Game Page Layout - new proposal! [First Post]

[Snorri1234]

Just buy bigger screens people!

[Robinette]

Just buy bigger screens people!

But it's only THIS big..




oh wait... if i look at it this way then maybe i don't need to scroll...

[hecter]

Just buy bigger screens people!

Not really a solution if you're using a laptop.

Not that I care, I'm running 1680x1050, with large maps on, and with the thing on the side and it still seems empty.

[Zarg78]

This update is a complete waste of time. You'd be just as well giving them "BOB" as standard. Surely you admin people have better ideas for updates.

Speaking of which, why not have an interactive map where attacks, reinforcements, etc are done by clicking on the map?

[MarathonMax]

Great add-on but ... if one uses BOB like I do, it does not add anything else, really. Is there a way to disable this? It will however be usefull when I login with my iPhone !

[vodean]

new time format is kinky

[hecter]

This update is a complete waste of time. You'd be just as well giving them "BOB" as standard. Surely you admin people have better ideas for updates.

Speaking of which, why not have an interactive map where attacks, reinforcements, etc are done by clicking on the map?

That's exactly what happened... Giving BOB as standard. Seeing as how BOB is completely third party and all...

[Qwert]

Make it an option from the Game Settings menu?

Game Page stats "right of the map"; "below the map"; or "off"?

Now this will be good to create,in this way you will solve all people problem.
I will imediatly put this statistic "off",because i dont need that.Ofcourse other people who like can activate this statistic.

[Bruceswar]

I think the best option would be to have something in game settings that goes something like:
Game Statistics: Horizontal - Vertical - Off

This works for me. I think overall use of the space can be done better. I will have a mock up made later to show what I mean.

[Ffraid]

I saw a post in the announcement thread that I thought should be seen here:

Hmmm, it seems like we keep making the screen WIDER...

How about we knock off the Game Menu section on the Left most of the screen and relocate that above the game map and stuff.

I know its a full site redesign or whatever, but with the size of some of the maps paired with people's names/ranks, and now the new statistics addon, I'm thinking we definitely need the FULL VIEW of our screen related to the map/game we're in.

Thoughts?

I even went so far as to mock up a rough (Okay, watch-your-fingers-you-might-get-splinters rough but, hey, I'm no artist) layout.

Click image to enlarge.

I moved the logout to the upper right since it had to be moved and a lot of web pages put the login\out there. Also, the menus that were moved from the left panel could be made into drop downs and put in the same line as Home, Instructions, etc.

This arrangement allows for less horizontal scrolling. In fact probably the only people that would have to scroll horizontally are those, like me, that have a small screen resolution (1024x768) and use large maps (getting old is playing havoc with my visual acuity).

I have no idea how difficult it would be to program this but lack did ask if there was a completely different solution. The top and left panels seem to be consistent across the entire site, so would it just be a matter of changing it in one place and having it apply to all?

[musicalmaven]

frankly, i like it. i never had any luck getting greasemonkey or bob up, and i wasted a lot of time counting everyone's territories and troops.
i saw bruce's (bruceswar) post and since you guys liked his proposal, let me add that i also play on grand strategy and they have the stats on a separate page and you simply click on the stats button and you get everyone's vital information (territories, men, cards, and a few more stats which i play little attention to).
now if you could only do something about the damned dice. they've always been bad, but lately, its been off the scale.
yes, i know, everyone complains, but i have kept track of my dice rolls and i know that i am well below average, and have never been above average. (and never is the operative word.)

[lackattack]

Thanks for the feedback, I read every post (and I especially appreciate the mockup, Ffraid).

I'll prepare a few mockups of my own based on your feedback and put them to a vote in the coming days...

[RjBeals]

On a slightly side note, in the next month or two some redesigns may help give some much needed love to the Foundry.

You forgot to check the CC update conversion chart.

Right around the corner = 3 weeks
Coming soon = 6-8 weeks
one or two months away = 6-9 months
"we are planning" = 12-15 months
"it's on the todo list" = never

nice.

[yeti_c]

It's just slightly irratating that we in the map foundry have been limited to what width map we can make, and then Lack goes and tosses in huge width feature.

Indeed... and of course the new extra width added by this update means that the maps are less likely to be given extra width...

Unless, of course, we can get the UI redesigned...

C.

[yeti_c]

Sorry for Double post but...

Thanks for the feedback, I read every post (and I especially appreciate the mockup, Ffraid).

I'll prepare a few mockups of my own based on your feedback and put them to a vote in the coming days...

Now that Javascript is forced on... just implement the "hide menu" code that I wrote for BOB...

That will give you a massive amount of real estate...

Personally I prefer to have the "hide menu" on as the "Game" setting - which means it only happens in the games... and not in the forums.

Which I think is the best mix - but it would be ace if you can code it as selectable.

C.

