Arma 3: End Game Spectator Mode

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 (Optional)
• 3th Person Perspective (Optional)
• 1st 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, true, true, true, true, true, true, true]] call BIS_fnc_EGSpectator;

// The custom array for Initialize function can contain:
_this select 0 : The target player object
_this select 1 : Whitelisted sides, empty means all
_this select 2 : Whether AI can be viewed by the spectator
_this select 3 : Whether Free camera mode is available
_this select 4 : Whether 3th Person Perspective camera mode is available
_this select 5 : Whether to show Focus Info stats widget
_this select 6 : Whether or not to show camera buttons widget
_this select 7 : Whether to show controls helper widget
_this select 8 : Whether to show header widget
_this select 9 : Whether to show entities / locations lists

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.