User Interface Suggestions
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 4:29 am
Hello,
I've completed my first game as far as 1979, getting all the Mercury/Gemini missions done, and several probes to other planets. I'm looking forward to the next pass, with the revised reliability and research model.
Below are a few suggestions for improving the user interface. Others may have differing opinions, of course.
1. BASPM Configuration, Graphics Tab: Can this be modified to remember settings from the previous time?
2. When displaying a list of personnel when hiring new recruits, have buttons to sort list by any one stat.
3. During missions, have a "Forward Skip" button to jump to the Success/Failure of each step. The videos are nice, but after several repeats, players would probably appreciate being able to skip. Also, the green/red bar graph used for successful/failed steps in BARIS would be a great addition here.
4. If astronauts are still in Basic Training, they should not be included in the available astronauts count at the bottom of the screen.
5. In the GSA Headquarters screen, I'd like a couple more items in the left hand shortcuts bar.
- I'd like a new shortcut to the "Manage Programs" list. It could be right at the top.
- I'd like the current shortcut to the solar system to go all the way to the solar system picture.
- I'd like a new shortcut to go to "Program Categories" list for the current planet. It could have a planet icon.
As it is, when you click on the solar system shortcut, you currently go the "Program Categories" list for the current planet, but most planets only have one "Program Category" anyway.
6. For multi-season missions, I'd like to default to assigned Flight Controllers from the previous season.
7. If multiple Astronaut skills are involved for a given mission, they should all be highlighed green during selection process. For example, the X-15 playback shows that Leadership, Piloting, and Fitness are involved. All 3 skills should be highlighted green when selecting a pilot for an X-15 mission.
8. The icons on the "Mission Configuration - Mission Control Layout" have no obvious relationship with the skills displayed when hiring
Flight Controllers. I would just as soon have the applicable skills listed, rather than those icons. The boxes look big enough.
9. When selecting a Flight Director, no skills are highlighted. Which skills are important?
10. I'd really like to see somewhere a list of missions that are scheduled to be either launched or continued for the current season. Perhaps the list could come up when you click the Vehicle Assembly Building.
11. Where does the "EVA Suit" skill for SET's come in? I never saw EVA suit as a researchable component for Gemini.
12. For continuing missions in progress, once "Assign Flight Controllers" is complete, we might as well jump straight to the mission execution, rather than jump back to the "Mission in Progress Dialog", where the player can do nothing except "Resume Mission".
13. I really appreciate the "Auto-Assign Best Candidates" button for Flight Controllers and Astronauts. How about another one for SET's when you're selecting researchers?
I've completed my first game as far as 1979, getting all the Mercury/Gemini missions done, and several probes to other planets. I'm looking forward to the next pass, with the revised reliability and research model.
Below are a few suggestions for improving the user interface. Others may have differing opinions, of course.
1. BASPM Configuration, Graphics Tab: Can this be modified to remember settings from the previous time?
2. When displaying a list of personnel when hiring new recruits, have buttons to sort list by any one stat.
3. During missions, have a "Forward Skip" button to jump to the Success/Failure of each step. The videos are nice, but after several repeats, players would probably appreciate being able to skip. Also, the green/red bar graph used for successful/failed steps in BARIS would be a great addition here.
4. If astronauts are still in Basic Training, they should not be included in the available astronauts count at the bottom of the screen.
5. In the GSA Headquarters screen, I'd like a couple more items in the left hand shortcuts bar.
- I'd like a new shortcut to the "Manage Programs" list. It could be right at the top.
- I'd like the current shortcut to the solar system to go all the way to the solar system picture.
- I'd like a new shortcut to go to "Program Categories" list for the current planet. It could have a planet icon.
As it is, when you click on the solar system shortcut, you currently go the "Program Categories" list for the current planet, but most planets only have one "Program Category" anyway.
6. For multi-season missions, I'd like to default to assigned Flight Controllers from the previous season.
7. If multiple Astronaut skills are involved for a given mission, they should all be highlighed green during selection process. For example, the X-15 playback shows that Leadership, Piloting, and Fitness are involved. All 3 skills should be highlighted green when selecting a pilot for an X-15 mission.
8. The icons on the "Mission Configuration - Mission Control Layout" have no obvious relationship with the skills displayed when hiring
Flight Controllers. I would just as soon have the applicable skills listed, rather than those icons. The boxes look big enough.
9. When selecting a Flight Director, no skills are highlighted. Which skills are important?
10. I'd really like to see somewhere a list of missions that are scheduled to be either launched or continued for the current season. Perhaps the list could come up when you click the Vehicle Assembly Building.
11. Where does the "EVA Suit" skill for SET's come in? I never saw EVA suit as a researchable component for Gemini.
12. For continuing missions in progress, once "Assign Flight Controllers" is complete, we might as well jump straight to the mission execution, rather than jump back to the "Mission in Progress Dialog", where the player can do nothing except "Resume Mission".
13. I really appreciate the "Auto-Assign Best Candidates" button for Flight Controllers and Astronauts. How about another one for SET's when you're selecting researchers?