Visual effect for centering the ships wheel (accessibility setting)

  • CaptBlue3052
    Captain
    Insider

    After making a support ticket to add this suggestion, I got told to make a topic here, so that the devs can monitor it. So I'll try it here. I'm hoping to get some feedback from people who struggle with hearing and would find this helpful too.

    I play frequently with someone who struggles to hear when the wheel has been centred. This is particularly bad when there is a lot of background noise such as waves, cannon fire and stormy weather. Is there any way that some sort of visual cue can be used to show a player that the wheel has hit its centre point, similar to when the wheel makes that clinking sound effect when centred?

    The recent changes to steering audio within the audio settings has not alleviated this issue for my friend and they still find themselves unable to hear when the wheel has been centred or reaches an of the quarter turn points.

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  • D3ADST1CK
    Vanguard
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    Founder

    @captblue3052 The main peg for all wheels is different from the other pegs which should show you when the wheel is centered. The only ship where this won't work is the Galleon, since you can turn the wheel around twice completely but if the main peg is upright and you're still turning, then keep turning the wheel. This is the same effect as the clinking sound, since it doesn't tell you when the galleon wheel is straight only that it's at one of the 25% turn points.

  • BekkBloodaxe96
    Marauder
    Insider

    This would help me soooooo much! I have hearing loss in both ears and while I have adapted to playing without always hearing some of the subtler sound effects (water splashes from people boarding, footsteps, guns being readied etc), this ship wheel issue can be quite a struggle - I have to constantly remember what state the wheel was left in and if a crew member jumps on the wheel mid-combat I will sometimes be forced to complete full lock in one direction to get my bearings again. A visual cue at the same time as the sound that is made when the wheel hits the centre would be such a helpful feature and I'm not really sure how PC/mouse and keyboard players (who cant make use of controller vibration) who have no hearing would be able to tell when the wheel is centred. I am sure I can't be the only pirate out there with difficulty hearing, especially with all that cannon firing!

  • BekkBloodaxe96
    Marauder
    Insider

    @d3adst1ck This doesn't really fix the problem to be honest... I personally don't want to constantly be staring at the wheel while turning.

  • CaptBlue3052
    Captain
    Insider

    @d3adst1ck said in Visual effect for centering the ships wheel (accessibility setting):

    @captblue3052 The main peg for all wheels is different from the other pegs which should show you when the wheel is centered.

    This is not true. You can turn the wheel 720° to the left and the right on the galeon and the brig. Only the sloop has 360° wheel turning. So on a galeon or brig, turning the wheel 360° in any direction will have the peg centred without the helm being centred. That is the point where I'm suggesting a visual effect for those who cant hear the difference because of hearing aid or deafnes.

  • D3ADST1CK
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    Founder

    @captblue3052 said in Visual effect for centering the ships wheel (accessibility setting):

    This is not true. You can turn the wheel 720° to the left and the right on the galeon and the brig. Only the sloop has 360° wheel turning. So on a galeon or brig, turning the wheel 360° in any direction will have the peg centred without the helm being centred. That is the point where I'm suggesting a visual effect for those who cant hear the difference because of hearing aid or deafnes.

    You missed the important part:

    if the main peg is upright and you're still turning, then keep turning the wheel

    This is the same ability given by the sounds, since the sound doesn't tell you that the wheel is 100% straight either - only that you're at one of the quarter turn points. The only sound that does tell you it's straight is the center sound, and if you have a controller there is rumble feedback but both of these cases are also supported by the main peg being upright.

    I don't have a problem with them adding an optional flash or hud element, if that's what you are looking for but Rare seems to be hesitant to add those kinds of things.

  • BekkBloodaxe96
    Marauder
    Insider

    @d3adst1ck It does tell you when centred... that's like, the whole point? forget the recent audio cues added, the original clunk only happens when the wheel is fully centred?

