Arx Fatalis: I'd buy it today. (interface suggestions)

Glic on 9/3/2002 at 04:09

I toyed with the idea of turning off the mouselook toggle, but that would mean holding down the right mouse button all the time for mouselooking which, I assume, would get tiresome. Also, in combat that would mean holding down the right mouse button to look around and holding down the left button to pull back the weapon. But, I'll give it a try anyway.

Nethawk on 9/3/2002 at 05:28

Let's just ask Raf if he can rig the game to be playable with a joystick ;)

xman on 9/3/2002 at 11:10

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Originally posted by Glic
I toyed with the idea of turning off the mouselook toggle, but that would mean holding down the right mouse button all the time for mouselooking which, I assume, would get tiresome. Also, in combat that would mean holding down the right mouse button to look around and holding down the left button to pull back the weapon. But, I'll give it a try anyway.

Yup I tried it too, although I still prefer the mouselook toggle which is quite similar to SS2's. It fits a RPG very well methinks.

Le Magot d'Oz on 9/3/2002 at 14:40

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Originally posted by Nethawk
Let's just ask Raf if he can rig the game to be playable with a joystick ;)

it will have to be done... if they release an Xbox version

Tels on 10/3/2002 at 11:57

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1. I think the inventory window should open and close automatically when you toggle mouselook off and on. This is essentially how SS2 worked. My reasoning is that you probably won't be doing any mouselooking while you're manipulating your inventory, and vice versa.

I disagree. When "using" something from the inventory with something in the real world, you need mouselook sometimes.

Anyway, I suggested some sort of dual-mode to Raf, and he liked it and said he will see if they find time to implement it.

The interface certainly has some things lacking, and there is the odd bug, but for a preview and such a complex game, it is in surprisingly good shape.

What people here often forget is that the demo only shows you a *very* small part of the game. Somebody has to write all the texts, draw the textures, design the story, animate the monsters, test it, implement the engine and the physics, balance the fighting, think up the jokey, test it again etc etc.

I can't wait for the final game.

Tels

Glic on 10/3/2002 at 16:27

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Originally posted by Tels

I disagree. When "using" something from the inventory with something in the real world, you need mouselook sometimes.Tels

All you have to do is make sure you're looking in the correct direction before you get the item out of your inventory. And even if mouselook isn't active, you can still adjust your position using the strafe keys.

The reason I know this method would work is because that's the way SS2 handles it and it works very well. I really am not suggesting anything innovative here.

Now, don't get me wrong. I can play the game just fine with the interface the way it is. I really have no problem with it. It just seems that giving the player the ability to manually open and close the inventory window is a needless complication.

Part of the reason it's bothersome is when you're switching to combat mode. You have to right click to turn on mouselook, close your inventory if it's open, then left click to draw a weapon. That's potentially 3 steps, which is 2 too many as far as I'm concerned. :)
If the inventory auto-closed, that would eliminate one step, at least.

I would like to hear about this "dual-mode" you mentioned :)

I think the poll results are quite interesting. I thought at least a few people would say that the game wouldn't be worth buying; it is nice to see I was wrong about that.

Tels on 10/3/2002 at 19:07

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All you have to do is make sure you're looking in the correct direction before you get the item out of your inventory.

It can be quite handy to look around withsome thing in your hand. If you don't look in the right direction, it starts to get cumbersome (close inv, look around, reopen inv etc)

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And even if mouselook isn't active, you can still adjust your position using the strafe keys.

But you can't turn ;)

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The reason I know this method would work is because that's the way SS2 handles it and it works very well. I really am not suggesting anything innovative here.

;)

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Now, don't get me wrong. I can play the game just fine with the interface the way it is. I really have no problem with it. It just seems that giving the player the ability to manually open and close the inventory window is a needless complication.

I don't think so. I really liked that I could open my in, and quaff a health potion in mid-combat. Yes it is tricky, but just think like it is rummaging in your backback while running away from a gobblin ;)

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Part of the reason it's bothersome is when you're switching to combat mode. You have to right click to turn on mouselook, close your inventory if it's open, then left click to draw a weapon. That's potentially 3 steps, which is 2 too many as far as I'm concerned.
If the inventory auto-closed, that would eliminate one step, at least.

Yes, I think an "auto-close inv on combat" switch in the options would be good.

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I would like to hear about this "dual-mode" you mentioned

Basically a mix of mouselook and click-mode. You can click anything in the center of your screen, but when you move the mouse to far, it starts turning your head. When the book or inv are open, the click-field is expanded to the entire screen (otherwise you couldn't click anything in the inv).

Only problem is: You can not click torches, or symbols, you need keyboard shortcuts for these then etc.

I have no idea if this would even work. The alternative is the Thief-Mode: Just highlight what is in the center and click it. But then, thief hadn't any symbols on the screen to click.

Oh well...

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I think the poll results are quite interesting.

Aren't they alway? :)

Pipe Smoke on 10/3/2002 at 22:04

Well, I just came to represent trackballers (and not trackbawlers like you mentioned)

I use one, have all my life... and I have no problem whatsoever drawing the runes or whatever.

I don't see why someone having a trackball would stop them from doing that, and if trackballs did stop you from doing something like that they'd be pretty useless.

So I was just like "whaaaaat?" when i read that. Just wanted to make sure people understood that that person is crazy insane :)

And you should all get a trackball (logitech trackman marble fx, cordless perhaps)

Glorofin on 16/3/2002 at 09:48

What's a track ball?

Tels on 16/3/2002 at 10:41