Demo: Really want to like this game, but fighting the interface, help!

How do you lock in 2d mode?

from Stardock Forums
I'm pretty excited about SoaSE, as it is aiming for robust multiplayer play and I've longed for that since MOO2.

However, I'm finding myself getting more frustrated with playing the demo than actually having fun.

The main problem is the map interface.  When I start up the demo everything seems fine.  When I push the mouse up to the edge I go "up" and when I push it to the lower edge I go "down" but then after awhile this gets screwy.  Eventually when I have the map go up, it no longer goes up, instead it goes up at an angle.  Likewise this happens when I'm going down.

I should add that I try and orient my viewpoint so that I'm looking down on the 2d galactic plane that, just as if I was viewing this game as a big boardgame.

Actually, that is my second problem with the game.  The overall 3d interface.  It would be nice if there was some way to just lock the entire game to a 2d axis.  Zooming in and out from a birds eye view is fine.  I don't really care about the 3d graphics and I keep the zoom level so that all I see are the icons.  It would just be nice if the interface could be isolated enough in the options that I can play this as just a zoomable boardgame, but with no tilt or angling of the camera.  I'd much rather have this feel like any other RTS, where I just scroll around the map to whatever I want to look at rather than suddenly be thrown off by some odd 3d angle.

My wife loves sci-fi empire games, she still plays Alpha Centauri, and we'd like to play this together, but right now the 3d interface is more of a chore than a perk and I know my wife would have even less patience than I with a swirling 3d enviroment.
2,676 views 2 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Button top left next to the menu button , looks like a camera with a padlock or arrow.

You accidently pressed that when it became all screwy?
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Button top left next to the menu button , looks like a camera with a padlock or arrow.You accidently pressed that when it became all screwy?
End of quote


That is the zoom option I think he mean the angles of the veiwing HUD

Did you activate twist camera in the UI options? That will mess some people up as it turns the camera in all sorts of ways. The game really needs a reset camera hotkey (like Company of Heroes) that sets it back to a default view(Devs: Hint, Hint). Doesn't bother me as I can fine my way easily but people like the TC can get confused moving 360 degrees.

You do know right mouse button changes the angle right? Set it one angle you like at a top view of the planet (ie. similar to the default camera one) and don't hold the right button down after that, do this if you really hate the angles (I love the 360 degrees personally).

Try playing and practicing the angles with the right mouse button, use your ships as a reference point, so when you camera is upside-down you can see the ships bottom and move back to the top view.(This is for when you are zoomed up of course

I hope you get the angles of the camera right :)  because this is truely a fun game that can go on for hours and hours and I'd hate for you and your wife to miss out on it.
Star Control: Origins