Fixing the Horrid UI

[Atrocities]

General comment: I really think MM should listen to fans' request for UI improvements because, no matter how "good" the game is, SE5 really loses its fun due to the UI. I just don't enjoy playing it, although I want to. The crappy UI just ruins the experience for me; it's too much work, too inefficient and aggrevating.

I agree 100%

[Sivran]

Just four words: Show all the buttons.

What was so wrong with the two rows of buttons in SE4? Show them all, light up the ones that have a use in the current context. Simple, and effective.

[AstralWanderer]

Mouse Cursor
Fix the lag - this makes every flaw in SEV's UI far less tolerable and is the biggest current problem IMHO.

Window Focus
SEV doesn't appear to have any concept of an "active" window to determine where a keyboard command should apply (resulting in the hilarious situation of not being able to use the letter "T" in ship design names during the tutorial since this just brings up/closes the tutorial window). This means that pressing Esc may close a background window (e.g. in Ship Design when reviewing component details).

If having an active window is too big a change for SEV's UI, then each one needs to have unique keyboard shortcuts (especially for common buttons like Close or Cancel).

Better Use of Screen Space
SEV's use of screen real estate is inefficient making it harder to use with lower resolution screens. One specific problem is with the unit display where the headings (in gold) take up as much space as the information field. It should be possible to reduce the space taken by 1/3 just by changing this format (i.e. to something like Heading: Details).

More (and Consistent) Keyboard Shortcuts
SEV only seems to offer keyboard shortcuts for the top-level commands - these need to be expanded to other areas also. In particular it should be possible to use the cursor keys:

• to select a square in the Ship Design window;
• to select a hex/planet/ship (depending on the command chosen) in the System Display window;
• to select a location or ship (depending on the command chosen) in the Combat windows.

Better Positioning of Command Buttons
Having the unit command buttons at the bottom right is just about the worst place possible for efficient utilisation, in terms of minimising mouse movement. A better option would be a floating window which would appear alongside a selected unit which would only contain applicable buttons (reducing wasted space).

Filter/Display Indicator and Selection
SEV needs to indicate when it is possible to right-click on a heading to access filters or displays (adding a special icon which provides left-click access would be the simplest method).

It should then also be possible to select/combine multiple entries - e.g. being able to list engines and weapons in the Ship Components window or being able to display construction queues along with existing facilities in the Colony listing (this is one feature I especially want to be able to quickly determine where I can build new facilities).

Map and 3D Control
Having the map rotate when the cursor is at the left/right hand margins of the screen is counter-intuitive and inconsistent - the map should move left or right just as it moves up or down. Rotation should then be done via right-click drag as with Homeworld. It should also be possible to center the display on any item (e.g. by Ctrl-clicking on it).

One particularly interesting option could be to switch viewpoint to that of a selected unit when in tactical combat mode - this would make it a more immersive experience though it could also more clearly highlight the lack of "true" 3D currently (everything being on the same plane).

Ability to View Old Components
Previous versions of SE allowed you to view previous versions of weapons and other components or facilities (and even use them) making it possible to check the exact benefits of a new generation. This needs to be restored to SEV.

[Suicide Junkie]

...a floating window which would appear alongside a selected unit which would only contain applicable buttons (reducing wasted space)
Do you know about the right click order menu? Select a unit, then right click (on the destination in case of remote actions) and select from the menu.

Also, try turning off the alpha sort (and use KwokStock if you aren't already). Instead of "Ion engines" being completely separate from "Quantum", things will look much more like a hardware catalog, and you won't even need the filters.

[AstralWanderer]

Suicide Junkie said:
Do you know about the right click order menu? Select a unit, then right click (on the destination in case of remote actions) and select from the menu.

Yes I do know - and as you are doubtless aware this menu is very large since it includes options relating to the system and planet (if applicable). It should be possible to left-click on a unit, move the cursor no more than 1-2cm onscreen before left-clicking on an order before selecting a destination (if necessary).

A radial menu (as used in Neverwinter Nights) would make a good choice here since (cascading) submenus could be handled quite easily.

[Suicide Junkie]

That there would be quite nice.
Changing the right click menu to a radial thing. Cargo orders to the right, move/attack at the top. Reports on the left. Stellar manip, retrofits, and miscellaneous at the bottom.

[Yimboli]

AstralWanderer said:
A radial menu (as used in Neverwinter Nights) would make a good choice here since (cascading) submenus could be handled quite easily.

Quite nice indeed. It seems too high of an expectation for a post-release game. My bet is we never see a design change to the right click menu. Plus I think we have bigger fish to fry.

[Atrocities]

<Malfador> So yes, we'll get to them. But bugs come first. It usually goes, bugs, UI improvements, modding requests, feature additions.

Good news.

[AMF]

Most of ther main screen UI problems could be fixed by SIMPLY allowing the player to move the orders, galaxy, and other windows and buttons around. I can't understand why we can drag all the other windows (ship design, etc) around the screen, but not the ones on the main screen. I find it maddening.

[Atrocities]

I wish I could move all the buttons. In Tribes the UI was completely customizable in game with the HUD mover. A novel idea that like the game is doomed to the dungeons of the unknown and long forgotten games.