No interface Improvements?

onomastikon · #1 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 · #2 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 ]

#3 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!

onomastikon · #4 January 13th, 2004, 11:10 AM

Oh no I did it again. Help!

Quote:

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.

No, goodness, your post was exactly to the point and not harsh at all. It was not addressed to you whatsoever. I did have the feeling that other people found forms of constructive criticsm (unfortunately perhaps badly formulated like me and my English, so there is lots of room for misunderstanding) to be attacks on the developers.

Sorry for the misunderstanding again.

Pocus · #5 January 13th, 2004, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zen:
Just for Alex. Adjusting Battle Replay Speed!

Thats still the (one and only one) major gripe I have against doms II compared to doms I. Count me on the list too.

Gandalf Parker · #6 January 13th, 2004, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by onomastikon:
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.

If you read back thru some of the older threads you will see that you are coming in on the tail end of some of us trying to train other people in how to ask for things. You definetly have not been the worst. Some got rather loud and rude about things they thought were "broken" and "must be fixed" along with other more insulting choice of words. So things that come up often now from some of us are comments about how the devs have "real jobs and families" and are working on things that they "find interesting" in their "free time" that Users have "requested". I dont really know for sure how much the devs agree with all that but it has made an obvious difference in which threads here they join in, no matter if the ideas are good ones or not.

Gandalf Parker · #7 January 13th, 2004, 06:58 PM

Hmmm I just had my own thought (maybe I should use that "search" in the upper-right of this screen first to see if anyone else has already suggested it)

Anyway, I was thnking that maybe the buttons for some things could change their text to provide info. It would save some button-pressing and make that main screen more informative.

Such as different text for the Mercenaries and Army Setup and Recruit.
Maybe Army Setup could change the color on that formation icon to green to show you that you have unassigned units.

Recruit could show red for things still in the queue so you know which ones arent building when you are viewing a province.

Mercenaries was the main thought. Maybe changing color or text such as
Mercenaries
no Mercenaries (meaning there are none avilable for hire)
due Mercenaries (or something to show that some are due for renewal)
Or maybe it could just be a plus and minus sign added to show hireable and due for rehire

[ January 13, 2004, 16:59: Message edited by: Gandalf Parker ]