Fixing the Horrid UI - Page 4

President_Elect_Shang · #31 November 8th, 2006, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Atrocities said:
I really would have loved to have seen a true 3d Quadrant map too.

You pulled the thought right out of my head!

Baal · #32 November 8th, 2006, 02:47 PM

While it would be pretty a 3d quadrant map would be for looks only. It wouldn't add anymore playablility in my opinion. It's general purpose is to select a system in order to do things in the system; that shouldn't be any harder than it needs to be.

Kana · #33 November 8th, 2006, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Atrocities said:
I really would have loved to have seen a true 3d Quadrant map too. One like they had in MOO3 where you could move it around to view it from any angle. Oh well.

They have this in Sword of the Stars, and while it is unique and intersting at first...it eventually becomes tedious, and basically difficult to use. Talk about UI clutter and big flag problems, you have to turn it around lots of different ways to get the info you want, and be able to navigate where you would like to.

reverend · #34 November 8th, 2006, 05:54 PM

I have only played the demo, since I was waiting for this game a long time. SEIV was on my PC a long time, I just kept coming back to it.

After playing the demo, I don't think I'll buy SEV. The UI is two steps back from SEIV. Most points have already been made in this thread, I might just add that a mouse usually has THREE buttons one could use. For rotating, quick-menus, default commands (middle click always move/attack for example)...

A complex game like SEV need a simple UI. This simply is not the case. I sincerely hope that there will be an update or at least a much better approach in SEVI.

I understand that Maldafor is basically a one-man company developing SEV, but even then, basic rules of UI design apply, and I can't understand that the UI, as it is, got approved in the beta.

frightlever · #35 November 8th, 2006, 06:47 PM

Quote:

reverend said:
I understand that Maldafor is basically a one-man company developing SEV, but even then, basic rules of UI design apply, and I can't understand that the UI, as it is, got approved in the beta.

May God have mercy on your soul...

Suicide Junkie · #36 November 8th, 2006, 07:09 PM

It is quite reasonable that you would be unable to understand something that is completely untrue.

Things that are untrue don't have to make sense, after all.

reverend · #37 November 8th, 2006, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Suicide Junkie said:
It is quite reasonable that you would be unable to understand something that is completely untrue.

Things that are untrue don't have to make sense, after all.

I apologise if I offended the beta testers. I just came to this thread after trying out the demo, still a bit disappointed.

But the UI IS in the game. And it really, really could use some changes.

I liked SEIV. I was looking forward to SEV. But for 45 Euros I expect more than an interface that is worse than the one before.

Atrocities · #38 November 8th, 2006, 09:11 PM

Quote:

frightlever said:

I understand that Maldafor is basically a one-man company developing SEV, but even then, basic rules of UI design apply, and I can't understand that the UI, as it is, got approved in the beta.

I don't to if I should laugh at this comment or simply shake my head in disbelief at its lack of informed presumption.

The beta testers have and had absolutely no say in what is or isn't a part of SE V. To think that we did is just grossly ill informed speculation at best.

The beta testers made recommendations regarding the UI and if you had attended the CHAT yestarday you would know that the focus of the beta and indeed all asserted current efforts to date have been directed at bug fixes. Then will come UI improvements.

Beta testers are just bug finders and game testers, we do not in any way hold positions of influence over the developer and his product.

reverend · #39 November 8th, 2006, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Atrocities said:
Beta testers are just bug finders and game testers, we do not in any way hold positions of influence over the developer and his product.

In my experience, software testing specifically includes usability testing.

Perhaps I wouldn't be as disappointed if I hadn't played SEIV and expected a UI that was actually tailored to simplify the gameplay.

Like I said, I didn't mean to offend the beta testers.

If they had concerns about the UI, good then. In this case, Malfador should have listened better. Still doesn't make the problem go away, unfortunately.

There were many very good suggestions in this thread. I will simply wait how many of them are actually implemented in future patches before I think about buying. In the meantime, back to Dominions 3 for me.

Baron Munchausen · #40 November 9th, 2006, 12:12 AM

We did complain about the UI. Then, since he wasn't gonna fix it tomorrow, we started trying to play the game "as is" and other bugs cropped up. Since he was already committed to the UI design he went for the new bugs we noticed and conveniently 'forgot' about the UI complaints. As testing progressed we occasionally grumbled again, but once again went on to other concerns and since he wanted to stick with the UI he had developed he interpreted this continued cooperation as tacit acceptance of the UI. In order to get him to change it we'd have had to stage a 'sit down' strike and refused any further testing until the UI was changed.

The massive outcry after release finally seems to have broken through his preconceptions about his UI design, but once again he is very busy with other bugs and unless there is a lot of push devoted specifically to UI I fully expect it will 'slip' again in favor of other bugs.