Whats so bad about the UI????

[Possum]

OK, let's address the concept that I am somehow reluctant to use both hands.

I spent most of 6 years playing FPS games, (that's First-Person Shooters, to those who aren't familiar with the term)

TF (Team Fortress) was my game-type of choice. TF is a series of mods for various engines. Essentially, the TF concept is a class-based variant of CTF (Capture the Flag), involving 9 classes (Soldier, Demoman, Heavy Weapons Guy, Scout, Spy, Flametrooper, Medic, Engineer, and Sniper). I led and co-led several different clans. I played in two different leagues, albeit not at the same time.

League play involved 2-4 hours of practice 3 nights a week, and then a game on Sunday (usually).

I list all this only to give you some idea of the dedication and seriousness I brought to this pursuit, and also the hours committed.

Nobody ever, ever, ever played any FPS game competitively without using both hands. It can't be done. Period, end of sentence, end of paragraph.

I spent years using both hands furiously, to the point where I wrapped my left wrist with an Ace bandage before playing, simply to limit range of motion, and avoid RMI injuries.

There were weeks when I spent 25-30 hours or more playing TF. With both hands.

Am I making my point here? Your "use both hands" routine is so much hogwash.

[Atrocities]

I use both hands all the time in ALL of my games.

I learned to use the Key Board by playing Freespace.

[Hugh Manatee]

Ok, obviously you are willing to use the keyboard if you like the game enough, then why all the reluctance from everyone in using the keyboard for space empires(which requires MUCH less reflexes and stress then a FPS)? It seems that you agree with me, I'm basically saying the hotkey commands make the UI much smoother, and there's no good reason not to use them in this sort of game where there's a large amount of commands to execute you need at least 3 mouse strokes and clicks as opposed to 1 key command. You seem to be saying the keyboard is essential too, where's our conflict?

[Suicide Junkie]

Better hotkeys would go a long way to encouraging that...

The commands that are most often used need the first choice of hotkey.
O for load? Psh. I don't even know what the hotkey for drop is... certainly not D though.

BTW, does anybody know where the default hotkeys are defined so that I can fix them?

[DeadMilkman]

Personally, the only thing I really dislike about the UI is that the screen does not center on your current selection when using the Next/Previous ship buttons. I have lost count of how many times I have sent a ship way off course because I thought a different ship was selected.

(OT)
Heyya Possum, I'm an old TFer myself (from qwtf days). Went by [FC]Lee Harvey Oswald back then, was a founding member of Fatal Cure, and Clan Doomsday. I do indeed miss those days, before cheats became such a common thing in online gaming. Now I am considering if I want to try TF2 when it finally comes out.

[Possum]

DeadMilkman said:
Personally, the only thing I really dislike about the UI is that the screen does not center on your current selection when using the Next/Previous ship buttons. I have lost count of how many times I have sent a ship way off course because I thought a different ship was selected.

(OT)
Heyya Possum, I'm an old TFer myself (from qwtf days). Went by [FC]Lee Harvey Oswald back then, was a founding member of Fatal Cure, and Clan Doomsday. I do indeed miss those days, before cheats became such a common thing in online gaming. Now I am considering if I want to try TF2 when it finally comes out.

Hey hey, buddy! I'm pretty sure I remember you! You know, actually, the name Dead Milkman sounds damn familiar, you sure you never used that as a TF handle?

I played QWTF, yeah. I was a member of the "Cult of CZ", as canalzone was my favorite map.

Then I played TFC, then Q3F, and finally ETF.

Do you remember an old QWTF map called Colony, where you had to collect the canisters? How about Aztec1?

[DeadMilkman]

Possum said:
Hey hey, buddy! I'm pretty sure I remember you! You know, actually, the name Dead Milkman sounds damn familiar, you sure you never used that as a TF handle?

I played QWTF, yeah. I was a member of the "Cult of CZ", as canalzone was my favorite map.

Then I played TFC, then Q3F, and finally ETF.

Do you remember an old QWTF map called Colony, where you had to collect the canisters? How about Aztec1?

I remember your clan well, I have played Aztec1, but dont recall Colony, but my mind isn't what it used to be

I didnt start using the name DeadMilkman until a couple of years ago while playing COD, but have used it in several games since then. It may sound familiar to you because it is an old punk band from the 80's.

My favorite maps were Rock, canalzone, well6 (overplayed I know, but still a fav). Didnt get into TFC much, as my clan had pretty much broken up by then, and I didnt like the physics much.

[Possum]

Agreed, Rock was awesome, though Rock1 and Rock2 were significantly different.

CZ, ahh, the best TF map ever, back in the days before bunnyhopping spoiled things.

Well6, yes, another classic!

And as far as TFC, yeah. The physics sucked, and the HL1 engine was never ever meant for MP gaming. But it was something to do while we waited for Q3.

I will confess, by the time Q3 was released, I was so sick of TFC that I actually played Q3 CTF while waiting for Q3F (the fortress mod) to be ready.

[Baron Grazic]

Suicide Junkie said:
O for load? Psh. I don't even know what the hotkey for drop is... certainly not D though.

'K' for drop. The only way I remember it is Drop (K) is below Pick up (O)
The hot key that gets me, is 'Move ship to Way point n'. Putting this back to SE IV method would save me a lot of trouble.

[Fyron]

Baron Grazic said:
'K' for drop. The only way I remember it is Drop (K) is below Pick up (O)

So QWERTY-centric; I feel disenfranchised! My o and k keys are 3 apart!

Putting this back to SE IV method would save me a lot of trouble.

Easier done than said. Just go into the Controls configuration in the main menu.