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The User Interface
A lot of people have reported that the UI in Darkfall is disastrous. Although I haven't played the game yet, from what I've seen in the videos it doesn't seem to be that bad, but of course it's hard to get a clear idea simply from a bunch of videos. Can anybody who has played the game elaborate on what the UI misses / does wrong, and what they should do to improve it ?
Comments
It is a bit different, though I have no issue with it.
It does take a bit of time to build fluidity, but once you do, it actually works pretty well, imo.
The UI is pretty bad, like original EQ bad. The worst part is that there's no explanation of anything. You go in and don't really know how to do anything.
There's this dual mode thing, one where you have access to keyboard mapping, journal maps, skill setups and such and one where you fight and move around and all that. It's extremely frustrating at first because you'll have to go into the other mode to do something then when you're attacked it's a couple steps to get out and a couple to draw and fight.
The chat is pretty horrendous, sending tells isn't done in the main windows, but in tabs and such.
There's a few other things that are a pain, bars and locations, inviting others to group or trade and more.
The thing is that you do get used to it all. A few of the things are even better than other MMO's after you set them up the way you want. I love having my close friends on tabs.
I put it down to one of those independent developer quirks, but for some people it's a lot harder to get used to and enjoy.
Asdar
I like the UI its different.
Some people may have legitimate concerns over the UI others are just upset because its different than EQ and WoW's standard UI that every other mmo uses.
I don't like their UI. I feel like playing DF with handcuffs on my wrists. So hard to do anything, no freedom at all. For example, when you're looting something, you need to press these buttons R, F and B (backpack) then drag? Why not just some simple clicks? Ahh, I don't know just not fun to me.
Soo many lies.....
There is no "couple of steps to get out of UI if you are attacked" . It is ONE click on the mouse button, every "menu" item on screen will close instantly and you are straight into combat mode.
If you ever played Neocron before, you will be istantly at home. The only "tricky" part of the UI from my experience is equiping a staff, then selecting a spell, which is for example - press 3 then press 5 - which would select staff from hotbar button 3 and then mana missile from button 5.
Your Inv, map etc can all be accessed via keyboard buttons ( b & m ). The UI is not bad at all. When you press the R-mouse btn your inv opens as does the main menu bars for - journal, clans, options, spells, skills etc. Click the RMB again and they dissappear, simple.
More lies. Kill an enemy, sheath weapon "R" then press "F" on tombstone and the UI complete with your INV and the LOOT window open.
Also, you can't move at all after you pressed RMB. There are many other games you can do something (running) with your character while using the main menu. In DF, you have to hide behind a rock just to use your main menu. :P
Also, you can't move at all after you pressed RMB. There are many other games you can do something (running) with your character while using the main menu. In DF, you have to hide behind a rock just to use your main menu. :P
Not exactly. You can continue running, swimming, harvesting, etc, as long as you are doing the action prior to pressing RMB.
You're right that it's only one click to get out, one click to draw and the attack. If you were doing something you have to quit in the middle of it. It does feel awkward at first. It doesn't help the game to give people false expectations. At first the UI is awkward, and it's not at all intuitive.
I love the game, and even like the UI, but it's not something that's a positive for the game.
Asdar
Its not that bad, unfortunatly this forum has a abdunance of haters who like to troll the game for no reason.
U get used to it pretty fast, personally I had seen plenty of youtube vids explaining the UI in detail before I even starter the game so I knew exactly what to do.
-Darkstar
The UI is so bad, that I want to take a look at my quest journal and am too disgusted to open it! Seriously, the UI is as amateur, ugly, impractical as it can get. It would be unacceptable even on a 10-years old game. Sad truth.
PS: It seems that they were running out of time for release (feature ready since last summer, right?) and instead of implementing a proper GUI, they used some kind of in-game browser to implement most of the guis. So when you open the clan gui (for example) it starts as a blank page that loads the various parts of the page step by step, just like a web browser on a very very slow web page). Also, the page rendering is completely bud-ridden. Hilarious.
Becouse it's supposed to take time to loot somone...?
Mine loads quickly and I haven't noticed any bugs in the renedering.
Perhaps you have a problem elsewhere.
That's not very constructive. Please list the main problems you see with the interface. So far most people have been saying that it's different, but I still don't understand what's so horrible about it.
Infinity: The Quest for Earth, space-sim MMO with a seamless procedural galaxy.
Mine loads quickly and I haven't noticed any bugs in the renedering.
Perhaps you have a problem elsewhere.
Fraps it and show us...
That's not very constructive. Please list the main problems you see with the interface. So far most people have been saying that it's different, but I still don't understand what's so horrible about it.
Yes, sorry. Read my edited post.
Umm... Doesnt this game come with a manual? All download games come with a gamemanual in pdf.
There is barely a game in the package.
i am sorry but if people claiming they need to hit the key's R F anb B to loot then they did not try to figure out how the interface works and what you can do with it.
and should not comment on the user interface.
i am not saying its one of the smartest ui i have seen. but it works decent when you are used to it and changed a few key binds.
first of all let me explain that you have 2 modes a move/fighting mode and a user mode.
on default your right mouse button is switching between those 2 modes. if you are in move/combat mode and you wanna use something, you need to unsheath your weapon ( r ) then hit the use button ( F ) now you can use/open player corpses banks and for using for example a workbench.
now Almost every window can be made transaparant as much as you whant. and you can set windows to apear in user mode and hide when entering combat mode. and you can set the size of every window. this way your screen can be clean when you are fighting. and if you are banking/looting you can have your backpack appear when you enter use mode for example and let it be hidden in combat mode.
you have one hotbar with 10 buttons ( 1 to 0 ) and you can switch hotbar with shift 1 to shift 0 ) that makes a total of 100 key binds. this part is very hard to use and should be made easier.
if you are gonna play this game i would change a few key's
sprint ( default on shift ) change it to yoru right mouse button
combat/user moder ( default right mouse) change it to your 3/4 mouse button.
this 2 changes makes for most people the game a lot easier to use.
a large part is of the interface is indeed in html base. ( bad thing loading time)
now this is maybe not the smartest way but the game keeps tracks of every thing you do,
pve death/kill check journal
pvp death/kills check journal
clan check clan part
it keep tracks of so many things any other game will not even come close to as much information you can find and keep tracks of.
is it in pve pvp clan siegings/destroying, craft list what you made and much much more
I don't hate the UI but I'm not in love with it either.
My main two issues are I wish you could make the action bar horizontal and I hate accessing the journal 'cause it takes forever to load.
Other than that it's ok.
More lies. Kill an enemy, sheath weapon "R" then press "F" on tombstone and the UI complete with your INV and the LOOT window open.
Didn't you just say the same thing he did? How is he lying? You both said you need to Press "R" and "F". In his case, there's an extra step if you don't already have your bag open or does "F" automatically open your bag for you?
Regardless, it's obvious that the process of looting is fairly cumbersome and manual compared to other modern MMOs. Why can't a simple mouse-click on the tombsone sheath your weapon and open the loot/bag interfaces? You'd still be vulnerable to attack, you'd still have to manually manage the loot, so why make the loot interface more difficult than it needs to be,? Having to push a couple of extra keys just to open the interface isn't "hardcore", nor does the lack of those extra keys adversely affect gameplay. Won't players just macro those keystrokes anyway?
Ultimately, I think that's what players who complain about the UI are concerned with. Some things just don't seem logical or meaningful.
~Ripper
Every new UI is going to take some getting used to, just give it some time.
TheNewGuy: Ultima Online (Catskills)
More lies. Kill an enemy, sheath weapon "R" then press "F" on tombstone and the UI complete with your INV and the LOOT window open.
Didn't you just say the same thing he did? How is he lying? You both said you need to Press "R" and "F". In his case, there's an extra step if you don't already have your bag open or does "F" automatically open your bag for you?
Regardless, it's obvious that the process of looting is fairly cumbersome and manual compared to other modern MMOs. Why can't a simple mouse-click on the tombsone sheath your weapon and open the loot/bag interfaces? You'd still be vulnerable to attack, you'd still have to manually manage the loot, so why make the loot interface more difficult than it needs to be,? Having to push a couple of extra keys just to open the interface isn't "hardcore", nor does the lack of those extra keys adversely affect gameplay. Won't players just macro those keystrokes anyway?
Ultimately, I think that's what players who complain about the UI are concerned with. Some things just don't seem logical or meaninful.
~Ripper
Perhaps in the opinion of some, most MMO's have been dumbed down to the point where they aren't really worth playing anymore...
{ Mod Edit }
That may be, but you fail to explain why they feel that way or what makes their opinion valid. In other words, it's simply an unsubstantiated attack along the lines of "roflomgusuckcarebeargobacktowow".
The "opinions of some" don't justify illogical UI design that contains extra, unnecessary steps. Please explain why those two extra keystrokes are necessary, how they make Darkfall smarter than other MMOs, and how your gameplay benefits from you having to key in extra strokes. UI design, whether it's for web pages, applications, or games, is all about making the experience as intuitive and easy-to-use as possible. Why add extra "clicks" when one will accomplish the same thing? A UI shouldn't interfere with navigation through a website, by making it harder to use an application or by making gameplay more cumbersome. In a game, it's the actual game play that's most important, right? So why not simplify the UI in order to let players do what actually matters most, which is to actually play the game.
Please note, all I suggested was simplifying opening the loot interface. I said you'd still be vulnerable to attack and that you'd still have to manage your loot manually. I never suggested (nor would I support) auto-looting or invulnerability during looting for a game like Darkfall. As such, the interface would be more intuitive, but the gameplay would still be just as "hardcore". The end result is that you'd still have the fun, hardcore game you like to play, but with more professional, polished UI mechanics (at least for this one, simple example). How is this "dumb" and what about this suggestion would make Darkfall not worth playing?
~Ripper
you can sticky your bag. it hides when you are in combat mode and apears when you are going into use mode!
so the moment you use the f g or right mouse button your bag will appear!
Thanks dembar! That answers the question in my initial reply to nikoliath.
~Ripper