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Author Topic: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player  (Read 8655 times)

Leatra

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #90 on: November 18, 2012, 06:36:21 pm »

ASCII keeps the idiots away!

I don't like the elitism in Bay 12 but I think people secretly like ASCII because of this. Imagine Bay 12 turning into something like the CoD community. Oh boy, we would go underground and accept people by invite only.
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Black_Legion

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #91 on: November 18, 2012, 08:59:42 pm »

Unfortunately these threads always seem to end in a tit-for-tat game... I do wonder why we still have them. Essentially I think there are four camps:
  • There is a group who are comfortable with the interface, having gotten used to it after playing the game for a bit. They enjoy the game.
  • There is a group who are intimidated by the interface initially and then use options and tools to help them play and do some pretty neat things with management, custom titles, and other things. They enjoy the game.
  • There is a group who are completely turned off by the interface, or the ASCII graphics. They ask questions to the community  about what they could do to help them understand how to play. Helpful forumites link them to tutorials, the wiki, and some let's plays to help get their head around the game. They enjoy the game.
  • There are those who are very vocal about the game's flaws. It is still a work in progress (still technically in alpha I believe) so it makes sense that some would be put off by this. It tends to be a hit or miss if they enjoy the game.

I've never really seen people hold a flag over others going "you can't navigate the interface? You peasant. Real DF players...". I don't think this happens but I've never seen it so I can't authoritatively debunk it.

I personally use the ASCII graphics after I initially started with Pheobus's tileset because most of the mods I used could never keep up getting the newest additions sprited out. So I ended up playing with outdated graphics and C's, b's, and a few &'s running around and grew used to them. The Vherid and a few others made some very nice tilesets and I just went with those without the graphics. It took me about a day to get used to it but I liked it. The interface didn't trouble me too much as I got the hang of it quickly... but I still forget that damn "unforbid, claim, and dump" a captive creatures inventory... but I don't take live prisoners often so that may be why. I never found managing migrants and other jobs very difficult so I don't use Therapist but it is quite a fun tool and I'm impressed with the effort they put into it. Stonesense is fun when I want to get a better picture of my fortress so I can humble-brag to my coworker who also plays. He then shows me his latest magma-based kill satellite with automated battlefield cleanup washer and I get a might jealous. The bastard. DF Hack is fun because sometimes I really need magma right there so I can test this new design or I need a bit of help cleaning up after that last FB with the entertaining syndromes. Fun was had... and there was much needless death until they got their damn boots on like I told them! rejoicing.

Ultimately there are things some people like and some people don't like. This thread appears to be turning into a flame war, as usual with this topic. We may want to take these arguments and discussions away from personal attacks. Other than that it would be interesting to discuss what may be an ideal interface style for DF (I liked what they were doing with mouse fortress with the modal drop-downs... but I haven't seen anything about it for a while). Unfortunately there's already a thread for that under the suggestions section.

Ultimately DF is a fantasy world sandbox that is currently under development. It's rough around the edges but it has attracted a decent player base. There are always some things that are not for everyone but that is perfectly find and I don't lord over anyone and certainly don't look down on anyone who uses graphics or otherwise. I do give the MLP crossovers a bit of side eye but that's because that's not really my kind of thing. I'm perfectly fine with their existence, it's just not for me.
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GoombaGeek

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #92 on: November 18, 2012, 09:06:40 pm »

it's like learning how to get through the streets of an old city. Once you know your way around you can choose the quickest routes.
Oh you wacky Londoners and your special snowflakes but actually I don't think it snows much there.
It unnecessarily turns people away, and I get the impression that some of the community is happy about that.
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kuki

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #93 on: November 18, 2012, 09:38:32 pm »

Quote from: Loud Whispers
Well what's going on here-

...

Well this will take a while.

That was a pretty long and rude post, I don't think you actually needed to take that while to do that
There are definitely common moves you can make in DF that take more than four keystrokes, what on earth are you smoking
Just because you've been here (x) amount of time rather than (y) amount of time doesn't actually mean your personal perception of the community is more valid than anyone else's

Quote from: Black_Legion
Unfortunately these threads always seem to end in a tit-for-tat game... I do wonder why we still have them.

