"New" UI design.
Tue, 04/02/2013 - 23:46
I'm full of respect for current (soon old) game design to Three Rings, it is simple+useful and it is different. And as any good design it don't distract working/playing process.
New Ui design is a step back. As a designers you know that main thing of any design is usefulness.
1. The big image of player's knight on top left - what purpose of it, who needs to see his knight and rang all the time?
2. Shield bar - we can see shield health by checking it's colour.
3. Percent of health+Health bar.. maybe something one?
Overall new Ui remembers me some of RPG games from 99-05, and they wasn't great at all.
Cheap looking gradients, cheap icons.. one word - cheap. Like one of those korean games.
Ui is like great infographics, only main information without any heavy information.
The current "old" design have something close to clockworks, something from steampunk, and what about new UI? What pushed you to make it?
I can't say how useful the new design, but it is ugly, and that is enough. Old one is full of rounds (clockworks yeah), and new one is a mess from "squares", rounds and even rectangles.. what?
If you have taste (and you have it, OOO), just compare:
omgwhathaveidone
<3
ps. There is lots to say about new UI.
I love this game, I didn't play any other game for last 5+ years, because they was awful. Please, Three Rings, don't make Spiral Knights ugly.
What to do? As you can check, companies make rebranding from time to time, and they don't change their look at all, they looks like before but renewed at same time. For example Nivea, Apple, Google or even Starbucks.
As an example: current UI is a little bit ragged, it could be more smooth (I'm about squares on roundings)
And as I type before, UI size should be adjustable and with option to minimise.
I constantly update this message.
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 07:12
#2
=0
I did not see the new design in the game yet just pictures n such I have to admit from pictures the vial re-skins and just the player health looks a bit "ugly" in my view, but once I test it out or see it in Spiral Knights I will then share my real view, but I do admit might be some bias viewpoint sadly since I seen this old UI for 2.5 years or so.
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 07:16
#3
Personally:
I could take or leave the new UI.
Just include an option to switch between old and new UI if possible.
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 07:40
#4
@Njthug
You need to make another alt, everyone knows your Eury's alt. :3
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 07:42
#5
This is windows 8 all over again.
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 07:53
#6
@ Little-Juances
Couldnt said it better, really. The new UI reminds me of something from the era when Maple Story was new.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HcBG8gPpclQ/UCx96VYsdVI/AAAAAAAC0FE/D...
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 08:37
#7
I hate how there is,
I hate how there is, apparently, no way to check your party members' HP in your UI.
How am I gonna be the Medic of the team now if I can't tell right off the bat that someone's gravely injured or dead?
As for the picture, it's not that bad people. Sure, it could be slightly smaller, but it's not like "OMBG THIS PIC IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING AGHHHHHH!!!".
Aw man, dem health bars. Dem health bars. Now I can know when Vana's almost dead or not, so I can have no fear in wasting 10+ CE for a revival.
Enemy Radar! Yay, our Recons have done good work for once!
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 10:41
#8
Another voice in the mob of complaints
The new UI is just taking so many steps back in the game's functionality. The two big things that I have a huge problem with are as follows:
Money not on the screen: I know that Nick says that showing money gives a "linear mindset" but frankly, I'm not quite sure how that is going to help. Sure, as I fight my way through clockworks I look at my cash to see how much I've earned, but will that be any different if I can't see it all the time? Like any economy, the SK economy is driven by money. That's the point, really. Disallowing me to have easy on-screen access to my crowns does not stop me from thinking about it, all it does is force gameplay to stop periodically to see how much we've earned. The only thing this does is make playing the game less smooth.
Energy not on the screen: Nick has the same argument for energy as he does crowns, and I have the same response: It doesn't help at all, it just breaks up the game a little bit more, which is time wasting. But even more so with energy. While crowns are the lifeblood of the economy, energy is the lifeblood of the GAME. Everything we do revolves around it, so why can't we easily see how much we have? Once again, this does nothing good at all.
I hate to just rag on the update, but that's all I have time for now. I'll post some more pros/cons later. I hope another voice helps improve SK.
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 11:38
#9
Stuff
I agree with the HP bar being too far away from the knight. I do like the percent thing though. I've definitely had times where I have picked up hearts when I saw a full HP bar. I'm also in agreement with Jaguar about money and energy. It's just nice to be able to see that at all times.
@Brownie: Are you saying there's no party health bars at all? I only ran the new mission once, and solo, so I didn't get an idea of that yet. I agree with you that not being able to see party health is very bad if that is the case.
I am indifferent about the image of the player knight in the upper left. Shield bar is OK to have in my opinion, but I can see why people wouldn't like it.
Targeting is interesting. If you turn off AT, you can't see enemy names at all because you aren't marking targets. I do like that the target marker distinguishes mineral sizes, just so it's a little easier to notice the big ones.
