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Author Topic: Why hasn't Toady...  (Read 1521 times)

eldomtom2

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Why hasn't Toady...
« on: October 22, 2013, 05:32:18 am »

started focusing his efforts on the interface? I know this is a first post, but this is the thing stopping me from playing DF. The interface needs a lot of work to make it more accesible, and I see no reason why just adding more and more stuff is seen as acceptable, while Toady should be focusing his efforts on making the game clearer and easier to control and understand.
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Criperum

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Re: Why hasn't Toady...
« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2013, 05:48:21 am »

Why should he focus on interface?

Lots of people are playing with that interface and they feel ok.
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DG

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Re: Why hasn't Toady...
« Reply #2 on: October 22, 2013, 07:01:58 am »

Welcome to the forums, eldom. You'll be pleased to know that you're continuing something of a trend for first time posters. Here are a couple of the most recent to give you an idea of the spectrum of replies you can expect.

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=130710.0

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=131456.0
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10ebbor10

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Re: Why hasn't Toady...
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2013, 10:10:13 am »

The Toad works in mysterious ways.

But anyway, the official reason is that it makes no sense to rewrite an interface when the features you access using it are still partial placeholders.

The reason the forum keeps up with it is because most of them can work with the current interface perfectly fine.

The reason that these threads don't tend to fare well is:
    1) In general, the OP tends to think he's entitled to a better interface
    2) No actual content in the suggestion safe for "Make it better"
    3) If there's content, it will have been stated before.
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CaptainArchmage

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Re: Why hasn't Toady...
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2013, 12:12:55 pm »

If additions are required to the interface to use extra functionality, then some work has to be done on that anyway, right there and then. Otherwise it would not be possible to release 0.34, or the update with bees either. Some time could be taken for each part of the interface already to allow people to build their own.
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CaptainLambcake

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Re: Why hasn't Toady...
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2013, 03:35:59 pm »

very good suggestion, would add alot of depth to the game.

(wrong section)
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Xyon

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Re: Why hasn't Toady...
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2013, 09:35:18 pm »

If he redesigns the interface with only what is in the game right now, he will have to redesign the interface each and every update that adds new content,  its probably easier to redesign the interface when the game is closer to 80% done, after which point it might not change all that much, or need to change all that much, as finishing touches are added.
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sackhead

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Re: Why hasn't Toady...
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2013, 01:55:52 am »

to be honest i dont see whats wrong with the interface, then again i do a lot of visualizing in my head and play by memory. could you give some examples of your problems with it?
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kaenneth

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Re: Why hasn't Toady...
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2013, 08:43:23 pm »

to be honest i dont see whats wrong with the interface, then again i do a lot of visualizing in my head and play by memory. could you give some examples of your problems with it?

It's not consistent, each type of list view works differently for example.

Major hotkeys are not discoverable, I believe the 'U'nits option was invisible for a while.

Jobs for dwarves don't Queue, they Stack. which is counterintuitive.

Amazingly poor mouse support.
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Manveru Taurënér

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Re: Why hasn't Toady...
« Reply #9 on: November 03, 2013, 08:26:44 am »

One thing I've wondered a lot, why do people feel mouse support is needed at all? Don't really understand what's wrong with a keyboard focused interface? :>
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Neonivek

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Re: Why hasn't Toady...
« Reply #10 on: November 03, 2013, 04:51:27 pm »

Quote
1) In general, the OP tends to think he's entitled to a better interface

Good thing he didn't do that.. No really he didn't.
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