Color Blind Patch

Byeohazard · Post by **Byeohazard** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:57 am

I am having a bit of trouble telling the difference between core units and AUX units...When I press the button that brings out the slider bar of all my units I can see some have stars and I understand the gold border means "core". On the battlefield I have a very difficult time telling them apart even when I look carefuly and mouse over them. Would it be possible to create a patch for folks that are color blind?

Byeohazard · Post by **Byeohazard** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:03 am

Anyone else think this would be a good implementation or am I just spinning my wheels?

adrianoku · Post by **adrianoku** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:39 am

Yes ! I agree ! The core units must be more visible!

starbird · Post by **starbird** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:13 am

Agree!!
And making all enemy troops core units with golden boxes does not help either!!

BTW, at least give some hints about the golden box and silvery box. It took me awfully some time to realise the difference, and before that I had to tell them apart by memorizing every unit's name!!

Kerensky · Post by **Kerensky** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:15 am

How about giving them a different naming convention. Think that'll help people at all?

For example, instead of following the current system of # UNIT TYPE

We say AUX #(+100) UNIT TYPE.

10th Panzer IIIJ

becomes

AUX 110th Panzer IIIJ.

Tarrak · Post by **Tarrak** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:18 am

Kerensky wrote:How about giving them a different naming convention. Think that'll help people at all?

For example, instead of following the current system of # UNIT TYPE

We say AUX #(+100) UNIT TYPE.

10th Panzer IIIJ

becomes

AUX 110th Panzer IIIJ.

Very good idea imho. Easy to tell the unit type by the name on the first glance and easy to implement. It was the same in PG if memory serves me.

Byeohazard · Post by **Byeohazard** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 8:12 am

Good idea Kerensky. Labeling them would help...as long as it is labeled clearly and visibly.

Post by **IainMcNeil** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:26 am

Names are already very long so not sure this is a good plan as they will overspill text boxes especially in other languages.

If people are still having trouble differentiating then we'll have to change the image. Maybe by making the border more or less intricate on Core units.

El_Condoro · Post by **El_Condoro** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:52 am

Underline the names of core units?

adrianoku · Post by **adrianoku** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:55 am

iainmcneil wrote:Names are already very long so not sure this is a good plan as they will overspill text boxes especially in other languages.

If people are still having trouble differentiating then we'll have to change the image. Maybe by making the border more or less intricate on Core units.

I agree! It's better changing the image, adding a label or a stripe, something easily visible, pheraps a thicker golden border could be enough.
I'm not good in drowing but something like this....

Byeohazard · Post by **Byeohazard** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:08 am

I had been thinking this was a color blind problem but I'm getting the feeling folks that aren't color blind are also having a hard time distinguishing core from aux units???

starbird · Post by **starbird** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:22 am

iainmcneil wrote:Names are already very long so not sure this is a good plan as they will overspill text boxes especially in other languages.

If people are still having trouble differentiating then we'll have to change the image. Maybe by making the border more or less intricate on Core units.

If you are into the idea, I guess you can use a different color for their names. Same length.

For me, it's even better to give them a special mark-a star, a medal...-on the icon, more straightforward on the map.
Or give a different shade for the icon, I mean you made the camouflaged elite units very distinctive for some reason, yet the core-unit is a much important factor to be differentiated.
Or instead focusing on the border, why not do something about the whole black box, it does not always have to be black, i guess.

Diplomatic · Post by **Diplomatic** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:50 am

I had no problem with distingushing the core units from auxiliary units, even though I'm playing on 10.5 scren on my Compaq netbook. On the contrary, I would like to congratulate the devs for optimilizing the game to work under such small screen resolution, although the battlefield view and menu is cropped. I'm very pleased to be able to play PzC on a plane and or by the pool

As far as I'm concerned, vast majority of games do not work on netbooks, precisely due to the small screen resolution.

Xerkis · Post by **Xerkis** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:05 am

I mentioned this elsewhere already, but adding it here might be good though.

Besides the core and aux issue, I also find it difficult to quickly tell apart who has which cities. Gray and green are just too close for me, especially on the mini map. No real point to having a mini map if you can’t use it because the colors all look the same.

VPaulus · Post by **VPaulus** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:43 am

It should be optional and come as an option in the game options menu.
Just ideas.

Xerkis · Post by **Xerkis** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:49 am

VPaulus wrote:It should be optional and come as an option in the game options menu.

Absolutely.
Anytime you have something like this, it should be an option in the game’s option menu. No need to force upon others something that only a percentage of the users would want to use.

Byeohazard · Post by **Byeohazard** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 3:30 pm

Xerkis wrote:I mentioned this elsewhere already, but adding it here might be good though.

Besides the core and aux issue, I also find it difficult to quickly tell apart who has which cities. Gray and green are just too close for me, especially on the mini map. No real point to having a mini map if you can’t use it because the colors all look the same.

You are right Xerkis. I also have the same difficulty.

adrianoku · Post by **adrianoku** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:09 pm

Yes VPaulus! The silver embossed one is easily identificable!

AgentX · Post by **AgentX** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 8:12 pm

gatto wrote:Yes VPaulus! The silver embossed one is easily identificable!

I agree and thought different contrast was the way to go (I like it better than than dotted underline/borders). That is the way PG did it and they were easily distinguishable. And, considering the OP was about color blinded players, I think they would benefit from a different contrast for the Aux units. This could even carry over to future expansions that let you play as the Allies. Their Aux units could have a lighter green plate with black numbers.

adrianoku · Post by **adrianoku** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 8:30 pm

I'll try this combo, dark black for german core units and light green for allied core

(ehm.. I'm using imageshack for images, I don't have the add image button when posting... is it possible or am I blind? )