  • BekkBloodaxe96
    Marauder
    Insider

    The only sound that does tell you it's straight is the center sound

    Yeah, that sound... that's the one that I cant hear, you see the problem yet?

  • CaptBlue3052
    Captain
    Insider

    @d3adst1ck said in Visual effect for centering the ships wheel (accessibility setting):

    the sound doesn't tell you that the wheel is 100% straight either - only that you're at one of the quarter turn points.

    The wheel makes a distinctive noise when being centred at 0°. If you turn it 360° left/right it makes a different, way more silent noise.

  • D3ADST1CK
    Vanguard
    Insider
    Founder

    @captblue3052 I said that in the following sentence.

  • BekkBloodaxe96
    Marauder
    Insider

    @d3adst1ck Yeah, if you can't hear that one sound then you can be forced to continue turning the wheel until you work out how many turns are on the wheel... which takes time, and sometimes you don't have time before you crash, lose cannon angle etc. So I don't understand your rationale behind explaining (incorrectly) the degrees on the wheel and the function of the centre peg... this is not the issue we are discussing here. I am fully capable of counting turns on a wheel but should I and others in a similar position have to rely on this as our only method when fully hearing players can use the audio cue while also turning their head fully so they don't lose their situational awareness at potentially key moments in the game?

  • D3ADST1CK
    Vanguard
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    @bekkbloodaxe96 said in Visual effect for centering the ships wheel (accessibility setting):

    I am fully capable of counting turns on a wheel but should I and others in a similar position have to rely on this as our only method when fully hearing players can use the audio cue while also turning their head fully so they don't lose their situational awareness at potentially key moments in the game?

    I never said that. In fact, I said:

    I don't have a problem with them adding an optional flash or hud element, if that's what you are looking for but Rare seems to be hesitant to add those kinds of things.

  • BekkBloodaxe96
    Marauder
    Insider

    @d3adst1ck I think you are wrong, Rare have always been receptive to possible new accessibility settings.

  • D3ADST1CK
    Vanguard
    Insider
    Founder

    @bekkbloodaxe96 said in Visual effect for centering the ships wheel (accessibility setting):

    @d3adst1ck I think you are wrong, Rare have always been receptive to possible new accessibility settings.

    That's not what I said either.

  • Ottyman8687
    Ship Mate
    Insider

    There's a visual effect already. The peg at the top looks different to the others and the wheel stops turning when you reach the end.

    But I suppose an optional glow on the top peg wouldn't hurt anyone

  • BekkBloodaxe96
    Marauder
    Insider

    @ottyman8687 The centre peg on a galleon and a brig will sit at the top of the wheel at five separate points during a full rotation from right to left and vice versa, this means that excepting the full left and full right turns on the wheel, there are three points at which the centre peg is at the top, but only one of these is 'centred'... if you cant hear the moment the centre peg hits that one point where the wheel is centred then you are forced to continue feeling your way for that centre point and working from known points of reference (either full left or full right)

  • CaptBlue3052
    Captain
    Insider

    @ottyman8687 said in Visual effect for centering the ships wheel (accessibility setting):

    There's a visual effect already. The peg at the top looks different to the others and the wheel stops turning when you reach the end.

    That is only true to the sloop, on the galeon and brig the wheel will do a 360° turn to left or right while being at 50% turn rate, the top peg is then centred, but the ship will steer left or right as the helm is not centred.

    But I suppose an optional glow on the top peg wouldn't hurt anyone

    That would not help with the problem. The only thing that would help would be a visual notification of the helm being centred at 0° again, contrary to the sound effect of the ships helm being centred.

  • Ottyman8687
    Ship Mate
    Insider

    @captblue3052

    Oh ok. Yeah I didn't think that through.

    In that case maybe like a small arrow that overlays the wheel that points in the direction you are going

    \ would be left

    | Would be forward

    / Would be right.

