The UI in AE

[Ron Saueracker]

Have not seen anything on what I'm about to ask so here goes. The UI in WITP is rather clunky by any measure. For example, when ordering a transport air group to pick up a certain unit, one must click on the base, then the specific unit, despite the fact that said base and said unit are listed on the screen by default (ie, the group had been delivering supplies to the same base as the unit to be picked up which happens to be the only unit available for pickup due to free command HQ). Worse, there is no indication if this command has been accepted. Result, during the air transport phase, the aircraft dont fly but get defaulted to training if one forgets to select the base and unit even though they are listed as the target base and unit on the screen. Has this and many other UI issues been addressed? I can live with it but was wondering nonetheless.

Thanks guys,

RS

[jwilkerson]

A few changes in this area, mostly SAIEW. Watch the AARs for examples.

[Ron Saueracker]

Thanks Joe. Is it a big job streamlining an existing UI?

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

Thanks Joe. Is it a big job streamlining an existing UI?

Well yes and no. First you have to have priorities to get anything done. We talked about having about 20 different "teams" ... or "areas of focus". Among the potential "areas of focus" that did not get staffed were "Submarine/ASW Team" and "UI Team". So in these areas we are substantially SAIEW.

As to the difficulty of changing the screens - I would not say it is "hard" - I would say it is "tedious". I spent probably 100 hours reworking the LCU screen - and when I got done I could hardly tell I'd worked on it . You move stuff a pixel or two in the code and then you compile and see what it looks like .. and you repeat and repeat. Not "hard" but "tedious" ... and then you have to change the logic behind the screen ... and so on. Bottom line takes a lot longer to make the change than it does to think of it!

But main reason the UI is not revamped is that full revision would've required a new "engine" and that would've been equivalent to starting over.

==

These things being said, there are some cool enhancements in the screens, some are more subtle than others. Things like more working sorts. More information on the screens, more filters on the lists. But until the game is released the best way to see all this is watch the AARs.

[Ron Saueracker]

Serious bummer to hear that a sub/asw team and UI team was needed. I would have been all over that. Sucks not having internet for six months over the last few years while in Greece.[:(]

[Yamato hugger]

But you got babes. [:D]

[Grotius]

I appreciate that it's tough to revamp a UI. (In my limited forays into making my own games, I spent 90% of my time on the danged UI, leaving no time for the more interesting task of creating an AI.)

My pet peeve about the WITP UI is that we can't shift-click to select a whole bunch of ships at once. In one of the AE AARs, though, I thought I noticed a "get minimum" button or some such for transports. So maybe my pet peeve has been addressed.

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Yamato hugger

But you got babes. [:D]

And internet is finally available at my pad. Funny really as I have no actual street number address. Basically I'm across the street from the beach next to the house with the goat tied up on the front lawn.

[BB57]

My pet peeve with WitP is the screens that don't go to the top when resorted. Has this been looked at for AE or do I have to wait for WitP2?

Regardless what I have seen from the AAR's and the screen shots AE is far beyond my wildest dreams. Thanks to all.

[bradfordkay]

"Basically I'm across the street from the beach next to the house with the goat tied up on the front lawn. "

Yeah, like that narrows it down...

[wworld7]

Which goat?

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: flipperwasirish

Which goat?

The cute one. [;)]

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

Thanks Joe. Is it a big job streamlining an existing UI?

It's where most of the category 3 software trouble reports (STRs) get filed in government systems.

[hbrsvl]

Ron-Pardon my stupidy, but what is "UI"?

Thanks, Hugh Browne

[Nomad]

UI = User Interface

[Nomad]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: flipperwasirish

Which goat?

The cute one. [;)]

Trust Ron to find the cute one. [:D]

[undercovergeek]

so there's no - move all level bombers from base a to base b button?

this would stop me getting cramp when moving bombers around the south pacific!!

and, im obviously unaware of how complicated it is but why cant the LCU screen say - to load onto APs - 5000 and it actually need 5000 capacity?!?!? why do the values differ - ive just had a major invasion delayed because i took 50% over the loading value and it still wasnt enough - whats the point in the screen saying 1 value and it been a lucky guess at how much it actually needs?

other than that i see them as loveable quirks and can manage [:'(]

[rogueusmc]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

ORIGINAL: Yamato hugger

But you got babes. [:D]

And internet is finally available at my pad. Funny really as I have no actual street number address. Basically I'm across the street from the beach next to the house with the goat tied up on the front lawn.

*booting up Google Earth looking for a goat in Greece*...

[rockmedic109]

ORIGINAL: rogueusmc

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

ORIGINAL: Yamato hugger

But you got babes. [:D]

And internet is finally available at my pad. Funny really as I have no actual street number address. Basically I'm across the street from the beach next to the house with the goat tied up on the front lawn.

*booting up Google Earth looking for a goat in Greece*...

That's like finding a straw of hay in a haystack.

[Nomad]

ORIGINAL: rogueusmc

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

ORIGINAL: Yamato hugger

But you got babes. [:D]

And internet is finally available at my pad. Funny really as I have no actual street number address. Basically I'm across the street from the beach next to the house with the goat tied up on the front lawn.

*booting up Google Earth looking for a goat in Greece*...

Don't forget, it is a cute goat on a Greek Island. Shouldn't be too hard to find. [8D]