UI Suggestions - Navigation

Hi Uber,

I got some suggestions to help on navigation since you have a (absolutely awesome and extremely complex) system over multiple planets.

Note: Since I'm not allowed to post links I'll indicate you the exact thing to search in google (rolf ...)

Navigating between planets
I would suggest a Radial Menu showing all planets when you right click your mouse. This way, you pick a planet SUPER easily. It's convenient and fast! You also can add some feedback such as "planet visited", last time you went looking, number of reactors, etc. If the number of planets exceed a "normal" Radial Menu, set 2 then 3, etc layers of circles. I hope you understand that one Here is a multi-layer Radial Menu: (search for "circular menu" to see nice examples)

That famous MiniMap
Okay, so this one is pure logic Human tend to live no a 3d globe Our solution is a flat map that fits the on paper (how useful isn't it? ). So, no need to reinvent the wheel here, simply flatten the globe in a 2d aspect map like any earth map. This will certainly be a problem in terms of geometry since you are in a true 3D environment. I suggest you draw a cartographic render of the map (e.g. shadows won't break visibility on the map)

How and when to access the minimap
I got two vision on that one.

1. When you zoom out to max distance (this would make Supcom fans happy I suppose ) But, I personaly dislike this suggestion (yet I made it lol) because you would "limit" the posibility to see the whole planet in 3d. Also, it forces you to scrollllllllllllll to see the map
2. Simply bind the minimap to a command This has 2 major benefits. First, you can see the map exactly when you want to (not when you scrollllllllllllll to the max ). Secondly, you can play on a flat 2d map like on supcom. This! could bring an incredible level of versatility to micro-management. The downside? Let's hope players don't stick to this view :S

So, I hope you will see this post !! I'm sure you already thought about those solutions, but if you didn't, there ya go!

Continue the great absolutely incredible work you do guys. Your awesome.
JR

@deathphoenix2 Welcome to the forums!


Navigating Between Planets
A radial menu = built for console controller.
For PC, we actually have a perfectly accurate 1:1 input system, the mouse.
I agree that you should have info and control to pick planet super quick.

The community has suggested some sort of always present "key" with the same as your suggestion to do "1 click to cycle between planets".

Personally, I agree with the "key" as well. I have done my interpretation here:
https://forums.uberent.com/threads/gui-mock-up.52739/

Your feedback would be appreciated!


Minimap
Wow, we get 2 new threads a day asking for this! (Congrats, you're #2 today! )
How did you alpha boys deal with it?

We've been talking about this one to death. It is both a highly discussed and debated topic.
Please add your voice to the discussion here:
https://forums.uberent.com/threads/idea-minimap.51928/



I am trying to collect all the GUI suggestion from the community in 1 giant tracker.
Click on the links in my thread to see what we've got so far.


Just like you, we're all hoping this game kicks some serious llama @ss