PS2 User Interface

[Crator]

So, I was just curious what everyone thinks the user interface should be like in PS2. Should it stay similar to PS1 with the right-click, press 'x' button, switch mechanics? Or should they do a more commonly used UI that we see in modern FPS games with the mouse-scroll to change weapons. Do we still want to be able to see our weapons on the UI with key assignments? I do! Or do we want a nice state of the art radial menu that is easy to access?

[Bags]

PS1 interface but fixed up. I'd like radial menu.

[nomotog]

I say they should design the UI to be more like a FPS then a mmo. That is leave things mostly bare. Have your shields health and ammo all tucked down in the corner. I don't really want to see that hot-bar thing myself, but if you like it you should be able to have it. Overall, I think simple is the way to do with the UI.

[Bags]

I say they should design the UI to be more like a FPS then a mmo. That is leave things mostly bare. Have your shields health and ammo all tucked down in the corner. I don't really want to see that hot-bar thing myself, but if you like it you should be able to have it. Overall, I think simple is the way to do with the UI.

So you want a watered down interface with no maps? No ty, I played BF3, their watered down interface is terrible.

[Crator]

PS1 interface but fixed up. I'd like radial menu.

I like the radial too. I would prefer it have main > sub menu (with associated keyboard shortcuts) but also easy to just hover click too. So, instead of the UI bar with the weapons listed I just pull up a radial that has the same info.

[nomotog]

So you want a watered down interface with no maps? No ty, I played BF3, their watered down interface is terrible.

You can still keep the map, but I would like you didn't need one. Have objectives and way points displayed in the world, same with any radar like powers. Put that information right in the FOV, so I don't have to keep peeking off to the side for it.

I like the minimal approach to UI.

[Bags]

You can still keep the map, but I would like you didn't need one. Have objectives and way points displayed in the world, same with any radar like powers. Put that information right in the FOV, so I don't have to keep peeking off to the side for it.

I like the minimal approach to UI.

How does planetside work without a map? BF3 has no world map and it's terrible.

[Crator]

Ya, I agree with Bags. I don't like no map. I prefer the map with user/command way points. However, more versatility in the map would be awesome for PS2. Perhaps a quick spot capability (think comma-rose) where if you spot an enemy it would show (for a brief period) the location and type of vehicle or troops that was seen.

[nomotog]

How does planetside work without a map? BF3 has no world map and it's terrible.

Well lots of games work without maps. Lets take a peek at them. Dead space had a neat system where the path dot printed on the floor when you pressed button. the game didn't really need it, but they could do something like that in PS where you press a button and a line is drawn on the ground guiding you where you set up your point. TF2 had a system kind of like this, only they just made there maps with the lines pre drawn. If your flying as the crow flies (straight) then you can use just way points. Point your plain at the way point and go. Far cry 2 had a system where the sigh posts would change colors to mark out what one to follow for objectives. other things you could do, have a item that lets you see the field in third person.

A mini map is just one way to do things. There are other ways to do things. unless you think I meant no maps at all. That's not what I was thinking. I was thinking no mini map.

[Bags]

Well lots of games work without maps. Lets take a peek at them. Dead space had a neat system where the path dot printed on the floor when you pressed button. the game didn't really need it, but they could do something like that in PS where you press a button and a line is drawn on the ground guiding you where you set up your point. TF2 had a system kind of like this, only they just made there maps with the lines pre drawn. If your flying as the crow flies (straight) then you can use just way points. Point your plain at the way point and go. Far cry 2 had a system where the sigh posts would change colors to mark out what one to follow for objectives. other things you could do, have a item that lets you see the field in third person.

A mini map is just one way to do things. There are other ways to do things. unless you think I meant no maps at all. That's not what I was thinking. I was thinking no mini map.

You do realize none of those games are similar to planetside, right? And TF2 has no map system at all.

BF3 does have a world map..

Edit: well it did in beta.

Uh, no it didn't. It had a tiny little map in the bottom left corner.

[nomotog]

You do realize none of those games are similar to planetside, right? And TF2 has no map system at all.


TF2 has no map because it dosen't need one. The path lines do the job. That's kind of what I'm saying here. You don't have to include a mini map there are other ways to do things. I think I made my point already. Navigation is not unique to planetside. Practically all games have it and they have several ways to handle it.

