[OBJ] User Interface - Collect ideas (finished)

[Steve]

Ideas should be collected about what the user interface needs. This includes the sections of windows, window contents, icons on the screen. General themes can also be discussed. Some of this material is included in the Design Document, so that should be taken into consideration.

Members:

[Purno]

TBH, I think the TTD and LoMo interfaces are pretty good. The only thing of LoMo I don't like is the rail/road buildings thingy, but currently I don't have another solution for this, except dragging and autocalculate the route. (assuming that TE won't have corners like TTD, but curves like LoMo, in roads and railroads).

And I think icons on buttons are very nice. They can clearify things to people without having troubles with languages and they take less space then text.

Any thoughts?

[Hyronymus]

There is more to a User Interface than laying track. We should also think about an intuitive way to give orders, allow editing of the orders etc. A permanent minimap would be required too, one that shows industries and cities. Also, placement of the various buttons is something to think about. Do we stick them at the top or on the side(s)?

[Purno]

There is more to a User Interface than laying track. We should also think about an intuitive way to give orders, allow editing of the orders etc.

I think TTD's way of handling the orders is fine. Unless you want more advanced orders.

A permanent minimap would be required too, one that shows industries and cities.

Assuming that 'a permantent minimap' means a map that's always on the screen: Such a map can't be too big, and thus not show too much detail. A map like TTD's one would be better IMO. The window can be enlarged or be shrinked. Would be nice if it also could zoom in and out.

Also, placement of the various buttons is something to think about. Do we stick them at the top or on the side(s)?

Well, you can use the TTD way (on top, with drop down menu's) or the SimCity way (on the left, with drop right menu's. Both are very good IMO.

[Hyronymus]

Is this all discussion sofar? Isn't there noone around who has something important/interesting to add?