X & Z Axis ?

[Hairless]

Anyone know why the major navigation axis in X4 are "X" and "Z" for east/west ?? Seems like this should be "X" and "Y" like all other space games in the past, and use Z for depth. Just very odd choice as it's so non-standard. Perhaps a functional reason exists for this?

[planetx32]

The axes were used correctly. The x-axis and z-axis show where you are on the horizontal plane. The 'y' axis would show how far above or below the horizontal plane you are. Since the stations/gates/highways are all approximately the same y-level along the xz plane, there is no need for the y-axis to be shown. This looks odd on a map because it is a two dimentional rendering of three dimentional space.

[Hairless]

lol. You've obviously never taken a 3D software engineering course. Primary up/down/left/right axis are X and Y, and Z has been Depth... Since the idea was conceived decades ago. I think the devs just got lazy out of convenience because they laid things out on the X and Z axis. Not that it matters at all.

[planetx32]

Let us simplify.X is left and right, Y is up and down(vertical movement), Z is front to back. This is how plotting works. You are moving left to right and front to back. Do you navigate moving up and down in this game to get around the sector? No, you don't. Therefore it is correct. If they were to put a space gate over your head or below your ship, then you would be navigating the Y coordinates up and down to get to those gates. As you are not flying up and down to get to those gates, you are not traveling along the Y axis. In 3 dimensions, what remains? X and Z.
Also, your assumption about me is incorrect as well.

[Pille]

Originally posted by Hairless:

Just very odd choice as it's so non-standard.

Afaik kind of standard in the game industry. For instance unity is using this odd coordinate assignment.^^

[Gwizzz]

I did a search for coordinates and this old thread came up. Normally I would just shrug off the bad info here.. but Hairless is correct about the normal X,Y, Z axis. if you have ever taken a math class or used CnC machines to etch, route, burn, drill, etc.. you would know the Z axis is used for up/down depth control. Feel free to Google the Cartesian coordinate system. It has been around since the 1600s.. a lot earlier than any "game" and clearly shows how the X,Y, Z axis should work in this game or Unity.

[Pathogenic]

I don't care what they call the axes. I don't even care if they pronounce it as "zed" instead of "zee". I just want to be able to give commands for three different axes.