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Ralf
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Sweden
Mar 2000
time: 06:12
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This is a topic that has been up before, but because there are so many newbies here, i re-post a shorter clean-write of an earlier post here:
What about MS Windows main-game interface-look, with some customized tastefully classy skins, ranging from no skin (bare-bone Windows), Firaxis Civ-3 standard skin-choice(s), marble, woody, metallic, with many more to come from artistically talented civ-3 players around the world. Nothing that drastic; positions, screens and functions remains unchanged under the surface. Only superficial cosmetic changes, like colours, patterns, styles, shapes and such. Click Neoplanet Internet Explorer skins for some inspiration, but remember: Neoplanet is third party - Firaxis is in-house, meaning source-code access = ideally integrated implemenation.
Wood-buttons or shiny metallic ones? For some people, designing these skin-frameworks could be a mini-hobby in itself. Also remember, the whole thing is completely bypassable, if you prefer that - its up to you.
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Ralf
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Sweden
Mar 2000
time: 06:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Adm.Naismith on 01-13-2001 08:34 PM
Skin are nice, but you can't tweak a bit the general interface (position, button, etc.) it quickly become so cosmetic you don't care anymore.
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Well, what do you suggest then? What can be done with skins realistically?
Also, above is your perception of it. I think this is one of those little tweaks they can do, that can only generate mostly positive response from game-magazine reviewers and players. Some dont care of course, but im having a hard time imagine that someone would be directly negative about it.
quote:
Again, I can agree with the concept, but as a secondary "touch" on a game already well balanced and tested.
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That a given. Of course Firaxis must concentrate on a well-balanced and tested game first and foremost. But, do you really think this idea takes that much of time and resources to implement?
If thats a problem, they can comply themselves with bare-bone Windows, with only 1-2 skins. As long there is support for more skins.
[This message has been edited by Ralf (edited January 14, 2001).]
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I like it!
Maybe you could have a specific skin per civ, too. And maybe the skins could change over time. For example, first you have a stony type one, then a marble, greek style one, then a castle type one, then a brick one and then a metallic/concrete one and maybe even a glass one and finally a really shiny one..
I'm getting carried away here...
Anyway, I like the idea!!
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-Shiva
Email: shiva@shivamail.com
Web: http://www.shivamail.com
ICQ: 17719980
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Adm.Naismith
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Milano - Italy
Oct 1999
time: 06:12
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quote:
Well, what do you suggest then? What can be done with skins realistically?
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Sorry Ralf, I left a "if" anywhere from the keyboard to my post  My apologies for the misunderstanding.
My phrase must be
quote:
Skin are nice, but IF you can't tweak a bit the general interface (position, button, etc.) it quickly
become so cosmetic you don't care anymore.
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My opinion, ordered from the more liked to the less, is:
- better if skin let you tune a bit the interface (not touching main element for obvius programming reason, but letting you move here and there interface element to better fit your taste and feel
- skin can work fine for scenario: they are more relevant to better create the right immersive feeling
- skin can change (as city looks already did in Civ2) with Civ developement, as Shiva suggest.
- skin can be different but grouped for every "cultural area" of Civ (it will save a lot of work, just in case we'll have a long list of available Civ to chose from, not to have to paint a completely different one set of skin): Roman can share the same of Greeks, because of cultural sharing, while Chinese surely must have greater difference.
If Firaxis can/would work on the skin concept I hope they'll develop with above priorities.
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Admiral Naismith AKA mcostant
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Scenario specific skins are a good idea too..
But, like Marco said, there might be problems for the civ-specific thread. They might give us Indians a Chinese skins (like they gave us Chinese cities in Civ2, and Middle Eastern cities in CTP2).
Another thing... What about cursors? It would be nice if they were skinned too. You could have a club, a sword, a gun, a shiny glass thing etc.
