Thanks for your comments, everyone. It's great that we even have some counter-proposals appearing. Please continue writing what you like and what you don't. This way we can build a repository of ideas and opinions for Toady.
Just a little disclaimer: I know it's a long way to presentation arc. I didn't even hope this suggestion would be used any time soon. And I know many game functions and menus will still change. That being sad, all designs can be changed accordingly. Moreover, I wanted to post this before I forget everything, as I always do.
As for the keyboard, I did't intend to kill shortcuts. I just didn't include them, because I didn't want to bother. I'm sure you can easily come up with shortcuts for any menu, button or list item I used. Though if the menus are rearranged, you wouldn't be able to keep the current shortcuts and would have to re-memorise new ones.
Perhaps the cursor and selections (left/right clicking, click and drag, etc...) would have to remain mouse-only. Perhaps you could simulate mouse with arrow keys and some other buttons. I don't know. But once the interface is done, creating keyboard shortcuts shouldn't be a problem. It's just that I believe it's better to create a mouse-only interface first, and then build shortcuts on top of it - not the other way around.
The menus in mouse interface tend to be slower then in keyboard interface, indeed*. But the point of it isn't to be fast, it's to be intuitive, easy to use and easy to learn for new users. You basically can't use key interface until you memorise it, which is a terrible obstacle for newcomers. I believe keys should be competely
optional. If you are power user, you can use them to play faster. But the point is that you
don't have to.
(*) On the other hand, clicking on the map - selecting units, designating areas, cordering soldiers - is much faster with mouse.
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Other comments, in order of appearance:
Impaler[WrG]: Sorry, can't help you. I can't program a thing.
The right-click context menu seems inherently problematic. In other games, generally the screen area of a unit/building/whatever is roughly on par with the screen area of a context menu. But in DF the menu could easily block hundreds of tiles from view. This seems like it could get really obnoxious and frustrating.
I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying that the right-click popup can obstruct view? Or that the big menu in the bottom is the problem? If (a) then please consider the popup only appears for a few seconds when you yourself open it. If (b)... well, the menu can be automaticaly hidden when you don' use it - the same way the menu in the current game. I've even included the button.
AxelDominatoR: Right, pie menus can be cool. But I'm afraid I don't understand what do you want to use them
for.
Can you please elaborate or even post a mockup of your own?
Silverionmox: Thanks for your suggestion on the arrangment of menus. Can you please describe how would these appear in the game? I mean, where would the buttons be, etc.? Are these intended to be used the same way as the "Build Menus" in my design?
One thing I don't like in your menus is that you always have to use one more click than necesarry. That's: (1st) click to open a menu, (2nd) click to select a mode - eg. blueprint or from stock? (3rd) click to select an actual item. I don't like the second click and would be happier if it could be somehow integrated to the 1st or 3rd one. But it's just a thought...
juanoleso: Thanks for your mockup! It seems similiar to mine, only that you moved the menus and buttons to different positions. I like it too, thanks. I take it that the menus on the top (File - Edit - View...) are simple placeholders until proper DF menus are placed, right?
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(If you feel I've forgotten about you, please raise a hand and I will react).
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A question for everyone interested who didn't answer yet: what do you think of the menus rearrangement? (I mean moving items to differend menus, renaming them, etc.) Do you want to keep the original menus? Do you like my proposal? Do you like Silverionmox's proposal? Do you have a proposal of your own?