Visual Thinkers

[HansBolter]

Please consider involving a Visual Thinker in the design process for more than simply the map and counter art.

It's the almost compete lack of graphic involvement of the player in many game execution functions that is my single biggest beef with this game design.

To a visual thinker, configuring "more detail" in combat execution as being subjected to more and more miniscule flashing text does not provide the "more detail" a visual thinker is looking for. Something as simple and rudimentary as a graphic depiction of the units involved with them lined up in a column at opposite ends of the screen with red lines popping up between them to illustrate which unit is firing and which unit is being fired on would provide a far better example of "more detail" for a visual thinker. WitP got this at least partially right.

I recall the days when the enlarged hex maps for ASL were released to facilitate using miniatures and was described by AH as facilitating the ability to enjoy the "panoramic splendor" upgrade that the miniatures provided over the cardboard counters. This is what maters most to visual thinkers.

And as for the Commanders Report, one look at that screen full of miniscule spidery thin text with wholly inadequate line spacing makes me want to run from the monitor screaming like my hair is on fire. The Commanders Report is an Accountants Dream and a Visual Thinkers Nightmare.

[Wiedrock]

A Visual Thinkers Dream is an Accountants Nightmare.

[HansBolter]

Indeed.

But why not try to find a way to please both rather than catering to one?
One would think game designers who want the product to sell would be working to facilitate both.