Here’s a few things we’d love to see added to the SDK:
I also vote for this please. Very much needed and requested by thousands of
current MSFS users. Regards, Simbol
Hi guys. I voted too. As a interested party, I vote many many times … What do
you mean by “Camera API” ? Such an API exists and implies the creation-
deletion-adjusting of cameras through the cameras.cfg file. It seems to me
that it is necessary to clarify that the word “Camera API” means a set of
simconnect variables that will allow you to operate the simulator cameras in
real time, such as the old function Camera6DOF. Based on the experience of the
past 10 years, I have a complete list of necessary functions for such an API.
This list contains no more than 10 simple functions. But I’m wondering if
Osobo reads this forum and is there any feedback?
Prepar3D has a comprehensive Camera API, it would be very nice if MSFS had it
too.
Prepar3D has a comprehensive Camera API, it would be very nice if MSFS had it
too. ==== Yes, but programmers still have their hands tied even with such a
large API in P3D. It is still not possible to get the name of the selected
camera and its 7DOF coordinates. 7DOF because there is a ZOOM that must be
included in variables like in the Camera API for Xplane for example.
Not necessarily an SDK request, but it would be nice to have a one-click flyby
camera included in the sim, as is present in FSX and P3D.
Hello, Can you please provide details about your specific needs here? We’d
rather design a solution knowing exactly what you need to achieve. Thanks!
I also would like to see this. Here are some thoughts:
Just some initial thoughts. Mark Stick and Rudder
Studios
X-Camera
Another set of features that will be very useful for a Camera API, is the
ability to convert back and forth between world Lat/Lon coordinates and Screen
coordinates, which could be combined with handling of mouse clicks to achieve
things like clicking on screen to move/select/drag objects. The Dev Mode
already use it to edit the scenery and has several ray casting features, which
would be very useful if they were exposed through an API. Perhaps something
more high performing than Simconnect, working directly through WASM. About
Simconnect, it would be already a big improvement if we could just get new
Simvars with the absolute position of the active camera view, or its position
in relationship to the user airplane, or both. Also, when creating a new
camera on the fly, it would be nice if all the following could be controlled:
- The projection ( Perspective or Orthographic ) - The Zoom Level - The
Near/Far clipping plane, to create cameras optimized for short or long
distance.
Just so everyone is on the same page about the state of this, I will add clips
from every Dev Q&A; below. The question is basically getting asked on every
stream now.
From March 21, 2022: Here is Asobo’s response to the following question:
1. ChunkyAviation: Can we have the camera view system opened up to devs to create custom camera views & programs similar to EZDok or Chaseplane in FSX and to allow for the creation of custom fly by and spectator views to lock onto other aircraft in multiplayer or single player replay?
https://clips.twitch.tv/PlausibleKindLeopardRitzMitz-S5MwtrzFufM5YsYb TLDR:
They’re not sure what it will look like if the camera changes often or
quickly. Not scheduled yet “but maybe something we should rethink”
From April 27, 2022: <Twitch
NNteKu8b926j5oA6> TLDR: They’ve always hesitated to make a camera API
available. They want to make improvements to the built-in camera system.
Dear Asobo, I really hope this gets re-considered… another example of why we
need this: https://devsupport.flightsimulator.com/t/4199 I am currently
stuck with many limitations that would prevent showcasing my product much
better and provide my customers with a much better experience. I even tried
the RTC route to find out the tutorial provided with SDK documentation doesn’t
really do what it says, and it is also limited.
https://devsupport.flightsimulator.com/t/4190 It would be great if we could
create any RTC sequences outside the hangar, people want to see products in
action… flying, passing POI, performing maneuvers, etc. So please expand this
as well, not very much use to have this only via the hangar. Thanks for taking
the time to read our ideas. Best Regards, Raul
Hi, If you want to understand what we’re after, please have a look at
FSRealistic: http://www.fsrealistic.com/ A lot of their features are
awaiting a proper Camera API and honestly what they have done with what they
have is really impressive. Please look at the reviews online to get a sense of
how important this is. I see no parallel universes where Asobo/MS would
come anywhere close to the level of customization and stability 3rd party
developers would be able to offer. For the good of the entire community,
please give us a proper Camera API. Thank you
In addition to what Keven is saying, have a look at the Sting S4 parachute
deployment… if I had better camera API I could have showcased this cool event
even better by adding specific shakes, momentum, and many other features when
the pilot pulls the emergency lever. This is as far as I could take it:
https://youtu.be/Rmdr70gikbg I wanted to do much more for such a dramatic
event, including being able to zoom out on the drone camera, momentum shakes
on landing with the parachute, etc. There are hundreds of applications for
this, and the reason we are asking is just to improve our current products
even further as requested by our own audience. Thanks for taking the time to
evaluate the request. Raul
I’d like to add my +1 for this response. I’m developing the G36 Improvement
Mod (<https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/g36-improvement-
project/216094/2420>) & a PA-46-500TP
(<https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/piper-pa-46-500-tp-malibu-meridian-
build-journey/478148/99>) and the ability to use a camera API to add specific
shakes, vibrations, and general aircraft dynamic movements would add so many
levels of immersion to our mods/products. For example I’m using the XML
behaviours on the G36 to simulate spark fouling, at the moment the affect is
so limited as I can only model rpm fluctuations, the abilty to ‘shake’ or
‘vibrate’ the aircraft/view would be amazing!
Yes, +1 for a camera API. We‚d like to be able to place the camera freely,
e.g. also with relative coordinates related to the user aircraft (or any AI
object perhaps). Plus camera rotation along any X, Y and Z camera axis. Use
case: freely place the camera during replay.
The forum thread at: <https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/fix-support-camera-
api-in-simconnect/334102/42> which got a quite a number of votes has been
closed due to being an SDK request here. So this is another vote for Camera
API support.
20+ year user flight simulator here, starting at FS98, through now. FSX
onward, I always had the ability to set and maintain completly custom
interior/exterior views, that were custom to my needs and set-up. When I
switched over from X-Plane about a year ago, I was perplexed that I could not
purchase a 3rd party camera add-on to manage my custom views for the many
different aircraft I fly in the sim. I KNOW I’m not the only non-developer to
experience this frustration. We had be getting a ton of votes on this
topic, and even if it was not the intention, it is EXTREMELY frustrating to
have that wish list topic closed. It makes it appear as though Asobo is
closing a wish list topic that they don’t want to provide a remedy to. Many
users fly a variety of aircraft. Myself, airliners. Having a One-Size fits
all approach to the camera settings in regards to seat height, zoom, etc,
doesn’t function well for one user with more than one aircraft. The
seating position (and thus camera position) various from a 737 to an A320 to
an MD-80. Many users have different screen sizes, resolutions, screen set-ups,
etc, and need to customize their views to a particular aircraft they fly. This
is where a 3rd party camera app comes into play. The various camera apps used
for P3D and X-Plane have been phenomenal. I can hop into a 737 or an A320, and
my camera seat height, zoom, lateral/vertical positions and pitch is all
maintained and is proper to my personal set-up. I’m just a user, and I don’t
stand to make a penny off an development for any camera utility. I do stand to
gain an immense amount of camera functionality and hours of flight simulator
enjoyment, which would alleviate 90% of my frustrations with this sim. I beg -
PLEASE, PLEASE, Asobo, create a camera API so 3rd party developers can
create camera utilities to better serve the community! 