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Possible to have guncam written to ntrk file for replay? - Printable Version

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Possible to have guncam written to ntrk file for replay? - Mysticpuma - 18.06.2008

I asked Oleg at a Flight Sim show if it would be possible to have this added to the ntrk or trk file. If you have seen BoBII:WoV by Shockwave, they actually do this.

When you depress the trigger button, it writes to the replay file to say that the action is guncamera. As I understand it, the action lasts for approx. 20 seconds, and is updated to run for a further 20 seconds if the button is pressed again within the recording time.

What would be brilliant is if in the play ntrk or trk window, there was an option for guncamera.

Playing that back would only show the point that the trigger was depressed!

Now as I always say, I have no idea if this is possible, but if you don't ask, you don't get!

Cheers, MP.

- Alien_12 - 18.06.2008

Press [ctrl] and [F1] buttons the same time few times. I have couple vids with guncams.

- RAF_Magpie - 18.06.2008

Alien_12 Wrote:Press [ctrl] and [F1] buttons the same time few times. I have couple vids with guncams.

Did you read what his post said? Thats not what he's after - he wants a function that only records when you press the fire button.

Which, by the by, would be rather cool...

- choctaw111 - 18.06.2008

I have asked about this several times over the years, and when BoB was announced, I asked if this would be a feature. I didn't think it would be that difficult to implement.
I do remember Oleg saying something about the guncam option for BoB, stating that some planes had gun cameras and others did not, meaning that if he implemented the guncam feature, not all aircraft could use it. It makes perfect sense given the detail Oleg gives to historical accuracy.
You know that if he does the guncam feature, he will place the guncam in the correct position for each aircraft, giving you the proper perspective during the playback. He didn't say if it would be black and white and all scratchy either, which would be nice. Will the guncam run out of film? Some planes had a gage in the c0ckpit, showing how many feet of film were left on the guncamera. I am sure that Oleg is taking all of this into consideration. This and many other things are probably why each aircraft takes so long to make.

- Mysticpuma - 18.06.2008

Effectively, what you'd be looking at is an action that starts an ntrk file within and ntrk file, which the game would see only as guncamera trigger point.

When you choose the playback guncamera, you would effectively see the tracer played back from a no cockpit view whatever the plane.

Then it's down to the user to capture footage with fraps to create the old style stuff.

My main reason for asking this, which I am sure I am not alone in (hope not!), is that at the start of each session of play, I hit record ntrk, as I never know when the action will happen.

I can have 2 hour ntrk, which may only have 3-4 contacts of dogfighting in, but I have to fast forward all the way through 2-hours at 8 speed, and if I miss the start, I have to do it all again!

Having the guncamera record, as I said a 20-second burst of ntrk, which then extends at the next trigger depression, would mean that I only capture the point of attack (guncamera then!) which I could choose to watch the hole ntrk, or just view the guncamera points.

Again, hope it is possible, just check out BoB!!:WoV to see it in action!

Cheers, MP

- Rjel - 18.06.2008

I'd like this feature also as long as the original .ntrk function as it is now isn't altered too.

- Fisneaky - 18.06.2008

Couldn't you do this with a macro in SST (saitek) or similar?

- Mysticpuma - 18.06.2008

No, SST can't do it, I tried. I set a macro up to record or start an ntrk every trigger press, but you can't change the timer in game, only in SST. So when you start the macro, that's great, but the next time you shoot, it stops the ntrk recording. The next time you press it starts again.

Already been down that route, but I'd welcome being proved wrong! Wink

Cheers, MP.

- JudgeMingus - 18.06.2008

You could try AutoHotKey (http://www.autohotkey.com/) - I use it for a number of functions, including adding a delay when I release my Press To Talk button so I don't cut myself off.

It should be relatively easy (depending on your programming experience...) to set a function that waits for a trigger press and sends the 'start/stop recording' key, then when the trigger is released waits for a time, then sends the 'start/stop recording' keystroke again if the triggers remain inactive...

If I can find the time - between work, having a small child and home renovations - I may try to write such a function and post it here (anyone wanting to use it would still have to insert button/key values appropriate to their own setup).

- Bearcat - 19.06.2008

Mysticpuma Wrote:No, SST can't do it, I tried. I set a macro up to record or start an ntrk every trigger press, but you can't change the timer in game, only in SST. So when you start the macro, that's great, but the next time you shoot, it stops the ntrk recording. The next time you press it starts again.

Already been down that route, but I'd welcome being proved wrong! Wink

Cheers, MP.

Wouldn't you also need two views? The guncam would have to be sans cockpit correct? So in effect you would have to be able to see two views at once.. or at least have the PC see two views at once.. one for the guncam and one for whatever cockpit setting you were using. I wonder if you could do that by attaching a static camera to your plane.. and recording that .. but you would still have to split the views somehow. A great idea though...

- Mysticpuma - 19.06.2008

Judge, that sounds promising, if you do get the time, I'd appreciate your efforts.

BC, no need for split screen/dual image. Basically, guncam is just another track recording script within the already written ntrk file.

It would be the same as your normal playback, you'd just have to scroll through the camera views until you got to the 'no cockpit view' (unless that could be automated in the script).

It would just record an ntrk of the time you pressed the trigger, so you could view that ntrk rather than having to view a complete ntrk to find the action.

Hope that explains it,

Cheers, MP.

- Bearcat - 19.06.2008

So what you are saying is basically 2 Ntrks at once? One running from the moment you hit start record.. and a duplicate running only when you pull the trigger?

- Bearcat - 19.06.2008

Look at this thread..

- Mysticpuma - 19.06.2008

Yes an ntrk in an ntrk, would pretty much sum it up, but fixed to a no cockpit POV for Guncamera. Or if the camera mod could be implemented, fitted to a point inside the wing?

Just thinking out loud, cheers, MP.

- Zephyr - 19.06.2008

I think that it's possible to add function which starts recording when trigger is pressed. Maybe it will be also possible to fix record camera to no-cockpit and set interested FOV. I've checked some classes and I think that it is possible but it needs some work.
But there is a big question - will it be usable? Probably you know, that during every start of recording the game freezes for some time - I can't imagine aiming with such lags.
But... maybe it is possible to set track file and do not write to it unless trigger is pressed - this way we'll be able to avoid this problem. I have to think about it...