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 13:19
#10
less colorful and yet way too busy
OOO - I'm sad. I've played this game since August of 2011 and have logged 1500+ hours. All of which were enjoyed in the simplistic and inviting realm of Spiral Knights. I've tried other games: Maple Story (made it 4 hours and quit), Dragon Nest (made it 50 hours and got rather bored), etc. but they were nowhere near as fun or as easy to understand and play as SK. I'm sad because you are trying to be something that you have no need to be. Here are my thoughts. I'm sorry I haven't taken the time to give positive feedback on the changes that may be worth keeping:
{{{Player names are now white, green if a guildmate and blue if a friend. This color scheme is also used on the mini map.}}}
Please give us our colors back -- the new white names everywhere looks VERY ugly. It's not fun and colorful like it used to be. It's very bland & boring. Also, am I an idiot that I don't know who my friends are and if/when they're on??? Or which guild I'm in? I don't need them to be color-coded for me. Maybe just keep them color-coded on the mini-map as having colorful dots running around didn't matter in the old UI anyway.
{{{- A visible character portrait}}}
{{{- A new way of viewing health: health pips now change from red to silver and finally gold as more health is accrued. Additionally, a percentage health display is present.}}}
{{{- A shield power meter under health}}}
The portrait is lame. I agree with everyone above and below who thinks that it is ugly and a waste of space.
{{{Chat on lower left now being higher on the screen}}}
So much of this UI takes up space and you've made it to where chat on the lower left is now higher on the screen, which is rather unfortunate. Please move it back down again.
All in all please do what Heavy-Dragon said above:
"Just include an option to switch between old and new UI if possible."
Thank you for hearing us!
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 13:28
#11
Please.
Give us the possibilty to choice if we want to play with a giant switch icon in the view or not. In LD that's just impossible to play...
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 13:33
#12
Buttons!
All of this aside.... where's the 'Find Party' Button?
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 14:07
#13
Why oh why
Wow, this is just terrible :(
Why does the change weapon icon have to block the entire portion of the screen to my character's right? I know which weapon I select and incase I would get confused I'd glance down to see my health and current weapon at the same time. This is very distracting. I don't see why companies continuously change things to make them "better" when they just alienate so many of their users.
Can't drop vitapods anymore??? I'll really miss that since dropping my vitapod for a teammate who has lower total health was certainly a pride :(
The vials look like something from a 2D sprite game and gaaah where is my ce and crowns I've been working for?
I basically have to keep pressing i to keep checking my ce and crowns.
The enemy health display is...interesting. At least it makes it especially easy to see how much more damage the DA does than the Sudaruska. Really makes the lack of balance between some of the weapons shine in the player's face. 3 hits to kill a cake with DA, 4 with Suda :/
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 14:41
#14
This is the first update I
This is the first update I have had a problem with.
The UI is just terrible, seriously 3 rings, what kind of drugs/liquid have you guys been taking these last few months.
Alright i'll give it to you guys that the UI looks slick, but a shield bar?
Health on enemies? I thought no health was fine, wasn't it?
Spoonfeeding players by showing the weaknesses of each enemy? I dunno what to say but what the hell happened to you guys? This game is going into one hell of a terrible direction, or at least this new update really shows the exact contrary of what I thought of you guys. Don't [scrap] up your game guys. As a SEGA fan i was happy to see such a great devteam becoming part the family. Please 3 rings, dont f it up please
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 15:07
#15
Honestly
The best UI change would have been to make the edges of the old one less pixelated and smoother. I don't need a huge image of my knight, I stare as his chibi butt all the time when venturing through the clockworks, and if I'm really feeling vain I can just open the character window.
The new UI is terribly laggy, which is saying something as my computer can run Vindictus on high-graphics without a problem, but I'm getting 1 second pauses for every attack I make now.
And the design is nowhere near the streamlined and modern look the designers probably envisioned. It looks like a prototype version of Windows Aero, and a sad one at that.
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 15:18
#16
Dear God
April Fools, right?
You're just a little late this time .. right?
God?
GOD?!
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 15:21
#17
5:21 PM
My reaction to seeing the new UI.
The old UI was very convenient, and graphically pleasing. Health at the bottom. Vials at the top. Simple as that.
The graphics for the Vials and Capsules were simple and good-looking, but now they look strange and like they were supposed to look realistic, which threw me for a loop when I first saw them.
The Shield Bar might be helpful, but I liked just looking down at the color of the bubble and deciding it from there. It was simple.
Nothing needs to be complicated or shiny or futuristic. As long as it works and makes me happy, I'm fine with it.
