All the Small Things

[Darvin]

Dev Blog

Now, I'd have to disagree with calling the button system "tedious". That would be a word I'd use to describe the new layout, if anything. The old layout was efficient and simple, whereas with the new system everything is all scattered over the place. Races, classes, and preps are all jumbled together with little organization. While I understand the direction of immersion that you're coming from, in terms of usability I've found the new layout a decisive step backwards.

Anyways, don't let that negative feedback get to you. Keep up the good work and see what you can come up with.

[paplaukes]

Will have to wait and see. Sidebar use sounds good.

[Lujo]

That would be a word I'd use to describe the new layout, if anything. The old layout was efficient and simple, whereas with the new system everything is all scattered over the place.

I agree but I think it's the traditional "please be supportive and accept blatant lies while we figure out a way out of problem X, because there's no way in hell the plan is changing due to feedback". Which is supported by the fact that they offer numerous interesting solutions to creating a way out of problem X, which is currently that the new interface is only realy going to be wieldly if it has an option which would let the players use the old interface. Still, hope it works out, they were really enthusiastic about it...

Or they ment tedious as in "you've been looking at it for so long you're bound to be bored of them". Anyway, fingers crossed it works out... There's bound to be a middle ground between swanky and user-friendly.

[ChasGB]

Yeah, it's easy to see how this is tricky from a design aspect. On the one hand the old buttons were clear and efficient...but at the same time they completely obscured the detailed kingdom artwork to the point that the art served no real purpose. FWIW the old buttons took a modicum of time to get used to; my guess is that once they're done highlighting and outlining the buildings and races, the old system won't feel as rewarding.

I am glad to see the sidebar get an update. Maybe a "View Quests" button?

[Lujo]

I am glad to see the sidebar get an update. Maybe a "View Quests" button?

Eh, if there was a way to show you the completion status of a dungeon you're prepping WHILE you're prepping via advisor, and/or see the current PQI quest you're prepping for I'd get over the new interface in an instant...

[Nandrew]

Dev Blog

Now, I'd have to disagree with calling the button system "tedious". That would be a word I'd use to describe the new layout, if anything. The old layout was efficient and simple, whereas with the new system everything is all scattered over the place. Races, classes, and preps are all jumbled together with little organization. While I understand the direction of immersion that you're coming from, in terms of usability I've found the new layout a decisive step backwards.

Anyways, don't let that negative feedback get to you. Keep up the good work and see what you can come up with.

Okay, fair enough, I know what you mean by that. "Dull" would have been a better word to use.

I hope the blog post didn't dimish the fact that we *know* our immersion and complexity came at a cost to speed. Putting supporting animations and other tooltips into the experience, tactfully, is our primary method of combatting this.

Perhaps the most under-addressed problem is the matter of race/class selection, which as you correctly pointed out is kinda scattered. We're hoping that improving button clarity can solve this (we've got some new graphics in the pipeline, taking size and contrast into consideration), but if that fails ... we may just get a little more drastic and invoke an alternative layout for that portion of the selection process (which, if we go whole hog, should actually end up *smoother* than the old one).

I agree but I think it's the traditional "please be supportive and accept blatant lies while we figure out a way out of problem X, because there's no way in hell the plan is changing due to feedback".

Gone full troll, ey?

[dislekcia]

"please be supportive and accept blatant lies while we figure out a way out of problem X, because there's no way in hell the plan is changing due to feedback"

No. That is not useful, helpful or constructive. You can leave now.

Perhaps you'll be more civil in a week's time.