This is a purely hypothetical idea here but I've thought about this quite a lot recently. Many people (at least around here, not necessarily for the mainstream market) have one or several additional monitors. They're not necessarily the same type, the same size or even the same resolution, so most people just use them to view something else while running a game on their main display. The only exception, of course, would be multi-monitor gaming with 3 identical displays.
So, wouldn't it be awesome to just "assign" an additional monitor to the game and have it display extra functionality, like having a menu screen or something else open all the time? The WiiU actually does that with the gamepad to some extent, so it's definitely possible and not completely out there in terms of feasibility. I know that having additional windows open that you could rearrange however you please inside the OS would probably be a huge pain to work out, but simply assigning another monitor that just gets taken over by the full-screen game sounds like it could work out. Have the game itself run on a single monitor and extra screenspace on the second monitor that you can manage inside the game however you please.
Especially for RPGs, management games, strategy games or even shooters (displaying a fullscreen map) this sounds like an awesome feature. I honestly don't know how hard it would be to implement, but it seems like such an awesome idea that any game that tried it would probably get quite a bit of recognition in the PC space. If my "assigning an additional screen" idea is just way too complicated or contrived it could be managed through a browser plug-in or webpage. Games like BF4 can display a live-feed of the entire map through their website, you can also change your loadout through the website (so a working menu to change gear on a character in an RPG doesn't sound too far off either).
So, am I the only one who would really love this? Would it be a waste of development time for a feature that many people couldn't even access? Would it be hard to implement or am I overestimating the issue here? Any other ideas how a secondary screen could be used effectively in a game?
I think that is a good idea, in linux i guess it would be something like assigning certain windows with that info on X:n, Reminded me of some similar thought, but gta 5 did it with their extension of the game for a small app that you fed the dog and modding cars with, regardless it was to have a different camera view of the game on the phone. So maybe a friend could view you playing while in the room or elsewhere in free mode. Combined with your idea i would play the game no matter the title to see what that would be like.
I'm pretty sure that would be a bit unfair in HC. That said, it brings up another good point. In order to make this feature really useful heavy HUD customization would be favorable. Like, disabling parts of the HUD to make the game look more immersive and just having that information on the second screen when it's necessary. Disabling the minimap and just having a big map instead, no ammo counter, etc.
Hard core is like that you don't see your ammo, all you see is the ticket count and your squad, that is why i believe it is disabled in hardcore. When i found out about the feature and tried to use it it says this is not available for HC, when i tried it though it was a long time ago
When playing FSX you can drag different views around, resize them and the like, and audio plays from the perspective you're focused on (clicked on last). I quite enjoy this.
Would be interesting to see some FPS games with an option to place some of the HUD on a secondary monitor and add some extra functionality to it, cleaning out your view. RTS games could really roll with this, too.
This Is also a feature of Supreme Commander and the first time that I had ever seen a use of multiple monitors in a game - on one screen is a map of the city that you are fighting in but you can also zoom in to the playing area, which made it a really good use of multiple monitors. Showing a map in an MMO is one of the very few reasons for gaming in Nvidia Surround - I have one screen with the map and odds n sods, the centre screen for the main gameplay and the other screen for any other odds n sods (inventory when it pops up, etc).
I really like this idea and I wish more, if any, games implemented it. I have a 1080p monitor and a 1050p side monitor at my desk and if I could have for example my inventory, a map, and other utility stuff on the second monitor that would be great. The only game that does this well so far is EvE Online because you know.. spreadsheets.
Chromecast support would also be a very interesting way of expanding games to secondary monitors. I have a 31" chromecast powered monitor as well, if I could stream a map or game info over there that would be amazing.
Exactly my point, I have so much extra screenspace that's in my peripheral vision anyway, if I could get rid of most of the HUD and have it all display on one or two extra monitors that would be awesome.
Judging from some of the earlier posts it is implemented in some games already, having it as one of the must have features for PC games would be pretty awesome though. But who am I kidding, most games can't even get resolution options, customizable HUDs or unlocked framerates right.
Still a good idea, tho. I would love to break up the gui elements to some games to multimon. Support info on the left screen. Game in the center. Mini map ( that now doesn't have to be so mini ) on the right.