[porkenbeans]

I have a suggestion that goes to the background and fore ground colors.
My idea is to make the background black, and the text could be white or gold or something.
My reasons for this, is this-

It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white.

We are used to reading black on white because books have always been printed this way. They are printed this way because, it would cost more, in ink, to do it the other way around.

The pixel world does not use ink, and many that are in the "know" nowadays, are using the white over black instead of the prehistoric black over white.

I can go into the technical reasons, like how the pupil widens and allows more info to the brain. Or how the muscles of the the pupil, have to exert themselves to narrow the pupil, resulting in "eye strain". But suffice it to say, The map will be much easier to read, and will stand out better if the background of the screen was black.

[vodean]

just make BOB standard... it'll make things easier

[Ffraid]

... It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white....

State your source, because I have never found this to be the case. Whenever I have to read text on web pages that use such a format, I always end up going up to the Edit menu and choosing Select All so that, basically, the text and background colors are reversed.

[porkenbeans]

... It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white....

State your source, because I have never found this to be the case. Whenever I have to read text on web pages that use such a format, I always end up going up to the Edit menu and choosing Select All so that, basically, the text and background colors are reversed.

And you have proven what ?

It is similar to when you go into a low light surrounding. Your eyes take a few moments to adjust. What they are in actuality doing is, relaxing the muscles that operate your pupil. when they are relaxed your pupils are fully open. Its these muscles for lack of a better word, that become fatigued when you are reading.

[Bruceswar]

Here is a mock up I think most people would be OK with... If we cannot get a disable button at least we can move things around...

Click image to enlarge.

Please not the names are just for show... That is why the game log is different from the names on the side...

[The Neon Peon]

Or... We could have the layout be similar to iGoogle in that we can move things around however we wish. That way, everyone would be happy with the placement of the map / log / chat / stats.

Bruce's way also works.

[Woodruff]

... It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white....

State your source, because I have never found this to be the case. Whenever I have to read text on web pages that use such a format, I always end up going up to the Edit menu and choosing Select All so that, basically, the text and background colors are reversed.

And you have proven what ?

It is similar to when you go into a low light surrounding. Your eyes take a few moments to adjust. What they are in actuality doing is, relaxing the muscles that operate your pupil. when they are relaxed your pupils are fully open. Its these muscles for lack of a better word, that become fatigued when you are reading.

Does this mean that you don't have a source, or just that you're intentionally avoiding the opportunity to provide it?

[RjBeals]

Here's an interface I did a few years ago - but nothing ever happened with it. I was trying show a better layout to allow for larger maps.

Click image to enlarge.

[edit]
ha.. and while i was poking around, i found this for a banner competition.

[porkenbeans]

... It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white....

State your source, because I have never found this to be the case. Whenever I have to read text on web pages that use such a format, I always end up going up to the Edit menu and choosing Select All so that, basically, the text and background colors are reversed.

And you have proven what ?

It is similar to when you go into a low light surrounding. Your eyes take a few moments to adjust. What they are in actuality doing is, relaxing the muscles that operate your pupil. when they are relaxed your pupils are fully open. Its these muscles for lack of a better word, that become fatigued when you are reading.

Does this mean that you don't have a source, or just that you're intentionally avoiding the opportunity to provide it?

I do not remember where it was that I learned this. Sorry old chap, just a bit of info that got packed into my brain, somewhere along the line.

[Ffraid]

... It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white....

State your source, because I have never found this to be the case. Whenever I have to read text on web pages that use such a format, I always end up going up to the Edit menu and choosing Select All so that, basically, the text and background colors are reversed.

And you have proven what ?

It is similar to when you go into a low light surrounding. Your eyes take a few moments to adjust. What they are in actuality doing is, relaxing the muscles that operate your pupil. when they are relaxed your pupils are fully open. Its these muscles for lack of a better word, that become fatigued when you are reading.

Does this mean that you don't have a source, or just that you're intentionally avoiding the opportunity to provide it?

I do not remember where it was that I learned this. Sorry old chap, just a bit of info that got packed into my brain, somewhere along the line.

Um... I wasn't trying to prove anything. You said, "It has been proven...." I was just asking you to tell me where. I certainly understand that you don't remember where you learned that. I don't remember where I learned most of the crap that's packed into my brain, either. I just don't think you should use statements like "It has been proven" unless you can back it up.

I understand your explanation about the muscles, etc. however, an explanation is not proof. The explanation seems reasonable but, and I don't want to be a wanker here (possibly too late for that), I believe the reason that your eyes take a few moments to adjust to entering a low light surrounding is that a protein called opsin is reattaching itself to a pigment called retinal in the rods of your retina to reform a chemical called rhodopsin, which is essential to night vision. Sources: Chemistry of Vision, also Biological night vision. Of course, Wikipedia doesn't count as a real source, since anyone can write whatever they want, but it does give a nice, simple explanation of the process.