You are right and I guess I'll stop posting about the UI

Quote from: GoombaGeek
you tried

Do you really need to troll people
You obviously make a shitload of earnest contributions to the forum, can't you just be satisfied with that : (
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Leatra

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #94 on: November 18, 2012, 09:53:10 pm »

IMHO, both sides were being rude and from this point this thread can't escape the inevitable, which is a flame war. So let's just shut up and let the thread die m'kay?
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GoombaGeek

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #95 on: November 18, 2012, 09:56:23 pm »

I just wanted to use my new you tried star...
I also have this:
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Loud Whispers

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #96 on: November 18, 2012, 10:00:23 pm »

Quote from: Loud Whispers
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
That was a pretty long and rude post, I don't think you actually needed to take that while to do that
1. Yes, it was very long. As for rudeness, all things I post should be taken with helpful servings of lye, because I cannot stand to bear the over generalization and insulting of so many people. If you found that rude but the OP absolutely fine, sure, but don't expect me to not call you out for it.

There are definitely common moves you can make in DF that take more than four keystrokes, what on earth are you smoking
I am smoking special snowflakes

Just because you've been here (x) amount of time rather than (y) amount of time doesn't actually mean your personal perception of the community is more valid than anyone else's
Well rounded to the nearest 3 significant Jifoduses, I've lurked here for 0.125 Jifoduses as opposed to Damiac's 0.005 Jifoduses. That's a huge gap, with one person saying they've seen terror and confusion with fanatical ASCII cultists sacrificing newbies in their cruel and wicked rituals, whilst the other is saying this is all kerfluffle and nonsense. I think I'd say someone who's observed more would have a more valid perception. What with, you know, perceiving more and not seeing this in action.

Do you really need to troll people
You obviously make a shitload of earnest contributions to the forum, can't you just be satisfied with that : (
Satire, not trolling. Humour, not madness.

kuki

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #97 on: November 18, 2012, 10:12:49 pm »

Satire, not trolling. Humour, not madness.
I feel trolled and it wasn't even directed at me.

Then again I am unreasonably sensitive

Oh goomba replied. I guess I don't feel trolled anymore. I'm sorry, I don't mean to criticize your star
« Last Edit: November 18, 2012, 10:30:40 pm by kuki »
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Boea

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #98 on: November 19, 2012, 04:51:03 am »

The hilarious thing is that elitism can also apply to 'newbies.'

Love it or hate it, the UI does not flips its shit, and dies- game breaking bugs, a commonplace tragedy, it seems Today,-and that's a lot, considering how old most of the parts are.
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Damiac

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #99 on: November 19, 2012, 01:06:27 pm »

Eh, sometimes to make a point we oversimplify and exaggerate.  I'm guilty of it too.  I admit, I built up a strawman out of my own (exaggerated) personal annoyances with some of the community.  A community which is probably one of the best I've seen on the internet.

Now, let me address some of your points.

Quote
Assign your migrants their jobs the moment they arrive on the screen one by one. Why the hell doesn't anyone do this? SERIOUSLY, WHY?

Ok, you can do that.  But, you can also load up a simple program which organizes all your migrants in a spreadsheet format, allowing you to see what labors you are short on, and quickly re-apply labors as you see fit, while being able to easily visualize the big picture.  It would be nice if DF allowed that on its own.

Quote
Well if you're getting bored in a sandbox, it's probably not for you.

I'm bored with the minutia of assigning jobs to 50 migrants at once.  I like the game itself quite a bit actually.  But I often find myself quitting for the day when a migrant wave shows up.

Quote
Indeed. You press (j), press (PGUP) and see a nice neat list of your Dwarves doing nothing. Like I said, old city. 2 buttons used. HOW SHOCKING INTERFACE IS BAAAAD.
I addressed the flaws with this already, the problem here is you're just adding jobs as needed, leading to a big inefficient mess for yourself down the road, when half your dwarves have a mess of labors assigned.  Once again, I direct you to dwarf therapist.  There's a neat list for you.  Also, nice strawman you're building there yourself.

Quote
I could imagine the IG manager replacing therapist in the future.

Ok, so after all the hyperbole, you actually agree with me.

Quote
Well rounded to the nearest 3 significant Jifoduses, I've lurked here for 0.125 Jifoduses as opposed to Damiac's 0.005 Jifoduses. That's a huge gap, with one person saying they've seen terror and confusion with fanatical ASCII cultists sacrificing newbies in their cruel and wicked rituals, whilst the other is saying this is all kerfluffle and nonsense. I think I'd say someone who's observed more would have a more valid perception. What with, you know, perceiving more and not seeing this in action.

