Laser sights- What color?

CruorCruor Join Date: 2004-11-07 Member: 32677Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Elementary...</div>Don't know if this belongs more in the general discussion than I&S but meh..

Anyways topic says it all, what color laser sights would you prefer, here are the alternatives and a little of the psychological aspects colors have on the mind.

<!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro-->Red<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> - The most common laser seen with laser sights. The color red is the most emotionally intense color, it stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. Of course with a laser sight there isn't a whole lot color to take up your field of view so the effect is probably negiable. Additionally in dim light situations which occurs quite often in NS, red light is harder to distinguish as the rods which are more active in low level light are barely receptive of the red spectrum.

<!--coloro:#00FF00--><span style="color:#00FF00"><!--/coloro-->Green<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> - Is the easiest color on the eye and can improve vision, allways handy. It is a calming refreshing color. Green light is also the most intense in all levels of ambient light as both the cones and rods of the eyes can register the green spectrum very well.

<!--coloro:#00BFFF--><span style="color:#00BFFF"><!--/coloro-->Blue<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> - This color also has a calming effect, it has the most contrast and intensity in dim light, it also has a chance of causing the greater eyestrain and fatigure than other colors. It is harder for the eye to focus and causes greater glare and dazzle effects. So all in all I'd say this wouldn't go to well for a laser sight meant to be used in dark locations. Plus the fact that the marine hud is a blu-ish hologram, would mean that the blue laser sight would bleed away a bit and would be hard to see.

I've also read that the human eye evolved to see fine detail primarily with green or red light. In fact, because we are poor at distinguishing sharp detail in blue, our eyes don't really try. In fact the most sensitive spot on the retina has no blue light-detecting cones at all.

In addition, the central area of the retina actually filters out some blue light in an effort to sharpen our vision. Snipers and marksmen sometimes improve on nature by wearing yellow-tinted 'shooters glasses', which block the distracting blue light.

So all in all I'd say go for the Green or possible stick with the red. Green could be cool tho. Could at least give it a go in the alpha before going Gold.
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Comments

  • Renegade.Renegade. Join Date: 2003-01-15 Member: 12313Members, Constellation
    Red. It's been the TSA laser colour since the NS 1.0 trailer. The only other possibility I see is blue since it matches with the HUD/interface. Green seems out of place as TSA electronics feature no green elements.
  • Battle-BugBattle-Bug Join Date: 2010-02-11 Member: 70523Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1758815:date=Mar 11 2010, 11:46 AM:name=R_e_n_e_g_a_d_e)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (R_e_n_e_g_a_d_e @ Mar 11 2010, 11:46 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758815"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Red. It's been the TSA laser colour since the NS 1.0 trailer. The only other possibility I see is blue since it matches with the HUD/interface. Green seems out of place as TSA electronics feature no green elements.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    +1

    We have to make sure that we don't match the HUD. I vote red. If orange were a choice, it might be acceptable.
  • FocusedWolfFocusedWolf Join Date: 2005-01-09 Member: 34258Members
    Is there anything wrong with allowing people to pick the color of their choice as a client side modification at the very least?

    And i want the green laser because green lasers kick ass.
  • Battle-BugBattle-Bug Join Date: 2010-02-11 Member: 70523Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1758837:date=Mar 11 2010, 02:21 PM:name=FocusedWolf)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FocusedWolf @ Mar 11 2010, 02:21 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758837"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Is there anything wrong with allowing people to pick the color of their choice as a client side modification at the very least?

    And i want the green laser because green lasers kick ass.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I do like the idea of a choice since it is a simple way to add customization.

    Are other players going to be able to see your laser?
  • Draco_2kDraco_2k Evil Genius Join Date: 2009-12-09 Member: 69546Members
    edited March 2010
    I would totally vote red because it's classic, traditional, informative and entertaining all in one, but you make some damn great points about Green. It would certainly be unique for one thing.

    I think customising laser sights, armour, and those glowy things on it would make for a great mod. Hell, I'll make it if it isn't too tough.
  • spellman23spellman23 NS1 Theorycraft Expert Join Date: 2007-05-17 Member: 60920Members
    Red or Green work. Yay eyes adapting to warning signals!

