Replay realism

@Lord Kunos

Edit: read on or just jump to Rigels post underneath and watch the video.

Hi, not sure were I could put ACC suggestion, so:
It seems the camera "men" in ACC work similar as in AC. Of cause, reworking replay cams could be something already on the wishlist at Kunos, and if so I apologize in advance for bringing it up.
I was just wondering if the cam that focuses on the driver and follows+zooms in/out could be made with a dynamic offset, mimicking how real broadcasts look like and humanizing the replays more.
Example of how it is right now can be seen at 8:40 in this video here.
The very first camera angle shows the car going by, left to right while the camera zooms out quickly, but always dead on center focused on the driver.

The focus of the driver is always in the center on follow-cams, while it would look very cool if the focuspoint would be ahead of the driver/car, f.i. 20-50 meters, depending on distance from the camera, which is how real cameramen focus.
Example of real camera following here.

The focus is on the red Nissan, but ahead of the car, bringing it to one side of the screen, leaving room to see the green lambo going towards the other side of the screen.
Another addition that would be cool: when the Nissan is in closeup, the camera sways ahead and behind, trying to keep focus centered, as seen @51:42 here.
In general on zoomed out views, the cameramen always try to focus ahead, to get cars in the viewport that the driver is trying to keep up with, or simply show the track that lies ahead.
Finally, if the driver is close to the edge of the track, real cameramen will often try to go inwards, bringing the track in the viewport, also handy if another car is about to overtake or two cars are just running side by side, which can be seen in example at the same videos with the Nissan and Lambo.

So, 3 points:

- dynamic offset ahead of the driver, relative to distance from camera.
- dynamic offset keeping the camera focused on the middle of the track, if the driver "in focus" is driving in either side of the track.
- horizontal sway ahead/behind driver in focus when zoomed in, simulating the cameraman is trying to keep the driver in centered focus when car is driving by. Could also be a general sway in both horizontal and vertical direction, intensified the faster the camera has to move to keep car(s) in focus.



Thank you for your time
Sincerely

 

I agree. What about something like this? It completely changes the perception of the car movements.

 

No offense, but, i really hope they have more important things on their to do list.

 

@Rigel, exactly! Camtool in ACC please, as standard replay cams


@chakko, sure they have more important stuff to do, but I find this a must if they plan to bring spectator mode, as well as ACC is gearing towards more e-sport. And, since it's not modable, this is needed somewhere on the to-do list, IMO. They go for realistic raindrops, they should go for realistic camera too.

Cheers!

 

It looks pretty cool, no doubt about that. They surely should consider it at some point.

 

Since my question is including replay realism really ... as well as real feel of course! ... I'll hijack this thread to raise my concerns.
I know the ACC is still in alpha stage but ... the latest batch of screenshots and videos got me worried.
I'll try to explain in more details what bothers me in the screenshots below.

First, the cockpit view illumination:

1.What is this shadow car on the top of the view? In the cyan ellipse? Will that be the rear-view mirror?
2.Look at the direction of the headlights - yellow lines. They are way too narrow. They should illuminate more, like shown with the purple arrows.
Just compare these 2 headlight placements with this real life screenshot:

3.The red arrows indicate the illumination in the cockpit. Or rather the lack of it.
Just look at the below screenshot when we have a car right behind:

We even have the reflections of the headlights and still no or not enough cockpit illumination.

So how about some more illumination as a whole?


Second ... how about some more fine tune and more detail added to the headlights and reflections in night:

The above just seems too generic.

What do you guys think?

 

I think you might very well have WAY too much time on your hands

Seriously though, there’s just no point in overthinking and hyper analysing anything at this early stage

 

Actually it is the opposite.
I like to plan ahead for stuff. So I thought it will be not such a bad idea to point these things out.

 

Yeah, in retrospect my OP was maybe already too much too early, but since the AC replays was never officially changed to look like the Camtool mod, I think it is a valid suggestion to ACC.

How the lighting works is something entirely different than camera work, really OT here I think, sorry.


Best

 

Isn't it part of the whole replay presentation?
That is why I used the OP at the 1st place.
I mean ... replays ... must improve for ACC.

 

You've done your homework that's good but you still missed the most important bit what a shame

 

and that's ignoring the elephant in the room which is: not a single thing of what he reported has anything to do with replays.. but what can you do?

 

Dear Stefano,

Let us assume this was a new thread YES this is early access and YES we are allowed to give constructive feedback on your work in progress. Which is very promising by the way .
I think the guy made a valid point with a lot of effort, properly documenting his observations. You should be happy with people like this in the community and praise their contribution.

Off topic: Thinking of coming to Spa next week-end. It's a pity we have to pay 70 euro in stead of the normal 40 euro entrance fee, just to get to see your baby. Any solutions to this?

Keep up the good work!

 

Sadly we are guests there so we have to put the simulators where our hosts have their hospitality and that's in an area only accessible with the paddock tickets.

 

Thanks for the reply!
I'll leave u with: maybe I see u at Spa

 

You simply cannot compare what an on board camera can see lighting wise vs. what you eyes could actually see in the same situation in real life. Adjust the aperture to outside lighting and the exposure is too dark inside the car, adjust the aperture for inside the car and the exterior view is too bright. Our eyes don't have this problem, they adjust to the lighting differences quicker, its virtually imperceptible.

Although if you've never operated a digital or film camera in manual mode, you'll have no clue about this.

How the onboard camera see light is completely different from what the human eye which is far more sophisticated when dealing with differences in lighting intensity.

Very similar to a real life driver commenting on how the onboard camera microphone doesn't pick up the multitude of sounds the engine, brakes and other components in the car make.

 

The Porsche onborad is just a random screenshot to illustrate my point that there should be more light coming into the cockpit when you have a car behind or BESIDE you when you are passed.
But OK here is the Audi and a Lambo behind it.


I'm a bit surprised this was taken as a bite to ACC, instead of constructive criticism as this was what was intended.

@Orne - Yes, yes. You can't compare what the eyes see to what the camera will translate.
But what about some basic stuff that I thought should be there in the game already.

@Freddie Seng
I think, I already noted that I understand that this is alpha footage so I too believe things will evolve and improve.

I thought watching a replay from the onboard ... is still watching a replay.
But OK. Too early to ask.
But I prefer to have this pointed out and proven wrong in beta, instead of NOT pointing these things out and being let down on release date!

 

so you think that what you've pointed out is only visible in replays?