[xSlideShow]

Would rather just keep the minimap. It doesn't get you killed and I would prefer to avoid the amount of pretty colors on my screen. I'm gonna get enough flashy lights from my lasher.

[Bruttal]

Keyboard layouts and GUI are two different things, I would like a more customizable GUI to tell ya the truth like some of our more common MMO's that lets you change the background of a window or add other types of window components to another window.
but at the same time have a stylish or user fiendly default with some type of editor incase we don't like everything about it

[Bags]

TF2 has no map because it dosen't need one. The path lines do the job. That's kind of what I'm saying here. You don't have to include a mini map there are other ways to do things. I think I made my point already. Navigation is not unique to planetside. Practically all games have it and they have several ways to handle it.

How do I know what bases we own without a tactical map?

Edit: And that's my point; TF2 doesn't have one, because it needs one, and thus is not comparable to planetside.

[Graywolves]

I'd like squad and platoon leaders to place a 12 O'clock on your compass.

[Hamma]

I thought the original PlanetSide UI was kind of neat, it just lacked quite a bit of Polish.

That UI, improved and revisited in a new game would be sweet that's what I would like to see. I hope they don't go to a basic shooter UI, but I can't see that happening considering it's an MMO and requires additional elements.

[Talek Krell]

I'd like the health/shield indicators to be more accessible. I always find that tucking them away into the corner makes it difficult to tell just what sort of shape I'm in without having to take my attention away from the action. An indicator near the aiming reticle or a non-HUD indicator (like how deadspace made the healthbar an actual part of the suit) would probably work.

[Marth Koopa]

I want to push for each empire having a unique HUD following their design theories.

It would also be cool if the HUD looked like it's part of your character, kinda like the Metroid Prime games.

Metroid Prime Gameplay - YouTube

[Brusi]

I think this has come up a couple of times...

I totally agree with Marth on the emersive visor/inner helmet head up display. As long as it isn't too distracting. Being able to turn HUD items on and off should definitely be in there.

[Sirisian]

I'm a big fan of minimal HUDs with radial menus that I can access with quick mouse motions. So basically hide my health/shield if I don't need it and allow me to hide my holster options since I probably have them memorized. Yeah pretty much hide anything unless it changes or I enable it to stay visible like a mini-map.

Can't really play a game as complex as Planetside without a mini-map. How else will I know if I'm bombing the correct targets that friendlies have spotted? That and seeing bombs and other threats as infantry.

[Coreldan]

Radial menus work nicely for consoles, but are they really the most suitable option for PC as well? I don't have that much to complain about them either, but they aren't the handiest options either.

While it was a bit complicated at first, I liked how you could have two or more kinds of ammo which you could change between. With CE it was confusing at first to first change "firemode" into the turrents and then change "ammo" to get different turrents, but still :D

Map is a must, but the minimap/radar should stay mostly as it is with some fixes, IMO.

[Bags]

Radial menu was great in L4D.

[Dark Atlantis]

Old school UI (Health with numbers (Counter-Strike Style), 1-9 like PS1, crosshair :P)
with some new elements (Ammo and reserve ammo on weapon display).
Radial Chat ala BF2 and some "in world" informations (press E for enter car AT the car, Squad Move order).
Don't like how all the new games "shine" with their kind of "soldier got a head up display infront of his eyes, if he shakes to much, the HUD shakes too".
Some plain easy UI with basic informations and some inovative stuff mixed will be better^^

EDIT: After checking the thread a 2nd time: Exactly NOT what Marth Koopa showed (Metroid Prime)

[waldizzo]

I'm fine with what ps1 had. I liked how it was possible for the user to move, enable/disable and re-size most of the UI elements to where ever they wanted. Hope they keep waypoints as a giant pillar of light but tone them way down when the player is near them. spotting would be a cool but I'd want it to be more of a "last known position" type spotting instead of a big red triangle that follows people around.

[Talek Krell]

Radial menu was great in L4D.Did they strip that out of L4D 2, or did I just never notice it? I'm not a big fan of radial menus, I seem to be more accurate with button presses.

It would also be cool if the HUD looked like it's part of your character, kinda like the Metroid Prime games.
That'd be badass. Would make different vision modes look cool too. It's important not to overdo it, but I like when your HUD seems like it's an actual object in the world instead of floating numbers.

[Traak]

I want dual screens: one for the view, and one for the clutter: maps, chat, popcorn timer, whatever.