I just want to get your opinions on this draw style option for custom views.

It's the same as "external" in other words "draw the car" - which confusingly is the one to select when you want to make a customised internal view. The only difference with "ext. 2" is that the car vanishes if you look left or right or behind.

It was originally added for people who create a bonnet camera (hood cam) in S1 times, which had plain black windows you could not see through.

Now, it is a confusing option with a confusing name and it squashes the other 3 options up so they are harder to read. So I'd like to remove it - also this simplifies the code just a little so it's easier to maintain in future - it's always good to remove unneeded code when possible, to keep LFS clean.

I was wondering what that was, I'd never realized the difference between it and ext.

So yes, I think it can be safely removed

i voted for the bottom one - it doesn't affect me if it goes!

i think its a good view for the single seaters
youll see you surroundings a lot better and it hides some of the clipping issues the graphics engine has

I find no point in it, but I voted OK - Delete it if you like, although it doesn't bother me - I only use teh incar view

NOOOOOOO - I need this view!!!
I've started to use the custom cockpit views in more and more cars. I definitely need it. This doesn't help me at all.

Whom does it confuse? People just doesn't know what are the differences between ext and ext 2. I don't think it's because it squashes the other 3 options.

I think one cool thing is that when you look behind, all you see is the rear wing or rollbars. It's realistic and gives a feeling that you are inside in the car. It's supposed to be that way so you need to use mirrors. So delete it.

How about just renaming it for those who need/want it..?

Quote from deggis :

It's supposed to be that way so you need to use mirrors. So delete it.

Only if there are real mirrors that you can adjust, and not the same view on 3 mirrors.

Quote from riffey4 :

Only if there are real mirrors that you can adjust, and not the same view on 3 mirrors.

I was actually going to mention this.

Please don't delete this. This can make interesting cameras for movies, or even when you are racing!

It is useful if you setup a fixed custom camera and you the look behind to make a really nice camera. It can be used 'sometimes' as I voted.... but I don't see why people think it should be nuked. You have a lot of options with the custom camera, and I don't think you should decrease the amount... these things are useful!!!

-Can be good for movies
-Can be good for hood/roof cams so that when you look back you don't have the car body obstructing your view (a clearer rear view is much nicer (e.g. ext 2)

I use it a lot, especially for the fact that I drive with a custom hood camera and don't want the car to show up when looking back (and sometimes I do).

I don't think some people realize it can be useful when they vote "yes delete it".

I would agree it's not perfect atm, I could never suss out the difference between the two until you explained it just now. I agree with Tweak though, now you have explained it I could see uses for it.

Quote from Renku :

NOOOOOOO - I need this view!!!
I've started to use the custom cockpit views in more and more cars. I definitely need it. This doesn't help me at all.

Whom does it confuse? People just doesn't know what are the differences between ext and ext 2. I don't think it's because it squashes the other 3 options.

Although I agree that a narrow button is hardly a good reason to leave out a feature, I think having neat code is a good reason. And why not use the mirrors? It is really faster to glance at the virtual mirror then to press a button.

Quote from Frankmd :

And why not use the mirrors? It is really faster to glance at the virtual mirror then to press a button.

Because using the mirrors gives you a small picture of what is behind you. Some people prefer to see a much clearer picture that fills the whole screen... which is 'look behind'. And having the ext. 2 option with this, makes the entire screen empty with no car showing, making things a lot easier to see depending on how low (or "in the way") your custom view is.

I figured out the difference between them by accident a few weeks ago, although I had been wondering longer than that. I have started to use custom views more and more to give some more variety to my gameplay experience, although i've not yet had a need for ext2.

I dont mind it staying, I think the argument over 'confusion' is a moot point to be honest Scawen, there are sliders in LFS I only figured out by experimentation and i'm a computer game programmer myself.... ext2 is the least of a users worries, what needs more clarity are the fundamental graphics options and LOD controls.

I use a roof cam for oval and a roll bar cam for single seaters so I can see my head bob about just like on telly (its more realistic than drivers eye as a spectator). It totally changes the game and gives this addict a fresh injection of spice to LFS.

I do not use it myself, so delete it if you wish.

I hardly ever look backwards anyway.

Quote from Becky Rose :

..... a roll bar cam for single seaters .....

I use this view for the single seaters as well, but only to learn the lines, eventually, Im faster in car. Even then I set up a custom view so I can have the empty look back thing. I know its not realistic but I believe in trying to make up for some of the lack of other sensory indicators by compromising on realism at times. It definately helps me race cleaner online.
But then again, maybe I should make myself get used to the more realistic way, to better prepare me for my future race career *dream*

Havnt voted yet, still unsure...

i wasted a lot of time by not knowing the difference between the two ext options.

Just make it a switch in the ini file, so that the very few people who use it still can (it will replace external view for them), but it doesn't mess up/confuse the interface.
Assuming of course that this isn't a lot of extra work

Col

Or just leave "ext(ernal" and make it a clearer option somewhere else on that bit of the GUI.

Quote from Bob Smith :

Or just leave "ext(ernal" and make it a clearer option somewhere else on that bit of the GUI.

Yes something like

Style: [no draw][wheels] Ext: [1][2]

I don't think it is at all a confusing name Scawen. There are quite a lot of options people don't know about, and LFS is FILLED with them to be honest. Lots of nice little features that are worth keeping imo.

I think an option to combine ext. and ext. 2 into one tab by say making it a double click icon, would solve the room issue and still help the people that use it.

I sometimes use it in a city life server to set yourself as if you are in the back seat, and spectate someone else. It makes it feel like a crazy taxi guy has locked you in his car and is weaving in and out of traffic, though I wouldn't miss it much if it was removed.

You can do that with the normal ext. view as well.

On further thought, this option should stay in the game, it's not hurting anyone, and it's not that confusing. I don't see why it should be taken out

I would rather see this feature to stay in this game. It isn't something absolutely necessary, but the interface is not my problem at all. I think it is less important for driving, but can be useful as an quick camera angle when recording.

If it isn't too much hassle with coding...