Apprentice 2 GUI beta testing

Gregjazz · Sun 25/01/2004 00:29:06

Hi,

We received several complaints regarding the interface in Apprentice 1, so we decided to 'fix up' the interface in Apprentice 2 -- even if totally rebuilding the interface was necessary. Well, that is just what I did. Here's the new interface I am proposing, based on advice and ideas from Mr. Colossal and Igor. C&C, please.

http://herculeaneffort.adventuredevelopers.com/app2gui.zip

Personally, I think the new GUI is easier to use. I already have it working and built into Apprentice 2, so if we decide to use this GUI, it's no extra work.

Bob The Hun · Sun 25/01/2004 05:18:01

I like it. Definitely much easier than the original's GUI. Eliminates much scrolling and clicking.
I suppose if I had to give any complaints about it, it would be that clicking on all the objects all the time would always give you an interaction (like if you wanted to go into a door, you might just get the look interaction for the door) but I imagine that's probably already been worked out, anyway. As long as the 'walk-to' spots assigned to the look command don't interfere with getting in and out of things, I can't see any potential problems with it.
Ah, and now that I recheck the demo, I notice that the stairs on it have their default command as 'walk-to'. Tricky, tricky!
Anyway, as long as all the exit hotspots are like that, I think it's a great GUI. Seperating the walk command from all the other commands, and only allowing the right-click command change when it's on a hotspot pretty much eliminates all the problems with a right-click interface.
Keep up the good work!

Gregjazz · Sun 25/01/2004 05:51:35

All the exit hotspots are like that. How's the inventory interactions?

Did you notice also that if you click 'use' on an object and hover the cursor over the same object, it is a 'use' interaction rather than a 'use with' interaction?

Bob The Hun · Sun 25/01/2004 06:08:09

Ah, completely forgot to look at the inventory the first time.
Went back and played around with the new inventory a little bit.
Quite simple, and simple GUIs are always good. But you already mentioned the biggest improvement over the old inventory (being able to use an object by itself) That should help simplify things a bit (no more clunky sounding 'use object1 with object1' like in the original's GUI)
Should work quite nicely, although displaying only two objects at a time could be rather awkward if the game ever gives you a large amount of objects. If not, than I honestly can't think of anything else you could change. Overall, I think that the GUI works quite nicely, and it lacks the awkwardness of the original. The smoother a GUI is the better, and this GUI seems to be quite smooth.

Bernie · Sun 25/01/2004 10:01:25

This works great, well done!
There's only one thing that could improve it (for me). When you're in 'use object with' mode and don't click on a hotspot/etc, it should change back to walk mode.
In any case, keep up the great work!

Chicky · Sun 25/01/2004 11:33:51

hey,

Everything's great for me Geoff. I love the interface the only problem i ever had with the 'right click to change curser' style was that you kept having to change back to walk again, and this is now not a problem atall.

One comment tho, i think the 'use inventory on' curser may need somthing else apart from the command line just to make it stand out from the rest. Maybe the wand could have some kind of a sparkle to it, or maybe have the letters inv next to it.

or is it just me being me, hmmm

anyway, goodwork

-a chicken

Erwin_Br · Sun 25/01/2004 12:45:12

Are you going to re-release Apprentice 1 too with that new interface? If only for the sake of consistency?

--Erwin

big brother · Sun 25/01/2004 17:00:48

I too like this new interface! Oversizedchicken's sparkling wand idea is pretty good, we'll have to try that.
If we update the first Apprentice, it'll have to be the talkie version.

Gregjazz · Sun 25/01/2004 19:36:13

Quote from: Bernhard on Sun 25/01/2004 10:01:25
This works great, well done!
There's only one thing that could improve it (for me). When you're in 'use object with' mode and don't click on a hotspot/etc, it should change back to walk mode.
In any case, keep up the great work!

Actually, when you're in 'use object with', and you right-click on nothing, it switches to 'walk-to'.

Igor · Sun 25/01/2004 21:23:50

Hm, the link doesn't seem to work at the moment... I'll try it out later.

Bernie · Mon 26/01/2004 00:38:25

Geoffkhan - I meant the left click. He'd only alter the direction he's facing on left mouse click while in 'use object on'-mode.

I'd suggest either to make him able to move on left click while in that mode or make it switch back to walk mode. He's able to walk in all the other modes, so this feels a bit strange to me.

In the end it's just something cosmetic and wouldn't hinder the fluidity of the game, so don't worry too much about this.

Gregjazz · Mon 26/01/2004 04:39:21

It's no problem for me to have it display, "walk to" when your cursor is not over a hotspot, and you're in the 'use with' mode. I didn't want left click to change back to walk-to just in case you slipped. But if all you guys really don't think that's a problem then I'll change it.

Igor · Mon 26/01/2004 17:16:18

Just downloaded it- perfect! I don't think there's anything you'd need to change now- it's easy and fast. Love it

Bernie · Mon 26/01/2004 22:33:34

Well, since I'm the only one who pointed this left click thing out, I'd say do as Igor says - don't change it.