the single button press turned on the computer which turned on the fuel pump, diesel injectors, sat nav, engine, unlocked the steering lock, activated the digital readout screen for fuel, speed, outside temperature, mileage etc, turned on the thermostatted heating system, determined the fan speed and where to send the air according to outside temperature and my chosen inside temperature. Once the engine was turning over, the computer determined the injector fuel flow and tickover speed, adjusting it automatically as the engine warmed up. I also got readouts of tyre pressure, doors open/closed, engine and brake functionality and whether the manual brake was active or not. All with one key free button press.

That's in a car built in 2014 - I'd hope things had improved eight centuries later. And after the first day I suspect I would be very irritated and bored if I had to do all of those things manually!

I suppose Vice could take out the start up sequence display we see whilst the game is loading (what is you ship would be doing for those 30+ seconds whilst you stare at the hangar walls, I'm not sure). Then, when the game actually starts you could go through a minute or two of button presses to start your ship - and just hope that there are no hostiles or other dangers in the area, or that you aren't reloading after going boom in a combat zone or that your mates haven't got bored and flown off to have fun