  • BekkBloodaxe96
    Marauder
    Insider

    @ottyman8687 Yeah, something along these lines, I would argue that you would only need the 'forward' indicator, and just briefly at that as it is pretty easy to know which direction the ship is turning, its just that middle point that can be hard to hit if you grab the wheel and you aren't sure where the wheel is at

  • Ottyman8687
    Ship Mate
    Insider

    @bekkbloodaxe96

    Another idea I had for controllers would be using vibration.

    Like the left side would vibrate if the wheel turns to the left and the right would vibrate if you are going to the right

  • BekkBloodaxe96
    Marauder
    Insider

    @ottyman8687 They already utilise controller vibration to indicate the wheel is centred, I think additional vibrations (left and right) could cause confusion, again especially if you rely on the haptic feedback to indicate the wheel is centred in the case of not being able to hear the sound effects.

  • FishyJoeSalt
    Captain

    I'm guessing this is a PC issue, on console my controller vibrates when TDC

  • MaximusArael020
    Captain
    Insider

    I support this idea 100%. No reason I can see not to do it, and if people don't like it maybe they can have a Toggle On/Off.

    I play with a controller and having that vibration when the wheel is centered is such a big part of my muscle memory for playing the game, I'm not sure how Keyboard/Mouse users do it. I think this would be a great addition, especially for those who are hard of hearing. Much of the game is already so audio cue-based, this will make things a bit easier.

    Great suggestion, OP.

  • Galactic Geek
    Seafarer
    Founder

    Buy a keyboard and mouse that vibrate, or use a controller.

  • BekkBloodaxe96
    Marauder
    Insider

    @maximusarael020 100%! All the accessibility features are toggle on/off so people who don't wanna use a feature wouldn't even need to know it was there!

  • Monocle7531
    Seafarer
    Insider

    @Galactic-Geek I'm not sure a haptic keyboard is compatible with sea of Thieves.
    and switching to controller is not really an option for everybody. And then there's the people playing on laptop who can't really change out the keyboard.

  • nytr0g3n
    Castaway

    As useful as to tone is when you hit top dead centre on the wheel, a visual cue that isn't attached to the wheel would absolutely be helpful. I also have some hearing loss, and I tend to feel like I have to be watching the wheel for then it hits top dead centre. If there was a visual cue that appeared in my field of view / hud when I hit top dead centre I would be better able to look around while using the wheel which of course is very helpful. It could be something simple like a picture of the wheel with an up arrow to indicate centred appears on your hud when you are on the wheel and it hits centre. then it doesn't matter whether I'm looking left or right, or whether I missed the audio cue. I think this is a great, helpful idea. Thanks for posting it, Devs, please take note :)

  • Schwammlgott
    Champion

    @captblue3052 as been said...it's already in the game...the main peg looks different...also if you play with a controller, it vibrates a bit when centered...
    I'm really confused about this suggestion...what else do you need? Some kind of "🎊" or blinking lights, or a pop up window that tells you when centered?
    I've nothing against accessibility functions, but this is ridiculous...this feels a bit like Navi sayin' "Hey, listen", just worse, maybe even worse than Phai...if you know what I mean

    But seriously, what other visual effect, than the center-peg of the wheel and the ship not going straight do you need?

  • BekkBloodaxe96
    Marauder
    Insider

    @schwammlgott If you read the thread you will see the discussion on the centre peg so I don’t think I’ll explain it again… I think this suggestion is far from ‘ridiculous’ as you put it and you are rather taking away from the good nature of the discussion here by being so disparaging.

  • Schwammlgott
    Champion

    @bekkbloodaxe96 sagte in Visual effect for centering the ships wheel (accessibility setting):

    @schwammlgott If you read the thread you will see the discussion on the centre peg so I don’t think I’ll explain it again… I think this suggestion is far from ‘ridiculous’ as you put it and you are rather taking away from the good nature of the discussion here by being so disparaging.

