24-06-2004 22:23									#1
	The flow of the interface Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

quote: Originally posted by Velociryx And I'm not talking about choices where how to do things in the game are concerned. That's basic good manners, as far as I'm concerned - to design the interface in such a way that there are lots of paths to the whateveryouwannado (example: Want to build an army? You can do that in Candle'Bre from the main overview map or down at the province detail map - whichever... You choose. And that kind of choice is important too, but that should be built into the framework of EVERY program (and for the most part, it is!).

Here is how we are looking at the issue of the game interface. As Vel pointed out, we are aiming for an interface that will allow a player to either access info from the mainmap via tabscreens (keeping gameplay on the mainmap screen) or a series of sub- main screens that will never be more than 1 or 2 clicks from any other screen.

	24-06-2004 22:25									#2
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And here is the mainmap screen with 2 activated tabscreens

Attachment: overview_composite.jpg
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	24-06-2004 22:48									#3
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Any chance you could post a larger version of the first image? It's a bit hard to look at...

	25-06-2004 18:48									#4
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Here you go...

Attachment: flowchart.pdf
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	26-06-2004 00:00									#5
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I think things like research, budgeting, diplomacy, espionage, etc should all be accessable from each other (and through the fuction keys) similar to how it is in C3 - that's quite useful.

	26-06-2004 02:00									#6
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13ish screens from the main one - that sounds like alot, how many does CTP2/Civ2/3 have?
Not that i think its a problem or anything, just trying to compare and contrast

they look excellent too

	26-06-2004 10:51									#7
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I've got a few screenshots from the current in-game (please excuse the lack of the new tab-screen control panel, haven't been able to get it due to the forums being down). It'll give the viewers an idea of how the final screens look.

Screen 1: The main map screen.......

Attachment: screen1.jpg
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	26-06-2004 10:55									#8
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Screen 2: Receiving messages......

Attachment: screen2.jpg
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	26-06-2004 10:59									#9
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Screen 3: Improving your province....... (as is obvious, a long way off finished)

Attachment: screen4.jpg
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	26-06-2004 11:05									#10
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Good GOD we have a cool looking game....

-=Vel=-

	26-06-2004 13:04									#11
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Vel:

BTW, those flags "flutter in the breeze" as you can see from this pic (all the flags are in different states of the animation).

Oh, and that letter icon in the bottom left info box means I got a message.

Dale

PS: Any word on the forums yet?

Attachment: screen.jpg
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	26-06-2004 15:39									#12
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Sadly none....and again, Master Dale, Master Hex....fantastic work!

Candle'Bre now has it's very own "You've Got Mail!" Icon!

-=Vel=-

	26-06-2004 16:54									#13
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I had also posted earlier yesterday (for download) a new set of message screens, stained-glass inset mood indicators, highlighted city selectors and icon buttons.

d@mn hackers...

Last edited by hexagonian on 26-06-2004 at 17:09

	27-06-2004 04:27									#14
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Hex:

As you can see here, I've used your "minimap" window on the control panel. With the overview map showing the whole basin anyways, I don't think there's a need for a minimap. It can be used for a load of useful information, such as "Armies in province".

However, if the purpose of that window is for something else, let me know.

Dale

Attachment: screen.jpg
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	27-06-2004 05:12									#15
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

I don't see why we shouldn't just use that window for multiple displays. It could change based on what you're viewing, or you could click through different displays like the main display in SMAC for example.

	27-06-2004 14:35									#16
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Here's an interesting screenshot. Do you think Blue is in trouble?

Attachment: helpblue.jpg
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	27-06-2004 17:09									#17
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Very nice!

But I have to agree with Kucinich. It would be nice to be able to access the screens with function keys and by using a mini-symbols menu that doesn't require going back to the main screen. They have that minimenu in SMAC where you can click on icons and switch between Research (F2), Energy bank(F3), etc. without going back to the main display.

	28-06-2004 05:05									#18
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The plan was to always to have a small tab panel that you can access from any screen that will allow you to link up with any other screen. (I'd have to go back about a year to track down that concept artwork)

	28-06-2004 06:12									#19
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FANTABULOUS screenies, Dale! She's really starting to come together, isn't she?

-=Vel=-

	03-07-2004 00:11									#20
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This is posted in the private forum for discussion with the team, but I thought I would post it here to show the finetuning process that I am doing as I see the game in action.

Mind you, this is only a layout, but this is our goal.

Attachment: overview_800.jpg
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	03-07-2004 01:20									#21
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Hex, it looks absolutely beautiful .

	03-07-2004 17:23									#23
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looking good

I notice from the pics Dale posted above to the one you did, that the Map has a diferent resolution setting - are there two different modes of Map veiwing(close up/far away) in game?

	05-07-2004 23:29									#24
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wow, long time no see...

the screens are just beautiful. the game seems really interesting.

	07-07-2004 01:03									#25
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quote: Originally posted by child of Thor looking good I notice from the pics Dale posted above to the one you did, that the Map has a diferent resolution setting - are there two different modes of Map veiwing(close up/far away) in game?

That's the plan, although the current build only has the complete Basin overview in place. (the artwork is done though)

	07-07-2004 04:04									#26
	Increase Your PM Length

Actually, strictly speaking Hex is 100% accurate. The zoomed in view is in the current build (right-click to bring it up). I just haven't added any of the rest of the functionality yet.

	07-07-2004 21:28									#27
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she's looking like a beaut - well done guys

	14-07-2004 16:16									#28
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Will the various screens also be accessible via Function keys (F!, F2, F3, etc.) a la SMAC? And what about hotkeys?

Gorgeous artwork, BTW

	15-07-2004 09:08									#29
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Yes, function keys for menus and hotkeys.

	16-07-2004 03:37									#30
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Will there be remappable hotkeys or hot-remappable hotkeys? The former being customizable remapping of keys outside a game, and the latter being keys thare are reassigned over and over in game -- like the troop groupings and assignations in Starcraft using "Cntrl + Numeric number."