    Red is the more traditional, but we're seeing quite a bit of green in recent technology (well, OK, laser tasers.....). However, remember the Marine's armor is kinda green-ish.
  • RazorRazor Join Date: 2010-02-23 Member: 70695Members
    <!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro-->Red<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->-<!--coloro:#FFC0CB--><span style="color:#FFC0CB"><!--/coloro-->light red<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> for infrared laser pointers. Green sounds cool but its too flashy for a low tech gritty game.
  • CrystalSnakeCrystalSnake Join Date: 2002-01-27 Member: 110Members
  • AlignAlign Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1758854:date=Mar 11 2010, 10:39 PM:name=Razor)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Razor @ Mar 11 2010, 10:39 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758854"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro-->Red<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->-<!--coloro:#FFC0CB--><span style="color:#FFC0CB"><!--/coloro-->light red<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> for infrared laser pointers. Green sounds cool but its too flashy for a low tech gritty game.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I was going to ask what the hell is the point of an infrared laser sight, but I guess the marine HUD could give limited infravision.
  • Battle-BugBattle-Bug Join Date: 2010-02-11 Member: 70523Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1758854:date=Mar 11 2010, 03:39 PM:name=Razor)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Razor @ Mar 11 2010, 03:39 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758854"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro-->Red<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->-<!--coloro:#FFC0CB--><span style="color:#FFC0CB"><!--/coloro-->light red<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc--> for infrared laser pointers. Green sounds cool but its too flashy for a low tech gritty game.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    You know that infrared light is not red, right? It's not in the visible spectrum.

    "The name means below red (from the Latin infra, "below"), red being the color of the longest wavelengths of visible light. IR light has a longer wavelength (a lower frequency) than that of red light, hence below."
    <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared</a>

    <img src="http://www.antonine-education.co.uk/physics_gcse/Unit_1/Topic_5/em_spectrum.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

    Sorry for getting technical. Just giving you your daily dose of Vitamin E<!--coloro:#808080--><span style="color:#808080"><!--/coloro-->ducation<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
  • AlignAlign Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
    Infrared laser sights actually exist in real life, visible only if you're wearing appropriate infralight goggles. A stealthy laser sight, if you will.
  • FocusedWolfFocusedWolf Join Date: 2005-01-09 Member: 34258Members
    edited March 2010
    <!--quoteo(post=1758909:date=Mar 11 2010, 10:37 PM:name=Align)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Align @ Mar 11 2010, 10:37 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758909"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Infrared laser sights actually exist in real life, visible only if you're wearing appropriate infralight goggles. A stealthy laser sight, if you will.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I was under the impression this was the only real way to aim a gun when wearing night vision goggles lol. And if anyone is wondering, it will appear like any other bright light source would be in night vision... i.e. green.
  • RazorRazor Join Date: 2010-02-23 Member: 70695Members
    Right, it wouldn't be true infared, just something that only the marines can see.
  • Battle-BugBattle-Bug Join Date: 2010-02-11 Member: 70523Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1758911:date=Mar 11 2010, 10:07 PM:name=FocusedWolf)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (FocusedWolf @ Mar 11 2010, 10:07 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758911"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I was under the impression this was the only real way to aim a gun when wearing night vision goggles lol. And if anyone is wondering, it will appear like any other bright light source would be in night vision... i.e. green.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Here's an additional reason to vote red:

    <img src="http://materialdesigns.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/terminator-eye-surgery-arnold-schwarznegger1.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

    <img src="http://www.computerworld.com/common/images/blogs/t1-a2.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

    queue FocusedWolf to post Preditor version
  • RobBRobB TUBES OF THE INTERWEB Join Date: 2003-08-11 Member: 19423Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited March 2010
    <!--quoteo(post=1758917:date=Mar 12 2010, 06:55 AM:name=Razor)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Razor @ Mar 12 2010, 06:55 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758917"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Right, it wouldn't be true infared, just something that only the marines can see.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Objection. Aliens could have a broader spectrum of vision, down from infrared [flashlight?!] and up to ultra violett.
  • BobbitBobbit Join Date: 2010-03-11 Member: 70922Members
    Red laser = dot on target
    Green laser = Green line and dot
    usually
  • celewigncelewign Join Date: 2010-02-06 Member: 70458Members
    agreed with fw here. this should be a clientside adjustment, same as crosshair style etc.
  • Battle-BugBattle-Bug Join Date: 2010-02-11 Member: 70523Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1758920:date=Mar 11 2010, 11:23 PM:name=RobB)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RobB @ Mar 11 2010, 11:23 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758920"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Objection. Aliens could have a broader spectrum of vision, down from infrared [flashlight?!] and up to ultra violett.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    They could... or they could have such a narrow spectrum of vision that they are mostly color blind :)
  • spacedanielspacedaniel Join Date: 2009-11-11 Member: 69348Members
    edited March 2010
    Wow, we are really a bunch of nerds :)

    So to join in...

    Green: consider a green dot on green infestation...... hard to see? Probably. Scrap that.

    Laser line: well if there's smoke then fine, otherwise no.... Seeing as we already are on our way to low emission ammo IRL a lot of firing will probably not produce a smoke filled room but hey, it would be cool if it did.

    First, empty room. Only red dots roaming the walls. Then the aliens let loose from walls and ceiling. Halfway in to the battle the room gets filled with a faint smoke from nanoprobes, karhaa bacteria, smoke from spent ammao and heated gun barrels. The lasers start showing the lines - "hello alien, here I am, just follow the yellow brick road". Ah, could be cool :)
  • CruorCruor Join Date: 2004-11-07 Member: 32677Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1758988:date=Mar 12 2010, 10:00 AM:name=spacedaniel)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (spacedaniel @ Mar 12 2010, 10:00 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758988"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Green: consider a green dot on green infestation...... hard to see? Probably. Scrap that.

