Multiple UI Enhancements (For New Players)

As you probably know, Empires has a very high learning curve (almost a cliff) compared to other FPS games out there today. The declining Empires population is not a good sign, and we need to bring new players into the game. Unfortunately, it seems that a lot of these players are being driven away from not being able to enjoy Empires during the first few games they play (which is critical for any mod). The suggestions in this thread are to streamline the user interface more to help deal with the unfamiliarity with how Empires works.

#1: Default Spawn Point
At the start of the game, set the player's spawn point to the only spawn point available (for classic maps). It's a little redundant to have to choose a spawn point when there is only one spawn point to chose from. You still have to click to spawn, and have access to the spawn map, in case you want to do any advanced strategies like barracks rushing.

#2: Remove All Drop-Down Menus
The reason for this is because:
a) They are commonly missed, most new players don't know that there are two pages of character skills to chose from.
b) They are designed so that you have to always click twice to select an option in the menu, which can be repetitive, annoying and slow (e.g. trying to quickly select a loadout in the vehicle menu).
c) They hide the available options from immediate view.

An alternative to drop-down menus is to use tabs. The advantage of tabs is that all the options that are available are displayed without having to click anything, and they are much faster to use.

#3: Redesign Vehicle Menu
Right now the vehicle menu has some problems in that it's difficult to understand what everything does. There are 3-4 pages you have to go through to customize a vehicle and most new players don't even understand how to access the customize menu. I suggest reducing the amount of pages in the vehicle menu to at least 2 pages.

(pardon my bad paint skills)


Here's an example of the revamped first page. You can build a vehicle using this one page by selecting the chassis, the presets that you've made and clicking Build Vehicle. You can make a new preset by clicking New Preset, or make a temporary customization by clicking 1x customize.

Well, those are all my ideas for now.

+ User Interface Enhancements

Pros:​

• - Easier way for new players to learn the game
• - Faster, streamlined interface for existing players
• - More time playing the game instead of navigating menus

Cons:​

• - Some players may not be used to the new interface

Alternatives:​

• - Other vehicle menu designs

 

One problem: making it all fit and visable on 1024x786. Would be rather cramped, and maybe not work. Apart from that, fully agree.

 

maybe we can use my second monitor :D
NAH easier = bad
then people on escort will roll out heavy tank with "PLASMA" and "DUMG" even faster for more LAWLS
i have like 6 preset for light tank 7 for afv 5 or 6 for each apc, and like 7 or 8 for each heavies, are you sure they'll fit?
maybe jsut a giant list ?

 

Either that, or we design a scipted tutorial map, that pops up when they first start the game, do you want to take the tutorial?

 

Uh, no. It needs to pop up saying "Pick one of these 2 options: Meatspin or Tutorial"

 

You could always add a scrollbar on the preset list.

 

I think everyone can agree that the UI should be more streamlined. However everyone agreeing on how it should be streamlined is near impossible.

 

I completely agree with UI Enhancements. They will increase the playability and user base. This is an undeniable pro and the only con is the effort required.

Easier = Bad is poor reasoning. I know as a veteran empires player everything seems straightforward, so noobs making random "LAWL" Tanks is highly irritating and you wish they'd just die. However, you can consider that most of the people making "LAWL" tanks probably know how to play, but are just griefing for random reasons. Unless you are xenophobic, there is no reason not to want new players, considering out of every X amount of new players, Y amount of long-term players are produced, and the Z amount of griefers are inconsequential because any game can have griefers regardless of whether they are experienced players or noobs. Better UI just increases the Y amount of long-term players produced.

The long story short is UI Enhancements = more players = more fun.

 

Get more programmers and we can talk again.

 

shot down due to laziness. ouch.

anyways, it shoudl fit on 1024x768, cause the screenie is 840x525. i think it's a decent idea. pretty ugly, but decent idea.

 

Then fucking code it on your own if you have spare time.

 

You make it sound like lack of team members isn't the reason most of the good suggestions aren't implemented. :p

This should help you get started if you really want this.

 

lol was playing today, made a note of my quick build list
yea i have 11 diffrent apc on be.... lol

 

arklansman: it's not the problem.

 

The devs are incorperating a new UI in the next release. Lets wait abit and se what they have for us.

 

They are? I have heard NOTHING about that, and I'm a tester :eek:

 

the "Voice" menue wasent updated for the testers untill the release of 2.0.

PS
You are? Why was I skipped? I tested the last time.

 

Cause I is special.

But in all reality, you may have been one of the pruned testers that wasn't really testing. Up until RC27 (I think it was 27) the testing was open to any and all forum members, many of which were just taking a joy ride and not helping actually test. Due to this, the testing was changed so that only Krenzo approved forum members could access it.

I really should stop training nubz0rs and get my ass back into testing mode.

 

I beta tested WOW, wc3:TFT, Nexus and Narbacular drop. I am Qualifide!!!!! Let me help!!

 

PM Krenzo, but there's not really any testing going on right now, and Krenzo is busy.