Wartbed:User interface
From Dark Omen Wiki
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|width="50%" valign="top"|Total War titles have a very conventional RTT interface design with all units being presented in a Poker or Domino hand layout: each unit has its card (or brick) and these are lined up at the bottom of the screen. These bricks contain additional information, like unit strength and ammo left. | |width="50%" valign="top"|Total War titles have a very conventional RTT interface design with all units being presented in a Poker or Domino hand layout: each unit has its card (or brick) and these are lined up at the bottom of the screen. These bricks contain additional information, like unit strength and ammo left. | ||
- | + | <br> | |
[[image:Etw gui.jpg|250px|thumb|float|left|200px|Empire: Total War battle interface]] | [[image:Etw gui.jpg|250px|thumb|float|left|200px|Empire: Total War battle interface]] | ||
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|<div style="margin-left:1em; border:2px solid darkgray; background:darkgray;"> | |<div style="margin-left:1em; border:2px solid darkgray; background:darkgray;"> | ||
'''The Card Hand interface''' | '''The Card Hand interface''' | ||
- | <div style="padding:1em; background:rgb( | + | <div style="padding:1em; background:rgb(210,225,210);">'''Advantages:''' |
* At-a-glance overview of army status | * At-a-glance overview of army status | ||
* Fast identification of a particular unit | * Fast identification of a particular unit | ||
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* Standard model and recognisable | * Standard model and recognisable | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
- | <div style="padding:1em; background:rgb( | + | <div style="padding:1em; background:rgb(225,215,210);">'''Disadvantages:''' |
* No positional information | * No positional information | ||
* Enemy units must be presented in a different format | * Enemy units must be presented in a different format | ||
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|valign="top"|<div style="margin-left:1em; border:2px solid darkgray; background:darkgray;"> | |valign="top"|<div style="margin-left:1em; border:2px solid darkgray; background:darkgray;"> | ||
'''The Banner interface''' | '''The Banner interface''' | ||
- | <div style="padding:1em; background:rgb( | + | <div style="padding:1em; background:rgb(210,225,210);">'''Advantages:''' |
* Naturally indicates the unit's position | * Naturally indicates the unit's position | ||
* Friends and foes are presented with the same interface | * Friends and foes are presented with the same interface | ||
* Blends for increased immersion with a tactical setting, especially for pre-modern warfare games. | * Blends for increased immersion with a tactical setting, especially for pre-modern warfare games. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
- | <div style="padding:1em; background:rgb( | + | <div style="padding:1em; background:rgb(225,215,210);">'''Disadvantages:''' |
* Relatively slower to work with by requiring more mouse movements | * Relatively slower to work with by requiring more mouse movements | ||
* More restrictive a container for incorporating additional status information | * More restrictive a container for incorporating additional status information | ||
+ | * If icons are allowed to overlap they may clutter. If they are kept apart they may be disassociated with their unit. (Note that icons aligned to the screen edge should never be allowed to overlap.) | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> |
Revision as of 19:32, 27 April 2009
Stub for detailing what WARTBED's GUI can and do look like.
Contents |
Unit icons
Sources of inspiration for the WARTBED 'unit and regiments identification and usage interface.
The Total War games
Total War titles have a very conventional RTT interface design with all units being presented in a Poker or Domino hand layout: each unit has its card (or brick) and these are lined up at the bottom of the screen. These bricks contain additional information, like unit strength and ammo left.
| The Card Hand interface Advantages:
Disadvantages:
|
Dark Omen
In Dark Omen the user interface is minimal with units being represented and identified by their regimental banners. The banners have two purposes: on the one hand they're hiding the UI buttons by letting them masquerading as regimental banners, thus increasing immersion. Secondly, they are regimental-specific dashboards acting as container for additional information.
The Dark Omen banners also includes information about
| The Banner interface Advantages:
Disadvantages:
|
Dark Omen Notice spread of unit icons | Dark Omen Icons not at the edges are allowed to overlap |
WARTBED
There are several motivations for using either style of interface. One is for fidelity with the original game when designing a module. Another is that the interfaces may be argued to lend better or worse to different types of games; f.i a banner interface can be argued better for a terrain RTT while a card hand interface is better for a space game. And a third argument is simply personal preferences. The ultimate would be if both these styles were supported and selectable both as a module setting and as a user preference.