SE5: GUI design discussion..

[David E. Gervais]

Hi,

I'm in the process of coming up with variations on the GUI layout for consideration in SE5. I'll be sending my examples to Aaron in the near future. I'd like to hear any thoughts about your likes and dislikes with regard to the se4 GUI.

For one example, I'm designing a new 'visual tech-tree' for the 'Research' window. I'm aiming along the lines of a flow-chart type layout, but also have a few 'different' things that I might try. Do you think this might be a good thing?

NOTE: any and all comments on the se4 GUI are for reference only. Also any ideas about possible se5 GUI elements you care to share are to be shared freely. I cannot guarantee that I'll implement any in my design suggestions, and the only reward you can expect if I do include any, is perhaps an honorable mention and the knowledge that you have contributed to what might make it's way into SE5.

P.S. I'll also try to frequent the gamesnet #se4 channel for some live discussions.

Thanks, and have a Great Day.

Cheers!

[Arkcon]

Well, let me be the first to mention what most people jump in with early.

Ahem.

More windows-like.

OK, I want to say that I really like the look and feel of the current interface, which some people don't care for. I really agree that the interface for SE5 should be distinctive from the OS environment.

But I do want when I click on the scroll 3/4 from the bottom, the list to jump 3/4 of the way, not to the bottom.

I do want the page down key to jump to the next screen full, not the bottom.

I'd like mouse scroll button implemeted.

Overlapping windows may be a good idea, if implemented well. I have every confidence that you and MM can do it well. But the endless overlapping windows was what I hated about Outpost.

I'd like to see some examples of what you're working on so I can give more specific comments.

Oh ... one more thing ...

You're working on SE5 already? Wow! You guys sure are diligent about pleasing your customers. I thought you'd coast at least one more year. If only every software developer cared as much.

[Mudshark]

I would like the ability to name each individual ship with a pull down window like you can with the class names.

[David E. Gervais]

Originally posted by Arkcon:
You're working on SE5 already? Wow! You guys sure are diligent about pleasing your customers. I thought you'd coast at least one more year. If only every software developer cared as much.

First, I'm just going to 'submit' some design ideas and examples to Aaron. As of right now I'm not working for MM or anyone else. I would like to get the contract to do the GUI Artwork for SE5, but I need to impress Aaron first. I also suspect that I'll not be the only artist submitting design ideas to Aaron. I'd like to hope that getting feedback from the end-Users (like you fine people here) will give me a bit of an edge to get the contract.

Second, it's my humble opinion that if Aaron has most if not all the GUI artwork done beforehand, the programming (coding) of SE5 will progress much faster. Also, I suspect that once Starfury is released, Aaron will be jumping full speed ahead on SE5. I believe I heard mention that he wanted Starfury to be finished by June 2003. That's comming up real fast. So I want to be ready!

Thanks for the list, it's a good start, even if most of the list has more to do with mechanics and gameplay. I'm mainly looking for comments on the 'visuals' I don't know how to draw a 'mouse scroll feature!' but I agree it should be implemented in SE5 (Gameplay features should be posted in the SE5 what's on your wish list thread!) And I thought I did a good job in naming this thread to keep it separate from the 'other' one!

Cheers!

[ February 20, 2003, 17:44: Message edited by: David E. Gervais ]

[Andr�s]

I'd like to see a GUI that resembles more SE3 than SE4.

[David E. Gervais]

Another example of my thoughts for the se5 GUI is this.. Different GUI graphics (not layout) for each race in the game. Possibly done using a combo of textured 'skins' and minor visual changes to the window 'frames'.

This would of course have the desired effect of oppening up this 'visual' aspect to the 'modders' As is, the mods are limited to planets/races/ships and 'objects' the GUI look per say has not been moddable.

I think this would be a nice direction to go 'visually' speaking of course!

Cheers!