About disabling those dust particles again...

[radcapricorn]

Since you guys don't object to considering other aesthetics such as racial engine trail colors, can one hope that you would also (re-)consider allowing us to disable that visual motion noise without having to make our games **modified**?

(One isn't forbidden to hope, is one?)

[CBJ]

Don't worry, I'm not going to go off on the "make it optional isn't a magic solution to everything" rant . In this case that isn't the primary factor. In this case, the main problem is the negative effect it would have on players' experience of the game if they tried it, especially if they switched it off "by accident". The lack of feeling of motion that you get when you switch off the dust can be really disorientating, and could well lead to lots of reports of the game being "broken". This may not sound like a serious objection, but you only need to look at the Tech Support or Beta feedback forums to understand why it is a factor we do have to take into account.

The real question is what you would be trying to achieve by removing space dust. Are you doing it for more realism? Does it give you motion sickness? Do you think it is a performance overhead? Or is it just a personal aesthetic preference?

[GCU Grey Area]

Would have to be an option & frankly would be one I 'd never use. Often turn off flight assist, particularly in travel mode when I need to make a fast turn (e.g. to enter a gate at perpendicular angle to my approach vector without slowing down). Those dust particles are the only way I have to judge my ship's true trajectory.

[radcapricorn]

To me, it's a visual distraction, quite a significant one, actually, given the already busy screen with all the objects and HUD elements. And to a degree it does take away the feeling of the vast surroundings a bit, yes, so I guess a bit of realism, as much as that applies to an already-unrealistic space game. I've no idea if and how it affects game's performance, it wasn't ever my concern.

I've no problem flying without it, even with flight assist disabled; been disabling it in any game that would allow it, and modded it out in X3 and Rebirth. If you yourself haven't tried it, I strongly recommend to at least give it a go. It likely is indeed highly subjective, but for me the absence of this dust enhances a game visually and makes me feel more like I'm in control. Its presence, on the other hand, detracts from the experience.

You know that I'm practically stalking both support forums, so I'm well aware of the great variety in what people would consider a problem (myself included ).

EDIT: getting back to realism, one would think that a given vehicle would have instruments to help in visualizing velocity vector. At least, real planes and space craft have those. I mean, I understand why the dust is there, I just don't think that it has to be there for the reasons that it is there

[CBJ]

You know that I'm practically stalking both support forums...

You think I hadn't noticed?

EDIT: getting back to realism, one would think that a given vehicle would have instruments to help in visualizing velocity vector. At least, real planes and space craft have those. I mean, I understand why the dust is there, I just don't think that it has to be there for the reasons that it is there

Of course one possible explanation is that the "space dust" is exactly this; a visualisation provided by your instrumentation for precisely this purpose. This is similar to the sounds-in-space issue, where some people take the explanation to be that your instrumentation provides simulated sounds for you. Both explanations have the advantage of making use of natural, instinct-level cues to provide information and reduce the need for you, the pilot, to consciously think about what particular instruments are showing you.

[phrozen1]

I think it's just a bit overdone. A slider to change the intensity of the effect would be very welcome indeed

[radcapricorn]

You know that I'm practically stalking both support forums...

You think I hadn't noticed?

Oh no, I thought I was being very subtle and quiet, and not at all pestering you guys for little to no reason

Of course one possible explanation is that the "space dust" is exactly this; a visualisation... similar to the sounds-in-space issue... instinct-level cues...

But you can adjust sound volume to a level that's acceptable to your particular perception. The dust I personally would prefer to turn off altogether. Important instruments should be informative, but not distracting, now should they?

[Riccardoman]

Tbf the dust particles start to get really annoying after the speed of the ship hits 1500 mp/s and over
They just become noise and white long lines that go inside the cockpit from time to time

[Falcrack]

Would have to be an option & frankly would be one I 'd never use. Often turn off flight assist, particularly in travel mode when I need to make a fast turn (e.g. to enter a gate at perpendicular angle to my approach vector without slowing down). Those dust particles are the only way I have to judge my ship's true trajectory.

You might never use it, but I would. Nobody is talking about it not being an option.

[tomchk]

Would people be for replacing these particles with a HUD element showing trajectory/momentum, like in Freespace or Evochron Legacy?

[Alan Phipps]

Not personally as that would be just one more 'instrument' to have to remember to watch and might itself be distracting in use or when not needed. I actually like it that the dust gives you some sense of vector direction and speed almost subliminally without you having to concentrate on any particular aspect of the display. I don't find it distracting or feel that it breaks immersion, but that's just my opinion.

[GCU Grey Area]

Not personally as that would be just one more 'instrument' to have to remember to watch and might itself be distracting in use or when not needed. I actually like it that the dust gives you some sense of vector direction and speed almost subliminally without you having to concentrate on any particular aspect of the display. I don't find it distracting or feel that it breaks immersion, but that's just my opinion.

Tend to agree with this. For me those dust particles are a relatively unobtrusive method of assessing trajectory. Particularly like it that there's nothing in the precise centre from which the dust particles appear to emanate (i.e. nothing obscuring the ship, station, gate, etc I'm hurtling towards, often at several km/s). Might be difficult to replace with a HUD element that doesn't just end up cluttering the screen even more.

[DaMuncha]

I've been using the NO Stardust mod and its soooooooooo much more immersive. I can look out into the void of space without being distracted by all these silly white lines in my face. in X4 I can tell me own trajectory by the other stations and background around me.

In XR I also used the no stardust mod but all that mod did was replace them with little black squares .

I dont get motion sickness. The only time I've had motion sickness in the past 20 years is a few years ago when I was trying to play Angry Birds on my phone when my dad was driving recklessly at 100mph along a very windy twisty road. I swear that man has a death wish.

[phrozen1]

I've been using the NO Stardust mod and its soooooooooo much more immersive.

Oh thanks for the tip. You can even just lower the amount of dust by changing the xml so it should not be a problem to implement a slider in the settings

[tomchk]

I've been using the NO Stardust mod and its soooooooooo much more immersive.

Oh thanks for the tip. You can even just lower the amount of dust by changing the xml so it should not be a problem to implement a slider in the settings

If it's that easy, I'm all for it as an "expert" option that keeps the current default of on.

[ajime]

Would people be for replacing these particles with a HUD element showing trajectory/momentum, like in Freespace or Evochron Legacy?

Freespace do have particles though