Sort of speaks for itself, I think.  Hyperbole and strawmen all around.

Quote
Hey Toady! I don't have money for donations, but you don't deserve them anyway because you refuse to give me an UI with Triple A quality!

The graphics are fine, I don't like elitists but the ASCII keeps the idiots away! Bye!

This is exactly who I was complaining about.  I didn't even say a damn thing about donations, and I think I went out of my way to be clear in saying I think the game is great, and on top of it, the UI is perfectly adequate for a game in this stage of development. But the UI could be better, so don't try to shut people down when they make suggestions to make it better.

If you feel insulted, maybe it's because you pretty much match the type of community member I was complaining about.  But maybe I was unnecessarily harsh toward the community.  I think we're both a little right here.

TLDR (again);
DF is an awesome game.  Toady is really cool, he's doing something that's fun for him, and able to support himself with it.  For such an incredibly complex game, he's doing a fantastic job keeping the UI usable, and bugs to a minimum.
To that end, we, as his testers and target audience (if he could be said to have such a thing) can make his work even better, by highlighting its flaws, and suggesting ways to make it better.  To say something could be better is not an insult, it shows that you care about that thing.  His work only stands to suffer by having this community shout down the people who bring up valid complaints, especially when they make suggestions to improve on those issues.
I only make posts addressing the community because it truly is one of the best communities I have ever seen on the internet. I apologize if you feel I have insulted you.



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Loud Whispers

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #100 on: November 19, 2012, 02:03:03 pm »

Quote
Assign your migrants their jobs the moment they arrive on the screen one by one. Why the hell doesn't anyone do this? SERIOUSLY, WHY?

Ok, you can do that.  But, you can also load up a simple program which organizes all your migrants in a spreadsheet format, allowing you to see what labors you are short on, and quickly re-apply labors as you see fit, while being able to easily visualize the big picture.  It would be nice if DF allowed that on its own.
And those spread sheets would completely ruin the atmosphere for me. That's why I don't use them; it's also why I would support the IG manager fulfilling this role for the casual overseer. It'd be a useful tool that doesn't detract from the stories behind DF. The prospect of having to check between my Dwarves and spreadsheets is too horrific for me to behold.

Quote
Well if you're getting bored in a sandbox, it's probably not for you.
I'm bored with the minutia of assigning jobs to 50 migrants at once.
Protip: Don't.

Quote
Indeed. You press (j), press (PGUP) and see a nice neat list of your Dwarves doing nothing. Like I said, old city. 2 buttons used. HOW SHOCKING INTERFACE IS BAAAAD.
I addressed the flaws with this already, the problem here is you're just adding jobs as needed, leading to a big inefficient mess for yourself down the road, when half your dwarves have a mess of labors assigned.  Once again, I direct you to dwarf therapist.  There's a neat list for you.  Also, nice strawman you're building there yourself.
The game of dwarf fortress is not where you press 'u', scroll through to find the dwarf who isn't doing anything, and assign him a job.
Methinks you should look up the definition of strawman. The above was a direct response to what you said.
1. Personal advice - don't add jobs as needed, plan accordingly.
2. Failing that, why the hell do you care about idlers if you're going to complain about them actually working!
3. You've done nothing but complain about the community and the UI of DF.
If I make a strawman that coincidentally addresses the "UI faults" you brought up, well, that's a damn fine strawman, or else a completely valid counter-point.

Quote
I could imagine the IG manager replacing therapist in the future.
Ok, so after all the hyperbole, you actually agree with me.
You think I'm disagreeing with you for the sake of it? Hell no. If there's an in game function that'll let me turn 100 farmers into 100 masons, chances are I'll probably use it to make some diabolical mega farming project. For now, I have patience; and will continue to play the game as it is intended - a Fortress of specialists working in concerto.