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-Shiva
Email: shiva@shivamail.com
Web: http://www.shivamail.com
ICQ: 17719980
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tniem
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Hope College
Apr 2000
time: 00:12
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Just doesn't seem that important. Make an interface that is easy to use and works well. If you give the game player a chance to change the colors that is fine, but make sure that the actual interface is easy to use and displays everything you need.
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Ralf
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Sweden
Mar 2000
time: 06:12
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quote:
Originally posted by bagdar on 01-19-2001 06:18 AM
Please, no Windows interface!
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This thread is not primarily about if Civ-3 shall have a "MS Office-look", or not. Its about skins, there not only stuff like colours, patterns, styles, shapes is tweakable, but (maybe) also positions and placements of game-functions within each screen or tab. (well, i said maybe).
Dont just trash the idea instinctively. Bagdar. Even SMAC had many window'ish interface details like for example bottom-left menu-system ala Windows start-menu (although i prefer the Civ-2 upper-left menu-system, in Civ-3). CTP-2 had right-click menus (which i really hope that they incorporate in Civ-3 to).
Again, for those who havent clicked Neoplanet Internet explorer skins to discover how much that really can be done with skins; Do so now!
THEBEN quote: "I'll chime in with a resounding "sure, why not". If they have time, but it's not a high priority of mine."
I agree! This IS a secondary priority compared to "Make an interface that is easy to use and works well. ..., but make sure that the actual interface is easy to use and displays everything you need." (Tniem quote). Having said that however, i think it should be a interface-design priority nonetheless, although a secondary one. 
[This message has been edited by Ralf (edited January 19, 2001).]
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Cool idea! The option of different skins would give the individual player his/her personal touch to the game
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Cannes
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Copenhagen, Denmark
Jan 2001
time: 05:12
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Wittlich... There are polls in the forum and there are discussion forums. It seems that you have difficulty in seperating these two concepts. I will explain it for you. A poll is where you voice your opinion on a specific idea be it either good or bad. The discussion forums are for those who have something constructive to say on a specific subject. The discussion forums are not a place to spam out post saying who you agree with and who you don't unless you have something CONSTRUCTIVE to add to the discussion.
In a few words: Stop with "yes I agree with XXX on this" posts!
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markusf
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Ya winamp is a classic program with hundreds of skins. Also window blinds is another great program. It changes the look and feel of ALL applications.
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Ralf
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Sweden
Mar 2000
time: 06:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Grumbold on 05-09-2001 08:29 AM
I'd rather Firaxis found one intuitive layout for all the buttons than tried different ones for each race. That was a gimmick I found more hurtful than helpful in BotF despite being atmospheric.
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It doesnt have to be "one for each race", or "a new skin for each game-session". Also, the idea of interface-skins doesnt have to be forced upon the player. Dont like it? Fine - simply stick with the default Firaxis-choice, or perhaps with barebone MS Windows-style.
Finally, the team doesnt necessarily have to spend valuable developing-time on making several skins to be included with the initial release. They can just create the "hooks" for it - then add forthcoming interface-skins in conjunction with any follow-up Scenario addon-packages instead. Besides, most of the work will probably be done by graphically skilled Civ-game enthusiasts anyway.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS:
- If the whole thing is completely optional & bypassable, and...
- If Firaxis can DELAY most of this work until after the final release, in favour of more urgent and immediate design-tasks - then whats the problem?
Now, is it the "most important" upgrade there ever was? NO, certainly not.
Does it provide a new creative area for talented and graphically gifted Civers out there - something new, besides Scenario-making and Modpacks-creating? YES!!!
[This message has been edited by Ralf (edited May 09, 2001).]
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Sabre2th
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I'd like to have skins in civ3, but only if it doesn't hurt gameplay or delay the game's release.
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"We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything."
-Thomas A. Edison
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13-01-2001 10:26
As i said before: they must concentrate on making a good well-balanced game first and foremost. But, why not at least creating the software "hooks" needed to achieve those things you are suggesting, and others? 
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