44 replies to this topic

[Ruar]

I'm not colorblind, but I like being able to change the HUD colors. For whatever reason I have a harder time paying attention to red items but blue keeps my focus.

Having new graphics that use the same color scheme as the rest of the HUD doesn't really help for various reasons. Graphics get lost in the background, existing colors can't be seen so more of them don't help, and it's just more things to distract during a fight.

I'd like to have a polite discussion about what PGI could change/add to make the game easier for those who are colorblind or just want the HUD to be easier to see.

What I've read in other threads indicate the following are the preferred solutions:

Color palette change- Having the ability to change to a new color palette for the HUD items. Preferably by allowing the player to change within the full range of the 0-255 color system. Less popular is having some preset colors that are just check boxes.

Armor readout changed to HTAL- Having the head, torsos, arms, and legs displayed as their own bars instead of a ragdoll with shading. This was standard on previous Mechwarrior games.


Is there anything else that will help? Would these two changes solve the problem?

[Mechteric]

I'm no expert in CryEngine, but I think one thing I recall is they make the HUD statically which means no way to just change color without making an entirely new HUD like they did for clan mechs. But maybe I'm wrong and they can find a way to do it programmatically.

[Ruar]

CapperDeluxe, on 03 September 2017 - 08:44 AM, said:

I'm no expert in CryEngine, but I think one thing I recall is they make the HUD statically which means no way to just change color without making an entirely new HUD like they did for clan mechs. But maybe I'm wrong and they can find a way to do it programmatically.

Could there not be multiple HUD options that can be selected? There are already items within the HUD that can be turned on and off. Couldn't they just add in new layers with different colors that get turned on or off?

Edited by Ruar, 03 September 2017 - 08:49 AM.

[Khobai]

or they could just make sure the one option that is available is something people with colorblindness can actually see...

[RestosIII]

HTAL plus a color slider for the HUD would be the best possible solution, but if the slider is not possible for one reason or another, then the age old 3 present setup for the more common forms of colorblindness would be a very good alternative. And even if HTAL isn't a possibility, adding # counters beside the paper doll would help as well.

[Maker L106]

Would be nice to change the colors around... but since PGI seems determined not to let that happen let me throw my 10 cents at this.

Okay so the stuff below is basically me ripping red out of the image then posting texts with what I found to be bad... Now I know this isn't how colorblind people see the world so its a bad example but if you want to get the general idea across it does that well enough.

I'd support ANY kind of change even the one we're getting. ANYTHING is better than nothing but the color options could be really good for those who just don't track well with cyan and ... whatever you call that manilla / yellow / gold color on IS mech HUD. The I typically like Green (yes I know, clashes harshly with NV, but then I could attempt to find another color that didn't if that bothered me.)

Links below...

https://i.imgur.com/ycBZ3HP.png

https://i.imgur.com/w63P6j4.png

https://i.imgur.com/TUdvIdh.png

Originals for compare.

https://i.imgur.com/Dc2PZDQ.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/iPkALfL.jpg

Also, screw imgur trying to be fancy.

Edited by Maker L106, 03 September 2017 - 09:50 AM.

[Smites]

Some guy in less than a month, very probably less than a week, managed to create a few colorblind presets in the HUD in his spare time. PGI simply has no excuse right now.

[Spheroid]

No, you are going down the wrong path. The Mouth of Sauron is NGNG. They would be the one to bring it up on the record, but the answers you would get are only go to disappoint you one of three ways. It still needs to be asked though as the subject has not been directly addressed in two years!

• Russ is indifferent
  
• Russ is forgetfull
  
• A scaleform artist is longer available or employeed by PGI for MWO (Highly likely). Those directly working on mechpacks are probably the only core staff that remain. To reveal this would weaken confidence of the MWO consumer and therefore will not be acknowledged.

Also the logic of mod banning needs to be addressed. Stability is a BS excuse, many, many people were using those sound mods with zero problems.

Edited by Spheroid, 03 September 2017 - 11:49 AM.

[DivineTomatoes]

We have tired the "polite" approach already. It didn't work.

The polite approach ended up with PGI giving a big middle finger to the guy that actually wanted to help.

The polite approach clearly doesn't work on PGI.

[Ruar]

Come on guys, useful suggestions and discussion. Spread the hate on the other thread meant to show PGI we are pissed off. This one is constructive feedback with positive wording.

