Ugly icons, screen clutter, etc

[Rubinstein]

We could argue back and force until eternity and in the end its all about choices, personal preferences and opinions. So here are my opinions, short version: I don't need and I don't want any icons on my hud. Some others might find them useful, so, as long as I can switch them off, go ahead and make some! And don't get me wrong: I even don't find your icons ugly. Once more, I just don't want any icons (I would have found a poll about "who wants icons at all?" somewhat more insightful, btw). Besides, until there's no real options menu and decent methods of dealing with different screen resolutions (do you mean that with "broken"?), I can't see much point in the whole discussion right now.

[tupe666]

Arguements,choices,personal opinions are important, As long as one isn't fanatical about anything one grows with it. I discuss. Until this discussion I had not thought about switching between resolutions, although it seems quite sensible, and I had never thought about widescreen or how it might infuence gameplay/interface design. I have since thought about having the rear view in a smaller window on my screen now I've thought about how much space I have, and I do think that would look quite cool.

Icons on the hud, were an example that was meant to be part of and extend into the interface, Just on the HUD have very little *real* value. Even after doing them. I have made a strong case against them, but I did them to solve what I believe is a problem with the interface.

Some of which are

1) Difficult to remember, you personaly may be able to remember what happens when you push the function keys 2x, but I can't.

2) Hidden options; I only found out I could transport passengers by accident.

3) Different situations give keys different uses, F1 Launch - F1 Front View

4) Lack of Extendability - If mid range scanner is added do I push F6 3x for Long Range. If military missions are added Is that selected by "print screen".

5) Main Save/Load menu and a Game option menu on the same screen,

6) Dull and not functional. Keyboard limiting

7) Old Old Old - why am I not clicking with a mouse on a buy all/sell all button on the main menu. Why can't I zoom in/out in my short range -long range scanner, why cant I click two stars and select the most profitable/shortest/safest route between the two. Why do I have to click on every planet then go to another screen to look whats the planets like when I have a reolution 640x480+. Why can't I search for all tech 15 planets in my galaxy. I could go on and on.

Load brings up a dialog box ????

and on and on.

I had a look at a way of moving forward, with several of these, which are in some are cases solved or made worse, and have stated what I think is needed is a proper solution. You can say "I don't like icons" but its meaningless, Do you really only want to use the keyboard? Even at the expence of functionality/usability/asthetics hell *quality*.

I see no reason why this shouldn't be discussed right now, along with the other 20+ suggestions esp as most will have ramifications for the interface. Or more importantly if there is going to be a "real options menu" isn't it worth discussing it first.

[Rubinstein]

Sorry, the 200 x 160 was me. Both a (silly) joke and a check whether the poll function works as expected (in particular no multiple votes allowed).

If you wonder why I don't continue this dialogue, it's not because I think your points aren't worth to discuss. It's just because I have the strong feeling it's not the right time for this stuff right now. If you don't understand what I mean, I'll give you a little example: I could very well continue complaining about the so called 'file-manager' (which I really hate and which is just a shame, compared to the rest of the game), but I don't. I think once was enough and Giles surely has good reasons for not investigating further into this problem right now. Hope you got my point...