I forgot to say earlier that I also use the cockpit. The flashing gun effects are a lesser evil to me than the bright engine glow of 3rd person. Also I can see my targets better from the cockpit as the ship doesn't obscure my view of the target when they are in my lower quarter.
When I first started to play Freelancer, I used the default 3rd person view. When I changed to cockpit view, I was amazed at how much more detail I actually noticed. Instead of looking at the arse end of my ship all the time, in cockpit view I was suddenly aware of how great all the other ships looked.

However, the main reason I use the cockpit is for the immersion factor.
I want to believe that I'm sat in a powerful space ship (a joystick would have been even better lol).
The 3rd person/external view feels like I'm controlling some little kiddy toy space craft, it's just to arcady for me that way.

Different strokes for different folks I guess. As Voltaire once said (or something very similar)... I may disagree with you but I will defend your right to say it

Hengist.


Edited by - Hengist on 3/30/2004 5:14:27 AM

I use both views, although I usually work from cockpit view most of the time. I find the cockpit view a greater challenge.

3rd person is obviously more efficient in combat but...

If I ever see that little camera floating behind your ship, I swear I will shoot it to all hell.

No.

"Evil will always triumph because good is dumb!"

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3rd person is obviously more efficient in combat but...

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Why is it obviously more efficient in combat to fly in 3rd person?
From the posts here, I thought that it was pretty obvious that 1st person was the most efficient way to engage in combat.
Why? Because you don't have the inefficient arse end of your space craft blocking your view of the target.

Hengist.

Because you can see where the hit effects are coming from!

I was just flying around in FL in a Drake, one of my favourite ships. I'd sold a Crusader to buy it and had been using cockpit view. However, I quickly switched that off in the Drake. Cockpit view in the Drake looks like you are in a ship made of vulcanised rubber! The whole #@$&% things wobbles around enough to drive you batty!







Jose Chavez: "Trent! It's good to see my kind of scum."

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Because you can see where the hit effects are coming from!

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So what you're saying is that if you're the type of pilot that constantly gets hit by other craft then 3rd person is better? I'm glad I'm good enough not to let that happen
Seriously, you can 'hear' where the shots are coming from when in the cockpit, no need for that silly radio controlled toy plane view, if watching enemy ships fire at you is the only combat benefit.

Hengist.

I use cockpit for fun sometimes... It would be cooler if there were more gauges and such instead of just the silly default panels. I would like to see the individual target aspect view permanently displayed in a Mechwarrior esque fashion. Any way to mod this into the game?

Give a man fire and he'll be warm for the night. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.- Terry Prachett

While 1st person is more immersive, 3rd person seems to work better for combat. I've never worried about my ship hiding the enemy from my sight cause I usually have mouse flight turned on. In fast fighter's like the patriot or drake, you move fast enough where your ship won't hide the enemy from view.

The main reason I use 3rd is running away. I usually trade so docking at the last moment on a trade lane is crucial when evading conflict. 1st person view just hides the trade lane too much.

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There is no knowledge that is not power.

i only use it for single player but on multi 3rd the way to go

I use first person view, 99% of the time.. Im just more comfortable in that view. It also makes me feel more immersed in the game world.

Not All Who Wander Are Lost!

I always use the 3rd person view, but sometimes I get bored of it, so I change to 1st, but only when I'm travelling between planets and things like that.
The cockpit view is really hurting my eyes when I'm shooting. I tried it in combat once, and I've never done it since...

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Signature wuz here!

Edited by - Even248 on 4/8/2004 2:30:01 AM

Maybe it's just because I'm an old Wing Commander junkie... but I always avoid third person view unless I'm working with turrets. I play on 3rd person and just manage to get dizzy and miss everything I shoot at.