[Smites]

Ruar, on 03 September 2017 - 09:59 AM, said:

Come on guys, useful suggestions and discussion. Spread the hate on the other thread meant to show PGI we are pissed off. This one is constructive feedback with positive wording.

Alright, the most effective means would be to tweet to Russ directly, en masse, and try to get an answer while being polite. Try to contact NGNG to get them to speak with him. Email support, who might at least understand why you want this but I doubt they can help or, lastly, just cancel a lot of mechpacks...

Tina might help but I don't know if we can message her and get a response. She's the community moderator, so she probably knows what's going on here. I don't know her personal stance or if it matters much.

Beyond that, the most constructive thing we can do is make threads like this and fill them at least a few pages long to express our interest in colorblind support and outright dissatisfaction with how the matter was handled.

Edited by Smites, 03 September 2017 - 10:11 AM.

[FireStoat]

I like the spirit of keeping things polite, and I agree that while the Cryengine might restrict the programmers from offering a palette or slider option for the player to select a color scheme, that the Devs could (and should) come up with 2-3 additional color blind friendly UI choices, especially with the target reticle appearance shift when it's placed on a target.

The solution involving Shapes seems like a lot of extra work that is unnecessary.

[Davegt27]

when they shut down the other thread that pretty much said how they feel

[Unnatural Growth]

Ok, the "salt free" version of my opinion on what color blind (or impaired) players would find useful:

A color palette, or color slider bar, which ever is easier to implement (it seriously matters not, as long as the end result is the same), that can be changed on the fly, in game, and while in a match. That way a player can change colors based on what the prevailing background color is on any given map.

As an interim stop gap measure, until such thing can be implemented, I suggest PGI make it possible for a player to toggle between either the IS or the clan HUD, regardless of which mech type they are piloting. At least then, the player has the option of a blue HUD. It's not a great option, but it's better than nothing. For now.

[JC Daxion]

As i have stated many times before.. I totally support color blind mode being added to the game. Be it, a few separate GUI's to choose from, or even a player controlled color picker for the places it is needed most.. (target reticulw, paper doll, weapons recharge box, and player chat)


If that means pushing back something, i am all for it. October patch is long standing issues, Please PGI fit this in!

[Bigbacon]

serious question...

why do they refuse to do HTAL?? I mean it has been request by so many forever...why?!?

[JC Daxion]

You know PGI would make a lot of peoples day if they announced color-blind mode at mech con! I really don't know how hard it would be to get this done. I hate saying something is easy, because so often with computers something that seams simple just isn't.

I've seen people make mods, but i dunno if they are actually hud mods, or photoshop or what. But this has to be doable, and in a professional looking way.


Finally for once, can we get the player base to just agree on something.. It would be a Miracle, but I believe!! I asked for Nivida Dawn and i got it,, Maybe it will work twice in one year!

Reaver2145, on 03 September 2017 - 09:59 AM, said:

We have tired the "polite" approach already. It didn't work.

The polite approach ended up with PGI giving a big middle finger to the guy that actually wanted to help.

The polite approach clearly doesn't work on PGI.

It worked to get us an event for coconut monkey, and nivida dawn! So never say never

Edited by JC Daxion, 03 September 2017 - 12:24 PM.

[Spheroid]

Its clear no one is working on the interface. How hard is it to add a simple rectangular HTAL? There is next to no complexity to this graphic. A days worth of work and slightly more for testing. Ask yourself why this is not in game. No possible answer is satisfactory.

Edited by Spheroid, 03 September 2017 - 12:27 PM.

[JC Daxion]

Spheroid, on 03 September 2017 - 12:23 PM, said:

Its clear no one is working on the interface. How hard is it to add simple rectangular HTAL? There is next to no complexity to this graphic. A days worth of work and slightly more for testing. Ask yourself why this is not in game. No possible answer is satisfactory.

well there are types of color blind.. I dunno which one that would be, but there are some folks that would not see any difference.


One thing that might work, would just be a bar graph that shrunk. Maybe a midway line that it would pass through, showing armor and structure.. aka above the line, its still armor, bellow the line structure. Maybe that would be the way to do it for the paper doll anyway. IT wouldn't look anywhere near as nice, but for color blind folks i'd have to think it would be better

[Spheroid]

@JC: As most HTAL convey the needed information using only two colors they also work in greyscale. If further clarity is needed, high tonal contrast outline bars or diagonal hash lines can be used to demarcate fresh from damaged percentages.