POLL: User Interface (Era of War)

[BioHazardousWaste]

Hey all, I was just talking to Cervantes about this, because he doesn't like the way I was developing my user interface for commands such as build structure, research, train units etc...

I have 3 choices here, and I will (try to lol) quickly outline the pros and cons of each.

A) GETCH - User presses key.. e.g. B for build. R. for research.

PROS: nice and quick, one key.. saves time.
CONS: not very user friendly, esp. in research. ie. to Research a lvl 3 cannon upgrade you would need to put in a series of keys... R (research), W(weapon), C(cannon), (D)damage upgrade, 3(lvl 3 upgrade).

B) Commands - Type "Build" to build, "Research" to resarch etc.
PROS: Commands will be listed and user types what they see.
CONS: Takes a lot of typing, and time... also string much match exactly so user may become frustrated. e.g. trying to research something while under attack.

C) Buttons - Click the build button to build, click the research button to research.
PROS: Nice and user friendly, as well as quick and easy
CONS: An awful lot of pics.

Cast your vote now...
A) Getch
B) Commands
C) Buttons
D) Combo of getch and buttons

Tony says: use Input.KeyDown instead of getch

[Cervantes]

pssst: you can do this poll a much better way.

edit your first post and at the bottom of the screen where you write your message you can add a poll.

make the poll question then make the poll answers (you have to click add option for every new answer, including the last one.)

anyways, gogo buttons / getch!

[Delos]

You could always create GUI buttons w/ char shortcuts.
But those would look screwy.
But you could use GUI.Set(Widget)BackgroundColour(?) to change its colour (not sure of the exact command).

Or just stick w/ Input.KeyDown.

[AsianSensation]

remember starcraft? well, use that kind of interface, basicly, a combination of Input.KeyDown and your own customized GUI.

Btw, is this game net-capable? is it PvsP, or is it just PvsComp, because if it's PvsComp, you can just pause the game for input.

[Cervantes]

PvsComp would be hard.. programming all that AI.. nuts.

I thought it was going to be basically a campaign against really stupid AI that doesn't build anything but starts with lots of guys.

[Maverick]

I say you go with a combination. It wuld be sweet.

[Andy]

well for the sc ai, you could make it very simple, just let it play how u would play...

[BioHazardousWaste]

Yea... AI wouldn't be too hard I don't think, as I know what procedures to call and such. I would problably need some type of timer. As for on-line play.. that is my ultimate goal, but I don't have a clue as how to use the internet in Turing, this is only my second month using the language. After I have the game completed with an AI, I will attempt to work with online.

[Tony]

net support is not the greatest thing in turing Heck, the network connections are soo bad you'd have a better chance communicating via a PHP server

[Dan]

hey i am this close -> <- to geting turing to conect to msn and send mesages. i think the net comands are geting better since 4.X came out.