[PATCH] Automatic camera control for observers/replays

[elexis]

It would be nice if there was an option for observers to automatically control the camera without user interaction.

This can be accomplished by just focusing the camera on placed foundation and following the entities that received a command.

There might be a military and economic option, so that the viewer could restrict the camera to interesting events.

Requires the change-perspective tool for observers: #3168.

[elexis]

Thanks Itms for for hopefully reviewing this patch before FF (see meetinglogs 18:30)

What it does:

• Adds a checkbox to the top panel for observers
• If the checkbox is enabled and the perspective is set to a player,
• the camera focuses on entities that received a command
• the entities that received a command are selected, so that the player sees the number and composition of units
• the target of the command is also selected, so that it becomes visible which resources the units gather or which building type is to be constructed
• if the selected player is attacked, it focuses on that attack

Details:

• animals are ignored (corrals produce a lot of monotone commands otherwise)
• buildings to construct are focused (instead of the units that build them)
• When units are queued or a tech is researched at a structure, it doesn't focus the building (would do more harm than good)
• It only adds one string to translate

I've been using this patch in alpha 19 for months. It is really nice to see the build order and follow the decisions of the observed player. Some players even had suggested the same idea too.

[Itms]

Thanks :) I'll take a look this evening.

[elexis]

In 17893:

Allow observers to follow the commands and attacks of the currently viewed player, fixes #3743.
If enabled, the camera focuses on the affected units (source and target) and selects them.

[elexis]

Thanks Itms for reviewing and testing!

[elexis]

In 17894:

Rest of the previous commit, refs #3743.

[elexis]

In r19843:

Fix observermode GUI for 1024x768.

Display the follow-player label only if it fits entirely (i.e. >= 1280x1024), otherwise display the checkbox only. Increase the size of the player dropdown for resolutions >= 1280x1024.

Differential Revision: ​​https://code.wildfiregames.com/D689

Patch By: temple

Refs:

Issues introduced by #3743 and r13606. This is affected by ​Phab:D692 ​Phab:D694

[elexis]

In r20073:

Display move indicator to observers if the follow-player feature is enabled.

Don't use the marker for the repair order.

Refs ​Phab:D606

[elexis]

In 20081:

Focus on deleted entities in observermode if the follow-player feature is enabled, refs #3743.