DESIGN: Graphics/Interface Requests Thread

Dale · November 4, 2003, 17:26

I'd like to see the layout of my city as I build it, and be able to place my cathedral right THERE!

Yes, I want a iso-tile city-view screen that allows me to place my buildings.

Maquiladora · November 4, 2003, 20:32

What resolution do most people use in-game? I think its safe to assume most people use at least 800*600 now, maybe even 1024*768. I use 1152*864.

Tamerlin · November 4, 2003, 21:08

I use a 1024*768 resolution.

Ekmek · November 4, 2003, 21:08

Originally posted by Dale
I'd like to see the layout of my city as I build it, and be able to place my cathedral right THERE!

Yes, I want a iso-tile city-view screen that allows me to place my buildings.

Dale that would be cool, if anything it would be nice to have ctp2 generate a real small ctp2 map, say 20x20 when you got to the city screen. Of course I'd love the city zoom and battleview to be a small map with an RTS. But I've been getting slammed for wanting to much micromanagement in ctp2 so I'll stop there.

Tamerlin · November 4, 2003, 21:09

Don't worry E, you are welcomed!

But don't try to put any Real Time into CtP2...

Dale · November 4, 2003, 22:37

E:

Ooooo......... tactical battles. Not real-time though, how bout like the Imperialism series?

Gilgamensch · November 5, 2003, 03:33

Originally posted by Maquiladora
What resolution do most people use in-game? I think its safe to assume most people use at least 800*600 now, maybe even 1024*768. I use 1152*864.

except a few players worldwide, I think we can assume that minimum would be 1024*768. (same for me

)

Ekmek · November 5, 2003, 08:47

Never played Imperialism, but if it works I'm for it. Tamerlin, the only appeal of RTS is that multiple units can fight at once, CtP2 tries that but doesnt get the right feel.

Yeah Dale, I would be so happy if We had the zoom map for cities and battle (even battles in cities, real sieges!) OF COURSE this should be a player option. How far you want to manage should be up to the players own comfort level. (Maybe have a simple conflict option or a general unit that fights these fights for you, how well depends on experience...hmmm?)

J Bytheway · November 5, 2003, 08:58

Civ3 requires 1024x768, and although there were complaints, they were few. That was however long ago it was (a year or two?), so 1024x768 is pretty safe now.

hexagonian · November 5, 2003, 10:05

Originally posted by Dale
I'd like to see the layout of my city as I build it, and be able to place my cathedral right THERE!
Yes, I want a iso-tile city-view screen that allows me to place my buildings.

civ3 does give you a nice city overview pic with buildings/wonders that are already in place - Sure, it was a hood ornament, but it did add atmosphere.

Dale and I already know that certain indie games are going in this direction though...

centrifuge · November 5, 2003, 10:15

Originally posted by E
(Maybe have a simple conflict option or a general unit that fights these fights for you, how well depends on experience...hmmm?)

TBS, w/ RTS combat, sounds like the Total War series...

...works for me

Solver · November 5, 2003, 10:48

Originally posted by J Bytheway
Civ3 requires 1024x768, and although there were complaints, they were few. That was however long ago it was (a year or two?), so 1024x768 is pretty safe now.

I made a program that allowed 800x600 play of Civ 3... it was downloaded over 800 times on the forums, and I have gotten around 50 requests in email for it, too.

J Bytheway · November 5, 2003, 10:50

Well, I should say that my statement was backed up with very little evidence

.

Solver · November 5, 2003, 10:54

I remember that I made a LOT of complaints when I heard that Civ 3 would require 1024. I couldn't support that resolution at that time, and being the butt-headed guy I am, didn't want to get a new monitor.

The day I got the game, I discovered a way to run it in 800x600... but it was unplayable. Then I wrote the program... just checked, BTW, 941 download off Apolyton. That's nearly a thousand of downloads totally. Note that it's mostly useful for laptop users... I know that if I get a laptop, I will surely want to be able to play CtP2 on it.

MrBaggins · November 5, 2003, 10:59

I think we can consider 8x6 as a minimum resolution.

Given a choice of improving the interface, and leaving a very few 640x480 users unable to use an update, I'll take the improving the interface.

