Any chance of Dual screen support be for release?

YuJay

<div class="IPBDescription">Map / Overlay.</div>Since NS has been know for a substantial amount of events going on at once on the map and hud.
Would the possibility for a Second monitor being able to support a Map, Messages, POIs, Motion Tracking and current events be "do-able" of couse this map would be slightly more graphical and the benefit of a bigger map on a dedicated screen.

or maybe a future project to be added later? this is assuming this isn't out side the limits of the engine being used.

schkorpio

<!--quoteo(post=1709379:date=Jun 2 2009, 03:39 PM:name=YuJay)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (YuJay @ Jun 2 2009, 03:39 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1709379"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Since NS has been know for a substantial amount of events going on at once on the map and hud.
Would the possibility for a Second monitor being able to support a Map, Messages, POIs, Motion Tracking and current events be "do-able" of couse this map would be slightly more graphical and the benefit of a bigger map on a dedicated screen.

or maybe a future project to be added later? this is assuming this isn't out side the limits of the engine being used.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


+1 <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />


would be fantastic - similar for those of us with widescreens <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

M00_cow

Oh wow. Now thats a fantastic idea.

You on the right, your map on the left. Very sweet idea, specially for rines with bacon.

Nima_

This would be cool, I don't expect to see it in for a long time, if at all though. But it would be awesome.

homicide

If they allowed custom UIs (given that they have a huge LUA framework I would hope so) this would be trivial.

Avata

I love this idea, but honestly, I think it would be a massive task to make the game engine handle this. Not only development wise but resource wise (SupCom being an example of taking an fps hit with dual screens)

I think a better idea would be to have a seperate application that acts as a "server map" viewer. In effect, a stand alone program that can log on to a server, and display all of the map infomation happening on that server. Obviously that should be a lot easier to create... Especially if it is just a viewer that shows you where people and items are on the active map.

Then have this map viewing application aware of the NS2 application, polling it so it shows you what map you are on, what server you are on, and what team you are on.

Then interactivity would be optional. Maybe allow the player to switch to the map viewer to click waypoints, or perhaps use the viewer as a dedicated comm gui?

THUS, making this "second screen" would not interfere with the quality or functionality with the core game.

Also, the map viewer must be completely low resource.... using basic sprites or vector graphics... not full 3d represenations that stress out graphics cards not designed to do that. I mean seriously.... 2d bitmap graphics are fine for a map view right??

kcbnac

I love this idea. Multi-screen is where the world is going, I'm on my third set of dual displays (and they're reaching their 3-year expected life-span, but for now I stay with them...) and will never go back. Being able to make use of a second display for SOMETHING.

Like Avata mentions, but I would run it as an add-on tool that attaches to your game client, instead of making a separate connection to the server. (Why pull the data twice, when your game client already has it?)

Also, for taking the performance hit, most of us these days have integrated graphics as well - that's what my secondary (and sometimes tertiary) displays run from - that way my primary display gets 100% of my dedicated GPU time.

Emoo

I would love a second monitor with a map, chat log, extra infomation on it. You should be able to pull all that up on your primary monitor anyway (for those with only one monitor) but it would be nice to have it allways open just to the side on a second monitor.

Also a lot of people bring up the performance aspect and reference sup com. But what you have to remember is the second monitor on sup com was the whole 3D map rendered again, on NS2 it would just be the 2D overlay map and some text, much much less resource intensive.

spellman23

Would be a nice perk, not essential IMO.

NeoSniper

<!--quoteo(post=1720232:date=Jul 31 2009, 12:27 PM:name=Emoo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Emoo @ Jul 31 2009, 12:27 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1720232"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I would love a second monitor with a map, chat log, extra infomation on it. You should be able to pull all that up on your primary monitor anyway (for those with only one monitor) but it would be nice to have it allways open just to the side on a second monitor.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

+1

<!--quoteo(post=1720232:date=Jul 31 2009, 12:27 PM:name=Emoo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Emoo @ Jul 31 2009, 12:27 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1720232"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Also a lot of people bring up the performance aspect and reference sup com. But what you have to remember is the second monitor on sup com was the whole 3D map rendered again, on NS2 it would just be the 2D overlay map and some text, much much less resource intensive.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

also +1

Thaldarin

Excellent idea.

The thing with good ideas which every game developer would have considered is, as good as it is and would make the game more special or slightly better is, trying to implement it.

RobB

I want this. And a touchscreen for double the awesome.

kcbnac

<!--quoteo(post=1720402:date=Aug 2 2009, 04:36 PM:name=RobB)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RobB @ Aug 2 2009, 04:36 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1720402"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I want this. And a touchscreen for double the awesome.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

*Mental ######*

With 7-12" 1024x600 resolution USB-powered displays (such as these: <a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/bfa3/" target="_blank">http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/bfa3/</a> ) I can imagine all sorts of new ideas for games. Heck, I'd get a new table top that IS a display - or two, and redo the top layer of desk for such features...(set around keyboard and mouse, and arm rests - maybe rest arms on said displays)

I've run Eyefinity for awhile (had to stop due to a buggy adapter, until I can afford 3 DisplayPort enabled displays thats off for now) and it is MASSIVELY fun. No more sneaky sneaky, I actually have peripheral vision - you've gotta get BEHIND me not just beside me.

