Head mounted display

[samco 1]

Okay, first i want to say that i love this game, i've played both Arma 2 and Arma 2 OA and even if this is an Alpha is indeed a big improvement over the previous games.

BIS chose to set this game around 2030 ( i think mainly because in this manner they're more free ), all the weapons are derived from current prototypes and retain a certain degree of realism, some other are very cutting-edge tech like the NLAW which is a more portable javelin basically . ( i can't lie i would've expected also some airships for surveillance and heavy-lifting and hybrid helos like the S-97 raider ).

Anyway, i still don't get what is the real purpose of the Head Mounted Display: is it here only for eye-candy sci-fi looking ? Is it just an excuse to justify the HUD ? Its functions are limited only to show the bullets and crosshairs and maybe some drone feed ( infantry showcase ).

Head mounted display is current tech ( Google Glass anyone ? US Future Soldier Program ? and i could go on...) and limiting its function sounds like as forcing a coalition soldier to fight in Afghanistan with a tommy-gun or as my grand-mother using a high end pc only to send e.mails.

Why not a minimap ? Even now is totally factible ... and in the game you are supposed to be a special operator with state of the art tech .

So maybe limit this tech only for spec-ops or other elite groups .

Also why not implement the target feature ( which is in recruit difficulty ) with the head mounted display in better manner...its not so sci-fi to be able to mark a zone where there is an enemy and maybe tracking it as long as you watch him ( last option is more arguable, only for recruit difficulty maybe ) ... but then again is more unrealistic to ignore this possibilities which are can be done even today....(i'm not asking to make this capable of telling the enemy power level ! Dragonball anyone ? :D )

embedding NV and thermal vision into it ? Not for all soldiers obviously ... only for elite groups (also NV in this game considering the setting looks dated even now NV googles with peripheral vision are avaible )

Optics with cameras connected with the visors also are current prototypes.

I know those features would totally change the gameplay, maybe someone would say it will ruin it, but again its far more unrealistic to play the game as this gadget its not there ( i can imagine only an EMP attack scenario ), again considering its totally feasible even now, even if expensive( also the iranian micro-climate suit should have a purpose ... it couldn't be only eye-candy).

Maybe add the listed feature as options even if they have to be there because of the game setting.. so everyone would not be disappointed.

[krazikilla 5]

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[scrim 1]

Let's see, mines are marked visually and digitally, and a mini map is there if you have a GPS (which is reasonable, since I very much doubt you'd be able to implement a GPS into a pair of glasses, so forcing you to have an external GPS that you link to the glasses makes sense), and oh, it's an Alpha ;)

[Fuse 1]

Just FYI, I think "Future Soldier" is the name of a Ghost Recon game, and what you're thinking of is the "Land Warrior System". Whether or not Land Warrior will actually see wide spread use by the time Arma 3 is set is a question for a professional. Battery tech is still the big limiting factor, and the program has been cancelled and restarted multiple times.

EDIT: Nevermind, I should have googled first. I was thinking of "Future Soldiers". My apologies. Still not convinced these types of system will be very common out side of mounted units, though systems like Big Dog could make it more viable.

Edited March 14, 2013 by Fuse
I'm dumb.

[samco 1]

i think otherwise ( Google glass is already out and it is way more advanced than previous system and is for everyone ) because its a pratical way to deliver informations to the soldier...

( the battery isn't a problem fuel cells can be used )

Anyway those fancy gadgets are ALREADY in-game every soldier have head mounted display ( The Iranians have one for each eye ) ....

My question remains BIS IMPLEMENTED THOSE THINGS ONLY TO MAKE THE SOLDIERS LOOK LIKE CYBORGS ? Because if the purpose is only eye-candy its very sad and its the opposite of realism and simulation .

[Nexerius 10]

Well, to have the "realism" and think for yourself feel is alright, but id like to see some improvements to the hud and things you see.

At this point, there would most likely be some real high-tech stuff in the glasses for the soldiers, like zooming, camera feed, advanced HUD etc.

Seeing all teammates everywhere im sure would be a high priority to have. Something like in Ghost recon future soldier, so EMP gadgets and grenades could be something in this game.

But the problem is with me and probably many more, is that it would ruin the think for yourself things about the game. Im not sure, but it could be experimented with.

[metalcraze 290]

OP I think you've answered your question in your own post. It's about real prototypes that can be put into mass production in 20 years, not pure fantasy like in GRAW/FS designed to simplify the game.

ArmA games are about plausible stuff, not "awesome" stuff.

[samco 1]

then lets make them plausible... now the head mounted display is useless...and regarding plausible stuff its already plausible ...again check google glass it will be mass produced next year , now it is out only for developers...

[Fuse 1]

then lets make them plausible... now the head mounted display is useless...and regarding plausible stuff its already plausible ...again check google glass it will be mass produced next year , now it is out only for developers...

We've had wearable PCs for decades. Whether or not we've made one worth using still remains to be seen.

[samco 1]

smartphones are in some extend wearable PCs..so are tablets..

next step is augmented reality, it is difficult to imagine a better way to deliver informations to a soldier ( communications and intel are the key of warfare since Sun Tzu ).. again its already in-game just make it more useful .

and wait another year ( if you are lucky even now ), and you will see some ( mad ?!) people going around with these ( ridicolous/awesome ) augmented reality glasses .