Map zoom related idea

from Stardock Forums
Hi,

I was wondering, and first just going to ask, if Stardock is going to put zoom option to main map. That feature is very much needed in this game. Of course if such thing is planned I would be very happy to find out :)

But after discussing this with my friend yesterday I thought if this could be quickly helped by doing same way as in The Operational Art of War.

Idea is that if you have bigger resolution you could use it and just show bigger area of map. Interface items and map images would be same, but extra screen space would be used to show bigger area on map.

I am quite sure quite many people have monitors that support bigger resolutions than 1024x768 (isn't that what GalCiv uses?), at least everyone I know can do better. And people I know aren't really on leading edge of technology, for example if I wouldn't have work laptop I would be still using my dual Celeron 466 :)




~SDC~
316 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
IIRC, Cari mentioned that the main map zoom would be rather hard to implement. Let's keep our fingers crossed though.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
I really can't think any other problem besides ships beeing too small to see if try to show bigger map area in same sized window. That is why I am giving idea that does not require new smaller graphics or anything.

For anyone who plays game in windowed mode graphics wouldn't be too small or anything, game window would just get bigger or turn back to fullscreen mode. Of course this wouldn't give too much extra space, but at least in my case (1400x1050) propably enough to see at least one sector at time.

I am really hoping for something because I find game hard to play with too thight view.


~SDC~
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Did you try pressing F9 (or is it F8)? This displays the minimap in the main window.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
It is F9 and I know that. But unfortunately it is no good.

a) There is ship ...umm, what kind ship?
b) There is planet ...umm, what level planet?
c) OK, I want to move that ..triange.. to there. Umm, can't select here. F9, select ship, F9, go there.
d) Lets explore ...umm, where to go?


If I could select ships and tell what type of ships they are from (almost) max zoomed F9 mode I would play using only that. But I just hate having to press F9 all the time to actually do anything.

* Here is another idea if it is too much work to make new ship models that look nice even when zoomed out.

a) Let player select ships from F9 mode.
b) Some kind of way to seeing what triangle is Dreadnought and what is Scout. Perhaps just couple classes:
- unarmed (scout, colony, constructor, transport)
- light (fighter, corvette)
- medium (frigate)
- heavy (battleship, dreadnought)

...or even better. If have to just use couple small shapes let player choose what they represent so early in game everything bigger than Warhawk would be shown as "heavy" and later in game Warhawk would be included to same category with Starfighter. :)


* Or one GREAT idea I just got!

You can zoom F9 mode with mouse wheel, but if want to select ships you have to use keyboard. What if normal mode would zoom to F9 mode? That way could quickly check out overal situation and then get back and select right ship.

Of course there would be room for one 3x3 zoom level between normal and current max zoomed F9 mode :)




~SDC~
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Select ship on main map. Right click on mini-map where you want it to go.

I almost never use F9. Just the mini-map zoom control.

Still, even a 1:2 zoom out feature would make tactical combat A LOT easier.


~SDC~