getting reputation by taking pictures of your missions (Telescopes)

[nikokespprfan]

Lately it happened with new Horizons and the Pluto-Charon system, EVERYONE talked about it. It gave NASA a lot of reputation for going to the system. This let me wondering, why can't go to eeloo, take pictures and have the entire kerbalkind talking about my mission, and thus gain some positive reputation. So that is what this suggestion is.

Basically it would be "Reputation experiments". They are parts that take pictures or record video's of whatever the parts are pointed at. And if you put certain things onto you pictures (like for instance, a kerbal on the surface of eve) you gain reputation. It would work EXACTLY* like the science system, but you get reputation as a reward*, and a pretty picture of course.

EDIT: *scratch that, you also get a dialogue showing you the picture taken, and with a button to save it as a screenshot. It is just another boring experiment otherwise.

Imagine the following scenario.

Imagine your first unmanned Laythe rover nearing its destination. As you near the moon, you record photos of the beautiful watery moon, with a Joolrise in the background, and transmit them back. Upon arrival of the pictures, every kerbal on kerbin goes wild, as the pictures are the sharpest ever taken from the moon. Your space program earns science and reputation. (You save the picture as a screenshot). It is time for landing. During the last stages of descend your lander deploys the video recorder and records Laythes surface getting closer and closer. You land, the rover drives from the landing platform and takes a photo of itself and the landing pad.

The landing has succeded.

What do you think? Suggestions are very welcome! 

__________________________________________________________________________

All suggestions in this thread! (any suggestions to these suggestions are also very welcome)

-map view

Spoiler

the pictures you have taken of the surface of bodies influence how sharp they appear in the map view. [tater]

-Currencies

Spoiler

  -Camera experiments for rep, science or funds [everyone]

  -Camera experiments for multiple currencies

  -The possibility to get a negative number  [Laythe Dweller]

-Parts and camera experiments   

Spoiler

-Telescope: taking pictures of things outside the Kerbol system (and get actual info about them) [Veeltch]

Spoiler

-Parts that you need to rotate to specific coordinates in the sky. [Veeltch]

-Parts that randomly find objects in the direction they are looking at. [""]

 

-parts to discover new planets further out. Planets inside the Kerbol system. ["",SQUAD]

-parts to find exoplanets (Kepler) [Veeltch]

-parts that search for asteroids (Sentinel)

-parts that look in at the main galaxy and beyond. (Hubble) [""]

-Atmosphere composition scanner: adds a filter to the picture shown to indicate different gasses being present in the atmosphere of [body]. (Also, now I think about it, it could be a good way to show corona's and very thin atmospheres) [Veeltch]

-Radiowave, sonar, infra-red, X-ray, gamma ray etc. Adds filters to look like they are pictures taken in this part of the spectrum. 

-All of the different parts can show geological activities, easter eggs, space phenomena etc. in the generated picture. Things that you cannot see in the not-IVA view. This improves KSP's ability to teach and gives you more reasons to explore. 

Spoiler

-Oscillating double star systems [Veeltch]

-Unknown planets [""]

-Stars on weird orbits [""]

-Radio signals [""]

-certain patches of the sky/surface could light up due to natural phenomena [""] 

-Video-recorders: self explanatory

-Suicide camera (static camera that you drop onto a planet. It will take pictures and then be useless. It will set itself to be debris, so it disappears and keeps RAM low) [Mikki]

-Crew-operated camera's. (presumed to be in all crewed pods) [tater]

-Contracts

Spoiler

-Take pictures from [area] [r_rolo1]

-Take picture of  [body or craft] from [orbit/landed/splashed] of [body]

-Take a picture of [area] from a 90 degree angle from orbit [Demian_Scales]

-Drop a suicide camera on [body] (see 'suicide camera' under 'Parts and camera experiments') [Mikki]

-Add 'taking pictures' to the world fist contracts [Waxing_Kibbous]

-Taking [X] amount of pics from a certain area [rkman]

-Taking pictures of specific objects (a la Take On Mars) [rkman]

-First person view

Spoiler

-Add IVA-camera-point to a camera part, so you can look through its lens (Pun intended and admittedly very bad). [Demian_Scales]

   -maybe on a rover camera.

Edited February 10, 2016 by nikokespprfan

[pandaman]

Yes. I've seen this suggested several times before and I think it would be a good addfition.  IRL cameras are used for real science as well as 'pretty publicity' pictures so it would be a nice extra tool to provide both rep and science.

We have the screenshot option that just gives nice photos, but this would add a game play aspect too. 

[Windspren]

Wouldn't the Kerbal public seeing a Kerbal on the surface of Eve decrease reputation?

This is a nice idea, and maybe these new parts would also give you lots of science?

