04-04-2011, 01:12 AM
[quote='Ramblurr' pid='713' dateline='1301865366']
Oh, so clicking them changes the options below? They seem to segregated from everything else.
[quote]
Okay, I think we are talking about different things. I was discussing the orbit at the top of the screen. You are discussing the targeting graphic in the middle of the screen (clicking on one of the names, assigns a target to a particular weapon)
The sequence for a player to assign targets (the purpose of the screen) is that he uses the orbit to select a type of weapon, for instance beam-weapons. There are dozens of beam weapons available, each with different strengths (also dozens of torps, missiles, active defenses, jamming devices, alien weapons, and attack craft.) A player is limited in how many he can install. The ones he has that are operable (has ammo, computer programs, and NPCs, for) show up in the bottom.
The player selects a weapon by clicking on the graphic. Then he moves the cursor to the targeting graphics (black with red outline) and selects an area of the ship to target with that weapon. For instance "Engineering." (All weapons of the exact same class are given the same target.)
[quote='Ramblurr' pid='713' dateline='1301865366']
One of the principles of perceptual organization is that related elements should be grouped together. By creating those red and gray bordered boxes it seems like each section is independent. Maybe there should be just one all-encompassing box with a shaded background?
[/quote]
You are not wrong. However in this case, what may need to happen is that the orbit (first selection) is on the top; weapons (second selection) is in the middle and target (third selection is on the bottom.)
Oh, so clicking them changes the options below? They seem to segregated from everything else.
[quote]
Okay, I think we are talking about different things. I was discussing the orbit at the top of the screen. You are discussing the targeting graphic in the middle of the screen (clicking on one of the names, assigns a target to a particular weapon)
The sequence for a player to assign targets (the purpose of the screen) is that he uses the orbit to select a type of weapon, for instance beam-weapons. There are dozens of beam weapons available, each with different strengths (also dozens of torps, missiles, active defenses, jamming devices, alien weapons, and attack craft.) A player is limited in how many he can install. The ones he has that are operable (has ammo, computer programs, and NPCs, for) show up in the bottom.
The player selects a weapon by clicking on the graphic. Then he moves the cursor to the targeting graphics (black with red outline) and selects an area of the ship to target with that weapon. For instance "Engineering." (All weapons of the exact same class are given the same target.)
[quote='Ramblurr' pid='713' dateline='1301865366']
One of the principles of perceptual organization is that related elements should be grouped together. By creating those red and gray bordered boxes it seems like each section is independent. Maybe there should be just one all-encompassing box with a shaded background?
[/quote]
You are not wrong. However in this case, what may need to happen is that the orbit (first selection) is on the top; weapons (second selection) is in the middle and target (third selection is on the bottom.)