Loading...
  OR  Zero-K Name:    Password:   

Spectator Mode Enhancement Proposal for Zero K

2 posts, 197 views
Post comment
Filter:    Player:  
sort
12 months ago
Hello Zero K community and developers,

I'd like to present an idea to enhance the spectator mode in our beloved RTS game, Zero K, making it even more immersive and enjoyable for those watching.

The Concept:

The idea is to create a dynamic camera system that automatically moves to focus on significant events and points of interest during a match, allowing spectators to effortlessly follow the action without needing to interact with the camera.

Implementation:

By introducing a slight delay of around 10-15 seconds for spectators, the server can use this time to analyze and determine the most valuable and exciting events happening in the game. The camera would then move smoothly and cinematically to focus on these events.

The camera could cycle through three primary points of interest:

1. Resource Focus: Rotate around high-value resources (e.g. mines, geothermal spots, or singularities) and shift its attention to construction or reclaiming activities. This would showcase various aspects of the game, from constructors reclaiming carcasses to the construction of powerful units like Paladins.

2. Unit Movement Focus: Divide the map into grids and track the fastest or most valuable units moving within them. The camera would then rotate around these units, emphasizing strategic positioning and troop deployment.

3. Battle Highlights: Focus on areas with the most damage output, damage received, or underdog victories. By capturing these intense moments, spectators can appreciate the skill and tactics employed by players in high-stakes situations.

With a 15-second delay, the camera could even capture the build-up before a battle commences, adding to the anticipation and excitement.

Conclusion:

By implementing this dynamic camera system in the spectator mode, we can provide an engaging, cinematic experience for spectators, making it easier and more enjoyable to watch Zero K matches. I believe that this feature would not only enhance the viewing experience but also contribute to the growth of the game's community.

Thank you for considering this proposal. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback on this idea.




And yes, I did clean up my original idea in ChatGPT. That's for your benefit, not mine.
+0 / -0

12 months ago
http://zero-k.info/Forum/Thread/36302

ReplayCam tries to do this in real time, with some success. It divvies up the map into a grid and assigns interest to each square every second based on what is there and other events. Then this grid is fed back into the prioritization of events, as well as being used to find the "most interesting" grid square. The implementation is very basic and currently only considers whether units are moving and who they are fighting for, but produces some interesting results.

I don't do anything WRT mexes and this might be worth investigating, but I suspect it will come out organically based on where the activity is. One thing that is worth considering is applying a bonus to mex builds though, since it's a low cost structure with high strategic importance :thinking:

About half the people who've seen ReplayCam want it to do deferred playback, so that it can better focus on developing events and strategy. IMO this would be an order of magnitude harder to develop, so it's not something I'm seriously considering right now, but I'd be really interested to see it.

---

ChatGPT - thanks for mentioning. I'm not sure if I think it should always be attributed, but I do appreciate it, and it's a reasonable way to use it
+2 / -0