After all, you can always upgrade, but a crappy interface is forever crap *smiles*

Peter Triggs · November 5, 2003, 11:01

IIRC, this was something that people were asking to be put into Civ3. But Sid wouldn't buy it.

Although I like the idea, I can see two problems straight off.

First, it would be incredibly difficult to program.

Also, I'm not sure that it really works that well in a Civ type game. In Imperialism 2, they've got a turn based version of this type of system. When you attack a region you can go to a battle screen and have a fixed number of turn to defeat their army with yours. The trouble is that once they build city walls (fortifications, actually) it gets very monotonous: you find yourself doing almost exactly the same thing every time.

But if someone can think up a way of avoiding this, it would be nice to have this feature as a long term objective.

MrBaggins · November 5, 2003, 11:05

YEAH...

the only acceptable minigame in CtP2 is PacMan.

Thats how battles should be decided*chuckles*

Ekmek · November 5, 2003, 12:25

Originally posted by Peter Triggs
IIRC, this was something that people were asking to be put into Civ3. But Sid wouldn't buy it.

Although I like the idea, I can see two problems straight off.

First, it would be incredibly difficult to program.

Also, I'm not sure that it really works that well in a Civ type game. In Imperialism 2, they've got a turn based version of this type of system. When you attack a region you can go to a battle screen and have a fixed number of turn to defeat their army with yours. The trouble is that once they build city walls (fortifications, actually) it gets very monotonous: you find yourself doing almost exactly the same thing every time.

But if someone can think up a way of avoiding this, it would be nice to have this feature as a long term objective.

I was thinking of a small Ctp2 battlefield, multiplying each units moves by three or something, you target your unit attacks on each unit, then fight or withdraw etc. I'd avoid the city walls trump card though.

I think this would give people the chance to have multiple players fight over one tile though too. So you could have coalition combat.

I'm builder/trader not a fighter so i'd like this tied into my govt micromanging concept where your governing style determines if you micromanage you wars.

OR maybe a bonus of a great military leader is that you can direct the battles he's in, while the rest are standard ctp2/civ battles where you watch them lob rounds at each other.

hexagonian · November 5, 2003, 13:12

Well, if anyone was wondering what a revised City Manager screen could look like, here it is.

Of course, open for revision, and hinging on whether the code could be adapted to use this...

MrBaggins · November 5, 2003, 13:14

w00T!!!

I like, for one...

Solver · November 5, 2003, 13:23

to Hex. I love it. All the information I ever want accessible without further clicks, and the ability to manage build queue and city garrison from there.

The Big Mc · November 5, 2003, 13:30

just thought of a few ideas

a free slave button to free one slave point

and the ability to minimize the pallet thing (real name deludes me)

MrBaggins · November 5, 2003, 13:34

yeah... like a toggle button right at the top left, to switch between crappy original mode and excellent new mode

MrBaggins · November 5, 2003, 13:35

hmm.. aren't we missing the raw food, production and income values, though?

hexagonian · November 5, 2003, 13:47

The numbers are next to the specialist toggles - and will adjust as you assign specialists.

Ekmek · November 5, 2003, 14:02

What toggles this? A tab? It looks great! I likey!

The Big Mc · November 5, 2003, 14:03

how come its the worng city

hexagonian · November 5, 2003, 14:39

Originally posted by E
What toggles this? A tab? It looks great! I likey!

Same as in the game - We either hotkey it, or you doubleclick on the pic in the bottom right 'City' tab that shows you what that city is building. This screen is meant to replace the existing City Manager screen.

I actually prefer keeping the lower righthand tabscreen in with this screen, as it will allow you to navigate some of the other screens.

Originally posted by The BigMc
how come its the worng city

Because I decided to scroll around the mainmap while in this screen!!!

Maquiladora · November 5, 2003, 15:00

I have only 2 concerns what i can see at the moment, one, i hope its doesnt load slow as poo, and second, i wouldnt be able to see all the city's tiles if it was at maximum border bumps (would i?). Apart from that i like it as a beta

J Bytheway · November 5, 2003, 15:55

Looks good. Just what I was imagining. We could compress the left hand side a bit to make the happiness box larger and reduce necessity for scrolling. If each half was individually activateable then even the largest of cities would be visible in the remainder of the screen when only one was. What resolution is that pic from?