Improvement: User Interface multi-monitor support

Figment · 2012-02-10, 05:31 AM

So what I've been wondering about for years now, is why games in general don't support gaming rigs of multi monitors by allowing the UI to be adapted to it. Only very few games have done this so far. In fact, games like Empire Total War go haywire when you reach the edge of your screen, because they can't handle there being another screen next to it (no cursor lock for single screen as they work on the assumption there is only one screen).

Note that I'm not talking about using three monitors to give you 180 degrees vision, but about moving "spammy" information and social items from your HUD to the second screen. This would not provide a significant combat advantage beyond cleaning up your HUD a bit (and perhaps enlarged radar map), as it provides more room to better organise your UI. Basically something a lot of people already do anyway by turning of certain parts of the HUD to get a better field of vision because it is too crowded or even claustrophobic for them.

What I mean is, provide the option to put things that do not necessarily need to be on the main screen, on the secondary screen as part of the same game (with a different resolution).

Things like the map, squad and platoon members, friends and outfit lists, statistics, multi-chat windows, missions ("quest") status, instructions and conditions, vehicle wiki/information, help, UI adjustments (colour swaps, key binds, etc), special buttons (games like EQ and WoW could REALLY use this because their UIs are completely spammed with button crap - one of the reasons I never played those games actually), character (status/setup/progression) and vehicle overlays. Windows that in PS1 were pop ups. Even things like different certification trees when you are building up your character.

Of course you first need to design the entire system for one screen. But this would be a logical follow up direction for the UI-designer in specific.

Would single monitors be a bit of a handicap because your UI is more crowded? Sure. But then, how many people don't have an old spare 17" monitor laying around in the attic these days and a video card that can handle the extra load?

Figment · 2012-02-10, 07:06 AM

Ran this by some friends for feedback, one person was a bit concerned this is mostly a gain for rich boys.

Ask yourself this question, who gains the percentualy most HUD space from moving to two monitors from just moving the map across?

21" + 17" (1920x1080 + 1280x1024)
17" + 17" (1280x1024 + 1280x1024)

Say the map covers 10% of the 17", then the same size map covers 6% of the 21" screen, which already has a 37% increase in rendered screen. Considering the 21" screen already has more to show on screen, the smaller monitor "gains" some situational awareness compared to the bigger screen in a two monitor setup.

The only remaining potential hardware difference is the graphics card and CPU, but that was already an issue. In fact, if you have only one monitor and with it a certain framerate, then if someone with a 21" screen moves to two monitors, his framerate would probably drop a bit. So to say there's going to be huge extra disadvantages between someone with a single 17" and a dual 21"... Eh... There would be some disadvantages anyway, but I don't think they'd get much bigger. I'd sooner argue the contrary.

In itself, for this idea I don't consider the issue of "rich boy" catering an extreme issue at all.

Goku · 2012-02-10, 12:40 PM

Haha. Your friend thought having multiple monitors is a "rich boy" thing? I have a bunch of old 17-19 inch lcd monitors laying around I would love to do this with. Hell you can even do cheap three way monitor gaming these days with those 21.5 inch 1920x1080 monitors for like $300 ($100 each) when they're on sale.

Anyway I like the idea lot.

Neurotoxin · 2012-02-16, 12:54 AM

A secondary screen to manage other stuff would be pretty awesome. One window for gameplay, one for stats and communications and such (or the map, for lucky drivers with 2 monitors).

I also think it would be great if there was a way to duplicate the player screen with no UI elements on a second screen, which would be great for recording / streaming raw gameplay footage (and would be killer for product demos or tournaments).

Garem · 2012-02-17, 01:33 AM

Definitely an interesting idea, as I like to keep my laptop up beside me when I'm playing online games, for facebook, IRC, or quick access to teamspeak so I can make changes without alttabbing on my desktop.

It might be more trouble than it's worth to implement and bugcheck this, though.

What's probably more prevalent than desktops are school laptops! Some way to feed in game data (chat bars, outfit options, etc.) to a different computer would also be nice. EVE has some interesting options with "API" keys, although I'm not entirely sure how those work or what they're good for.

But like the multi-monitor option, this is probably more trouble than its worth.

Zulthus · 2012-02-17, 01:59 AM

Come on, man. All you had to do was scroll down half a page or look at the search box.

http://www.planetside-universe.com/f...ad.php?t=37943

Garem · 2012-02-17, 03:46 AM

In his defense, this is somewhat different. This is specifically for user interfacing, like chat and minimaps and other information that the game communicates to the player that isn't bad guys, guns, tanks, or planes to shoot at.

The difference is pretty massive, actually. This doesn't confer a serious advantage, while having two viewing angles or more is a major one.

VioletZero · 2012-02-17, 03:49 AM

Originally Posted by Goku

Haha. Your friend thought having multiple monitors is a "rich boy" thing? I have a bunch of old 17-19 inch lcd monitors laying around I would love to do this with. Hell you can even do cheap three way monitor gaming these days with those 21.5 inch 1920x1080 monitors for like $300 ($100 each) when they're on sale.

Anyway I like the idea lot.

The fact that you imply that 300 dollars is affordable says to me that maybe you underestimate how fortunate you really are.

Coreldan · 2012-02-17, 04:24 AM

I'd really like something like this, even if I dont even have a second screen, but would consider getting one if I could have the social/spammy/map/other stuff there.

Figment · 2012-02-17, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by Zulthus

Come on, man. All you had to do was scroll down half a page or look at the search box.

http://www.planetside-universe.com/f...ad.php?t=37943

Did check actually. Didn't show up as existing topic during thread making, initialy overlooked it due to joystick being mentioned first. However, already pm'ed Hamma last week with a request to merge the threads after I saw it. I can't 'unpost' this thread myself, Zulthus. :P