Mini-map HUD radar-type display is nearly useless

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by XLJedi, Oct 13, 2021.

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  1. XLJedi

    XLJedi Lieutenant

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    In space, it's impossible to tell proximity to any blip on the mini-map or whether you are on a course to intercept the blip. This is because there are no Z-axis drop lines to the XY plane.

    Is it possible the drop lines could be added? ...consistent with the Z-axis drop lines on your big map?
     
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  2. XLJedi

    XLJedi Lieutenant

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    For example...

    [​IMG]

    We see all 3 mini-map HUD displays above are represented as a 3D tilted XY plane.

    Only Empyrion has a 3D XY tilted plane and no Z-axis droplines.

    As it is now, you can't tell when a blip is on the XY plane due to the 3D perspective.
     
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    Last edited: Oct 15, 2021
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  3. IndigoWyrd

    IndigoWyrd Rear Admiral

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    The radar blips could be changed to triangles instead of dots, pointing upward if they're +Z or downward if they're -Z, or a dot if on Z with the player/ship.

    I had a little trouble getting use to the mini-radar too when I was new, but I got use to it.

    The one thing that does throw me off still is, when it space, I see a resource on the radar, that appears to be close to, let's say, a moon, and set off in that direction to see if it is the resource I need, only to find it's nowhere near said moon, but a 10 minute flight at on off-angle.
     
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  4. XLJedi

    XLJedi Lieutenant

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    Rather than triangles, I would just prefer a top down (true 2D view perspective) on the minimap. It doesn't make any sense that we have to look at a tilted 3D perspective view of 2D blips projected on the map from a top down view.

    ...or do the 3D blips with the Z-axis droplines. One or the other. It's just bizarre we have this mismatch that makes the mini-map nearly useless.

    And I've got nearly 800 hrs in the game now... so wouldn't necessarily classify myself as "new" to the game. This forum sure; game not really.
     
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  5. Kassonnade

    Kassonnade Rear Admiral

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    Not sure I understand your usage of the word "perspective" here. The "minimap" in space is a true 3D representation of the player's surroundings, while on a planet it is a top-down view. The "tilted grid" in space is just a visual clue to tell the player that the minimap is now in 3D mode and not 2D like on planets. It also represents the whole playfield in space, as no object will be out of the minimap like they can be on a planet.

    It could help to have icons of different scales to represent relative distances from the player. 3 or 4 of each icon, with different sizes, to represent distances "greater or equal to" (further is smaller of course).

    Having a 2D minimap in space would not be practical because objects that could be superposed and hard to find (like station under a planet's south pole).
     
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    Last edited: Oct 15, 2021
  6. XLJedi

    XLJedi Lieutenant

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    You're right... and I edited my OP accordingly. I had people on the Steam forum telling me it was 2D, but yes as I play with it, it is 3D.

    It just needs the Z-axis drop lines like the other examples I show above. As it is now, I can't tell when an object is on the XY plane. So if trying to use it as a nav aid (which doesn't seem like it would be an unreasonable use) you can't tell when your craft is pointing at an object of interest.

    My point about changing the camera angle to 90° (view from above) would be a workaround for not having the drop lines. In that scenario, as you rotate your craft, you know when the object is on the XY plane because it would be equal to when the object is at its furthest point. Due to the tilted perspective, you can't tell when the object is at the furthest point and intersecting the XY plane.

    Having the drop lines would be preferable though.
     
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    Last edited: Oct 15, 2021
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  7. Kassonnade

    Kassonnade Rear Admiral

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    The minimap shows the view directly ahead of the player : we know that the craft is pointing at something when its position coincides with the ship's icon position and we can see the object - we can't if it's behind. Not sure what you mean here by XY plane : relative to what ? In Empyrion "vertical" is the Y axis, Z is for "forward".

