To Click, To verb, To Macro.. in Design Philosophy

ID:265752
 
Jul 9 2007, 5:55 pm
I've been working on Dungeon.Hack a lot lately and I am trying to decide how I want the game to be set up. At fist I had it so it was an entire type interface, but that was when I was using it in Text Mode..I recently decided to use a graphical interface and because of that the type commands are gone.

For awhile I had it so you right clicked stuff to pick it up. But then I decided that might not be the best way to handle it.Now I am thinking about setting up a system where you use pre-defined macros on the keyboard to do things.

G to get
D to drop
O to open chests and doors (hit O again to close doors)

I am trying to decide what IS the best possible interface to use, what do you prefer? How do you like to control games?
#1 Jul 9 2007, 6:04 pm
Well I think macro's would be your best bet, as long as you explain what they do at the beginning and have a help file thing. There's nothing more that I hate than logging in to a game and not knowing what commands do what... >_>
#2 Jul 9 2007, 6:59 pm
In response to Dession (#1)
If you didn't know what buttons did what, you can right click the "ALT" button and it shows you all of the macros.
#3 Jul 9 2007, 7:20 pm
I like games that aren't too click-intensive. If it can all be done with the keyboard, that's best in my mind (macros are probably the very best). I'm not completely put off by using the mouse, but if it's a keyboard-mouse combo, it's easiest if all of the keyboard parts can be used with one hand, on one part of the keyboard. Nothing worse than having to move your hands around all the time (mouse, type command, mouse, arrow keys, etc.). Mouse-only games can be good as well, as long as there isn't too much double-clicking involved (it wears out my finger and the clicking sound gives me a headache).
#4 Jul 16 2007, 5:02 am
In response to Sappho (#3)
I've actually re-worked the arrow keys over to letter macros on the keyboard so that it can be nearer to other keys, to allow one handed complete keyboard control, and one hand on the mouse.

I would only use the mouse for things that need a speedy selection, such as shooting, targeting, selecting, etc.

For picking up, I would do either a macro or leave it as right click (I personally don't mind right click menus, if not overdone).
#5 Jul 16 2007, 12:05 pm
In response to Shyyk (#2)
i like having it set up so theres as few keys as possible, and they are also reiterated on screen for easiest understanding.

GOA uses ASDF, Space and the number key as macros, and all of those also make an appearance as an on screen click macro that has written on it the cooresponding keyboard macro.
#6 Jul 17 2007, 2:18 am
I personally think that people should have access to all three control schemes. It couldn't hurt to add a few extra lines of code to satisfy a larger audience.

I prefer clicking and verbs. Macros can become somewhat tedious to use if there are too many.