Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: JRyan

I think first get the accuracy and models right. The 'Eye Candy" can come later...

Yeah, agreed, bugs need fixing Im sure and crowd pleasing eye candy can wait, but tell us Ryan what aspects of the UI would you like to see changed?

Isnt there anything? its just a wish list an, pie in the sky..............

So, enjoy this interface while it still exists. Such a presentation ceased to be common place for 30-40 years and is as foreign to young people today as record players, audio tape, coin operated telephones, steel wheel roller skates ...

Stray off topic a bit.. I still have and use some ancient audio equipment, pretty much everything I have was top of the line 25 years ago and still works and I still use it, and it will still make my ears bleed if I turn it up to the max.[8D]


My personal opinion is the UI is just that, the means the game engine interfaces with the player, and the exchange of information between the two is the most important part of it, however it is accomplished. If a new UI enhances that, all the better. If there is some specific changes that can be elaborated, that would be great. Extra stuff like 3d graphics may appeal to some, but this is not a first person type of "game". The whole battle space is pretty much an abstract projection generated from sensors. So any improvements should enhance the display of information from the sensors and enable the player to easily act on that information.



I am analog for a reason, records and tape maybe make me a relic, but I am a happy relic[:)]

I know they're simple but they look like the sort of displays I imagine are in warships. I have no idea what they have in warships. They're probably more advanced in modern warships and don't exist at all in older ships... but I think it's a good compromise and they get my imagination brain cells ticking.

Hey, I thin I figured out this quote thingy.

The existing display is not too far off from the real thing if you are using the NTDS symbol set

ORIGINAL: Bungle

Yeah, agreed, bugs need fixing I'm sure and crowd pleasing eye candy can wait, but tell us Ryan what aspects of the UI would you like to see changed?

Isn't there anything? its just a wish list an, pie in the sky..............
[/quote]

Something in the range of what Harpoon 4 was to be or even a "Fleet Commandish" type one. Right now the push is for the underlying accuracy and such. It is critical to have that first as anyone who spent time with Fleet Command knows well.

The New harpoon Commander might be just what some want, but for me the H3 interface is fine, its underneath that matter most to me. I mean a quick fix would be new videos and database pictures and such and that is underway by some in the community at this time anyway. There are not groups of programmers working on this since it is such a niche game.

ORIGINAL:
So, enjoy this interface while it still exists. Such a presentation ceased to be common place for 30-40 years and is as foreign to young people today as record players, audio tape, coin operated telephones, steel wheel roller skates ...

I thought the Color/BW switch on my pong console was cool...

I also enjoy the realistic interface. It's very similar to the real thing (at least the console I sat in front of 20 years ago).

M

ORIGINAL: NEC1163

ORIGINAL: So, enjoy this interface while it still exists. Such a presentation ceased to be common place for 30-40 years and is as foreign to young people today as record players, audio tape, coin operated telephones, steel wheel roller skates ...

I thought the Color/BW switch on my pong console was cool... I also enjoy the realistic interface. It's very similar to the real thing (at least the console I sat in front of 20 years ago). M

The H3:ANW user interface does look a lot like a warship's theatre screen (especially if you pick the Aegis display option). It just needs to be more user-friendly because you don't have an entire staff helping you "fight" in the game. What the user interface really needs is a right-click menu option when you select a contact. Now how cool would that be, huh? [:D]

I personally LOVE the raster looking 2D graphics of H3ANW (I DO like the idea of making elevation lines instead of the little crosses however). I think the raster almost monochrome image really gives me the feeling that I'm a naval commander in the Pentagon looking at his situation screen and giving orders.  I think instead of graphics, the interface should be the focus.  It's VERY clunky.  I could care less about 3D graphics and don't want them.  Harpoon is made to give you that "In the Pentagon Navy Situation Room" feeling and it works well.  Yes there are bugs.  There are always going to be bugs in anything with this much complexity going on behind the screen, but most of these bugs aren't showstoppers and aren't noticable to the average user anyway.  I'm not saying "Let's not address them." but I'd like to see the interface be the number one priority.
 
Also, am I right that Harpoon Commander's Edition is pretty much an updated version of the Original Harpoon and is a step down from what's possible in H3ANW ?   Everything I've read has been a little vague describing the differences between the two.  Is there an area that really compares individual features side by side or can someone type one out for me ? [&:]

ORIGINAL: Blacklight
Also, am I right that Harpoon Commander's Edition is pretty much an updated version of the Original Harpoon and is a step down from what's possible in H3ANW ?   Everything I've read has been a little vague describing the differences between the two.  Is there an area that really compares individual features side by side or can someone type one out for me ? [&:]

Yes, HCE is a continuation of the Harpoon Classic line, which is a totally separate assemblage of programming from H2/3/ANW.

Is HCE a step down from what's possible in H3ANW? In some ways yes, in some ways ANW is a step down. Either way you argue the point (and I'm a firm believer that it does go both ways, HC has mobile land units for instance, ANW doesn't. But ANW has a more detailed radar model, HCE doesn't). asking whether it is a "step down" is asking for trouble.

I know of no public side by side comparison of features (which of course doesn't mean it doesn't exist). HC vs H3 is a topic left pretty vague in the hopes of avoiding flame wars and is one of the few areas everyone seems to hold a truce. Now in private you can get an earful from representatives of both sides. If you want to hear the glory that is H3 and the crap that is HC we can match you up. If you want to hear the glory of HC and the wreck that is H3, we can match you up, but that will hopefully be taken private for the good of all Harpoon players.

The only real answer is to play each game, there is a ANW USNI demo to try, HCE doesn't have one (yet) but you get the basic feel by tracking down old HC demos here and there; until there is a HCE demo.

If you want to reply to this topic I think it'd be great to post into a more 'on topic' thread such as tm.asp?m=1516772