The Toolbar

[JC Edwards]

This is per the discussion in the "August Screen Shots" thread:

What I would like to know is.....will the toolbar for this game be similar to TC2M's?
I've gotten rather use to that format of toolbar; and I've seen toolbars for other multiplayer games that look very....well lets just say, uncomfortable.....some that take up half the screen, icons all over the place....upper left corners, upper right corners etc........which seems a tad irritating.

That's what I liked about the TC2M toolbar......everything in one nice little spot.

Also, I take it there will be new commands and formations at our disposal?

[Amish John]

Also, I like being able to hide the toolbar. Sometimes you like an unobstructed view.

[norb]

I thought that we were settled on a toolbar, but then I just got a very cool new design in an email and we need to explore it further.

[estabu2]

norb wrote:

I thought that we were settled on a toolbar, but then I just got a very cool new design in an email and we need to explore it further.

Ahhhh, an open mind is a beautiful thing, especially when it comes to video game designersB)

[Jim]

We are trying to keep the active clicking in a fairly restricted area, but the look may end up being fairly different from TC2M. We are actively trying various design elements to see how they look and work. The team is showing some real creativity and I think the end result will be a significant upgrade in both look and function from previous games.

-Jim

[Amish John]

Thanks Jim for the info. As good as TC2M is, I think we are all hoping for some good improvements in the graphics, gameplay, and interface of this new game. Keep those brain cells churning.

[RebBugler]

For me, less toolbar is better, but oodles of commands and formations. How about placement? Any advances from the last game...like right click options, or commands regulated to the curser for easy and fast placement and orders?

[RebBugler]

Hummm...no answers as to improvements with commands and curser upgrades. Guess it's just more 'eye candy', the same archaic functions on a shiny new toy...taking up a quarter of the screen...hope the multi player features are worth it, they won't be for me.

[JC Edwards]

RebBugler wrote:

Hummm...no answers as to improvements with commands and curser upgrades. Guess it's just more 'eye candy', the same archaic functions on a shiny new toy...taking up a quarter of the screen...hope the multi player features are worth it, they won't be for me.

Unfortunately RebBugler, as it is the Labor Day weekend, I have a feeling our fearless leader (and Family) may be out of the loop for the moment.
I'm quite sure he will get back to you on your question my friend.

Sarge

[ironsight]

My wish list for a tool bar would be to take every conceivable control option including from the modding community and then in a setup menu let the user completely design his own custom control option'd tool bar similar to what Windows does with its Tool Bars.
Further, allow the user to place the tool bar anywhere on the screen either vertical or horizontal with also the option to increse or decreas it overall size.

Further, the retreat control should be off by itself far out of the way somewhere in the tool bar or let the user place the controls wherever they want in that mythical toolbar setup menu. I can't count the times in the 'heat of battle' when i accidently hit the 'retreat' button instead of the troop movement button right next to it.

One thing i've learned about writing software in the past for multiple end users, is if i don't want to keep maintaining the SW in perpetuity, is to let the end user have as much flexibility as they want from some GUI setup or options menu rather than hard coding the features i think they'll need.