Camera Zoom/Camera control.

[Tchernobog]

Description:
Many RTS games have been influenced by other past games. Most of these will have been influenced by earlier C&C games, but more often by not, by the 800 pound gorilla: Starcraft. I say, ignore (well not ignore, but move away slightly) from starcraft, and take deeper looks at what many consider the finest RTSes (those of us with more refined tastes ) : Total Annihilation and Supreme Commander.

Many mechanics and game concepts were brilliant in there but never made it into other RTSes because "Starcraft didn't do it", which is a massive shame. In this case, the idea of note is the camera control. Most games, yes, even Starcraft 2, can let you zoom in for a closer look on your units. That is becoming an industry standard. But Supreme Commander innovated more with the extreme control of the zoom. The mouse wheel (or other button that you preferred to assign) let you zoom out... and out... and out some more, until you had a fullscreen version of what is essentially your minimap, but still with complete control of the battlefield.

More RTSes, and the next C&C, should have this tool.

Positive effect:
More control of the camera/zoom, which is a sadly lacking function in many RTS today. It also allows for greater map control. Imagine this: you're focusing on your base, decide to go attack the front lines. Use the mouse wheel to scroll down, get transported to satellite view. Move your mouse slightly to the desired position, scroll up, bam, you're at the right place

Negative effect:
I imagine this is a fairly resource consuming function to implement, having all those levels of zoom in a game. But it is worth it, as it is one of the best tools ever made in an RTS.

Media:


Zoomed in.



Zoomed out.



Video of the function in action. Although this guy could have zoomed out somewhat smoother

[Zocom7]

This is one true concept but resolution comes first, then this.

[Moongrave]

Agree except I'll hate to play a game just looking at coloured dots on a 2D map

Guess they need to put a limit on the zoom but not so restrictive

[methuselah]

Welcome to C&C.com Tchernobog. This made me chuckle

.........and take deeper looks at what many consider the finest RTSes (those of us with more refined tastes ) : Total Annihilation and Supreme Commander.

not arguing your point mind you I've never experienced either game I just enjoyed your presentation. As to your overall premise I for one would love to see much more camera control in the next C&C but I could not care any less for the global or atmospheric look.

That is just my preference though I'm interested in seeing what everyone else thinks because this has been an issue C&C wise for some time.

[stephanovich]

I would like to be able to zoom out a bit more than currently, but that much is just unnecessary IMO. C&C has never been about battles in a scale that would actually make that useful in any way and the maps (even the ones in TS) are not big enough for it either really. So I don't see the point in being able to zoom out that much. A little more would be welcome as you are really close in TT and RA3 IMO.

[Lauren]

Maybe a second monitor could be like a radar, that would be nice, but I wouldn't like it having less micro cause you have to zoom out.

[Mr_Armageddon]

I was really disappointed with the camera controls on C&C 4. The limitation on how far you could zoom out was a real pain. There were times I had a hard time selecting all of my units because I couldn't see them all at the same time due to how close the camera was to the ground.

The zoom feature on Sup Com is amazing, and for those that don't want to play zoomed out all the way (mini map style), you don't have to. You can keep the zoom at the level you choose. But the ability to do so should still be an option of players that want more of a tactical view of the entire battlefield. Give the player the option to play how they want regarding camera zoom, don't limit the ability.

Sup Com also allows you to use a secondary monitor as a dedicated large mini-map of the battlefield. A lot more gamers now use dual or triple displays. C&C 5 should incorporate those types of features in order to stay competitive with other RTS titles.

[Tchernobog]

Maybe a second monitor could be like a radar, that would be nice, but I wouldn't like it having less micro cause you have to zoom out.

As Armageddon said, that was indeed a function in Supreme Commander. For that matter, you could use the second monitor and zoom in as much as you wanted and control it from that screen too.

Multi-screen usage would be awesome, yes.

[CnC_Fin]

I'd really like to see more possibilities with cameras, and perhaps skybox for all maps, so you can take cool screenshots while the camera is horizontal

[Dryopes]

As Armageddon said, that was indeed a function in Supreme Commander. For that matter, you could use the second monitor and zoom in as much as you wanted and control it from that screen too.

Multi-screen usage would be awesome, yes.

except if that would be allowed in the multiplayer, C&C5 will never get a e-sport scene :/