Remote camera's

Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT DeputyThe Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
<div class="IPBDescription">For spying...</div>Not sure if this has been suggested before, but since search is being weird I'll post it here and see the response...

Camera's in the HL2 techdemo, where you see the ugly mug of the Gman. Now perhaps my idea, correction a buddy of mine (He's on teamspeak and wants credit <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />) Jeroen "Madman" Drent. Anyway his idea was to use this camera system on the commander hud somehow.

Marines in the field can place these camera's as security around the map (near RT's or other important areas) Now instead of hearing only the radio command "Resource tower is under attack". The commander now has the ability to press CTRL+Keypad 1-9 (the camera bind keys, 9 cams max on map) and see the area trough the camera. Giving him the option to keep doing stuff at his current location, while keeping an eye on the areas under attack.

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

Comments

  • PogoPPogoP Environment Artist Join Date: 2004-01-31 Member: 25827Members, NS2 Developer, Constellation
    I like the idea. From top down, commanders cannot see aliens if they are out view, so this would be quite cool.
  • Fudgepuppy91Fudgepuppy91 Join Date: 2007-09-08 Member: 62204Members
    This idea would be awesome if there were some strategic values to the cameras. For an example, if the cameras could be destroyed, and deployed ANYWHERE you want to, there could be a lot of fun experiences. Just imagine, seeing a squad being brutally killed in front of the camera, while after the carnage, you'll see a skulk turning around and then launching himself towards the camera, and ending the commanders view with a staticfilled picture saying "No Signal".

    *Shivers*
  • Moving_Target0Moving_Target0 Join Date: 2006-12-21 Member: 59174Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1649080:date=Sep 12 2007, 07:40 PM:name=Fudgepuppy91)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Fudgepuppy91 @ Sep 12 2007, 07:40 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1649080"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->This idea would be awesome if there were some strategic values to the cameras. For an example, if the cameras could be destroyed, and deployed ANYWHERE you want to, there could be a lot of fun experiences. Just imagine, seeing a squad being brutally killed in front of the camera, while after the carnage, you'll see a skulk turning around and then launching himself towards the camera, and ending the commanders view with a staticfilled picture saying "No Signal".

    *Shivers*<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I like it.

    Anyways, yeah, this would be cool, but perhaps scan area could show the aliens as "blips", but not the actual things. This way, scan area could still give SOME info, but not as much as getting a clear camera-view. Also, perhaps a camera could have to be set up in view of the hive to siege. There would have to be some kind of other side to this, but hey, it's a brainstorm.
  • killkrazykillkrazy Join Date: 2007-09-10 Member: 62238Members
    edited September 2007
    I would love to see something like this:
    <a href="http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/448/commandroomui5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/448/commandroomui5.th.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /></a>

    As you can see, the commander would sit in a "commander room" and be able to log in and out of commander mode (ala BF2) by pressing a button on the keyboard (only available in the command room).
    The commander would be able to appoint (or could be auto-determined) squad-leaders for each squad (only 4 squads max, or more but you'll have to imagine my drawing with more monitors <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> ) which would have their own top-down (or helmet-mounted) cameras.

    The commander would be surrounded by screens showing stuff such as:

    Squad Leader Cams. (mounted on helmet, or tracking above)
    2 Stationary Cams per Squad. (placeable anywhere, affected by Infestation?)
    Commander Cam. (top down view of last-position commander was at when exiting commander mode)

    And by clicking / using / something on each screen, the commander will log into Commander Mode and have the view automatically jump to that location.

    This would give the commander a great ability to monitor different parts of the game simultaneously... he could jump around build-sites without having to use number-shourtcuts (if he prefers)... can monitor and find a squad easily and provide support if they are under attack, or wish to build... can view highly contested areas with stationary cams and let marines know it is in trouble without having to move his view there.

    I think this would be super-sweet, the Command Room could be a pre-fab like in the concept arts of the train etc... easily placeable in each map's start zone.