    Laser line: well if there's smoke then fine, otherwise no.... Seeing as we already are on our way to low emission ammo IRL a lot of firing will probably not produce a smoke filled room but hey, it would be cool if it did.

    First, empty room. Only red dots roaming the walls. Then the aliens let loose from walls and ceiling. Halfway in to the battle the room gets filled with a faint smoke from nanoprobes, karhaa bacteria, smoke from spent ammao and heated gun barrels. The lasers start showing the lines - "hello alien, here I am, just follow the yellow brick road". Ah, could be cool :)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Well the infestation texture contains red and amber tones as well, and red lasers are generally lower intensity than green lasers which would make the red laser even harder to see. My relatively low powered green laser pointer is clearly visable on any green surface as long as that surface isn't emitting light itself. So the point that the green laser dot would be hard to spot is mute as long as the effect is carried out correctly.

    About the beams being visable, I'd say make it as you say depend on the ambient occlusion which the devs are planning on or have allready incorporated into the game engine. So in a room with low particle density it would not be visible but in a room such as the one with the window blinds opening and the suns light beams are clearly visable in the air the laser beams would be to.

    I think at least blue laser can be scratched unless the hud color will also be customizable.
  • Voyager IVoyager I Join Date: 2009-11-02 Member: 69222Members
    edited March 2010
    It would look godawful, but a purple laser would stand out pretty well in most NS environments. I don't know if you'd actually <i>want</i> to see a glowing purple rod the whole game, but it would be visible against the blue/greys, the oranges/greys, and the orange/greens.
  • FocusedWolfFocusedWolf Join Date: 2005-01-09 Member: 34258Members
    I imagine we would need to switch to all sorts of random colors just to stay sharp in game.

    I hate to ask, but even though the pistol (and presumably other weapons now) will have laser sights [ya so futuristic, where's my acog], have they been confirmed to be in game? Or is it going to be like NS1 where they exist in drawing form only (until someone finds a way to hack them in with a custom model with some "laser" polygons?
  • celewigncelewign Join Date: 2010-02-06 Member: 70458Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1758985:date=Mar 12 2010, 08:45 AM:name=Battle-Bug)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Battle-Bug @ Mar 12 2010, 08:45 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758985"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->They could... or they could have such a narrow spectrum of vision that they are mostly color blind :)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    I hate my life.
  • TuTLookTuTLook Join Date: 2009-07-23 Member: 68245Members
    I don't know if there will be any team division on the marines team (like Team Alpha and Team Beta, or something like that).

    It would be cool if one team has one laser sight color and the other has another one (like Team Alpha's marines have red laser sights, while the Team Beta's marines have green laser sights).
  • ghost in the shellghost in the shell Join Date: 2008-09-28 Member: 65094Members
  • Chris0132Chris0132 Join Date: 2009-07-25 Member: 68262Members
    edited March 2010
    Green or yellow for my preference, I can't see colour properly so I just like them bright so they stand out against the (usually) dark background. Bright yellow or green looks much more visible than red or blue which tend to be less bright.
  • slayer20slayer20 Killed a man once. Join Date: 2007-12-13 Member: 63157Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited March 2010
    Why not have the players choose their own colors from a color slider?

    Like this: <img src="http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/5377/colorslider1.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

    That way people can choose whatever color they want. That way, if I want to have a red laser, I can just slide my thing down to the red area, or if I want a blue laser, I can just slide it over to blue. That way people can get a little more precise with what color they want and what they think stands out the most.

    I just don't want to see something like this: <img src="http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/9704/colorslider2.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />
  • TweadleTweadle Join Date: 2005-02-03 Member: 39686Members, NS2 Map Tester
    How on earth is the colour of lasers attracting so much discussion?
  • HybridclawHybridclaw Join Date: 2003-11-03 Member: 22271Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1758985:date=Mar 12 2010, 11:45 AM:name=Battle-Bug)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Battle-Bug @ Mar 12 2010, 11:45 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758985"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->They could... or they could have such a narrow spectrum of vision that they are mostly color blind :)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I always assumed they could see infrared light due to the alien "flashlight" making all organic matter brightly glow.

    Or maybe they could see thermal radiation which could explain why marine equipment glows.

    They're the only plausible explanations I could think of.

    (The second idea is a bit more plausible because snakes can see thermal radiation due to a small patch of cells that is sensitive to temperature changes)
  • Chris0132Chris0132 Join Date: 2009-07-25 Member: 68262Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1760654:date=Mar 22 2010, 06:33 PM:name=Tweadle)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tweadle @ Mar 22 2010, 06:33 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1760654"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->How on earth is the colour of lasers attracting so much discussion?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Because I can't see a lot of lasers properly due to colourblindness, same goes for a lot of things that use colour rather than intensity to differentiate.

    Many other people are the same.
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