Stellar Frontier's GUI

[Sandtrooper]

There are three blank buttons (top 3 left hand side). Does anyone have suggestions for their use or should i dump em. I'd rather use em in the intrests of symmetry..

Future chat expansion options, perhaps (if it really matters)?

As well we can still support the old GUI, just as a second option, if people want.

Good idea

[Jibbit]

I was thinking about the five serperate GUI's. I like the idea of being able to choose your skin so...

Lets have a third drop down menu on the start screen. whereby you choose your race and your ship type then SF chooses the relevant skin for the race. So if you choose to be Terran/Blue, SF chooses the Holo skin, but you can drop down the third menu and change it if you wish to any of the other four before you login.

For the skins i was thinking of having tham all be completely different. They would have to occupy the same spaces so the coded stuff appears in the same places, but instead of just turning the holo skin different colours and textures, lets make them different completely.....different boders, different shapes and different backs. Since the buttons and sensor lights are gonna be bmp'd a new .dat file would let us put 'em in different places for different skins. It would also let us put em in different places for different screen sizes.

Terran - Holo
Arcean - Like a Regal style Gold and Silver (moslty gold)
Dregin - A rusted red - or maybe some kind of satanic blood red and black ?
Pirate - like ATC said a sort of cobbled together thing rivets and all kinda like the matrix screens but based on green dont know how green tho, too much green'll make ya sick !



appologise for the amount of times i used the word different.....NOTE TO SELF......Thesaurus !

[NiteHawk]

Does definatly look good.

Just remember though with different templates, you'll need to make sure it works with a light based font I'd think. Having dark based themes rather, so it doesn't kill the eyes either, and is alot easier to add.

As for one more GUI, I'd like to see a dark silver/dark gray one, like a generic one as well.

How does everyone feel about the darkness on it? On my end it seems okay, but you never know with others. I'd like to get says on everyone with the blue theme.

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

The new holo interface is absolutely stunning.  No further complaints from me.  Except maybe the planets on the minimap should have the 3D spheres, but I think that's just coding it in.

I think you should keep those three 'spare' buttons even if they're blank for now.  We might have some features later on that would come in use.

[NiteHawk]

The new holo interface is absolutely stunning.  No further complaints from me.  Except maybe the planets on the minimap should have the 3D spheres, but I think that's just coding it in.

I think you should keep those three 'spare' buttons even if they're blank for now.  We might have some features later on that would come in use.

Agreed.

[Jibbit]

First Draft of the red skin.......Comments please.

If you don't like it please say so.

[attachment deleted by admin due to size limiting]

[NiteHawk]

It looks good, just one thing for a programming perspective.

Try to keep as similar X/Y coords as possible for writing and generic things if you can.  The move thats moved then I'd have to end up actually coding 4 new GUI's becuase there all different X/Y coords.

Not saying it all has to be together, but may become difficult, specially if players wish to code there own interface, might be impossible if I have to do selects for each interface, thus it would more be something thats built in the game rather then something that can be done.

They can still have the round buttons, different types, etc, For example, take a look at the image I have attached. Pretend the X and Y of the buttons are the same...The yellow represents the HITBOX, aka where you can select it. Get me? Just because the size is different, you can still select the button because of the 'area' it is in.

That's why it would be best if possible to have buttons and the middle text etc align as best as possible, if its not possible, don't fret, but it would be best for others trying to customize there SF as well, and such like that. Will be very difficult for them too if text/buttons/etc aren't aligned.

And it can still be the same looks, long as the HITBOX aka where you select it is inside the button.

Otherwise I think the feel for drengins has been hit, good job.

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

I have some minor input too... I like the Drengi scheme there, but the displays need to be ensured that they look like they actually are displays, and not text floating in front of wood panels.

[JupiterStarWarrior]

In both interfaces (the Red and the HoloDark), the red text is kind of hard to read.  I don't know if it can be fixed or not.  But, the critical information is definitely easy to read.  I like the HoloDark much better than the Red Interface.

[Jibbit]

I have noticed the problem with the red text. It's only a problem with the compression from .ufo files into .jpg. The red text is as easy to read as the others on my computer. Because there will be no loss of clarity when changing into 24 bmp it wont happen in the game.

[Jibbit]

Ok....redrafted.

Made the screens look more like screens.
Have created an object mask so...All relevant objects in exactly the same place as Holo skin. (moved a few lines around to accomodate this.)
Added a grid to the map (again same as holo's)
Replaced sensor light with same as Holo's.

Dont worry about shadow on the top lines of text, this wont happen in the game.

[attachment deleted by admin due to size limiting]

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

Lookin' good.  I think this one's a keeper.

[NiteHawk]

Perfect!

[Jibbit]

Here's a first draft on the Arcean one. I'm not sure wether i even like it, but let me know what you think.

[attachment deleted by admin due to size limiting]

[NiteHawk]

The interface layout is okay.. But, mmm... It the borders to 'wood' like to me. As well, could do with alot less green and a different shade of yellow, I'd say, since they dont' really use green, and it kinda looks wierd with the two colors.