How to: Variable Zoom Function

AbortedMan · #1 11-11-2012, 09:55 PM

Semi-step-by-step on how to attain a variable zoom function within CloD:

1. Download Pinnacle Game Profiler (any similar program will work, your goal is to assign a set of buttons or axis to the mouse so that you can assign a sticky button to the "Hold to Adjust Field of View" function within CloD)

http://pinnaclegameprofiler.com/downloads

2. Once installed, set up your joystick using the wizard that should pop up. This part will be different for everyone as different joysticks will have different buttons/axis options. All you need to do is configure your HAT to a variable axis. No need to even configure/add any axis or buttons other than your HAT (or whichever buttons/axis you choose to use for your variable zoom). In this pic I've configured my X and Y on my G940's joystick HAT (labeled JOYSTICK 2) to sliders 1 and 2.

3. At main screen, click on "Game Profiles" on the top right. You'll need to click "New" to create a new profile, name it what you want, hook it to the .exe you will be using...in this case it will be something like "D:\Games\Steam\steamapps\common\il-2 sturmovik cliffs of dover\Launcher.exe".

4. Click the "Edit Configurations" button to open the configurations editor, select the device you'll be using your zoom function on in the top left box, in this case, I'm using my G940 joystick.

5. Find the JOYSTICK # you assigned your HAT to, in my example my HAT is labeled JOYSTICK 2 (should be #1 if you didn't accidentally assign your actual joystick axis to anything, like the idiot I am -- doesn't matter if you did or not, as long as it isn't assigned within Pinnacle it will have no effect). Click "Setup Joystick" and check "Map to Mouse". You can change your sensitivity to your liking...I have mine at 60% sensitivity and a 23% deadzone.

6. Press OK, you'll be back on the configuration screen. Choose any button on your joystick (or any device) you'll want to "toggle" the variable zoom function on/off. You will be binding this button within Cliffs of Dover to the "Hold to Zoom" function found in options. Right click on "No Command" under the button you choose. Then push the button you want. So if I wanted to use my joystick trigger as my zoom toggle key, I'd right click "[no command]" under BUTTON #1 and press my trigger on the joystick, essentially assigning the trigger (DX BTN 1 | A) to "BUTTON #1"

You may use any keyboard key, or joystick/throttle button you'd like, just be aware of what that button is assigned to in-game..you'll have to unassign it and reassign it to something else.

7. After your button is assigned, left click on it where "no command" just was (should be your assigned key now) and go to Behavior Modification>Enable as Sticky Button.

8. Click "Save and Close", OK on the next screen, click "PLAY" on the main screen that shows your profiles (you can have this auto-play on game start...work that out yourself, it's in the settings/preferences) and start up CloD.

9. Go to your controls menu in-game and assign "Hold to Adjust Field of View" under the Camera menu to the button you assigned in step 6.

10. Get in-game, press your "Hold to Adjust Field of View" toggle key you just assigned and move your HAT (or whichever button/axis you mapped to mouse in step 5) Voila! Variable zoom!

With this, you can zoom in much farther than using the preset FOV commands, you can also zoom way the eff out to the point where it's distorted as all hell. It takes a minute of practice to get used to how far is "too far" when zooming out, though. You can see dots a lot easier at certain FOVs that I believe are dependent on your resolution and monitor size. So play around with it.

One thing to note while using this method is your ESC key, open chat key, toggle scoreboard key, will not function while your zoom function is toggled on!! at least it doesn't for me. It may differ depending on which button you assign your zoom function toggle to. You can simply turn it off to resume those other functions, so no biggie. The normal FOV preset binds still work the same, so if you get too hung up on changing your zoom, you can still use the buttons to get back to the hard set FOV values.

NaBkin · #2 11-12-2012, 03:40 PM

Isn't that some sort of "cheat" for online players?

ATAG_Snapper · #3 11-12-2012, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBkin

Isn't that some sort of "cheat" for online players?

No, it's simply a utility that's freely available to everyone that does not alter the source program (CoD). Otherwise, TrackIR and Teamspeak would be considered "cheats", too, right?

Kudos to Aborted Man for taking the time and trouble for sharing this.

LoBiSoMeM · #4 11-12-2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBkin

Isn't that some sort of "cheat" for online players?

Yes, it is! Kill everybody that use this, TrackIR/Freetrack, use a joystick, rudder pedals...

NaBkin · #5 11-12-2012, 05:21 PM

Hmm never mind but it's something which programers didn't implement themselves and something which you have to find "around the corner" - pedals and track ir as well as a joystick is for flightsim kind of standard. I don't mind too much but if it's really easier to spot enemy planes with that "hack"? "mod"? whatever its quite on the edge for me.
Thanks for your efford though.

Ribbs67 · #6 11-12-2012, 05:49 PM

Lol its not an "around the corner" cheat or work around... its implemented in the game already..but u have to hold the button and use the mouse to use the zoom feature. All aborted man has done is used a program that allows the player to bind the mouse movement to a button on the joystick. I use the same thing.. albeit alot simpler witg the X52 throttle quadrant and the mouse stick on it to do the same as moving the regular mouse. Works the same. I use the joystick hat switch for the standard fields of view. S!
Thanks Abortedman for taking the time to lay this out.

NaBkin · #7 11-12-2012, 05:58 PM

Yeah but what about the "much wider" zoom? Developers did limit the angle for a reason. Otherwise you have angles which are not possible foreveryone and your head may even be behind the seat.

AbortedMan · #8 11-12-2012, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NaBkin

Yeah but what about the "much wider" zoom? Developers did limit the angle for a reason. Otherwise you have angles which are not possible foreveryone and your head may even be behind the seat.

There isn't anything you can see using this that you can't with any normal conventions, such as TrackIR or mouse look. If you zoom out to the point where your FOV is 270 degrees you literaly cannot make anything out at all.

This feature is in the game already and is available to anyone with a mouse. All this does is map the mouse movement to your joystick. It's the exact same as citing binding your throttle from a keyboard key to your HOTAS as a cheat...it's just more comfortable to use this way.

IMO, everyone should be using the "Hold to Adjust Field of View" function. If not in the way I outlined here, then at least using the mouse. The preset FOV functions are kind if the basic, easy solution, while this is the advanced and more difficult, yet rewarding solution.

MusseMus · #9 11-12-2012, 08:10 PM

Great tutorial AbortedMan!
Many, many thanks!

TUSA/TX-Gunslinger · #10 11-12-2012, 09:38 PM

It always amazes me how peoples tastes are different.

I've had to work pretty hard with my target profiles in RoF and the DCS series in order to get Il-2, 3 position zoom to work which I love.

For me the "3 tap - see all" is more efficient.

Great work in figuring this out for all those that want this feature!