Question about FoV (Field of View)

[Anshrew]

So the guy with the faster car wins the drag race.

People don't seem to complain about that but when it comes down to games, then it's a different story.

Especially the RTS fanatics, I can't stand them when I complain about my widescreen / higher resolution not giving me more screen room like it did back in good old Red Alert 2.
Of course all the old fogeys with their old CRT monitors, and computers that couldn't handle newer games at high resolutions whined and now all RTS games have equal realestate, regardless of aspect ratio or resolution.

( instead of rendering everything in a higher resolution, it worked like the computer desktop, you got more space and could see more. Very helpful in RTS games.)

[Phoil]

That's a decent analogy, Anshrew. Extra view is certainly an advantage in both RTS and FPS games.

However, I take exception to the your implication that "anyone with a 4:3 must be an old fogey with a CRT; widescreen players deserve more view". The first part isn't true, and the second is absolute absurdity.

The S.H. developers designed the game as a contest of skill and tactics, not "advantage to he who has the biggest, baddest, widest-screen rig".

[Jarnis]

I look it like this:

The game is designed for widescreens.

Those with a 4:3 screen can play in windowed mode at a widescreen aspect ratio and get the exact same FOV.

I guess in the perfect world there could be a letterbox mode for 4:3 fullscreen (gogo, make a suggestion...)

If you insist on playing 4:3 fullscreen, you do lose a bit on the sides, but I do not consider it to be a huge deal.

[Phoil]

Originally Posted by Jarnis

Those with a 4:3 screen can play in windowed mode at a widescreen aspect ratio and get the exact same FOV.

Okay.

...And then those with a single widescreen will need to do the same to match the view of dual-widescreens or even triple-widescreens (like the guy on a previous page boasting about his 32:10 setup)?

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Sorry, it still doesn't make sense to me to adjust only one FoV for wider aspects.

Some games keep the vertical FoV constant regardless of aspect (e.g. Shattered Horizon), so they just keep widening the horizontal. That doesn't make sense to me, as it causes differences in total view.

Other games keep the horizontal FoV constant regardless of aspect (e.g. BioShock), so they just keep shrinking the vertical. That doesn't make sense to me, either, for the same reason.

As I suggested previously, it would make the most sense to give players a view with the same measure of solid angle, regardless of aspect. That means adjusting both horizontal and vertical FoV angles.

[SEKCobra]

My 32:10 is just dual screen, because I momently havent set up my 3rd dDisplay, if I had already set it up it would be 48:10.
And I only play on one, believe, if you have a bigger screen, you lose the overview

[Phoil]

Originally Posted by SEKCobra

And I only play on one, believe, if you have a bigger screen, you lose the overview

What do you mean?

[SEKCobra]

On a real big widesreen, you really need to turn your head to see something at the left side.

[FormulaRedline]

Originally Posted by Phoil

Physical monitor 'height' or 'size' have nothing to do with this. Field of View / Angle of View is completely independent of physical size.

No kidding. But it's a monitor...it's not your retina. Distance from the monitor and size of monitor make a difference to your perception of the game.

Originally Posted by Phoil

Again, the issue to me is equitable view. If wider aspects give players more view, then that's an advantange to wide-aspect players.

It is also inequitable if players with a higher resolution have a more detailed view. It is also inequitable if players with larger screens have a view where pixels are easier to see. It is also inequitable if players sit closer to their monitor to better see the pixels. It is also inequitable if a widescreen player has a narrower FOV (as you suggest) and can better see distant players.

This is inevitable, widescreens have more screen space. You have to do something with it.

Originally Posted by Phoil

It would be more consistent, and more equitable, to adjust the FoV angles to preserve the amount of Solid Angle (a measure which takes into account both horizontal and vertical FoV angles).

This is irrelevant given the monitor is not your retina issue.

Originally Posted by Phoil

Huh? As you said, "all axes are weighted equally". This is to be a 6DoF game, there is no established horizon or verticality. So why would one view angle be more important than another?

Because it's a WIDEscreen. It is wider than it is tall (even 4:3). So you see more in one direction than the other. Given that we both agree that no direction is more important than the other, then having extra view in the direction that is already wider is less valuable than giving up view in the smaller direction.

[Phoil]

Again, I'm talking about FoV angles, period.

Sure, size and physical setup factors into perception, but that's not what I'm talking about.

How many times do I have to say it? The issue is that under the current design, different aspects result in different total view, and it doesn't have to be that way.

Originally Posted by FormulaRedline

...widescreens have more screen space. You have to do something with it.

Yes, exactly! As I said before, S.H. should adjust both FoVs, not just the horizontal.

That way, the total view (as measured in solid angle / steradians) stays the same for everyone, no matter what their physical setup is.