Quote
Well rounded to the nearest 3 significant Jifoduses, I've lurked here for 0.125 Jifoduses as opposed to Damiac's 0.005 Jifoduses. That's a huge gap, with one person saying they've seen terror and confusion with fanatical ASCII cultists sacrificing newbies in their cruel and wicked rituals, whilst the other is saying this is all kerfluffle and nonsense. I think I'd say someone who's observed more would have a more valid perception. What with, you know, perceiving more and not seeing this in action.
Sort of speaks for itself, I think.  Hyperbole and strawmen all around.
1. Satire - yes, it used exaggeration, but it's not hyperbole. Hyperbole would imply I wasn't making a serious point, satire is me exaggerating your witch hunt for the mystic UI destroyer lurking ever present in Bay12.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire <- Enjoy
2. Strawman, no.
Of course, explaining the joke removes its inherent humour, but it must be so.
You are saying I am making strawmen, I am saying I was responding to this;
Just because you've been here (x) amount of time rather than (y) amount of time doesn't actually mean your personal perception of the community is more valid than anyone else's
In which I made it clear I was saying why yes, my perception is more valid. Because put simply, my total time spent lurking divided by Jifodus's (Bay12's #1 lurker) compared to yours equates to 72 and a half days for me and 3 and a half days for you.
As a result, I've seen a lot of threads - of which I can say I've never seen what you've described.

So don't try to shut people down when they make suggestions to make it better.
/move to suggestions board, feel the juffowaps/

If you feel insulted, maybe it's because you pretty much match the type of community member I was complaining about.
I'm advocating worse UI and am crushing all attempts by Toady to improve the game's UI to empower my ego and sense of intelligence at mastering button mashing? Because I am speshulest snowflahkie?
Not following you there. If you would like to criticize me, be constructive about it. Like Kuki. Insulting people then calling them out for being insulted seems kind of silly too, but I guess you need to talk about something.

But maybe I was unnecessarily harsh toward the community.  I think we're both a little right here.
I don't. You made a whole lot of strawmen and started off rambling about how damn awful everyone here is when it comes to progressing through the development of the wonder that is DF. You were overly critical of whatever Mr. Mysterious oppressor was saying (Population:0), and could have answered all of your questions with the effort it took you to make this thread, by searching for the relevant information yourself. Or even just asking the forum where you could find this information.
Instead, this.

To that end, we, as his testers and target audience (if he could be said to have such a thing) can make his work even better, by highlighting its flaws, and suggesting ways to make it better.
Aye, on the suggestions board. After making sure such a thing has not already been acknowledged... MULTIPLE TIMES!

To say something could be better is not an insult, it shows that you care about that thing.
To insult a fanbase is not an insult... No wait, it is an insult.

His work only stands to suffer by having this community shout down the people who bring up valid complaints, especially when they make suggestions to improve on those issues.
Search-fu to find sauce. There is no shouting here, only methodical breaking down of invalid complaints, and rounds of applause for the greatest original suggestions to grace the upper boards.

I only make posts addressing the community because it truly is one of the best communities I have ever seen on the internet. I apologize if you feel I have insulted you.
If you feel insulted, maybe it's because you pretty much match the type of community member I was complaining about.
Cheers

Damiac

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #101 on: November 19, 2012, 02:29:04 pm »

Quote
Assign your migrants their jobs the moment they arrive on the screen one by one. Why the hell doesn't anyone do this? SERIOUSLY, WHY?

Ok, you can do that.  But, you can also load up a simple program which organizes all your migrants in a spreadsheet format, allowing you to see what labors you are short on, and quickly re-apply labors as you see fit, while being able to easily visualize the big picture.  It would be nice if DF allowed that on its own.
And those spread sheets would completely ruin the atmosphere for me. That's why I don't use them; it's also why I would support the IG manager fulfilling this role for the casual overseer. It'd be a useful tool that doesn't detract from the stories behind DF. The prospect of having to check between my Dwarves and spreadsheets is too horrific for me to behold.

Quote
Well if you're getting bored in a sandbox, it's probably not for you.
I'm bored with the minutia of assigning jobs to 50 migrants at once.
Protip: Don't.

Quote
Indeed. You press (j), press (PGUP) and see a nice neat list of your Dwarves doing nothing. Like I said, old city. 2 buttons used. HOW SHOCKING INTERFACE IS BAAAAD.
I addressed the flaws with this already, the problem here is you're just adding jobs as needed, leading to a big inefficient mess for yourself down the road, when half your dwarves have a mess of labors assigned.  Once again, I direct you to dwarf therapist.  There's a neat list for you.  Also, nice strawman you're building there yourself.
The game of dwarf fortress is not where you press 'u', scroll through to find the dwarf who isn't doing anything, and assign him a job.
Methinks you should look up the definition of strawman. The above was a direct response to what you said.
1. Personal advice - don't add jobs as needed, plan accordingly.
2. Failing that, why the hell do you care about idlers if you're going to complain about them actually working!
3. You've done nothing but complain about the community and the UI of DF.
If I make a strawman that coincidentally addresses the "UI faults" you brought up, well, that's a damn fine strawman, or else a completely valid counter-point.

