End Game Spectator Mode – Arma 3
Introduction
With the Nexus Update we've introduced a new spectator mode which should improve the way players can observe a match. While this new scenario viewing mode was introduced with End Game it can be used outside of the multiplayer mode, open to community members to use it in their own missions.
Camera Perspectives
- Free Perspective
- 3th Person Perspective
- 1th Person Perspective
Vision Modes
- Normal
- Night Vision (In 1PP depends on the unit's current state)
- Thermal Vision (In 1PP depends on the unit's current state)
Flashlight Mode
Point lights are created at the camera location and at the cursor location in world.
Custom Map
A custom map designed for the spectator mode, allowing for fast but precise map navigation and changing focused unit.
Controls
W/S
- Free Perspective movement forward / backward
A/D
- Free Perspective movement left / right
Q/Z
- Free Perspective movement up / down
Movement + Shift
- Free Perspective fast speed
Movement + Alt
- Free Perspective very fast speed
Movement + Shift + Alt
- Free Perspective ultra fast speed
RMB
- Look in Free Perspective
- Rotate in 3 Person Perspective
LMB
- Select / Deselect spectator focused unit / vehicle
Look / Rotate Around
- Mouse movement
Backspace
- Hide / Show spectator interface
Space Bar
- If spectator has a unit focused it changes through the available camera modes
Scenario Implementation
Debug Spectator Mode
It is possible to access the Spectator Mode while previewing in the Editor / EDEN Editor by pressing Esc and clicking Spectator, to close you can repeat previous step.
Respawn Type
In certain respawn types, the Spectator Mode is automatically executed upon death and replaces the old mode. It works automatically with respawn 1 ("Bird") and 5 ("Side" if there's no AI left). For more information on the available respawn types and their specific behavior check this page.
respawn = 1;
Full Control
In case you would like to control when a player starts / stops spectating, you can use the built-in functions to do exactly that.
If you wish to start the spectator mode, you can execute the following function:
// Param1: A string describing the action to be taken by the spectator function
// Param2: The custom arguments that are sent to the spectator function
["Initialize", [player, [], true]] call BIS_fnc_EGSpectator;
// player : The target player object
// [] : Whitelisted sides, empty means all
// true : Whether AI can be viewed by the spectator
If the spectator mode is active and you would like to terminate it, run the following function:
["Terminate"] call BIS_fnc_EGSpectator;
Spectate when dead
If you are using a respawn type different then 1 ("Bird"), you may want to execute the spectator mode when a player dies, then stop the spectator when the player respawns, this could be achieved in many ways, such as the one bellow, which will make every player start spectating when dead, and stop spectating when he respawns, 60 seconds after:
Description.ext
respawn = 3;
respawnDelay = 60;
onPlayerKilled.sqf
["Initialize", [player, [], true]] call BIS_fnc_EGSpectator;
onPlayerRespawn.sqf
["Terminate"] call BIS_fnc_EGSpectator;
Virtual Spectator
The new Spectator mode also brings a new special object that can be controlled by a player and will give the controlling player the Spectator Mode control, just drop it in a scenario and start spectating that easily. If you are accessing the Virtual Spectator from EDEN Editor, you will see custom attributes to control certain parts of the Virtual Spectator functionality within EDEN.