[nikokespprfan]

On 21-12-2015 at 7:38 PM, Laythe Dweller said:

Wouldn't the Kerbal public seeing a Kerbal on the surface of Eve decrease reputation?

good point

[Ackoli]

On ‎21‎/‎12‎/‎2015 at 4:38 AM, Laythe Dweller said:

Wouldn't the Kerbal public seeing a Kerbal on the surface of Eve decrease reputation?

This is a nice idea, and maybe these new parts would also give you lots of science?

kerbals on eve should start frowning in that case.

[nikokespprfan]

And there could be sonar and infrared camera's.

[Alshain]

This already exists.  It's called a contract.

The cameras on New Horizons didn't get NASA a lot of reputation, the mission, and the results did.  I think a camera would be a nice science experiment which could then have contracts tied to it to earn reputation, but lets not invent a new mechanic when we have one already.

Edited December 27, 2015 by Alshain

[322997am]

9 hours ago, Alshain said:

This already exists.  It's called a contract.

The cameras on New Horizons didn't get NASA a lot of reputation, the mission, and the results did.  I think a camera would be a nice science experiment which could then have contracts tied to it to earn reputation, but lets not invent a new mechanic when we have one already.

What do you mean? Like the explore Ike contracts?

[Pthigrivi]

I think what he means is if landing on or flying by a planet already fulfills a contract then the requirement to take a picture really only ads minutiae. I've seen cameras suggested a number of times, and I'll be honest I don't know what they really add. I mean it seems cool and realistic, but the 50th time you have to line up and take a picture is it really going to be fun?

[severedsolo]

I kinda like this idea, but really reputation needs to be worth something. Let's face it, unless your rep is really terrible, you don't need to worry about it.

[Alshain]

2 hours ago, 322997am said:

What do you mean? Like the explore Ike contracts?

What I mean is a science experiment.  An object, that looks like a space camera, that you right click and choose take picture.  You can then remove it like any science experiment and return it for science.  Contracts could require you gather these pictures as well for reputation and funds.

It makes sense to have a camera object because we use those in real life but  a new mechanic would be redundant and not add much.  Except if they they were to implement ScanSat, which normally I would be all for that but I honestly do not believe Squad is capable of doing that without screwing it up.  So I would rather they leave ScanSat as a mod than implement a complete piece of trash like they did with the resource system.

Contracts add reputation, that is their purpose.  In real life, reputation is gained through prestigious missions, like New Horizons.  That is the closest analog to contracts in the game.  I firmly believe the excitement of New Horizons is why NASA got such a big budget approval from congress.  But, it wasn't the camera specifically that earned the reputation, it was the mission.

Edited December 27, 2015 by Alshain

[nikokespprfan]

1 hour ago, Alshain said:

It makes sense to have a camera object because we use those in real life but  a new mechanic would be redundant and not add much.  Except if they they were to implement ScanSat, which normally I would be all for that but I honestly do not believe Squad is capable of doing that without screwing it up.  So I would rather they leave ScanSat as a mod than implement a complete piece of trash like they did with the resource system.

It is not a new mechanic, in my opinion, but rather an already existing one (that of the science experiments) that is reused for something very similar. The effort that it would take to add it (as far as my knowledge goes, which is not that much) is to copy the code for the mechanic, write extra references (like when to use the science-experiment-mechanic and when the reputation-experiment mechanic) and change all signs of "science" in the copied code to "reputation".

[Alshain]

2 hours ago, nikokespprfan said:

It is not a new mechanic, in my opinion, but rather an already existing one (that of the science experiments) that is reused for something very similar. The effort that it would take to add it (as far as my knowledge goes, which is not that much) is to copy the code for the mechanic, write extra references (like when to use the science-experiment-mechanic and when the reputation-experiment mechanic) and change all signs of "science" in the copied code to "reputation".

To what end though?  Reputation is ridiculously easy to get and contracts are the way to get it.  Why should this be here?  Why should developers spend time on this?  You are talking about introducing a rather complex change for really no gain at all.

Edited December 27, 2015 by Alshain

[Wjolcz]

Cameras with filters showing the composition of planets and their atmospheres would be a great thing to have. Rep could be gained by taking pics, but I don't think it should be much. Like 2-5 rep points per pic.

What I really would like to see in the game is a telescope part. It would take pictures of galactic events, nebulas other galaxies, quasars and display actual info about them.

This game could be such a great tool to actually TEACH about both of those things! Why shouldn't it do so GODDAMMIT!? WHY!?

[nikokespprfan]

On 28-12-2015 at 2:25 PM, Veeltch said:

What I really would like to see in the game is a telescope part. It would take pictures of galactic events, nebulas other galaxies, quasars and display actual info about them.

This game could be such a great tool to actually TEACH about both of those things! Why shouldn't it do so GODDAMMIT!? WHY!?

It is such a shame. I feel you.

[Pthigrivi]

On 12/28/2015 at 8:25 AM, Veeltch said:

Cameras with filters showing the composition of planets and their atmospheres would be a great thing to have. Rep could be gained by taking pics, but I don't think it should be much. Like 2-5 rep points per pic.