    The tilted perspective thingy is irrelevant, it's just a clue to remind us that the minimap is now 3D. As I wrote above, an object is directly in front or behind when icons overlap the player ship icon. If the minimap used a top view, since it does not indicate proper heading and "contracts" real distances, players could easily miss their destinations by a few km too far up or down. This does not happen when the "target" is what we see in the middle of the display.
     
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  8. XLJedi

    XLJedi Lieutenant

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    The XY plane is the 3D tilted grid you see with your ship in the middle.


    If the tilted grid is irrelevant, then it doesn't function like any other 3D map with an XY grid that I've used (the two other examples I posted above for instance). In fact, I'm not sure why they even display it on the screen since it implies it works in a way that it doesn't.

    If it is supposed to be a view from directly behind your ship, then the grid shouldn't be tilted. If an object overlays your ship, then it could be either directly in front or directly behind. You wouldn't really know, correct?

    It's not a very useful nav aid if you have a 50/50 shot at heading toward the object and no concept if you are getting closer or further away.
     
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    Last edited: Oct 15, 2021
  9. Kassonnade

    Kassonnade Rear Admiral

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    Like I mentioned this is a simple gizmo to give a cute look and hint at the fact it's a 3D minimap instead of 2d like on planets. But you can test this easily : start a creative game, hop in the SV on the platform, then fly backwards to some km from the platform while aiming at it. The platform BA icon will be at the same position as your ship's icon, in the middle of the minimap display, and no link whatsoever with the grey grid.
     
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  10. XLJedi

    XLJedi Lieutenant

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    I believe you...

    My point is, it's not a helpful nav tool if a 50/50 chance on increasing or decreasing distance to an object of interest. And it doesn't work like every other 3D mini-map HUD tool that it looks like. So the look of it leads you to believe it is something that apparently it is not.
     
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  11. XLJedi

    XLJedi Lieutenant

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    Actually, in looking at this again... no, it doesn't work as you describe. The view is not from directly behind. If you move directly back from any POI, you will see the item on the radar advanced in distance on the 2D grid plane. So no, it doesn't stay "on top" of your craft.

    We just need the 3rd axis drop lines.
     
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  12. Kassonnade

    Kassonnade Rear Admiral

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    In fact it looks like the view is "curved" and not flat behind the ship, or at least on a different incline as the front view. When moving past some distance, you're right that the icons are not aligned with the ship anymore, but it's only a small gap and it doesn't change even when going very far.

    Here I moved back quite far from the starter planet : 51 km away, and the planet still shows just above my nose in the minimap, having the same "gap" as when it first moved up a bit. I'm looking at heading 15* and all objects are now compressed in the center/ middle, just a bit above my ship's icon.

    NewGame_4_2021-10-18_14-34-08.png

    If I turn right 90* (heading 105*) the icons then move all the way to my left, on the "horizon" line :

    NewGame_4_2021-10-18_14-34-50.png

    Then when I turn my back to the planet (heading 195*) the icons drop all the way to the bottom of the display :

    NewGame_4_2021-10-18_14-35-31.png

    Obviously the plane on which the icons are placed is not flat, else when looking forward the icons should be at the far edge of the grid. looks more like the front half is flat for some distance, then goes up a step and is flat again but a bit higher, and back part is on an incline.

    But you don't have to convince me of anything. You want your "backdrop lines" and the display is not representative of neither the grey grid or some other virtual flat plane. They could fix that too and give us a way to see the difference between a ship far behing and a ship just below when both are on the same horizontal coordinates.
     
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    Last edited: Oct 18, 2021
  13. XLJedi

    XLJedi Lieutenant

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    Well, it's doofy... and doesn't work like any other 3D space radar, but I *can* tell now if I'm heading toward or away from an object.

    If in front of you, it's in that "compressed" position ahead of your craft at middle distance on the grid plane.

    So still a bit strange how it works, but at least I *think* I can sorta navigate with it now?

    Still needs the droplines. Not sure what "backdrop lines" are?
     
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    Last edited: Oct 19, 2021

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