MercsDragon

I'd love to see this, been hoping for something like this in many games for a long time. But I don't think it's very easy to implement as two separate windows like most dual monitor setups are configured. When you change focus from a game running opengl or directx it pulls the textures out of memory, and can crash games. I think the idea of a secondary program is probably the best right now, but it would be there for monitoring only, you wouldn't be able to interact with it.

Kouji_San

<!--quoteo(post=1796224:date=Aug 25 2010, 03:59 PM:name=MercsDragon)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MercsDragon @ Aug 25 2010, 03:59 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1796224"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->When you change focus from a game running opengl or directx it pulls the textures out of memory, and can crash games.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
There are lots of games which can be kept active when in borderless windowmode in the background if the engine is setup to do that... WoW, Source and even goldSRC/quake do this for instance and Spark does this as well (probably more engines). Still want me precious borderless windowmode in Spark though <img src="http://members.home.nl/m.borgman/ns-forum/smileys/biggrin.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Company of Heroes is one example which annoyingly freezes the game when the focus is on another window... And there are games that give you borderless windowmode, while stupidly locking your mouse within that window for some odd reason...

rofldinho

I have dual monitors, but have never used them for any applications (one of them is a TV/monitor which gets used as a TV). This would be great use of it, great idea.

Also, would it be possible for the 2nd screen to be useable, as in "clickable"? If so, would it be useful to have something like interactive satus pages for duel-screen commanders for e.g. all structures, teammates, MACs, etc etc, so that you can easily perform upgrades or issue commands on the 2nd screen?

So something like this:

<a href="http://img840.imageshack.us/i/dualmonitorsuggestion.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/5114/dualmonitorsuggestion.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /></a>

The thinking would be that you press a button/key to move the mouse onto the second screen, then after clicking on an instruction it'll switch back to the first main/default screen (or something along those lines). If something is being attacked by the enemy team, the icon for that item could glow red. Or alternatively have a page with all teammates so that you can track their health/ammo/etc, and icons pop up if they request something (so if they request health, the commander can quickly see it on the 2nd screen) and clicking on their picture would automatically center the main screen on them.

Or is it not possible to readily switch the mouse between both screens in a game?

Kouji_San

Not from within a game, because the mouse cursor is usually locked within that window. Alt+Tab will get you out of the game window (using windowmode, for faster switching). Then you can freely move your mouse around the entire expanded desktop, but you do lose control of the game when the focus on the gamewindow is lost.

Spark does keep running in the background, so you can still see/hear the game and by clicking the game window (rightclick to avoid shooting when in FPS mode <img src="http://members.home.nl/m.borgman/ns-forum/smileys/tongue.gif" border="0" class="linked-image" />), you can get back into the game (Alt+Tab-ing back also works of course)

MercsDragon

Thanks for the info Kouji.

What rofldinho said should be possible if the main engine is running two separate windows. I've done it in VB and java, So long as they're part of the same parent program there shouldn't be a problem from doing it in C++. simply on button press, focus = window not currently in focus, mouse cursor position = center of focus window.

Tunis

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Not from within a game, because the mouse cursor is usually locked within that window. Alt+Tab will get you out of the game window (using windowmode, for faster switching). Then you can freely move your mouse around the entire expanded desktop, but you do lose control of the game when the focus on the gamewindow is lost.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

hum, I probably misunderstood something in your sentence :s

I have already play supreme commander in dual screen and it rox! you just move your mouse in the two screen smoothly without loading or anything ...

I think this little addition would be welcome for the games. because today who do not have two screens connected to his computer? and it would lighten the screen "games" which would avoid having a map that hides the 3/4 of the screen during the 3/4 of the game :p

so + 10.000 for this :p

Kouji_San

True, but Spark doesn't support the free movement between screens yet, as it is still a single screen window (hence the mandatory Alt+tab thing currently). Max might program this into the engine though, heck who knows.

schkorpio

i wonder if this can be done in LUA?

DCS black shark (the heli flight sim) uses LUA and you can customize the hell out of it - 6 monitors? no problem - you can even choose what you want displayed on which monitor.

extra points if you can actually find all 6 monitors behind the control panel cut outs :)

<img src="http://www.gaillet.net/images%20perso/KA50/SSAM_1640.JPG" border="0" class="linked-image" />

RobB

3 world view,
1 instruments (left)
1 onboard "camera"? (center)
1 multi purpose monitor (right)


how many internets do i win?



edit: just how many dollars did that cost?

Tunis

i think this is one of the best ideas posting here :)

so if max or another developer could tell us whether or not it was conceivable that have either fix.

because compared to the idea to add a third race etc. ... it is still much more relevant and so add to the comfort of games I think it would be a shame to miss out (I mean not to put it in the alpha or anything but think about to see possibility)

good game !

Ps : do not let the idea disappear in favor of stupid ideas !

Harimau

I don't think people are really serious about the third race idea.

Are they?

Kouji_San

<!--quoteo(post=1797961:date=Sep 8 2010, 10:03 PM:name=Harimau)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Harimau @ Sep 8 2010, 10:03 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1797961"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I don't think people are really serious about the third race idea.

Are they?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It's usually met with NS1 memes, flaming or just questions like "wtf u seriuz!?"