Spiral Knights - Translucent Chatbubbles in the CW

Translucent Chatbubbles in the CW

16 replies [Last post]

Wed, 01/11/2012 - 20:33

Darkbrady

As title!

I like to have a wee blether while we do CWs, especially since I mainly just dual-party with the missus, but considering the length of time the chatbubbles that appear above the characters heads hang around (which, btw I like), it can actually get surprisingly in the way of your combat, or even just whatever you're doing.

Simple solution; make them translucent so that you can partially see through them and get your vision back, without removing them entirely. Don't get me wrong, I like them there and like that they last as long as they do, I'm just not mad on the fact that they completely block stuff out.

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 01:11

Holonimbus

Maybe...or just have a button that shows/hides the chat bar :)))

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 03:24

Melisan

Like holonimbus says, a

Like holonimbus says, a minimizable chat window would be cool, same with the player list. Also tabbed chat for the love of chemical chance.
Just realised what you meant, you can type "/clear"

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 04:35

Darkbrady

I actually mean the chat

I actually mean the chat bubbles that appear above the characters heads. If you have more than one line of somethin' to say, they turn into big boxes of white hiding spots that run around the screen with you; pretty annoying, to say the least.

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 04:40

Metagenic

Why not just remove chat bubbles?

The words already appear in the chat log, imo there isn't any point in having them show up above the player's head.

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 04:42

Darkbrady

I always liked when they

I always liked when they appear in bubbles in games, gives more of a sense of participation at the scene, rather than just reading a log in the corner, but in the CWs runs they're definitely more hassle than they're worth, but since I still like them there..well, translucency is the obvious compromise.

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 06:12

Nacho

I would like to have

I would like to have translucent chat bubbles when i do WC´s instead. It is really difficult to do that while playing SK, im just saying.

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 07:00

Asukalan

NO to translucency

NO to translucency.

Unless, you can switch it on/off

Forcing translucency will make game lag for some players. I can accept this suggestion only if we will be able to turn it off or on at any time we want.

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 07:04

Darkbrady

Wanna explain that one to

Wanna explain that one to me?

A tiny chat bubble that already appears over your screen and *completely covers* anything behind it which can actually result in damage or death, is ok..but making that tiny chatbubble will cause problematic lag?

Is that like saying that the new bomb graphic causes lag? Because it really doesn't...and I really can't see how the tiny chat bubble will ever cause any more hassle than it already does by being a completely solid block.

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 07:54

Asukalan

Every single transparency in

Every single transparency in screen is making your cpu and gpu work harder, therfore the more transparency the more resources game needs and when resources ran out lags are starting.

And about a tiny chat bubble, tiny+tiny+...+tiny = big bad transparent bubble that will freak out players with no hitech pc or laptops.

Im not neglecting this idea completly, i just want to have here a word saying that it should not be forced to players but players should be able to choose it by themselfs if they want it or not. Since demanding a feature that everyone will be forced to use is a bit selfish.

btw. there is a reason why professional applications always have an option: Transparency On/off...

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 08:08

#10

Darkbrady

/Since demanding a feature

/Since demanding a feature that everyone will be forced to use is a bit selfish./

Can't help but notice that line. I'm not demanding anythin', I'm "suggesting" something because it seems like an obvious breakdown in a twitch-based game in dangerous environments. Sure, I could just not talk when there's things nearby that can kill me, but I shouldn't have to wait till it's safe before I can type without fear of somethin' sneakin' up on me, especially when whatever I have to say is relevant/crucial to the time.

Don't get me wrong, I get what you're sayin', but it's not like a permanant feature, I'm not sayin' the chatbox at the bottom or anythin' that will permanantly cause lag for everyone, everywhere, and I specifically said "in CW", not in town square or anything. A single chatbubble in the CW won't be causing anyone any more lag issues than they already had. If one chatbubble in an instanced environment causes them noticeable lag issues, then I'm surprised they can even play the game at all, to be frank.

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 08:34

#11

Asukalan

You dont get the point. You

You dont get the point. You want chatbubble transparent - done, another person want something else transparent - done etc. etc.

Then we end up with 5 or more new transparencies just becouse they were introduced one by one, and every time someone said "DOH, just one thing wont make lags any worse"

And in addition to that. Its not just one chatbubble, if there are 4 ppl talking, there will be 4 chatbubbles...

Thu, 01/12/2012 - 09:28

#12

Darkbrady

What else needs to be

What else needs to be translucent? The chatbubbles are literally right in the middle of the screen in a twitch-game, short of someone wantin' your actual character to be translucent, there's nothin' more suited to /not/ be completely opaque.

And if there's four people...well honestly, I think what I said about one chat bubble applies, still tbph. I cannot see that being an issue if the game is otherwise being playable.

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 01:21

#13

Zave

i like the idea.

i think it's a great idea. but you two need to stop arguing over this. you've both made your points. one person doesn't think it's a good idea, fine. yes, other people with lag probably agree with him.

ability to turn it off with graphics settings with a check box. there, a solution. like turning down your resolution to play in heavy lag areas. it could even automatically turn off with lower resolutions. (in max resolution only?) problem solved.

<3 you guys for having opinions and sharing them, but really. try to solve the problem 1st?

p.s. this idea was already said. it was noted (a few times) that some people wanted it. so why did this topic seem to get you two upset?

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 01:23

#14

Darkbrady

We've both obviously never

We've both obviously never seen other threads with this suggestion before? o.o

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 02:05

#15

Melisan

Why are you talking when

Why are you talking when there is danger of being attacked by mobs?
I know they linger a bit long so maybe an adjustable time limit on them. If the fact they linger is the problem, before you carry on type /clear

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 02:13

#16

Darkbrady

Lingering is the problem as

Lingering is the problem as such, I like the time they hang around, esp. when they need read; but a big bubble with a lot in it hangin' in the middle of the screen can be surprisingly obstructive, I find. Maybe it's just me?

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Translucent Chatbubbles in the CW