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 15:25
#18
I'm sad :(
Wow, just finished a vana run with some guildmates, and showing enemy health has made this game so easy. You can also see the hitpoints of trojans and vana himself (including his mask). Normally I'm the shivermist user in the group, but because we could see vana (and his masks) health, I just switched to my blitz and went at it. Knowing exactly how many shots left to kill vana (and his mask, and his trojans, and everything in the game right now) makes this game so much easier.
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 15:52
#19
Dear God
Thanks, actually. When that cat took a squat on my boots this morning I thought it was you laughing at me. Now I know what it really was, a warning.
I feel better now.
EDIT: Also I find party members' icons difficult to uh, differentiate. I feel pretty dumb squinting at half a face and body.
EDIT EDIT: Haven is pretty bland now with the white names and the dull mini map. And THANK YOU for the chat scroll bar! NNG
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 17:27
#20
I'm in total agreement with
I'm in total agreement with everything said above. This game UI wasn't perfect but made me happy for over 2000 hours.
I've got a bad feeling at the moment when I found that the test server was only open for less that an day ...
All the patch and updates before fulfilled me with joy ( except the shard bomb one ) therefore this is the first update that make me think about QUITTING THE GAME FOREVER. Too much bad taste, futility and screen fulfilling with nonsense.
Even if this is just a game I feel a little betrayed by the turn being taken by something I came to love every day...
Or this is just a really really bad easter egg, and I'll just wait for OOO to announce that they got me ;)
From now on this is one sad birthday to remember.
Hemsy
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 20:06
#21
Back again. Even more rant, but with some good now, too.
EDIT: I had some things wrong in my list, due to errors on my computers part, I guess. Also, after having done a Tier 3 run, I've just figured out that the game is not fun to play now, with this update. It's just... awful.
This has been said before, probably, but I really want to drive the point home to the developers here. This is all just about the new UI update.
Regarding the aesthetics of the new UI:
CONS:
The scheme of the new interface - It looks basic and unprofessional, like the works of a beginner flash game maker.
Pills and vials - An unnecessary "realism" approach. Is not aesthetically pleasing, smaller, thus harder to figure out what the vial's status is.
Character portrait - Again, unnecessary. You don't need a picture of the character you are playing, it just wastes space.
Shield bar - You gave us a way to view our shield health a long time ago, which is the shield circle. We don't need an extra bar sticking out.
Mini map - We know what direction we're moving, arrow not needed. What I do need is to see the color of my teammates, to tell them apart.
Character names - This is a COLORFUL game, don't make things white. I don't need to know the rank of people. I know who's in my guild, also.
Health/Vial position - Either give us the option to move them around or put them back where they were. The new layout blocks my view.
Unable to drop Vials - We should be able to help others and give them our vials, this game is about teamwork.
No crowns/energy on screen - This is my BIGGEST problem. We earned it, we should be able to see it without breaking game play.
Characters in your party - Health should be units, not a percent bar, for precision.
"Pick-Ups" Bar - We know we picked up a stature, no need to tell us. I also assume that the flaming pot I picked up is called "flaming pot".
Screen shakes when damaged - Does nothing but impair game play, there are already enough things that tell us we've been hit.
PROS:
Monster health bars - Will help dealing with monsters much better, but the bar has some clipping issues.
Weapon Switch - Helps with weapon switching, but it too needs less opacity, as to not impair vision.
And that's really the only good I can find out of this. I'm pleading with ya'll, developers, I've seen too many things ruined when they try and do these silly graphical overhauls. It takes AWAY from the game, instead of adding to it. I know I'm not the most convincing person, and I probably made numerous spelling and grammar mistakes, but I implore ya'll to fix this stuff. Or at least, like everyone else says, just give us the option to have the old UI. I just can't take this new one.
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 20:34
#22
.
like the GUI overall but just a few issues i have
whilst in haven
1. no mist or CE / CR display
2. can minimize the activities independently but not the other two spots bottom left and bottom right
3. wish i could move CR / CE market into the activities area
4. be nice to move all the bottom right options to the bottom left and have a large chat area :P
whilst in game
1. health at top left should be at the bottom center of screen along with or without shield bar
2. cant tell who is leading the group anymore nor how much health they actually have
3. weapon wheel should be optional
Wed, 04/03/2013 - 23:37
#23
moved
moved
Sun, 04/07/2013 - 04:32
#24
new ui
Its laggy and makes loading between maps slow.
I get hangs (often) and crashes (not often) on 7.2k RPM SATA, i7, GTM540, latest Java.
Yes, its a laptop but this hangs and crashes didn't happen in the previous UI.
> April Fools, right?
> You're just a little late this time .. right?
I hope that's true too.
I dont like the top left picture and the pill/vial skin, maybe there should be option to remove / minimize it.
it's blocking so much vision. health bar of monster I like,
The picture on top left corner, doesn't do anything, thanks I know how I look like, I can do that pressing tab, I dont need a small sculpture there constantly reminding me of how i look like ._.