What I really would like to see in the game is a telescope part. It would take pictures of galactic events, nebulas other galaxies, quasars and display actual info about them.

This game could be such a great tool to actually TEACH about both of those things! Why shouldn't it do so GODDAMMIT!? WHY!?

I guess the question for me is how does this actually work? I mean think about the actual gameplay. So I'm rotating my view around looking for... what? Is finding a quasar random? How long am I swiveling around looking at things? If I'm near Duna okay I can point and take a picture, be rewarded essentially with free rep and flavor text? How many times is this actually fun?

I love people's enthusiasm and I'd be totally on board I just haven't seen anyone present this as a genuine game mechanic.

[Wjolcz]

38 minutes ago, Pthigrivi said:

I guess the question for me is how does this actually work? I mean think about the actual gameplay. So I'm rotating my view around looking for... what? Is finding a quasar random? How long am I swiveling around looking at things? If I'm near Duna okay I can point and take a picture, be rewarded essentially with free rep and flavor text? How many times is this actually fun?

I love people's enthusiasm and I'd be totally on board I just haven't seen anyone present this as a genuine game mechanic.

That's one way to do this. You would get the coords of points of interest and rotate the telescope in order to find them, or simply take a look from time to time to check if anything there changed. There could be strangely oscillating double star systems, stars on wierd orbits around unknown objects, or simply blinking pulsars. Or sources of radio signals (it's actually a pretty fun way to implement easter eggs IMO).

The other way to implement this would be simply putting a telescope up in orbit that gathers those pics automatically. Like, you know, IRL, I guess. The Hubble telescope is used by many different agencies to take pics AFAIK. You could just leave it there and get dem pics.

There's also the third way to do this, which is SQUAD's way. They had the telescope discovery system in works since forever. The only reason it's not in the game is the fact that they decided to wait till more planets is added, so we actually have something to discover.

Also Kepler-like missions. I would actually be soooo happy to hunt for exoplanets!

Edited December 29, 2015 by Veeltch

[Waxing_Kibbous]

I've mentioned a similar idea around here somewhere- I like the idea of taking pictures as a contract goal and to also have it included in world firsts- I'd prefer science points over rep though.

[sal_vager]

Great idea @nikokespprfan, stickied for the first TOTM of 2016!

[nikokespprfan]

On 29-12-2015 at 0:31 AM, Waxing_Kibbous said:

I've mentioned a similar idea around here somewhere- I like the idea of taking pictures as a contract goal and to also have it included in world firsts- I'd prefer science points over rep though.

Do you still have the link? Maybe there are some valueble ideas in there.

[Waxing_Kibbous]

1 hour ago, nikokespprfan said:

Do you still have the link? Maybe there are some valueble ideas in there.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/index.php?/topic/127964-my-disappointment-in-career-mode-and-10-in-a-whole/&page=2

Right at the top

[sal_vager]

Not played windwalker but another example would be beyond good and evil, where you sold your pics of creatures and plants to earn money in the game.

Hows vf10,000 for a snap of a cactus sound ?

[Waxing_Kibbous]

The Windwaker system was pretty sophisticated for being 10+ years old http://www.ign.com/faqs/2003/action-replay-ultimate-codes-legend-of-zelda-the-wind-waker-photo-quest-faq-390843

 

Edited January 3, 2016 by Waxing_Kibbous

[Nathair]

On 2015-12-29 at 5:51 PM, Pthigrivi said:

 If I'm near Duna okay I can point and take a picture, be rewarded essentially with free rep and flavor text? How many times is this actually fun?

 

How about it being exactly like being near Duna and clicking the thermometer or the goo pipe or the etc.? (How many times is that actually fun in and of itself?) Except instead of giving rapidly diminishing returns of science, reputation (or some combination of the two.) One (or some) more piece(s) of kit to load onto your vehicle, one more "experiment" to run, one more thing for the scientist to reload, one more type of contract request "take a pic of Duna" ...

[Pthigrivi]

12 hours ago, Nathair said:

How about it being exactly like being near Duna and clicking the thermometer or the goo pipe or the etc.? (How many times is that actually fun in and of itself?) Except instead of giving rapidly diminishing returns of science, reputation (or some combination of the two.) One (or some) more piece(s) of kit to load onto your vehicle, one more "experiment" to run, one more thing for the scientist to reload, one more type of contract request "take a pic of Duna" ...

That's kind of my point? I tend to think experiments in general are a bit clicky and unfulfilling at the moment because they don't really have a dynamic besides being clicked. Without addressing this adding cameras really only exacerbates the matter. 

Again Im not necessarily against the idea, I just wonder how rep or science would be scored. How does it go from another thing to be clicked to a real part of the gameplay?

Edited January 4, 2016 by Pthigrivi