Basically the video shows a few things:
- The new graphics/art all that good stuff
- Camera tracking
- Camera rotation tracking
- The current input system
- Engine functionality
- Laser effects
- Toggling in and out of edit mode
- Selecting different assemblies
- How hard it is to fly
The camera rotation tracking basically rotates the camera as if it was parented to the selected assembly, the location tracking does the same except minus the rotating part. The cool thing about the rotation tracking part is that you can still orbit the assembly normally with the mouse while it is rotating.
It is currently very difficult to control a built ship, part of this is because the only way to rotate the ship is by using engines, which are too powerful except for large assemblies/ships. The other reason is because of the physics, once you start rotating or increasing the speed, rotational and directional inertia takes over and you continue spinning/moving until there is a counter force or torque.
To solve the first issue with rotation, I will likely add some RCS thrusters (basically thrusters for small changes in momentum or rotation) and a reaction wheel (magic science devise used to exert a rotational force on an object, for the science behind it, here)
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The second issue is a little more difficult, but the basic principle behind it is to have a flight computer that tells the engines to slow the ship down after you accelerate, or slows the rotation down after you rotate. The computer would use available engines, and would be able to increase or decrease the thrust on each one as needed. In this way non symmetrical ships would be flyable. Using the flight computer, the ship would move more like people are used too regarding simpler games, while still using physics. The computer of course would be optional for those who want direct control. I plan to make it so both the flight computer and direct control can be used at the same time.
