AC7 PC Cameras

[hgnkater]

I am considering buying this. Can anyone confirm the external cameras available in-game and in replay. I know nothing about this game series and am hoping there is a "fixed camera" to allow flying out of cockpit like in RC (radio control) models. Looks like this sim would make a great aerobatics flying show display for the different jets, barrel rolls, split-s etc.... hopefully the sound effects are good as well. Would have to do so in free roam without missiles and enemy planes. Thanks in advance if anyone can confirm. I saw online a mention of chase cam, but I would rather a fixed cam, and there is little info available nor a manual I can find.

[Citronvand]

Originally posted by hgnkater:

I am considering buying this. Can anyone confirm the external cameras available in-game and in replay. I know nothing about this game series and am hoping there is a "fixed camera" to allow flying out of cockpit like in RC (radio control) models. Looks like this sim would make a great aerobatics flying show display for the different jets, barrel rolls, split-s etc.... hopefully the sound effects are good as well. Would have to do so in free roam without missiles and enemy planes. Thanks in advance if anyone can confirm. I saw online a mention of chase cam, but I would rather a fixed cam, and there is little info available nor a manual I can find.

There's 3 different cameras you can choose from.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1654131438
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1654131672
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1654131833

All of these are fixed cameras, by that I mean that you will for instance always see the behind of your aircraft regardless of your movement. You can however use the right stick to look around. Also, if you hold your target button down you will automatically look at the target you got selected. Finally, if you hold down your missile button the camera will chase your missiles.

[Steve C.]

I don't know if the game has the functionality you are looking for in its current incarnation, unfortunately. The replay mode has fewer camera modes than previous Ace Combat games that I have played, and it doesn't seem to record replays when you are in free flight mode.

This game does not have ability to view a replay of the last 30 seconds or so while the mission is in progress, which was available in a lot of its predecessors. And if you die it only gives you the option screen to retry or quit. The replay only appears when you successfully complete a campaign mission. There are two sets of camera views, accessible via the arrow keys/d-pad. The first set is a few cinematic external cameras: random, "pass" (fly-by), 360 degree, and "front/rear". The second set has the same views you use to fly the plane, but without HUD symbology: 1st person, 3rd person, and cockpit. The random camera mode cycles through some modes that you cannot select manually, such as missile fly-by and missile to target.

From your description, it sounds like the "pass" camera is the closest to what you are looking for, although the view isn't the greatest for showing the overall geometry of a maneuver because the camera is so close to the flight path of the aircraft. It would be better if they had more of the camera modes implemented such as player to target, target to player, player to wingman, wingman to player, player to missile, etc. Then you could make something that looks like Real Flight R/C Flight Simulator by targeting something on the ground and then selecting the target to player camera.

It's a shame the replays aren't done better, since the visuals are so realistic. Hopefully they will be able to add some functionality back in the PC version via updates over time.

[hgnkater]

Thanks Steve and Citronvand. Yes it is the external cinematic fly-by camera I was after - "pass" fly-by. By fixed, I mean an external camera that shows the plane fly past (ie only rotates and stays in that fixed location, relative to the ground). Sounds like the "pass" fly by camera is not zoomable as you say it is zoomed-in which could be a problem - its too close. Would need to zoom it out and in. Question - does this fly-by camera change position? That is, if you fly past it and fly away from it, it will change its location so that the plane will pass it again? That wouldn't be so good.

Yes, I agree that what I am looking for is not the purpose of AC7 and may not work as I intend. Currently I am using FSX with a custom camera set up at altitude but am looking for a better sim graphics wise. From the description given it does not sound like this sim camera will do the job. I don't need takeoff/landing - prefer aerobatics at altitude (safely away from the ground) - something you can't do with RC.

Anyways thanks again for the info guys. I will keep an eye on this games progress. They may add some more features later.

[BrySkye]

Originally posted by Steve C.:

This game does not have ability to view a replay of the last 30 seconds or so while the mission is in progress, which was available in a lot of its predecessors.

As a note, previous games in the series would give you a lot more than that.
Both AC6 and the console versions of AH would save entire missions, or 10/15 minute chunks and you could expect to be able to view the entire thing back in the automatic post-mission replay (as well as refuelling and landing having its own mini-replays).

Only saving the last 30 seconds or so was essentially a bug in the PC version of AH that was never fixed.

As for other questions, you can rotate the camera around the aircraft into new fixed positions in some of the replay view (right stick) and zoom in and out (up and down with the left stick).

There is also one more view in the game - If you hold down the missile button after firing, the game will switch to a missile and target destruction view until you release the button.

But the game absolutely lacks a "Tower view", MSFS style.

[Herald_UK]

See if this will show you what you are wanting...
https://youtu.be/SQr6_VmpHL8

If I may interject. I found the first few levels to be quite arduous. There's a couple of early missions that are absolutely just plain nasty. But once past that, the game is genuinely great. No kidding !

[hgnkater]

Thanks Herald and Bry, yes that video looks promising. Seems the camera moves location when the plane goes out of range which is understandeable from the point of view of the developers. That may be workable? If its zoomable then that's good too. I don't have a good internet connection right now - will view entire video later. I suppose I can get it and try it out to see if it does the job. Probably worth keeping anyway. The storyline sounds interesting for scifi, realstrange.

[Herald_UK]

Originally posted by hgnkater:

Thanks Herald and Bry, yes that video looks promising. Seems the camera moves location when the plane goes out of range which is understandeable from the point of view of the developers. That may be workable? If its zoomable then that's good too. I don't have a good internet connection right now - will view entire video later. I suppose I can get it and try it out to see if it does the job. Probably worth keeping anyway. The storyline sounds interesting for scifi, realstrange.

I took that during the REPLAY mode, which plays automatically when you finish a mission. Some camera positions allow for a slight movement. Some allow full 360 view. Don't think that there's a zoom on them.... I could be wrong, but I don't think that there is.

[Flambo]

I had the steam version of this game and I could not switch from external to cockpit or first person. It was annoying and so far there is no fix or anything posted that tells you how to switch views. Also, knowing which ps4 controller button controls the view is worthless since I'm gaming on a PC. In fact only ps4 controls appear in any config menus so it seems like the game lacks PC support and functionality.

[PrefersPlanes]

Originally posted by Flambo:

I had the steam version of this game and I could not switch from external to cockpit or first person. It was annoying and so far there is no fix or anything posted that tells you how to switch views. Also, knowing which ps4 controller button controls the view is worthless since I'm gaming on a PC. In fact only ps4 controls appear in any config menus so it seems like the game lacks PC support and functionality.

Main Menu -> Options -> Keyboard

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1721739462

After restarting, the button hints at the bottom of the screen will correspond to the last controller you used (in my case, the keyboard); notice the button hints at the bottom of the above screenshot.

[Flambo]

Originally posted by Zyro_Falcon:

Originally posted by Flambo:

I had the steam version of this game and I could not switch from external to cockpit or first person. It was annoying and so far there is no fix or anything posted that tells you how to switch views. Also, knowing which ps4 controller button controls the view is worthless since I'm gaming on a PC. In fact only ps4 controls appear in any config menus so it seems like the game lacks PC support and functionality.

Main Menu -> Options -> Keyboard

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1721739462

After restarting, the button hints at the bottom of the screen will correspond to the last controller you used (in my case, the keyboard); notice the button hints at the bottom of the above screenshot.

Thank you, I have not had a chance to try it but I will. I appreciate the response, very helpful.