    I read most posts after I wrote mine...still I won't change anything I said

  • nytr0g3n
    Castaway

    @schwammlgott the main peg means you can tell when you're looking at it. The point of the tone is to be able to tell audibly when its centred when you are NOT looking at it. This frees you up to look around. If you can't hear the tone you are not free to look around and must look at the main peg. Rumble works for controller players but not PC players. I don't know why you're so opposed to people hearing impairment being afforded this option. This is not a challenging request as there's already systems in the game to indicate by other means, so it would be easy to implement. You don't seem to have anything constructive to add, so are you just here to troll or....?

  • Badger
    Champion
    Insider
    Moderator

    So to move this along, what suggestions might those seeking this function supply to help with this? While it's a great idea, it's the implementation that may have some ramification issues. (As in not so easily added.) So again I ask, how would the folks here suggest it to be addressed? A box that pops up and says centered? A visual that shows wheel turn degree that goes from 0 degrees to the outermost degree on either side? How would the people here suggest this to be corrected? That's the information that can help the most.

  • Schwammlgott
    Champion

    @nytr0g3n sagte in Visual effect for centering the ships wheel (accessibility setting):

    @schwammlgott the main peg means you can tell when you're looking at it. The point of the tone is to be able to tell audibly when its centred when you are NOT looking at it. This frees you up to look around. If you can't hear the tone you are not free to look around and must look at the main peg. Rumble works for controller players but not PC players. I don't know why you're so opposed to people hearing impairment being afforded this option. This is not a challenging request as there's already systems in the game to indicate by other means, so it would be easy to implement. You don't seem to have anything constructive to add, so are you just here to troll or....?

    Ok...so let's see what other accessibility option would be needed then for people with hearing problems (examples):

    -I drive by an island, pretty far away, but already in cannon range...skellie shoots and hits, I don’t hear the shot or the hit, so I don’t hear, that I got a hole...so there would be at least 2 new visual indicators needed, one for the hit, one for water inside

    -I'm sailing south/south-east (so I know I don’t have to adjust the direction every few seconds), I go down to cook a piece of meat, as soon as I go downstairs the music starts that tells me a skellie ship or meg is going to spawn on me...but I can't hear it, so I stay downstairs cooking (it's just 1 minute, so no problem) until it's too late and the first sleeping ball hits me...now we need another notification...

    -got a boarder, but can't hear the splash sound, that tells me, someone got on the ladder

    -that boarder lowers the anchor first

    We can go on and on...

    One thing I fell in love with this game is the minimalistic UI design...sure I can turn accessibility options off...but then they can put me into a disadvantage

  • nytr0g3n
    Castaway

    @schwammlgott Yeah I get what you're saying, and we are in agreement, there are LOTS of ways in which if you are hearing impaired you might be disadvantaged by not receiving the audio queue. So following that train of thought, we can separate those audio based things that may or may not be exploitable if there was a visual cue accompanying it. And in all the examples you gave, a visual cue could be exploited by someone to gain a competitive advantage, whether they are hearing impaired or not. But that's not the case with what's being suggested here (at least as far as I can tell, I don't see any advantage to this recommendation other than giving hearing impaired people the same as what is already given through the audio prompt.

    To address Aerotsune's question; It could be - a hud element that appears when you are on the wheel. I think your suggestion is good, maybe it appears when the wheel is within one measure (maybe a few degrees or one 'click') of centre and change colour or has arrows or something to indicate when it's slightly left or right of centre. As you enter those few degrees the icon appears and as you turn away from those few degrees it disappears.

  • BekkBloodaxe96
    Marauder
    Insider

    @aerotsune something as super simple and unobtrusive as a tiny HUD element popping up in the corner of a screen could help. Something that lasts only as long as the audio cue but a small logo (a ships wheel maybe?) popping up briefly to indicate that the centre point was reached would be perfect. I accept the other disadvantages that come with hearing loss, and I don’t want to add any features that can be exploited by players, hearing or otherwise. But having that ability to be looking away from the wheel (while steering relative to surroundings) and knowing if I hit the centre point without having to watch/ count wheel turns would be so liberating!

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