[SUGGESTION] Navigation not very clear

Moderators: Nacho84, N_Molson

Post Reply
nats
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 232 8Rad
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 232 8Rad
Posts: 169
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 10:19 pm
Location: Pocklington, UK

[SUGGESTION] Navigation not very clear

Post by nats »

This is something I have found just starting the game but I dont find it very easy to realise where you are in the game and navigate to where you need to go generally.

The problem is screen after screen are all very similar, all the same colour blue. I was thinking that by making each building and associated screen somehow different from each other it would greatly improve awareness and navigation considerably. What about subtly colour coding the box around the various buildings and then having the same colour on the backgrounds of their relative info screens? For example the Astronaut Training Building might be colour coded with a green box around it on the map, and when you go into the building its info screens have a subtle green background.

[I edited this post to remove my previous concern about goals not being clear, after I noticed the media advisor who will advise on achieving goals, once she is implemented in the game - that is a very good idea]
Last edited by nats on Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"It's life Jim, but not as we know it"
Nacho84
SPM Moderator
SPM Moderator
Posts: 1382
Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:32 pm
Location: Brighton, UK

Re: Navigation not very clear

Post by Nacho84 »

Hello nats,

I'll pass this comment along to the UI artist. Notice that every screen has a title in the top bar, so that should help with the navigation. Also notice that the personnel screens look pretty much the same, but that's only because we're using placeholder images. Once we add real portraits, it will become easier.

Cheers,
Ignacio Liverotti
Lead Developer of Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager

Polar Motion
Twitter
nats
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 232 8Rad
Administrative Corporal - SdKfz 232 8Rad
Posts: 169
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 10:19 pm
Location: Pocklington, UK

Re: Navigation not very clear

Post by nats »

Nacho84 wrote:Hello nats,

I'll pass this comment along to the UI artist. Notice that every screen has a title in the top bar, so that should help with the navigation. Also notice that the personnel screens look pretty much the same, but that's only because we're using placeholder images. Once we add real portraits, it will become easier.

Cheers,
I like the visual style of the game a lot, but I think there is just too much blue - you could always do it more subtly by colour coding the building logos instead of the screen backgrounds etc. Now I am getting further into the game itself I never use the buildings to navigate for the very reason I forget which one is for which department (again colour coding would help). I just use the icons at the bottom of the screens all the time to go where I need to because you can immediate see which depts have spare personnel from those. So if that is going to be the main navigation device that people use the most you should perhaps make more of it - colour coding of the icons would be very good.

Once you get used to the navigation it isnt too bad but there is one bit that is a little frustrating - having to go back to the solar system screen every time you want to manage your space programs and then use the button there. This is a very important button and there should perhaps be a more direct route to it from the map itself. I use it all the time once I have opened the programs I want.

Another very important thing that is missing, I have found, is there is no way once you have closed a program to see which have been completed. Once you close them they go green again. If you have completed a program is should be obvious, possibly even disappearing from the choices permanently. Its not as if you will ever need them again.
"It's life Jim, but not as we know it"
Post Reply

Return to “Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager : Early Access Beta Forum”