This game needs a padlock view

[Bubba Fett]

I'm surprised this game doesn't have one. It's a pretty standard thing for combat flight sims and would make finding your target a lot easier.

[Mossfoot]

I prefer using head tracking and doing it manually :D

[Bjørn]

I'm also using head tracking (TrackIR), but what I miss is the ability to see the target speed as well as a 'match target speed' function.

[Laurreth]

I agree with the OP. The suggestion had been made repeatedly before release, no real idea why that's missing. Wile I often use TrackIR, there are times when I rather wouldn't (yes, I'm that lazy), and a padlock view would solve most problems.

[Mu77ley]

No, a padlock view is exactly the kind of thing this game is better off without, along with directional pointer arrows floating around the edge of the screen pointing the fastest way to your target.

[Agony_Aunt]

Some please explain to me what padlock view is

[Demiurge]

Originally posted by Agony_Aunt:

Some please explain to me what padlock view is

I believe it locks your camera view on your target

[Bjørn]

It could at least be an option to toggle on/off. Probably not much code involved to put it in.

When there was a live stream interview with the lead sound guy in FD I kept asking if there would be an option to disable external sounds (for realism), but they never answered. After a few spams of my question, some of the other viewers said that it had been up for discussion before, but was decided to keep external sounds for immersion.

Would probably not be a problem to add a key for toggling this on or off though, so I don't understand the logic.

[Asphe]

It's manual vs automatic tracking. Padlock view was put in games like F4 to overcome the limitations of a small 4:3 screen and the cost of something like TrackIR/Rift (neither of which were available 'back then' anyway).

Currently, I believe the 'logic' is that it's a crutch. Personally, I don't mind having potential targets going straight and steady as they 'tab' around for targets... then get target fixated via their padlock view.

Technically, I guess it's not a big deal. Games like Air Attack / Fighter Ace implemented it where you could have your ship be totally invisible and the padlock view would do a continous track or where your ship was visible and your padlock view would 'break lock' if you 'lost sight' of the target due to your ship being in the way. AA/FA are almost 2 decades old.

[Agony_Aunt]

Originally posted by Demiurge:

Originally posted by Agony_Aunt:

Some please explain to me what padlock view is

I believe it locks your camera view on your target

Thanks... and that for me would be just horrible and i think get in the way of my piloting.

[Bubba Fett]

Yeah, a padlock view would be a crutch. So is the automatic speed control as you approach a target in supercruise. So is the galaxy map that can plot multiple hyperspace jumps instead of making you manually figure out your course.
What's wrong with crutches if they make the game more fun?

I use Track IR quite a bit. But I don't use it all the time because it gets hard on the neck from making an effort to keep my head steady after a few hours. Often I'll just use mouse look instead.
The other issue is that when you're looking up to try and spot your target as you pitch up, you can't see the radar so you need to keep looking away from where you expect your target to appear.
And while Track IR is a cool toy, it's pretty expensive and not everybody is going to get one. And not everyone has a webcam to try FreeTrack.