    It would bring up issues with placing new commander-rooms elsewhere in the map... but hey.. maybe they want to remove that from NS2... perhaps the game isn't won until the infestation takes-over the commander room (aliens can spawn infestation?)... or perhaps the game is won once the aliens destroy the doors to the room (has hit points possibly?)...

    what ya think? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

    ---

    edit: Oh yah... if a camera isn't online, due to being interupted... it'd show static (infestation?) and if it hadn't been activated... it'd be blank/black <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • Fudgepuppy91Fudgepuppy91 Join Date: 2007-09-08 Member: 62204Members
    Exactly like that is how I want it!
  • killkrazykillkrazy Join Date: 2007-09-10 Member: 62238Members
    It'd be really nice for all those claustrophobic commanders that get the heeby jeebies when thinking about jumping in the cramped com-chair that is NS1 too <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    Yeah killkrazy, that would be very nice.

    Maybe another thing as an add to camera surveilance (If at all possible) something like in Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, the camera field of vision from your teamates on the hud. So a commander can see trough the eyes of his marines. When he selects a marine he can see trough his eyes (or minimise that camara screen from his hud)

    So remote camera's which can be placed by marines and a field of view trough the selected marine his eyes. Two different yet nice additions imho <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • CanadianWolverineCanadianWolverine Join Date: 2003-02-07 Member: 13249Members
    I like remote cameras, especially the ideas that have been put forth.

    Here is an idea I hope you will consider to balance it off. Make them like how phase gates are now.

    To avoid clutter on the Commander's screen, there could be like 2 or 3 insets, whatever looks right or perhaps is customizable, and the images would be set on a trigger to cycle from one camera to the next about every 10-20 seconds. In this way, you won't overload the Commander, you could give the camera a handicap aka the more cameras there are, the longer it takes to cycle back to a camera view.

    Just an idea, hope you understand my reasons for throwing that in there.
  • schkorpioschkorpio I can mspaint Join Date: 2003-05-23 Member: 16635Members
    awesome ideas all round <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /> definatly increase immersion.

    althought i have one word to ruin it all lol - "PING" the commander can ping anywhere on the map and see whats happening. But it does cost energy (or money for more obs) So unless the camera's were free, and undetectable/detroyable, then i think the commander would just invest into a second or 3rd obs, and not have to rely on marines that might die before they can place the cameras, let alone in a useful spot - unless the cameras are build into the level or, into the res towers.
  • killkrazykillkrazy Join Date: 2007-09-10 Member: 62238Members
    The way i envisioned it:

    The commander can assign up to four (4) squads... Alpha, Charlie, Foxtrot, Tango...
    Each squad's leader gets 2 cameras to place... for free... and a head-mounted (or top-down) camera which follows him...
    Commander can see these camera's views persistently, provided he isn't in commander mode (like BF2 you can switch in/out)

    Lazy commanders without squads / with only 1 squad: only gets 0/2 cameras.
    Squad leaders could be directly responsible for the course of the game.
    Squad members would want to follow the squad leader, so they are safer.
    Commanders would be switching back-and-forth between commander mode, making his job a little more skillful if he desires, a little easier if he can do it successfully, and a little more interesting.
    Commander has options: Stay in commander mode and be able to build / support... or jump out and monitor all the cameras,unable to build / support... and then click the screens to jump to that point of action.
  • hookeyedhookeyed Join Date: 2007-08-26 Member: 62011Members, Squad Five Blue
    Maybe if you had a few indestructible cameras, behind unbreakable glass or something. As the DI took over the area, the cameras would shut down. Also, broken cameras could be welded back.
  • ShadowViprShadowVipr Join Date: 2007-09-09 Member: 62233Members
    Only problem i foresee is the fact that AFAIK the source engine as of right now can only support one camera screen at a time (which is why in games such as Garry's Mod you can not spawn more than one RT camera and screen), although you can switch through multiple camera views by disabling and enabling cameras.
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