FWIW thought I'd make a few comments on the new 3D view stuff, realizing that it is still being worked on.
While the commercial sims give a 3D feel to the cockpit they aren't always attempting to be true models. In this screenshot from fs2k, note that while the perspective (eye to panel) is ok, the left piller is missing to give better viewing with 3D mapped to 2D display...where the pilot cannot move their head to change the view. It looks like there are a lot of photo textures being used. It also appears that the perspective is not consistant with the exterior view angle. In some cases it makes sense to do this so that you can see the panel pretty much straight on (necessary to read the gauges) and be able to see the runway well. The yoke must get in the way though (you can't lift your chin and look down over to see a gauge): http://web.ukonline.co.uk/members/dmarch/images/fs2k.jpg This screenshot of a 747? panel shows little concern for 3D realism, but is a highly functional and usable panel. There's only so much you can do with guages anyway. The view perspective gives the computer pilot a straight on view of the panel: http://www.simaviator.com/screen/iam/30.jpg These are in Fly!. And I have to say that the Fly! panels are the ones I like the best. It isn't just the graphics and 3D modeling, but the fact that the panels are unrealistically close to the (in 3D world) pilot's nose and the perspective is always straight on (the same plane). What is rightly sacrificed in realism makes them look sharp, and of course readable. The panels scroll very much like the current 2D FlightGear panels: http://www.intelligamer.com/features/qa/fly/fly03.jpg http://www.avsim.com/pages/1299/fly/capt1pnl.jpg Note that when you change the 3D cockpit view angle in Fly!, the panel in effect becomes disabled and as far as I can tell is just a static texture on the front wall of the aircraft model interior. The knobs and controls are hard enough to see and control using a mouse with a straight on view, let alone when 3D perspective angles are mapped to 2D. Anyway, just thought I'd bring these ideas to the discussion in case they are of any value. Best, Jim _______________________________________________ Flightgear-devel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.flightgear.org/mailman/listinfo/flightgear-devel
