Let's talk about the Feb 2016 Update! - ### Solar System Exploration (Navigation) ###

My ideal view of a Star System to explore: MINIMAL PERSPECTIVE, MINIMAL VIEW ANGLE. SHIP APPEARS AT THE EDGE OF THE SYSTEM JUST LIKE ORIGINAL (not locked in the screen center like in the WIP vid).

Here's a perfect example of what I wanna see on my screen when I reach one of the systems. Add Vindicator at the system edge oriented the same way as when you reached it.

Here's side by side comparison. Too sharp of an angle to my liking.

Reaching the edge of a system triggers smooth continuous zoom out with special effect into hyperspace view. The effect can feel like you got sucked out of the star system into a "higher" plane - hyperspace. Your ship is oriented the same way it was when it reached the system outer edge.

Planet proximity triggers smooth continuous zoom into it placing you automatically into orbit, planet features "grow out", scanner triggers and planet info pops up "Minority Report" style to the side of the planet. Resource flags are dropped onto planet planet surface.

Here's a pathetic example of what it approximately could look like:

Eye candy graphics fade out blinking to signify that scanning is complete, leaving only planet info where planet name is on the picture, which in its turn can be smoothly enlarged and moved to the side of the screen, again, "Minority Report" style. Obviously the planet will be much bigger.

Since this whole shebang is a part of UI, more or less, I'll just post it here:

There could be another one or two stages of zoom between planet scan and system view. Similar to SC2 jerky "zooms", except this one is smooth and uninterrupted. For planet satellites or other POI or w/e.

In my SC there's NO SCREEN SWITCHING. NO WINDOWS POPPING, NO "LOADING, PLEASE WAIT". NO CROSSES IN THE WINDOW CORNERS TO PRESS. All one smooth continuous uninterrupted User Interface. It's probably gonna take Steve Jobs and Bill Gates brain to code, but if SD desires SC to last, something truly innovative has to happen to the games' UI.

You meet an alien, station, w/e? Your view angle changes, zoom in on alien vessel/station happens, scanning type of effects pop, info pops, all that is moved to the side, alien captain's screen grows out of your screen center fast, but smoothly, alien's command center/comm room/cockpit appears with alien and talks start.

Wanna outfit your ship? Hit "space", view transitions happen on your actual ship your outfit options with info pop-up right on your ship. You press button - your thrusters get disassembled and the new once fall in place in a series of nice gfx effects. Done? Hit "space", view transitions bring you back to your previous view.

Everything can be made continuous, without screen going blank for a second to change the view. With this game's engine the sky is the limit.... oh, wait, the quasispace is the limit... or is it?..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0rO2DjaFzE

Look how camera beautifully dances about battlefield. Fast, smooth, uninterrupted... All info on the side...

Those engine trail effects at 1:50. Pure sex. 

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EDIT: Funny thing. This is exactly what No Man's Sky did for the most part. Scanning looks freaking awesome, planetary landings and take offs are incredible. UI is simple, readable and out of the way of the main action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQSLlM_-fIE

I'm marginally okay with the perspective for exploration. It isn't great (and given the option I'll use the top-down camera) but it at least it'll give the art team a chance to show-off a little. 

I agree with the notion that (if in isometric view) that a minimap will be helpful.

In general (and especially for inhabited systems) having more exciting things to see and steer towards other than star/planet will be great.

Btw., will there be some background in solar system navigation screen? I think that SC2 had superb backgrounds in solar systems (just don`t follow UR Quan master HD route) +  I think that dotted orbit lines (like in original SC2) control look better than current lines. + Was the ship traveling too fast or was the system just small, hard to say (may be both factors) but  the area seemed small.

+ I have to agree with Hunam_ that minimalistic might look better. I do not like that you can immediately see if a planet has a satellite (moon) or not. I think it makes more sense to "bump" into a planet that automatically leads you into a screen devoted exclusively to this plant and relevant surroundings - gives more space to place more moons, stations and etc.

I'm not crazy about the exploration clip. Too much of an angle, and I'd like a general overview of the whole system when I warp in, not just part of it. If I have to get closer to view the exact features of a planet, that's fine, but let me see the entire system first.

Agreed.  Players need a whole view of the system the majority of the time so that they can navigate to outlying planets that may not otherwise be visible.

The overview is important to plan planet exploration optimally and also aesthetic and immersion reasons. I wanna see the planet star system in its full glory before I dive in it. Don't you?

That's what having several levels of zoom can do for you.  It's how the original SC showed you the entire system when you first entered the system, and then zoomed in to closer detail as you moved into it.

Having the ability to see the solar system at a glance is a must.  I also like the close up view of your ship and planets as your traveling too.

I think pressing the spacebar(assignable button) to go to a solar overview where you can see everything in minimalist view, then press space to zoom in would be perfect.  

The ship needs to be controllable in both screens.

Mass Effect: Andromeda rumor:

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EDIT:

Here's the source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGDd2VHKkxU

^ Whoa.

Quoting Hunam_, reply 10

Mass Effect: Andromeda rumor:

 

Reduced 44%

Original 1280 x 720

 

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EDIT:

Here's the source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGDd2VHKkxU

I'm wary of Andromeda, because a lot of the people who were going to make it great have been dropping off of the project left and right, abandoning ship.

How does it relate to the game's UX?

You've heard the term development hell, yes?

^ It has nothing to do with the decision of making UX as much seamless as possible. No Man's Sky did it. ME:A is doing it. SD should heavily consider it for SC. You don't want to release the game with outdated UX. Fallout 4 anyone?..

Besides, if you're concerned with ME:A destiny. Here's something to consider:

link

So, not to sound daft, but where exactly can I find these updates? I got invited to the Founders Program last year and paid my $99, but I haven't gotten any emails or anything since. I tried poking around the forums but didn't see anything official-looking beyond a few older posts. 

Thanks in advance.

There is a link to the "vault" in the first message of the only pinned thread in these forums, that is how I get there.