Thinking about... [regarding in-game object viewer]
 

Hello folks,

now and then there are a few little discussions happening about updating the in-game object viewer. While some think, this is not urgent or essential and manpower should better be spent to something more important (and they may be absolutely right), I think most would agree, that this was to be a 'nice to have' at least.
Now, I admit, I do like the in-game viewer (as I do at all other games too, when available) and I wished it was complete.

Alright, so came to think, what to do about. While it is not hard to add all the planes to the viewer, it is, by far, much more difficult and time consuming to add the proper descriptions also. It needs not only correct plane specs and a general history story maybe, it also needs it for ALL languages, that the game is supporting. And not to forget vehicles and other objects, that had been added since then. Its impossible to do for one or even a few persons.
So how to cope with that? I had the idea, that this could be a long-term community project. If everyone here would provide infos and text for one missing plane, we would have it ready for the english version very fast. Ha! - I know, not everyone here cares to or is able to do so, it was just a thought.
But maybe it is still possible. This is a private interest of me, so not directly connected to DT's plans, but I think, I don't need to say, that, becasue I am a team member, it would definitly go into stock game, if it should be successfull. What do you think?

Brainstorming:
We would start with english.
I would list all planes with missing descriptions in a thread.
Anyone, who wants to add a text, names the plane, he has chosen and I mark it as 'WIP'.
Texts can be delivered as PM's, hosted text-files or right in the thread (I'm not sure here).
Once a plane got its description, I mark it as 'closed'.

Different versions of the same plane (i.e. B-17s) can get the same story all together (to make things easier), but differ only in the specs.

When the english version is once ready, translator guys must be found.

A big problem, that I can see, is the realibilty of the content. Noone will be able to control, if each specs are 100% correct. And I wouldn't want to make a discussion on each plane. So sources like Wikipedia or History Channel should therefor be avoided and text writers should maybe name their sources.

I'd like to hear your oppinions.
(and I added a simple poll, if anyone wants to declare his will to help)

Maybe an additional poll option:
I do care but unfortunately I am not able to provide any assistance.

Real life does not allow me to contribute, but the few moments that I am able to fly IL-2 it would help throwing a mission together.

Anyway, I applaud your initiative and your effort.

Kudos

I see. Guess, thats for the ones, that don't vote at all. :)
But thanks for your answer!

Thanks Caspar for starting this poll. You know my opinion about it :)

As I said, I will provide translations from english to german. Sadly I lack the knowledge to do anything else. I think Fokker has a very good point with asking for an additional poll option for those who would like to have a complete object viewer, but (because of whatever reason) are not able to contribute to it. In my opinion the object viewer is most important for newbies or casual gamers. If it helps to tie them to the game and increase the number of active players, then it is well worth it.
Well, its just what happened to me: I bought pacific fighters just out of curiosity, found myself spending a lot of time with it, not least the object viewer, and after not thinking about WWII aircraft for about 30 years, again got interested (and in trouble with my lady, for buying all these books and the gaming equipment and ... :) )

+ 1

I would love to see the object viewer updated, but I'm afraid I have neither the knowledge or the resources to be able to assist in this worthy cause.

Of course it is because of that very ignorance about many aircraft and other objects that I like to look at the viewer, so I hope Caspars idea takes off (pun intended :grin:)

Good idea, and good luck !

Although there's the risk of "dueling statistics", this is a good project and one which can easily involve people who are otherwise unable to contribute to IL2.

I can do research for the English language portion of the project, although my translation skills aren't good enough to allow me to translate to other languages.

Any chance we can have the viewer as a single entity (or accesible while flying)?
Most times I want some info on a plane is when I'm flying it or against it.
I think everyone knows Hardballs and Il2compare, if the ingame viewer would provide same level of data that would be great - IMHO it would need to be better than wikipedia or not worth the effort. Nice to have would be some info how to use planes ingame - current viewer is lacking that. And an armament section would be highly useful. There are some weapons out there that could use a "how to" guide - the info is in the manual, or in some vid, but it would be nice to have all that in one place.
Translation to German is all I can offer.

This may be something altogether different but many players have mentioned over the years the need for something more immediate in terms of aircraft descriptions while operating in the multiplayer environment. I'm not sure what this would look like but an information option when selecting aircraft before heading out into a dogfight scenario for example.

It'd be more basic than the object viewer in terms of information but it would need to give vital stats.

I might be able to assist with info on some aircraft. This is tentative as I only have a few sources (mostly some scanned flight manuals that everyone else has, I'm sure).

I do think it's a worthy cause.

I'd offer to help with translations into German, too.

Artist

I ticked "I would provide info on planes" but what I really meant is I would provide info on ships --- no option for that :)

In my modded installation I have enabled the in-game viewer for any new ships, some with text, many just with a view of the model.

It would be nice to have the text in a popup window and be able to keep the model view on screen. At present you can only have one or the other.

Basic text with standard spec for each model, all in an agreed format would be easy and fairly quick to do. The game uses Uni-Code text for the text windows with a small number of text formatting options.

Expanded text for selected models could include service history.
There maybe issues of copyright if this text is cut and pasted from reference books without re-drafting.

Similar things could be done for Tanks and Vehicles & Artillery categories.
The latter should maybe be split into separate categories.

Just a basic spec and period of use, to an agreed format initially, with more detailed info to be added only to specific models dependant on enthusiasm.

Ashe

There have been a few good ideas around the viewer, which can be taken into account later, but for now, I think the task to complete the viewer the way, as it is now and has always been, is already large enough. Pls understand - if this should really going to happen, I just don't want to get into problems with other stuff.

@Asheshouse: I guess, you are talking about mod ship (I bet most are your own)? Also here I would rather only take care for the content of the stock game. But the modding scene maybe can benefit from such a project too.
Do you know, if there are stock ships missing in the viewer? If so, they can't be many.

I have also contact made with a russian guy, who started filling the missing planes, but in russian language so far. We are currently discussing, who to go on, also to prevent double work. I guess, it can slowly go to start soon.

I think, I will not going too hasty with this topic either. ;)

List of ships in v4.11 with class name and menu name
x indicates that they appear in the viewer.
Some not worth including like Generic ships and submerged subs, but others should be included IMO.

The Soviet, German, Finnish, Rumanian, Italian types could be better grouped by countries with ships sorted in the order major vessels first. I will create a modified ship.ini with these changes. Approx 18 ships to add.

Sister ships also may be represented as single entry, with all in-game sister-ships simply listed in the text.

+++ Historic info is important, but ingame info is much more so, for me at least. Engine management, ammo type and count, and the like I have in mind. A bit like in an aircraft manual: "supercharcher set to stage 2 at xxx meters", etc. I'd like to have the info in HardBall's Viewer and Il_2_Functions_4.07.xls merged together, extended, upgraded and incorporated. But I think it would require a different type of object viewer, for sure.
Anyway, most of the data I'm interested in are already programmed into the game -- the only problem is that I can't access them in a convenient way.
As to the willingness to contribute, translations into Hungarian (from English or German) would be pretty useless, ehh? :rolleyes: