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Why Zero-K's User Interface sucks

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Date Editor Before After
12/17/2018 9:45:24 PMGBrankdyth68 before revert after revert
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1 Great post @DeinFreund! 1 Great post @DeinFreund!
2 \n 2 \n
3 As someone relatively new I thought I'd share my experience: 3 As someone relatively new I thought I'd share my experience:
4 For background, I had a reasonable amount of previous RTS experience, including Balanced Annihilation and Complete Annihilation. 4 For background, I had a reasonable amount of previous RTS experience, including Balanced Annihilation and Complete Annihilation.
5 * I was somewhat overwhelmed by all the buttons, but I figured I could just ignore the little buttons and played through the campaign a bit as a tutorial ( which it was actually pretty decent for) . I didn't use the top left buttons until at least game 40. The small buttons on the unit command menu got slowly absorbed from games 20 to 100. 5 * I was somewhat overwhelmed by all the buttons, but I figured I could just ignore the little buttons and played through the campaign a bit as a tutorial ( which it was actually pretty decent for) . I didn't use the top left buttons until at least game 40. The small buttons on the unit command menu got slowly absorbed from games 20 to 100 ( some of them could perhaps do with being a bit more prominent so that they get used quicker given how useful they are) .
6 * I was also overwhelmed by all the unit options. Again, the (first few levels of) campaign helped by removing most of them. 6 * I was also overwhelmed by all the unit options. Again, the (first few levels of) campaign helped by removing most of them.
7 * The mouse over text was an awesome help. 7 * The mouse over text was an awesome help.
8 * The hints on the loading screen were a godsend. So useful to be fed bitesized reminders about useful mechanics and hotkeys. There should be more of them. 8 * The hints on the loading screen were a godsend. So useful to be fed bitesized reminders about useful mechanics and hotkeys. There should be more of them.
9 * I didn't figure out markers for a very very long time. 9 * I didn't figure out markers for a very very long time.
10 \n 10 \n
11 About the proposed changes: 11 About the proposed changes:
12 1. Map markers: I didn't see map markers til very late (was initially playing team games with equally new friends or 1v1s) so I can't comment. I did find it annoying trying to watch a game when someone has drawn a big dick on the screen. 12 1. Map markers: I didn't see map markers til very late (was initially playing team games with equally new friends or 1v1s) so I can't comment. I did find it annoying trying to watch a game when someone has drawn a big dick on the screen.
13 1a. The ability to use markers and erase things should be way more discoverable. 13 1a. The ability to use markers and erase things should be way more discoverable.
14 2. Player colors: I didn't mind the team colors, found them reasonably intuitive (brighter colors are one team and darker ones are the other). I even tried the simple color mode around game 4 and didn't like it. 14 2. Player colors: I didn't mind the team colors, found them reasonably intuitive (brighter colors are one team and darker ones are the other). I even tried the simple color mode around game 4 and didn't like it.
15 3. Chat: No opinion on message colors. Seems fine. 15 3. Chat: No opinion on message colors. Seems fine.
16 4. Global commands: Making these more clearly ignorable initially might be nice. 16 4. Global commands: Making these more clearly ignorable initially might be nice.
17 4a. Having the markers be via one of those buttons rather than an undiscoverable hotkey would have been awesome. 17 4a. Having the markers be via one of those buttons rather than an undiscoverable hotkey would have been awesome.
18 5. Economy panel: I don't agree with swapping the colors, that would be immensely confusing to past me. 18 5. Economy panel: I don't agree with swapping the colors, that would be immensely confusing to past me.
19 6. Menu bar: Sounds good. 19 6. Menu bar: Sounds good.
20 7. Player list: I think having rank readily visible was useful, gives an immediate idea about how threatening that player is and whether I should be cautious. Country flags were nice flavor. 20 7. Player list: I think having rank readily visible was useful, gives an immediate idea about how threatening that player is and whether I should be cautious. Country flags were nice flavor.
21 7a. I really think the mouse over for this should show that you can press Tab for more options! Took over 100 games to realize that I could give units and share resources! 21 7a. I really think the mouse over for this should show that you can press Tab for more options! Took over 100 games to realize that I could give units and share resources!
22 8. Zoomed in: That was definitely a problem. Selections were very tricky. 22 8. Zoomed in: That was definitely a problem. Selections were very tricky.
23 8a. Also, for some of my friends telling units apart was very difficult. 23 8a. Also, for some of my friends telling units apart was very difficult.
24 9. Zoomed out: Yeah, the icons took a bit to get used to. That said, I had no issue with the white text. Was useful from the get go to realize how much metal worth of stuff I had and how many I'd selected. 24 9. Zoomed out: Yeah, the icons took a bit to get used to. That said, I had no issue with the white text. Was useful from the get go to realize how much metal worth of stuff I had and how many I'd selected.
25 10. Command panel: This was indeed somewhat overwhelming. 25 10. Command panel: This was indeed somewhat overwhelming.
26 11. Building placement: Very much agreed. I still don't know how to rotate buildings. 26 11. Building placement: Very much agreed. I still don't know how to rotate buildings.
27 12. Core selector: Green on a green background is a pretty poor color indeed. 27 12. Core selector: Green on a green background is a pretty poor color indeed.
28 13. Economy overlay: Mexes are way too subtle and geospots too blaring. Just to confirm: is starting with econ overlay the default? (it should be but I'm unsure if it is) 28 13. Economy overlay: Mexes are way too subtle and geospots too blaring. Just to confirm: is starting with econ overlay the default? (it should be but I'm unsure if it is)
29 14. Afk: No comment. 29 14. Afk: No comment.
30 15. Maps: Sure. 30 15. Maps: Sure.
31 16. Skybox: I guess. 31 16. Skybox: I guess.
32 17. Terrain: Good god YES! The inability to clearly see slopes etc. is one of the worst things about Zero K. Particularly bad when they've been Tremored for a while. 32 17. Terrain: Good god YES! The inability to clearly see slopes etc. is one of the worst things about Zero K. Particularly bad when they've been Tremored for a while.