Jet Minimap Icons

[Rhino]

What do you guys about this idea of having slightly different minimap icons for the different types of Harriers, Mirages and Skyhawks we have on the map to indicate their main role, that being a fighter, bomber, anti-ship jet etc so your team can more easily identify what type of friendly aircraft is flying close by?

For example the Mirage series is especially hard since one since their are three types, with one being a fighter, anouther a fighter bomber, and the other is an anti-ship jet, all currently using the same minimap icon.

The small problem with doing this is that its quite hard to distinguish the different types of role a jet plays though its icon, when they are all basically the same shape and only in a 16x16 pixel area.

Currently trying on sort of integrating the proper military icons into them, with this being a quick POC I've whipped up with the two types of Harrier, Sea Harrier (Fighter) being on the left and having a small arrow in the middle and the Harrier GR3 (Ground Attack / Bomber) on the right with a small circle in the middle and a slightly longer nose (as per r/l).

Zoomed in: http://i.imgur.com/s8l0fGR.jpg

Old: http://i.imgur.com/WmlTDhK.jpg
old zoomed: http://i.imgur.com/lCifcMs.jpg

So ye the question is, do you guys think this is something worth doing and something you would be able to spot with the jets flying pretty quickly across the minimap and would help you, or do you think its best to stick with the current minimap icons that best fit the jet's shape?

Cheers!

[Phoenix4894]

I dont see the urge to have an indication for what type of jet is flying by. Lets say I need the anti ship support. I simply contact the cas squad and request their support. I wouldnt know how it could help to see what jet is above me or where ever it is.

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[mries]

I think it will be hard to see that little difference in icons. Couldn't you better use the three different icons already in game for fighter, bomber and A-10 maybe? Maybe not really realistic in terms of icon/sort of aircraft but easy to identify for anyone.

[[R-DEV]​Mr.VdHeide]

How about this? Way easier to spot the difference because of the big black areas.





Dj.

[[R-DEV]Mats391]

As long as we dont have to create another atlas for this, i am for it. But maybe not stop on the minimap icons, those really are not that important as others stated. New TypeIcons (those that show in squad menu next to player name) would be real helpful to quickly access who is flying which aircraft and give orders to them.
Since those type icons dont move around like the minimap ones, we could look at making it the NATO symbols. Would have to do that for all vehicles though to stay consistent

[Rhino]

Originally Posted by Mr.VdHeide

http://i.imgur.com/8ahpb1O.png
How about this? Way easier to spot the difference because of the big black areas.

Ye, could do something like that. Certainly easier to identify between the two but doesn't really say which is which, thou nor dose my one either hehe.

Originally Posted by [R-DEV]Mats391

As long as we dont have to create another atlas for this, i am for it.

Got loads of space for a bunch of 16x16 minimap icons
http://i.imgur.com/nSOjrgs.jpg

Originally Posted by [R-DEV]Mats391

But maybe not stop on the minimap icons, those really are not that important as others stated. New TypeIcons (those that show in squad menu next to player name) would be real helpful to quickly access who is flying which aircraft and give orders to them. Since those type icons dont move around like the minimap ones.

Ye was thinking that too.

Originally Posted by [R-DEV]Mats391

we could look at making it the NATO symbols. Would have to do that for all vehicles though to stay consistent

Ye not sure about doing a full replace with NATO symbols since would take quite a bit for players to learn them all and aren't as self explanatory. Also would be hard to put them fully in them, since they are only a 15x15 px area:



EDIT: Latest attempt, Sea Harrier top left, using normal Harrier / Light Attack Jet icon, top right is Harrier GR3 with extended nose and black box in the middle:

Zoomed in: http://i.imgur.com/s8l0fGR.jpg


EDIT: and a quick test of putting the NATO icons into the squad menu, this one being a fighter icon:

Zoomed: http://i.imgur.com/V2HUHro.jpg

[LiamBai]

As a pilot, those icons are extremely important in a dogfight to me. Knowing which friendly jets are in your area is important, as is what they can do.