Forums » Suggestions
Mouse "Slide" Mode - Android/VR/Maybe PC
So we all know I keep pestering for mice to work on Android, and as this is a fully fledged game and not some hacky Android port I do understand why the developers would like to rely on provided API's rather than implement something that may or may not work for everyone and then break with OS updates later (ugh, nightmare). Anyway!
I've been being a traitor and playing some other space games and one thing that struck me about most of them is the availability of a second mouse mode, sometimes called "mouse slide" mode. Basically a lot of them have a primary mouse mode called "mouse follow" which looks and acts a bit like the current mouse mode (with mouse look off) and then a mode called mouse slide, which doesn't.
Basically the way "mouse slide" mode works, is you have a secondary turning cursor, as well as the aiming area (I guess the center of the HUD in VO) and the further away from this "center" point, the faster the ship turns. You can hold the ship in a fast turn by holding the mouse away from the center, and then stop the turn by bringing the "mouse" back to center. You also do not get the benefit of "mouse look" aiming with this mode, as you have to point the "center" point at the target, not the cursor.
I think that explains it! If not I can post a video or two but don't personally want to advertise the games I have been playing due to the fact that most of them are crap. Anyway, I know this kind of mode is probably not 100% suited to VO's flight model, but I do think it would be better than no mouse support at all. I guess it should be an option for none mobile players too, some of them might like it (some of them enjoy mining so yeah, some of them might like it).
I think due to the way the mouse isn't "grabbed" by Android, this might actually work there, and even if just for the weird ones like me and Phaserlight, this might come in handy. A controller in one hand doing analogue strafes, and a mouse in the other for fine aiming - ah there is nothing like the precision you get from this setup, and even if slightly handicapped by the sometimes strange behaviour of a said "mouse slide" mode I still think it might work OK with some practice. I've been trying to use it over the primary mode in these other games and it does work well in space.
I've been being a traitor and playing some other space games and one thing that struck me about most of them is the availability of a second mouse mode, sometimes called "mouse slide" mode. Basically a lot of them have a primary mouse mode called "mouse follow" which looks and acts a bit like the current mouse mode (with mouse look off) and then a mode called mouse slide, which doesn't.
Basically the way "mouse slide" mode works, is you have a secondary turning cursor, as well as the aiming area (I guess the center of the HUD in VO) and the further away from this "center" point, the faster the ship turns. You can hold the ship in a fast turn by holding the mouse away from the center, and then stop the turn by bringing the "mouse" back to center. You also do not get the benefit of "mouse look" aiming with this mode, as you have to point the "center" point at the target, not the cursor.
I think that explains it! If not I can post a video or two but don't personally want to advertise the games I have been playing due to the fact that most of them are crap. Anyway, I know this kind of mode is probably not 100% suited to VO's flight model, but I do think it would be better than no mouse support at all. I guess it should be an option for none mobile players too, some of them might like it (some of them enjoy mining so yeah, some of them might like it).
I think due to the way the mouse isn't "grabbed" by Android, this might actually work there, and even if just for the weird ones like me and Phaserlight, this might come in handy. A controller in one hand doing analogue strafes, and a mouse in the other for fine aiming - ah there is nothing like the precision you get from this setup, and even if slightly handicapped by the sometimes strange behaviour of a said "mouse slide" mode I still think it might work OK with some practice. I've been trying to use it over the primary mode in these other games and it does work well in space.
This would be an interesting mode, one valid on any platform. I imagine those with touchpads would also prefer this kind of input, too.
Another way to describe this "mouse slide" mode is that the center of the screen tries to always chase the mouse's actual coordinates on the display itself, but as the camera turns it doesnt influence those coordinates.
i'd get usage out of this mouse control option as a good way to provide even control to a cinematic camera in recordings, due to the precision you could get out of this setup.
+1
Another way to describe this "mouse slide" mode is that the center of the screen tries to always chase the mouse's actual coordinates on the display itself, but as the camera turns it doesnt influence those coordinates.
i'd get usage out of this mouse control option as a good way to provide even control to a cinematic camera in recordings, due to the precision you could get out of this setup.
+1
That's basically what X-Wing and Tie Fighter used for mouse control, back in the early 90s. It was terrible. I played through Tie Fighter that way and about wrecked my wrist.
But, considering what Mouse control options are (not) available to people on Android, due to Google's UX choices, and similar situations, it might be a useful option for some people. In general, I'm never against having more options.
Still, keep in mind that "weird edge-case usage situations" are not likely to be the most beneficial expenditure of developer time at the moment. We have a lot of bigger priorities. Like "make the new user experience not terrible and boring".
But, considering what Mouse control options are (not) available to people on Android, due to Google's UX choices, and similar situations, it might be a useful option for some people. In general, I'm never against having more options.
Still, keep in mind that "weird edge-case usage situations" are not likely to be the most beneficial expenditure of developer time at the moment. We have a lot of bigger priorities. Like "make the new user experience not terrible and boring".
Yeah, I'm not expecting you to drop everything to just enable me to play properly on none PC devices but it has come up a lot over the years and I just thought it might be worth a mention.
It's actually not a bad control system when you get used to it, I used to murder Joystick users in X-wing! I never considered it a "horrible" control system, it can actually be used quite well in my own personal experiences and although not as "twitchy" as VO's current mouse mode (which is the better of the two) it can still be used a lot more comfortably than a Gamepad or Joystick when it comes to aiming precision.
Anyway, nice to know it might be an option further down the line! It might also enable things like these weird Chinese controllers that emulate a keyboard and mouse to work, but now I am just rambling. Sorry!
It's actually not a bad control system when you get used to it, I used to murder Joystick users in X-wing! I never considered it a "horrible" control system, it can actually be used quite well in my own personal experiences and although not as "twitchy" as VO's current mouse mode (which is the better of the two) it can still be used a lot more comfortably than a Gamepad or Joystick when it comes to aiming precision.
Anyway, nice to know it might be an option further down the line! It might also enable things like these weird Chinese controllers that emulate a keyboard and mouse to work, but now I am just rambling. Sorry!