Need Feedback on a Game I'm Making.

[Elerneron]

Okay, based on the feedback here and on other forums, I have two interface styles for you folks to choose between.  The first is basically just me taking the original design as far as I think that I can.  The second is a total redesign that I think will be a good compromise for players with high screen resolutions and those with relatively low screen resolutions.  If your resolution is below 1024 x 768 I can't really help you . . . maybe it's time for a new computer.

 

Please try both interfaces and give me your opinion on them.

 

Original Interface: https://www.dropbox.com/s/895ef4xjwz6oj6d/7th_Realm.zip?dl=0

 

Redesigned Interface: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nm2g4voc3h95hio/7th_Realm2.zip?dl=0

[Kaos Wulf]

You skipped 5 but here are my answers:

 

 

 

1. 1920x1080

 

2. Firefox 33.0.2

 

3. 3

 

4. Clipped just before 'Neutral' tab

 

5. 8

 

6. UI is very tidy and looks good

 

7. UI is a bit flashy (distracting animations)

 

8. Looks just right

 

9. Not applicable

 

10. Scrolling doesn't bother me

 

 

 

I like the concept so far

[Elerneron]

You skipped 5 

 

Ahhhh!  How'd I manage that . . . fixed the post.

[Westiseast]

1) Screen Resolution:

1920x1080

2) Browser Used:

Firefox 33.0.2

3) How many unclipped John Does do you see?

5

4) If you see 3 or more John Does, about how much of the clipped John Doe is left unclipped?

100 pixels maybe, just before the Neutral label

5) How many unclipped Goblin Boys do you see?

8

6) Is there anything uncomfortable or unwieldy about the design?

The labels like Neutral and Normal should be in a wider font, a bit unreadable now; something weird under the options panel, maybe make it longer.

7) If yes, what elements of the Interface are uncomfortable or unwieldy and why?

doh! already answered.

8) Does the User Interface look “right” in your browser?  (Use the provided screenshot to compare.)

Almost, except under options.

9) If you answered no above, please provide a screenshot.

After the options panel ends, at the bottom of the window the last 100 pixels of the options panel are repeated, fading at the top and filled with background colour instead of grey.

10) Would you rather have the ability to have a larger party (of characters) if it meant that you would have to scroll to see them all, or would you rather have a smaller party that all fit on the screen?

5 is a good max number.

11) Should I release the game with a bit of content, point to a blog where to follow the development or somewhere to get updates after I can't post here any longer?

Yes and yes.

[Elerneron]

 

After the options panel ends, at the bottom of the window the last 100 pixels of the options panel are repeated, fading at the top and filled with background colour instead of grey.

 

Hmmm . . . The image should stretch to fill the area, but I've only tested it for less than the 900 pixel height I made it, not more.  So it's stretching inward properly (squishing?) but not outward.  This may not be an issue for much longer.  I've been re-working the UI based on feedback from here and two other forums on which I post, and the new Options window is wider, but not as tall.  It now fits between the PC and NPC displays like the content window.  I felt that it was preferable to scroll through options if necessary if it stops some users from having to scroll through characters.  I have one user reporting a screen resolution of 1024x768! (And here I thought that resolution was extinct.)  I have a feeling he is gonna be scrolling no matter what I do.

[Elerneron]

Okay, based on the feedback that I received here, and at two other forums I've got a new version for evaluation.  I have removed a LOT of the animated elements.  Now the only animation is on the Needs Display.  I changed the font on the Alignment Display, and I have resized the Options Window to make more room for characters.  I figured people would rather scroll through options if necessary rather than characters.

 

I'm hoping that everyone can fit 6 John Does on their screen.  For those who cannot, Toggle on the Sliding Meters setting under the Needs Display on the left to see if that work-around works for you.  Basically it will hide the meters until you hover over a particular character.  I have only set it up for the PCs, not the NPCs; but I'll port it over if it's a functional element for folks.

 

To take the burden of the game off of LL I have a link to a dropbox download.  (It will also keep things even for all the forums that I'm getting feedback on.  Yeah for copy-pasta).

 

Game Download: https://www.dropbox.com/s/895ef4xjwz6oj6d/7th_Realm.zip?dl=0

[Azathoth]

1) Screen Resolution:

1920x1080

2) Browser Used:

Firefox 31.0

3) How many unclipped John Does do you see?

6

4) If you see 3 or more John Does, about how much of the clipped John Doe is left unclipped?

There is no clipping.

5) How many unclipped Goblin Boys do you see?

8

6) Is there anything uncomfortable or unwieldy about the design?

Yes.

7) If yes, what elements of the Interface are uncomfortable or unwieldy and why?

Certain colour text or numbers looks awful on the colour of the bar behind them. Example: The Red 95% on the yellow bar. Mostly because it gives me a minor headache.

8) Does the User Interface look “right” in your browser?  (Use the provided screenshot to compare.)

Very much so.

9) If you answered no above, please provide a screenshot.

N/A

10) Would you rather have the ability to have a larger party (of characters) if it meant that you would have to scroll to see them all, or would you rather have a smaller party that all fit on the screen?

I am perfectly okay with a large party as long as each member is markedly unique.

 

[Elerneron]

I made a redesigned Interface and updated OP.  Please feel free to give me your opinion on the designs as a reply.  I have added a poll to the other sites where I am posting this, so if you don't have any comments, you can simply vote for the interface you like the best at:

 

http://www.tfgamessite.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=6010

or

http://www.legendofkrystal.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=4653

[Kaos Wulf]

The redesigned format looks a lot better imo. Having the stats down and center feels more personal as a player

[Elerneron]

Another thing that I'd like to know from everyone:

As far as character creation is concerned, do you prefer an immersive system, which makes character creation a part of the story, or a clinical system, which gets character creation out of the way quickly so you can get to playing? If you prefer an immersive system, how much immersion do you like to see?

[Kaos Wulf]

I'm one of those people that thinks the more options you have, the better. It would be a much more ambitious undertaking to accomplish, but immersive systems would keep me coming back to create something different each time. CoC's take was simple at first, but later evolves into one of the primary reasons to keep playing imo.

[Elerneron]

Judging by the feedback I'm getting from the four forums where I'm posting about the game (not so much here, but meh . . .), there seems to be some strong feelings on all sides for the Interface designs. I am assuming that most of this is due to differences in screen resolution and / or aspect ratio, though I'm sure some of it boils down to simple preference. I have therefore decided that it would most likely be worth the extra work to make the Interface customizable.

Basically, I'll be adding a settings menu (which was going in eventually anyway). In it you will be able to choose from a set of possible configurations that best fits your monitor and play style. This may take me a while to set up, but it seems to be the best alternative given the strength of people's feelings about the different designs.

I'm trying to decide how much control the player needs over the interface placement balanced against the work it will take to implement the design. I'm shooting for the ability to place any of the three elements (Base UI, Party, and NPCs) on any of the four sides of the monitor that one wishes with the content and options windows filling the remaining space.

Along with this I will try to add style options for the Party and NPCs elements, allowing for full fixed, condensed slide-out (like in the Party element of the original design) or condensed slide-over (like in the condensed Party element of the redesign). I may limit slide-out to horizontal layouts and slide-over to vertical layouts due to technical difficulty in implementing them in the opposite format however. If I do decide to limit them, I will put a button on the elements to easily toggle between fixed and sliding.