Numeric Style HUDs

Introduction

For many years the members of the vast oolite community have asked for and discussed the possibility/probability of "Numeric Style HUDs" with no solution in sight...until now!(June 13, 2011)original version 1

The current version is NumericHUDv3 authored by CommonsenseOTB(release Apr 21, 2012)

CommonSense 'Outside-the-Box' Design Studios Ltd. proudly presents the following HUDs:

Pictures

NumericHUDv3

Improved numbers that are less distracting and which glow/pulse to draw attention to gauges that need monitoring.

New hud invention: creating numbers using selector drawStatusLight: which allows for both horizontal and vertical lines of a grey color or lines that pulse the color of the alert condition.

Leaving the station

Picking a fight

Dogfighting

NumericHUDv2

Smaller numbers and widescreen compatible. v2.1 has a redesigned crosshair(not shown).

Custom missile display with missile ID feature

Missiles away!

NumericHUDv1.3.2

New hud inventions: Numeric Style Gauges, Animated Adjustable Crosshair and Morphing Gauge Animations.

Condition green with no target

Condition red with medium range target

Condition red with close range target

Condition red with close range target and shield and energy warning lights

Overview/Features

NumericHUDv3 is the latest version and takes it a step beyond version 2.1. As an improvement to version 2.1, numbers now really look like numbers and glow to draw attention. Specifically, shields, energy banks and capacitors when below normal, target range when target is hostile, speed when over normal max speed, altitude when within range of a body, cabin temperature when over normal, fuel when low, fuel required when over the fuel available to jump with. The idea was to only draw attention to gauges when required, otherwise the readouts are barely visible which helps prevent pilot distraction. The layout of this hud and operation is essentially the same as version 2.1, just improved to a point I had envisioned when I created the original in june of 2011.

NumericHUDv2.1 is the previous version. It now has a redesigned crosshair combining the stick sensitivity indicator with the built-in crosshair. It also incorporates a smaller numberset in a layout compatible with widescreen monitors. New numeric gauges include shield capacitor readouts, cabin temperature readout and a PPR(proportion of planetary radius)altitude readout. Some gauges now disappear when not needed. There is now a custom missile display with missile ID feature. At Cmdr Wyvern's suggestion a contraster from the MilHUD series has also been integrated. An alert condition stoplight has also been added as well.

NUMERIC HUDv1.3.2 is the first numeric gauge hud that uses arrangements of "draw surrounds" controlled by equipment activation in the hud.plist to produce a numeric gauge animation with the use of frame callbacks for frame-by-frame updating of the display. This is a first for oolite and a must see. Other features include the use of 2 colors and color switching to highlight thresholds of various gauges. Also a custom range-to-target gauge changes color to indicate the nature of the target. A fuel-required gauge is included to remind players of hyperspace fuel required for the target system. And finally, the scanner and compass change size, position and color to indicate alert condition and to provide ease/efficiency of use, all within the hud without switching huds. There are also critical shield and energy warning lights and the first animated position adjustable crosshair for all 4 views. Another must see. The crosshair has 10 size/shape configurations that grow/change as the range to the target decreases in an attempt to provide better targetting and accuracy in combat. The positions of the crosshairs are adjustable in all 4 views to allow the player to match the ships lasers with the sight more accurately. Also included is the first morphing main hud with morphs for the scanner, compass and several icons that are triggered by change in alert condition. Finally, there is an escape pod hud that shows the inside of the escape pod just prior to docking. Overall it is a fully equipped and very playable/useable HUD.

Summary/Future

Versions 1.1 and 1.2 were demonstrators of the hud.plist/equipment.plist arrays and scripts that make up numeric gauges. As well version 1.2 was a demonstration of an animated adjustable crosshair. Version 1.3.2 illustrates the use of morphing animation in the swapping of various gauges and has an example of an escape pod hud. Version 2.1 has a full set of smaller numeric gauges with an improved layout and new crosshair design. Version 3 has improved numbers that are less distracting and which also glow/pulse to attract attention to the gauges which require monitoring. Future version 4 will utilize text for the numberset and version 5 will use images for the numberset.

Requirements(version 3)

• Oolite v1.75.3 or higher due to CTD when the player dies on earlier versions of oolite.
• Compatible with widescreen monitors.
• Requires shield equalizer+capacitors.oxp to display capacitor gauges.
• Requires scanner targetting enhancement to display target range gauge.
• Target Reticle Sensitivity built into this hud. No need for the oxp.
• Compatible with the Sniper Camera Systemv1.1.oxp.
• Compatible with Q-Chargerv1.1.oxp and displays the correct top speed.
• No dependencies.

Downloads

NumericHUDv3 is the newest version with improved numbers to prevent pilot distraction which also glow/pulse to attract attention to gauges which require monitoring.

NumericHUDv2.1 is the previous version with a redesigned crosshair, smaller numbers, widescreen compatibility and some added numeric gauges.

NUMERIC HUDv1.3.2 is the original version and has morphing animated gauge swapouts triggered by changes in alert condition and an example of an escape pod hud.

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