Devs: Verbose Response manifesto

[ZoomBoy27]

From the Sim HQ interview with Dale Snodgrass (F14 veteran) who had received some sims to test and said:

.... I'd also aim for ease of use, so it's not too complicated. I have a couple of sims that I've received from companies and it's just impossible for me to deal with them. I have to read the manual for three days just to figure it out.

For a real plane, people are willing to put in the time it takes. I'm sure he didn't balk at the more than 3 days it took to learn how to fly an F14.

 

But for a modern sim, users want a a quick jump-in and that can be done with a Verbose and Responsive sim.

 

In playing IL2/PF you need only 3 keys and the simplest joystick manoevres to get in the air.

Outside of that simplicity, the valuable thing we get back from IL2/PF is all those messages on the Right Side.

Throttle 90%

Flaps: Combat

Flaps: Takeoff

Gear up

 

For practically every keystroke/throttle adjustment there's a response from IL2/PF

(I'd reject the IL2/PF speedbar - a modern HUD gives the exact same info)

 

When I fly a modern jet, I want to get a response to every key I hit so that I know exactly what I've done.

Why not? It's modern. In Real Life you do get responses. Maybe not in Big Bold Letters, but in a sim - Why not?

Hitting a '6', I should get a message= Air to Ground Mode: Mk82

Hitting a 'D', I should get a message= A2G: Cycle to Mk84

 

Even better, Verbose Response handles most especially well the different Radar or Combat modes that are available. It introduces new modes easily and names for the new user those modes. It would maximize learning which is what we're here doing for the new user.

 

For a study sim, of course this has draw-backs for true pure learning. But if someone is away from a modern flight-sim for some time or especially never tried one before - Verbose Response is a strategy and a Marketable Feature. Interested users could get a lot of value out of a sim without having to 'book up' deeply. And if someone wants to play off-line ALWAYS like that, it's their 50 bucks. Just put a great big toggle button that says "Verbose Response". For on-line stuff, I'm hard-core and would prefer to see Verbose Response hard-coded out. Others might want a variable where the host decides.

 

 

Everyone says that IL2/PF has taken things to the next level. You can jump into a 75 different(albeit simple) planes including those complex bombers. Verbose Response is part of the reason why. The basic 'get into the air' training can take care of itself including a lot of the basics for the popular dogfighting. The new user can learn the Advanced stuff after the hands have been trained.

 

We'll attract not the casual but the interested users who, armed with a key card, will be part of the community. And that's a good thing.

[SwingKid]

I like this idea. I'm surprised not to have read the suggestion before. Where do the words "Verbose Response" come from? Is it a trademark?

 

-SK

 

Lock On v1.1 "Flaming Cliffs" beta tester

[ZoomBoy27]

I like this idea. I'm surprised not to have read the suggestion before. Where do the words "Verbose Response" come from? Is it a trademark?

 

-SK - Lock On v1.1 "Flaming Cliffs" beta tester

 

It looks like I originated it. Never heard of it being used before. As a hobbyist programmer(I've done gameSpace plug-ins & am working on my 1st 3D program - an arcade simmer), I've occasionally compiled a program 'Verbosely' - that's with a lot of detailed feedback.

I had being booking up on LOMAC and didn't get the same response to my actions that I got in IL2/PF. I asked a question on SimHQ-LOMAC about figuring out the current NAV mode in the Su-25 and then realized that the SIM itself should tell me. Why not? With a program - if you want it, you should have it.

I've gotten a few responses from SimHQ readers about it.

[mjolner]

Hello

 

I am new here and I'll chime in.

 

Excellent idea!

 

When I first played LOMAC after playing Il:2, my first question on the forums was "Hey where is the scrolling text response like IL2??", not one person responded. Thought maybe I was the crazy one.

[olaleier]

May I be the first to say: "Sounds fine, but make it very optional" :wink:

 

 

In the A-10 it's quite easy to read what weapon you've selected and the HUD only has three modes, but for the Su-25 it's an entirely different matter.

 

Even if there's lights to tell you what you've done (I spent several hours figuring out the weapons panel in the Frog), a text response would be great help to ease newcomers in. Good suggestion!

[Pvt_Mandella]

Yes, I would welcome such a feature very much, for all the reasons stated above.

 

But certainly it would have to be optional.

[ZoomBoy27]

Re: Devs: Verbose Response manifesto

 

Buried in my proposal

And if someone wants to play off-line ALWAYS (Verbose), it's their 50 bucks. Just put a great big toggle button that says "Verbose Response"... or a (toggle) where the on-line host decides the Verbosity

emphasis added

 

I find the real-life interface limitations to be important to the different flavours between A-10 and Su-25 for example. But we should have BOTH those who'd enjoy 70% of the sim and study-simmers who'd enjoy 100% of the detail.

[ZoomBoy27]

As the Original poster I was glad to put forward the idea about Verbose Response for a wider audience of interested users.

 

After I complete my current programming project(in about a month) I'll be creating a simple Command-Finder or KeyFinder for LOMAC. You can quickly familiarize yourself with the categories of modes and commands.

A further project would be a verbose interactive 3D training unit. It's just above my current 3D programming skills but it's fun to think about.

[Greenies]

A good idea!