Ubi Addresses HAWX Camera Complaints

16 Feb 2009 at 11:30:28 by Andy Alderson

Ubisoft has released a statement addressing community concerns over the camera system used in HAWX.

As we reported last week, some members of the HAWX community are less-than-satisfied with the game's "Assistance Off" mode, which allows the player to pull off more advanced aerial manoeuvres but only from a third person perspective.

The development team has posted a statement on its official blog, explaining its reasoning behind the "Dogfight Camera":

"Lately, we have observed some questions about the camera modes that will be available to the player and how they relate to assistance modes.

As stated earlier in one of the "Community Q&A" updates, you will be able to have 3rd person view, cockpit view and first person view cameras only in "Assistance ON" mode. Some of you guys have been wondering why these cameras cannot be also implemented when using "Assistance OFF". Here is the explanation.

Our "Assistance OFF" mode comes with a completely different gameplay style than the one we have been used to until now in other flight combat games. The dogfight camera is the only camera that can support that type of gameplay. Here are just a few of the features we wanted to implement in the "Assistance OFF" mode, which could only be obtained through the "Dogfight camera":

    * See both your target and your own aircraft at the same time, to anticipate and quickly react to your opponent's moves.
    * See incoming missiles as they approach your aircraft, so you can assess impact time and calculate exactly when you need to react.
    * See every move that your plane makes, this being the only way to execute extreme maneuvers, never seen before in other flight combat games.

This is why the dogfight camera is and will remain the only camera available when playing in "Assistance OFF" mode. This camera is at the core of the game design, and an essential part to create the game experience.

All these things will be much clearer right after you jump in the actual game, as the guys from GameSpy were able to observe in our hands-on some time ago: "HAWX's cinematic approach to air combat can be a little intimidating at first. But after only a few minutes flying with Assistance Off, you could be juking and jiving with the best of them." (You can read the full article here).

Anyway, the demo is just a few weeks away now, so you will soon be able to try it yourself, and forge your own opinion."

We had a hands on with a preview build of the game, find out what we thought of the "Dogfight Camera" here.

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