Microsoft has filed numerous patents for an upcoming first person shooter that will use camera controls to offer a smoother degree of control and aiming. The patent makes references to a game named ‘Brute Force’ (an Xbox Original Title) as an example to show how the camera system is supposed to work for squad based shooters.

Some extracts from the Patent Files detail the following:

“In a third-person shooter video game, the viewing perspective is smoothly transitioned between an “explorer” viewpoint and a “ready” viewpoint as game conditions change. In the “explorer” viewpoint, scenes are depicted from a camera positioned behind and removed from a character. The explorer viewpoint offers a wide angle of view of the surrounding combat area, enabling the game player to scout the terrain. In the “ready” viewpoint, scenes are depicted from the camera as it is repositioned close to the character. The ready viewpoint provides a narrower angle of view to facilitate better aiming when the character is engaged in armed combat. The transition between the explorer and ready viewpoints tracks a non-linear path. “

“A technique for controlling camera viewpoints in a third-person shooter video game is described. Scenes are depicted from a camera positioned behind and removed from a character that is being controlled by a player. As conditions change during the game, the camera is moved smoothly along a non-linear path between an “explorer” viewpoint and a “ready” viewpoint. In the “explorer” viewpoint, the camera is farther removed from the character to provide a wider angle of view of the battle terrain as the character moves about. In the “ready” viewpoint, the camera resides just behind the character to facilitate better aiming when the character is engaged in combat. Selection of a camera viewpoint and timely movement between the two viewpoints are controlled to facilitate a more intimate feel with the character and to avoid having obstacles obscure vision of the character and/or reticle used to sight targets.”

This seems to suggest that you will be able to make seamless transitions between first and third person views using the camera. Whilst ‘Brute Force’ was only used as an example in the patent to describe how it will be used, the purpose of this patent could be for a much bigger upcoming FPS game that will use ‘Project Natal’.

Can you think of anything other than Halo: Reach?

Source: SKOAR