224 replies to this topic

[stjobe]

Not that I want to stress you guys out, but this is looking marvellous - when can we try it out?

[S3dition]

stjobe, on 05 December 2012 - 12:46 AM, said:

Not that I want to stress you guys out, but this is looking marvellous - when can we try it out?

Currently aiming for a pre-Christmas release for the Encyclopedia portion, followed up by the mech lab and HPR. The ISN news feed will get wedged in there somewhere.

[S3dition]

We're almost done with Mech information and have started on the weapon display. Here is a closer look at the (95% finished) mech layout:

Mechs are broken up by chassis (Jenner, Commando, etc) and display some information "at a glance":



Once a variant is selected, a paper doll is displayed along with aggregate score and general information. The colored circles are hard point types and quantity:

Red - Energy
Green - Missile
Yellow - Ballistic
Cyan - AMS

In the j47-f variant below, we can see it has 3 energy hardpoints in each arm and 1 AMS hard point int he left torso.

A note on Heat Efficiency - We are not using the same formula as PGI. I feel that it's confusing to new players, who don't understand what 0 - 2 means. I've created a different metric that shows a percentage of efficiency. 100% is considered "heat neutral". The lower the score, the more you will have to work to manage your heat level. In other words, the higher your percentage, the better



To see the mech's equipment, you can simply press the location you wish to view on the paper doll. This will show 2 different areas at once. They are:

Left/Right Arm
Left/Right Torso
Left/Right Leg
Center Torso/Head

You can press anywhere to return to the overview.



We're still plugging away

Edited by S3dition, 06 December 2012 - 09:27 AM.

[S3dition]

Some of the big guns:

AC/2

AC/5



AC/10


AC/20




I'll be posting another UI update shortly

Edited by S3dition, 06 December 2012 - 04:03 PM.

[Zanathan]

This is looking better and better. Keep up the good job guys!

[S3dition]

Zanathan, on 06 December 2012 - 04:15 PM, said:

This is looking better and better. Keep up the good job guys!

Thanks

As promised, an updated preview:

[S3dition]

Who likes AMS?





Weeee!

[Pugastrius]

I think you're trying to make it too graphical with the bar charts.

Instead (or perhaps overlaid ontop of the bar charts) you should include the exact numbers.

Very cool btw.

[S3dition]

Pugastrius, on 07 December 2012 - 02:53 PM, said:

I think you're trying to make it too graphical with the bar charts.

Instead (or perhaps overlaid ontop of the bar charts) you should include the exact numbers.

Very cool btw.

It actually does. The purpose of top level menus is to give you the stats "at a glance." Once you click on the weapon, it gives you very indepth detail. For an example, look at our mech list/mech detail comparison

[Pugastrius]

Quote

It actually does. The purpose of top level menus is to give you the stats "at a glance." Once you click on the weapon, it gives you very indepth detail. For an example, look at our mech list/mech detail comparison

Yeah, I see you have it once you get into the details section. I was simply trying to make your bar charts for the overview more informative. I'm much more of a data junky though so my oppinion may not be representative.

[xDark]

YES! So happy this is finally being made!

Please just let there be a non ad-supported version. I don't care if I have to pay for it.

Edited by xDark, 07 December 2012 - 03:28 PM.

[S3dition]

xDark, on 07 December 2012 - 03:27 PM, said:

YES! So happy this is finally being made!

Please just let there be a non ad-supported version. I don't care if I have to pay for it.

There will be no ads and it will be free. Still working out if we can accept donations for it (basically like NGNG).

[S3dition]

This will probably be the last art blast for a while, but it's a doozy:

LB 10x AC


Flamer


Streak SRM2 (the bane)


SRM6


SRM4


SRM2


LRM20


LRM15


LRM10


LRM5


Hope you enjoyed That's actually all the weapons in the game so far (in the entire thread, not this one post)!

[Almeras]

this looks great!

[S3dition]

Thanks! We're working hard. I actually injured my wrist on the last batch of art. I didn't even know that was possible .

But, yeah, wrist hurts like hell now . Might not be any more art for a few days.

[stjobe]

S3dition, on 09 December 2012 - 01:32 AM, said:

Thanks! We're working hard. I actually injured my wrist on the last batch of art. I didn't even know that was possible .

But, yeah, wrist hurts like hell now . Might not be any more art for a few days.

RSI, Repetitive Strain Injury, is very real and not to be trifled with. Rest your wrist for a while and just bask in the praise we give for the glorious art you make

[S3dition]

stjobe, on 09 December 2012 - 03:53 AM, said:

RSI, Repetitive Strain Injury, is very real and not to be trifled with. Rest your wrist for a while and just bask in the praise we give for the glorious art you make

I know about RSI and even had a professor that had to completely switch hands because of it. But I didn't see it affecting an art discipline. I spent so much time worrying over it for net sec and now I get it doing something I actually love, a passion if you will.

I guess it's more of a "No, I like doing this, it's not repetitive or stress!"

[Inveramsay]

definitely keeping eye on this, good job so far!

[Dukarriope]

Could you please all-caps the 'mech's models and variants' names? It's kind of weird seeing 'cn9-d' instead of 'CN9-D'.

Also, don't put too much focus on being pretty with the item graphics. These models are nice and all but I'm not seeing that much great in terms of functionality and overall interface polish.
Examples would be your use of a different heat efficiency model from PGI (which as you stated is bound to confuse newbies), the lack of a numerical rating for weaponry (I do not like the use of bars) and there's just something about the overall layout and look of the thing that feels... off to me.
For starters, add number ratings next to the bars for weapons' stats, add more data (such as cycling time - otherwise known as cooldown - and try to sort them in a sensible manner. Put the autocannons in ascending order for example - the AC/2, AC/5, UAC/5, AC/10, LB-10X/AC, AC/20, Gauss Rifle.

Also, consider making your margins more equal. The way some text and elements are way out to the extreme sides with very small margins while for example the ratings for 'mechs beside their bars is something like 10 pixels is very odd looking to me.


Keep going, this will turn out well.

Edited by Dukarriope, 09 December 2012 - 04:42 AM.

[Taryys]

I am suffering from this as well and it is not cool.
I have pulled back my playing from 3/week to 1/week got give my hands a rest.

S3dition, on 09 December 2012 - 03:58 AM, said:

I know about RSI and even had a professor that had to completely switch hands because of it. But I didn't see it affecting an art discipline. I spent so much time worrying over it for net sec and now I get it doing something I actually love, a passion if you will.

I guess it's more of a "No, I like doing this, it's not repetitive or stress!"