No interface Improvements?

Dekent · #1 January 13th, 2004, 03:39 AM

I noticed that this patch didn't seem to change anything to Dom2's argueably weakest point: It's interface.

Does anyone know if Illwinter has any plans for this? It seems to be one of the biggest issues with all of the patch speculation and suggestions, yet nothing at all was done to help it. Most of them are rather minor, and certainly don't require much work, and it seems rather bizare that such common things as "Return to main menu" in game are not present.

It just boggles my mind we get something like Ulms new theme (which just boggles my mind in general) and not have such a widespread issue covered. (Especially when you may have a flock of potential new cusomters thanks to all the gaming mags reviews)

Gandalf Parker · #2 January 13th, 2004, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dekent:
It just boggles my mind we get something like Ulms new theme (which just boggles my mind in general) and not have such a widespread issue covered. (Especially when you may have a flock of potential new cusomters thanks to all the gaming mags reviews)

OR I saw alot of discussion of alot of things that Users felt needed "fixed". I saw some responses from the devs that they were interested in some of them. I see a number of interface improvements in the patch. And now you comment that it looks like they did some fun things in their free time instead of a solo-player feature...
What was the question again?

[ January 13, 2004, 02:35: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]

Dekent · #3 January 13th, 2004, 04:40 AM

If they plan to change any of the interface issues in coming patches, or is it something with a very low priority.

The interface DOES turn off people from buying the game when they try out the demo...and when minor things aren't worked on then what hope is there for the other problems?

PvK · #4 January 13th, 2004, 05:12 AM

According to Gandalf, there are interface improvements, even if they might not all be on the feature list.

Are there other examples of simple interface improvements that would make a meaningful difference?

Personally, I though the changes list looked super! Ulm Black Forest sounds interesting to me.

Also personally, I don't care at all if it has a "return to menu" option or not. It only takes a few seconds to exit and re-start manually, and it's something I almost never want to do in practice. It's possible it might not be entirely trivial to implement, either. Is that really a meaningful feature to you? Hard for me to imagine, but I realize everyone likes different things.

PvK

Graeme Dice · #5 January 13th, 2004, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PvK:
Also personally, I don't care at all if it has a "return to menu" option or not. It only takes a few seconds to exit and re-start manually, and it's something I almost never want to do in practice.

That's the hard way. The easy way is to rpess 'e', then click on exit. It takes you back to the main menu and saves what you've currently done in your turn. You have the option of starting again, or continuing from the same orders when you go back to the turn.

Dekent · #6 January 13th, 2004, 06:16 AM

Hmm wish I knew that when I was remaking the game 30 x in a row playing with the mod tools a few hours ago ;p

johan osterman · #7 January 13th, 2004, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dekent:
I noticed that this patch didn't seem to change anything to Dom2's argueably weakest point: It's interface.

Does anyone know if Illwinter has any plans for this? It seems to be one of the biggest issues with all of the patch speculation and suggestions, yet nothing at all was done to help it. Most of them are rather minor, and certainly don't require much work, and it seems rather bizare that such common things as "Return to main menu" in game are not present.

It just boggles my mind we get something like Ulms new theme (which just boggles my mind in general) and not have such a widespread issue covered. (Especially when you may have a flock of potential new cusomters thanks to all the gaming mags reviews)

Interface changes would have to be made by JK, JK has only so much time. The new themes mainly take up Kristoffers time. Illwinter simply does not have the reources or time to implement all the interface suggestions.

Why does the Black forest theme boggle your mind? Ulm is inspired by amongst other Teutonic Knights and German Landsknechts. The black forest theme is Ulm an intended shift of style towards central and eastern Europe, Southern- Germany/Bavaria and Tranasylvania. One of the classic ingredients of gothic novels is tainted bloodlines, another feature common amongst the traditional, Anglo Saxon and Protestant, gothic novel is that it takes place in some part of catholic Europe, so making a goethicized fantasy 'Bavarian' Ulm is a natural step, I think.

onomastikon · #8 January 13th, 2004, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Interface changes would have to be made by JK, JK has only so much time. The new themes mainly take up Kristoffers time. Illwinter simply does not have the reources or time to implement all the interface suggestions.

You answered my question of the thread I started Last week (before I even know a patch was coming out). Thank you for this information.

I read Dekent's post as being serious constructive criticism. Maybe his tone or choice of words (like mine I am sure, it already happened, I am not the best writer in the world) makes it seem that certain good things are not appreciated, which I am sure is not the case. But if Dekent can be read as saying "hey these interesting features are good and make the game more variable, but I did not feel that the game was lacking in this area (note: that is a COMPLEMENT), but when I hear 'patch' I had hoped for global improvements in what I felt to be an area upon which could be improved, namely: the interface", then I would agree with him. Maybe people like he or I are in the vast minority of people who currently play or would be interested in playing DomII in the future, who knows? I personally dont feel the "exit" needs work, but my thread with interface questions really does.

But in any case, I feel that people should also be able to post their questions and opinions about this if done in an appropriate manner. I also really honestly believe that this can also be read as a compliment (e.g. the game is very very varied and very very well-balanced as it is), and that devs and everybody here can and should welcome constructive criticism.

johan osterman · #9 January 13th, 2004, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by onomastikon:

quote:
Interface changes would have to be made by JK, JK has only so much time. The new themes mainly take up Kristoffers time. Illwinter simply does not have the reources or time to implement all the interface suggestions.

You answered my question of the thread I started Last week (before I even know a patch was coming out). Thank you for this information.

I read Dekent's post as being serious constructive criticism. Maybe his tone or choice of words (like mine I am sure, it already happened, I am not the best writer in the world) makes it seem that certain good things are not appreciated, which I am sure is not the case. But if Dekent can be read as saying "hey these interesting features are good and make the game more variable, but I did not feel that the game was lacking in this area (note: that is a COMPLEMENT), but when I hear 'patch' I had hoped for global improvements in what I felt to be an area upon which could be improved, namely: the interface", then I would agree with him. Maybe people like he or I are in the vast minority of people who currently play or would be interested in playing DomII in the future, who knows? I personally dont feel the "exit" needs work, but my thread with interface questions really does.

But in any case, I feel that people should also be able to post their questions and opinions about this if done in an appropriate manner. I also really honestly believe that this can also be read as a compliment (e.g. the game is very very varied and very very well-balanced as it is), and that devs and everybody here can and should welcome constructive criticism.

I don't think my response to Dekent was particularily harsh, and I do think people are reporting their suggestions all over the board, without feeling particularily harassed. I am sorry if you feel I have stifled constructive criticism, I don't think so myself.

[ January 13, 2004, 08:24: Message edited by: johan osterman ]

#10 January 13th, 2004, 10:33 AM

As most newbies will find out; Johan O. is just down to business, not particularly harsh. He has the benefit of having to answer the same questions repeatedly

I found Dekent's post(s) more of the "I want, I want, I want" variety instead of the "constructive critisism" variety. Progress was made with the interface and as some might note, even with our shiny new publisher, the developers only have a certain amount of manpower to give you your patches.

I'm glad the patch included some of what we wanted while disappointed it didn't provide some of the major annoyances. I'm a firm believer that if you give a good enough argument with enough input that you can tempt Illwinter into giving very reasonable thought to your suggestion(s).

The opposite is true, if you trivialize or become greedy without doing more than ranting, I have very little faith they will listen to you.

With that said; I'm sure a new wish list for a future patch will be surfacing soon; and I'm sure they already have in mind their list of priorities to patch as soon as they can.

Just for Alex. Adjusting Battle Replay Speed!