13-04-2004 22:42									#61
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Text file I when I tried to add the pic to ctp it messes up and i was left with a blank screen with the legal rubbish.

Any way locutos I would raise the multiplayer buttons and move the option button to the new game/load buttons

I would then put the credit and exit button at the bottom of the two columns (with a space)

if you want me to do a screen I will I know this may not be that easy to understand.

	13-04-2004 22:43									#62
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quote: Originally posted by Solver Looks pretty fine - I understand that the areas around buttons wouldn't appear as that, it's just the Photoshop draft.

Indeed, and the same for the version number.

	13-04-2004 22:56									#63
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The Big Mc,

You mean something like this?

I have to say I do rather like this setup as well.

Attachment: startscreen_photoshop.jpg
This has been downloaded 84 time(s).

	13-04-2004 22:57									#64
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Just IMHO, Credits and Quit are better put in corners.

	13-04-2004 23:48									#65
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Here's a new image with the graphics moved up and some space for buttons. Maybe not enough space, but I'm just trying to get something up fast. (OK, to be honest I'm really trying to avoid my real work). I'll deal with space for the small type on another attempt. Hope this upload works, this one is actual size.

Attachment: ctpii_apoly_2.jpg
This has been downloaded 81 time(s).

	14-04-2004 00:12									#66
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quote: Originally posted by Locutus I'm not sure if I understand you correctly here, but you don't acually have to add any buttons in the artwork. The game adds the buttons for you. You just have to reserve room for them. The first image you posted (when resized) already works perfectly, if it wasn't for the unaligned buttons (as The Big Mc showed).

I was referring to a graphic specific for the playtest build on this page...

linky

	14-04-2004 01:19									#67
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Looking good

	14-04-2004 02:15									#68
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Looks good - I always thought that having two screens was excessive.

	14-04-2004 02:30									#69
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How does this look for button configuration ( for one screen )

	14-04-2004 02:32									#70
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DP

Last edited by The Big Mc on 14-04-2004 at 02:38

	14-04-2004 02:32									#71
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what is up that’s the second time i have seen that error msg and that’s twice I have had multi posts.

Last edited by The Big Mc on 14-04-2004 at 02:39

	14-04-2004 02:43									#72
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I like the middle one.

Nice work!

Looks like we've got the majority of buttons in the smaller space. Let me go back to the drawing board and resize the graphic elements a bit. I'll take a look when I get home from work in a couple of hours.

	14-04-2004 03:00									#73
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On the subject of this screen, I think we should change the text on the "MULTIPLAYER" button to say "Network Game" - that would seem more consistent (and less confusing).

	14-04-2004 03:03									#74
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Yes but it also is for a internet game

	14-04-2004 03:05									#75
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The internet is a network too .

	14-04-2004 03:07									#76
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I know but it will be very confusing to people who aren’t technical.

	14-04-2004 03:09									#77
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How about "Net Game" - suitably ambiguous?

	14-04-2004 03:15									#78
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sounds good.

Could describe the internet or a network

	14-04-2004 03:59									#79
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While we're bickering... I think the button that says "New Game" needs to state it is for single player play, somehow. As it stands now a newbie wanting to start a solo game would be confused seeing a multiplayer button and no single player button. I think this would be true even if Multiplayer is changed to "Net Game."

The options button is only for single player also, that's not clear.

The interface should be user friendly.

Back to the drawing board...

	14-04-2004 05:03									#80
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Latest attempt...

Attachment: ctpii_apoly_3.jpg
This has been downloaded 60 time(s).

	14-04-2004 05:39									#81
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quote: Originally posted by OnePresent I was referring to a graphic specific for the playtest build on this page... linky

Ah, ok. In that case I believe the very first version you posted is perfect for the job.


I believe Network Game is the appropriate term to describe what's now the MULTIPLAYER button. Net is slang for Internet and leaves out LAN. The tiny portion of players who don't realize that the Internet is a network can RTFM


The last version looks brilliant, OnePresent Great thinking by The Big Mc for the idea

However, as much as I love the presence of the 'Single Player' and 'Multiplayer' titles, that's not entirely accurate: Options and Load Game are just as relevant for MP games as they are for SP ones. Of course, in the current setup you have to press a button called 'Single Player' to get to them, so I guess we could just maintain the inconsistency.

	14-04-2004 05:52									#82
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wow very nice stuff onepresent

although i did like all the little dudes spread around the screen on the original

but this does look very good

	14-04-2004 06:11									#83
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Okay, one last ugly photoshop by me: how about we move all the legal crap (including "THIS MATERIAL...") to the bottom now, as in this pic? (Note that if you ignore the ugliness resulting from JPEG compression and the fact that I wrote text over text, the text is quite readable and only slightly out of place (which IMHO is appropriate for legal text))

Also, how about giving the version number it's own title box as well? In that case two versions will be needed though, as version numbers for playtest builds (e.g. "22-12-2004") will be much longer than version numbers for final releases (e.g. "v1.25"). My photoshop is too narrow for playtest builds and too wide for releases, but you get the idea...

BTW in this setup it would probably be nicer if New Game, Load Game and Options were lower case as well.

Attachment: startscreen2_photoshop.jpg
This has been downloaded 55 time(s).

Last edited by Locutus on 14-04-2004 at 06:22

	14-04-2004 07:25									#84
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quote: Originally posted by Locutus However, as much as I love the presence of the 'Single Player' and 'Multiplayer' titles, that's not entirely accurate: Options and Load Game are just as relevant for MP games as they are for SP ones. Of course, in the current setup you have to press a button called 'Single Player' to get to them, so I guess we could just maintain the inconsistency.

I was suspicious of that. Having never played multiplayer I am designing with a handicap.

OK, I believe I have all the pieces of the puzzle straight now. I'll rethink the layout and come up with a new solution soon. Luckily all these elements are in photoshop layers and easy enough to move around and edit.

	14-04-2004 07:31									#85
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Hm Options is relevant to all but load game is never used for MP AFAIK.

I like the layout but the bricks look excessive now (maybe they can be made larger or something), version number box should also be indented, and central somewhere, maybe on the wood panel just above the disclaimer. Disclaimer looks best black too.

	14-04-2004 14:20									#86
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quote: Originally posted by Locutus The last version looks brilliant, OnePresent Great thinking by The Big Mc for the idea

I just like to point out how good OnePresent's work is

Any one can point out where to put the buttons.

Any way I would put the version number under the title.

	14-04-2004 15:55									#87
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quote: Originally posted by Maquiladora Hm Options is relevant to all but load game is never used for MP AFAIK.

Don't know about network games but IIRC you need it for Hotseat games, and probably for PBEM too, but since the latter is defunct I'm not even sure about that.

But as I pointed out, it was originally unders the Single Player button so it's really not a big issue. It looks purty now

	14-04-2004 17:57									#88
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Would it work to have two "load game" buttons, one under single player and one under multiplayer?

I'm considering moving "options" down to where "credits" is and centering "credits" between "options" and "quit." That works for me... any other opinions before I commit this concept to paper?

	14-04-2004 18:41									#89
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two load buttons would look bad

What does everybody think of a quick launch option (by passes the setting screens for people who have already got the settings done)

	14-04-2004 18:55									#90
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Nah, just keep Load Game under Single Player. It is primarily for SP anyway.

Moving Options is a nice thought though


I guess Quick Launch could be nice, but we'd have to program it first. But if Options is moved, I guess that leaves some room open...