Like lots of things in Second Life I think we can all agree that the default camera position is... Somewhat less than totally optimal. It's too high - especially if you're short like I am, or if you're using a prim or mesh avatar like a Petite or animal avatar. It's too far away, and worst of all, it prevents you from seeing the shoes that you spend all your Lindens on.
Seriously, that last one was a prime motivator for me when I wrote the first version :)
That's where the My Eye View HUD comes in - and let's start calling it MEV right away. This is the third version of my little gizmo. I've given away just over 5000 of the previous version which you can still pick up for free at my shop in Second Life or here on MP.
So let's get down to why you should part with your L$ for this version when I just told you that you can still get the previous version for free. I must be ether really confident in the new version, or the worst business person in SL.
Or, to quote Gomez Addams - "Why not both!?"
There are several photos showing the various camera effects and positions. All were shot in SL using the standard "Save photos to hard drive" option. I resized my viewer to a narrow view, but other than adding the text and combining two shots into one image there has been no image manipulation of any sort.
Also, after spending all day writing this and taking photos to try to explain everything it occurred to me that I could just cheat and create a fully functional demo of the MEV and let people see for themselves, so I did that.
Of course I'd already written all this and taken photos so I'll be hanged if I'm going to not post it so...
Features:
✓ The MEV actively over rides the default SL camera position, zoom, and angle. This means that you can move your camera both horizontally and vertically, zoom in or out, and change the angle of the camera, and when you move MEV keeps the camera where you set it rather than snapping it back to the default SL camera position.
✓ The Auto Tilt option will cause the camera to tilt when MEV detects you walking, running, or crouch walking up or down an incline. Once you're back on a relatively flat surface the camera will return to the position you've set it at.
✓ The Auto Avoid option - which was impossible to take a meaningful picture of - detects when there's an object between your avatar and the camera and moves the camera so it's just behind you and slightly to the left. Once the obstacle is out of the way the camera repositions to where ever you've set it.
✓ The Float function is... It's hard to explain. This is the third version of this HUD and I still can't easily explain it, but here goes nothing. Normally when your avatar moves the camera moves instantly. You walk forward five meters the camera moves forward five meters at the exact same time. Float allows you to delay the camera's movement up to one full second, so when you start to walk it appears that you're walking away from the camera until it starts to move. When you stop the camera "catches up" and then stops. A low float settings makes the camera movements smoother and more organic looking. High float settings are lots of fun in fast moving vehicles like air craft, making you feel as if you're in a pursuing vehicle trying to catch yourself :)
✓ There is a reset button which returns the MEV to its default setting, and three Preset buttons where you can store camera positions you like for instant retrieval.
✓ Clicking the power button hides or restores the HUD. Clicking and holding it for three seconds turns the HUD off.
✓ The MEV will continue to work even in no script areas so long as it's active when you enter the area.
✓ The Help button takes you to the MEV instruction page (http://diabolicalsuperscience.net/?p=422).
MEV uses one script which takes up about 40KB and typically uses .000003 MS of script time or less. It's copy, mod - except for the script of course, and no transfer.
OMG! wow... Stop asking questions... Just. Buy. It.
Buy it. Really. You need this in your life...
I'm not taking it off ever! It just makes your SL more comfortable and easy to cam around while walking in 1st person... and I haven't finished seeing the rest of the features yet.
Simply Amazing!!
Being new to this second life world, I came in with some help from a few friends, to make myself as presentable as possible, on a limited budget. But, then came the horror of the SL default camera view. The pure terror of having to stare down at an odd angle on your avatar.. like a vulture following its' dying prey. I was about to give up hope and let the camera angle consume me...
Just in that moment, a shining IM directed me to this tiny little gadget. I was at first, skeptical, seeing as I saw one for free, and one for L$99. Being the goofus I am, I skipped over the freebie, and read the reviews on this one. The more I read, the wider my eyes got.. the less the SL Camera-vulture's gaze encroached on me. I ray of sunlight shot down thru my bedroom window, blinding my cat with a brilliant, shining beam, who then left annoyed by the intrusive beam.
Well... maybe that is all a little dramatic, but truth be told... After a friend recommended it, and reading the reviews, I didn't need to demo this little beauty. I straight out bought it, no questions asked! Thank you, thank you, and thank you some more, for making this white knight of camera saviors, that finally will slay all of Linden Labs Ugly Eye-View beasts!
Worth every last Linden
I purchased this HUD nearly a year ago, and it has been worn every day since. This one HUD, improves the overall experience in Second Life tremendously. It is easy to use, does not take up very much of your screen, has four slots that will save your camera position and load them on the go, you can disable the HUD itself, which will result in the default viewer camera. In addition to that, you can adjust your camera, move around and the camera will always default to what you had last set it to.
Needless to say, this makes games such as linden realms, and paleoquest a lot easier as you jump around obstacles, it makes maneuvering in smaller places easier, it makes the overall experience just that much better without having to manually change your camera.
Five stars is not enough, for the amount of use I have had with this. Now, after reading this, get the demo, this instant! Give it a try, and you will see exactly what I mean. Stop reading this review, go get the demo!
Very usefull !
Just bought this latest version. I use this handy tool already for years.
It is great for flying. The most default dynamic cams are crap on planes.
In debug settings you can set any camera angle you want but this gadget is better :)
AWESOME!!♥
At last!! i can see my self properly in my desired angle view!!! Thank creator for your awesome helpful work!! Hugs you tight!!
awesome-awesomeness!
/me gasp-i never reviewed it!
Sharing: I have purchased and then relied heavily upon this lil gadget for many many months now. The default camera is just irksome in comparison to this. Can't imagine how I ever did without it. I set the position and angle I prefer based on what I am doing, and it locks it for me until I change my mind. One click open and three/four clicks reposition/angle, locked again. Minimize, and resize icon down to almost nothin covering monitor, and almost no complexity impact.
A must have in your inventory.