Quote
I could imagine the IG manager replacing therapist in the future.
Ok, so after all the hyperbole, you actually agree with me.
You think I'm disagreeing with you for the sake of it? Hell no. If there's an in game function that'll let me turn 100 farmers into 100 masons, chances are I'll probably use it to make some diabolical mega farming project. For now, I have patience; and will continue to play the game as it is intended - a Fortress of specialists working in concerto.

Quote
Well rounded to the nearest 3 significant Jifoduses, I've lurked here for 0.125 Jifoduses as opposed to Damiac's 0.005 Jifoduses. That's a huge gap, with one person saying they've seen terror and confusion with fanatical ASCII cultists sacrificing newbies in their cruel and wicked rituals, whilst the other is saying this is all kerfluffle and nonsense. I think I'd say someone who's observed more would have a more valid perception. What with, you know, perceiving more and not seeing this in action.
Sort of speaks for itself, I think.  Hyperbole and strawmen all around.
1. Satire - yes, it used exaggeration, but it's not hyperbole. Hyperbole would imply I wasn't making a serious point, satire is me exaggerating your witch hunt for the mystic UI destroyer lurking ever present in Bay12.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire <- Enjoy
2. Strawman, no.
Of course, explaining the joke removes its inherent humour, but it must be so.
You are saying I am making strawmen, I am saying I was responding to this;
Just because you've been here (x) amount of time rather than (y) amount of time doesn't actually mean your personal perception of the community is more valid than anyone else's
In which I made it clear I was saying why yes, my perception is more valid. Because put simply, my total time spent lurking divided by Jifodus's (Bay12's #1 lurker) compared to yours equates to 72 and a half days for me and 3 and a half days for you.
As a result, I've seen a lot of threads - of which I can say I've never seen what you've described.

So don't try to shut people down when they make suggestions to make it better.
/move to suggestions board, feel the juffowaps/

If you feel insulted, maybe it's because you pretty much match the type of community member I was complaining about.
I'm advocating worse UI and am crushing all attempts by Toady to improve the game's UI to empower my ego and sense of intelligence at mastering button mashing? Because I am speshulest snowflahkie?
Not following you there. If you would like to criticize me, be constructive about it. Like Kuki. Insulting people then calling them out for being insulted seems kind of silly too, but I guess you need to talk about something.

But maybe I was unnecessarily harsh toward the community.  I think we're both a little right here.
I don't. You made a whole lot of strawmen and started off rambling about how damn awful everyone here is when it comes to progressing through the development of the wonder that is DF. You were overly critical of whatever Mr. Mysterious oppressor was saying (Population:0), and could have answered all of your questions with the effort it took you to make this thread, by searching for the relevant information yourself. Or even just asking the forum where you could find this information.
Instead, this.

To that end, we, as his testers and target audience (if he could be said to have such a thing) can make his work even better, by highlighting its flaws, and suggesting ways to make it better.
Aye, on the suggestions board. After making sure such a thing has not already been acknowledged... MULTIPLE TIMES!

To say something could be better is not an insult, it shows that you care about that thing.
To insult a fanbase is not an insult... No wait, it is an insult.

His work only stands to suffer by having this community shout down the people who bring up valid complaints, especially when they make suggestions to improve on those issues.
Search-fu to find sauce. There is no shouting here, only methodical breaking down of invalid complaints, and rounds of applause for the greatest original suggestions to grace the upper boards.

I only make posts addressing the community because it truly is one of the best communities I have ever seen on the internet. I apologize if you feel I have insulted you.
If you feel insulted, maybe it's because you pretty much match the type of community member I was complaining about.
Cheers

Yo Mama :P
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Leatra

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #103 on: November 19, 2012, 02:37:27 pm »

Then the thread died and everyone lived happily ever after.
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Damiac

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Re: DF: The Game of the Game - Interface Vs Player
« Reply #104 on: November 19, 2012, 02:47:07 pm »

Eh, there were a few good points made here and there between the crap.

So should I just press the lock thread button then?
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