Feature Proposal: Spectator Camera Mode

jnnnnn · Post by **jnnnnn** » 30 Oct 2006, 10:08

Arco wrote: You could have overlapping interest blocks. (You could think of it as one layer of tiled squares, and a second layer of tiled squares offset by half the square length in each dimension.) So every unit is actually counted twice, but it prevents "border separation" issues since a mass will more smoothly transfer between blocks. Of course, you could really go nuts and have many simultaneous pseudo-random tesselations, virtually guaranteeing smooth transitions between interest zones.

That's truly an awesome idea. Having armies split across squares was going to be quite irritating, and this is a really simple and powerful way of dealing with it. Thanks!

I reckon four tesselations: one normal, two offset by half a square in one dimension, and one offset by half a square in both dimensions.

Dragon45 · Post by **Dragon45** » 30 Oct 2006, 21:45

Again, please put the exact tesselation threshold in an editable file somewhere. If you do incorporate a more complex metric, it will be easier to tone down for different users with different systems.

jnnnnn · Post by **jnnnnn** » 02 Nov 2006, 14:05

Nearly there. This version is quite usable.

Now implemented:
- An interest map that does four tesselations (uses an average of 0.1% of CPU at normal speed, less at higher speeds) once every second or so.
- A method of drawing that interest map: Ctrl+Shift+i (implemented using BaseGroundDrawer)
- A camera mode (Spectator Camera) that will automatically follow the most interesting point on the map.

The camera mode and interest maps can only be enabled in spectator mode, as it would otherwise provide information to players that they would not otherwise have. It's a pity the AIs don't work with current SVN, it makes it hard to test.

The camera mode behaves the same as the Overhead (TA style) camera, except:
- if the mouse pointer is at the far right of the screen, the camera will slowly rotate and follow the most interesting point
- if the mouse is at the top of the screen, the camera's rotation is reset.
This means that the action can be followed without a rotating camera by putting the mouse cursor in the top-right corner of the screen.

I'd like to mention here that despite the lack of comments, the Spring source is a pleasure to work with.

Diff: SpecCamStage1-4.diff

Pretty Diff: SpecCamStage1-4.html

A screenshot doesn't really do it justice, but here's one anyway:

diggz2k · Post by **diggz2k** » 30 Nov 2006, 01:10

Do you have an ai that we can download and drop in game?
Any updates?

AF · Post by AF » 30 Nov 2006, 02:16

spectators cant use AIs

diggz2k · Post by **diggz2k** » 30 Nov 2006, 03:12

How about for a human player so all you have to do is set it up and turn on that global ai
if you .cheat .teamed onto an ai team?

jellyman · Post by **jellyman** » 08 Dec 2006, 13:11

Bonus interest points when a new type of unit is built? When someone starts construction on an air factory for instance thats a fairly interesting fact.

espylaub · Post by **espylaub** » 08 Dec 2006, 14:00

I assume your camera movements are eased, smooth and not abrupt? Because that would also be a wonderful addition to speccing in general, having smooth movements automatically. No more jerky cam movements! In-game movies that are actually not painful to look at! Is there a way to implement this? A cinematic spec mode, if you will?

Ling_Lover · Post by **Ling_Lover** » 08 Dec 2006, 14:34

has this been implemented yet? is it actually usable?

if so, how do we use it?

jnnnnn · Post by **jnnnnn** » 11 Dec 2006, 04:20

Current Status:

The code currently exists as a patch to the core of TASpring, requiring a recompile to use this feature (it is not a groupAI or anything like that, mostly because careful control of the camera is required).

I have been busy with exams, and have also been waiting for a stable version of spring that works with AIs that I could patch and test (I couldn't find the 0.73 version in the repository).

jnnnnn · Post by **jnnnnn** » 13 Dec 2006, 03:39

I have compiled a version for people to have a play with.

Find it at http://www.unknown-files.net/index.php? ... &dlid=2026

imbaczek · Post by **imbaczek** » 13 Dec 2006, 12:14

fraps a demo and upload to youtube puh-leaaase ::begs::

Sheekel · Post by **Sheekel** » 13 Dec 2006, 16:12

This is pretty flipping awesome. Good work.

diggz2k · Post by **diggz2k** » 13 Dec 2006, 20:52

would it be possible maybe to split the screen in half or quarters so that you can pay attention to multiple sources of interest? That would be a great addition.

Ling_Lover · Post by **Ling_Lover** » 14 Dec 2006, 04:43

i'd like to see split screen when playing normally

I'm going to have a try of this when i get home tonight, looks like it should be good!

Spring RTS Engine

Feature Proposal: Spectator Camera Mode