Zyxpsilon

Join Date 02/2006

+80

Color my world.

A couple of comments about the way GC2 handles its color schemes;

1) The initialized default cyan for the interface is all good and nice, but do we also have an option somewhere to select our own? The Race appearances tab provides us with this feature within gameplay, indirectly. What i'd like is the ability to choose which booting framework colors i prefer; at random, all or any Races, as a general Video option line to select, or even in the prefs.ini file for editing.

2) The color picker is too simple. And not as efficient as it could really be. There are numerous appealing designs out there, one may think of the slick "Triangle" found in some drawing packages. But my constructive criticism doesn't stop there. Read on;

a) Clicking on the currently defined choice (left side boxes, hull/trim, etc...) doesn't transfer RGB values to the picker for alteration. The focus is lost or unavailable, and constants must be memorized and slided back where they should. Plain silly if not annoying.

Races' defaults should be clearly identified while being given their own row/column of boxes for reference AND grabbed as startup variables. Out of a 16+mil pool, try a precise adjustment and you will get a tough headache.
c) Spectrum & customized row with user's preferences.
d) New sliders with some HLS and CMYK models would be great to have.

Small graphical details, i know. But to me, it matters much.
Have i said, please?

- Zyxpsilon.

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That's what i meant for a possible "alternative" to the current color picker...

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The principles are almost the same;

- A twelve (plus 4 in the center) swatches wheel serves as the basic clicker processing.

- Values for each Race can be selected individually and transfered to the HTERI box as a "pre-defined" scheme. And, subsequently shipped to the wheel.

- Three new buttons;
(?) Cycle in saved schemes (examples; RGB/CMYK... Yor/vs/Terran (indicated by some small H's which start the sequence towards up or down)... Hues enhanced, etc)
(#) Identify a scheme by its number.
(!) Quick access to a random set or gambling on more harmonious coded "versions".

- HEX or DEC representation of values for the RGB sliders; Some of us prefer FF1107 anytime to a triple conversion calculation and relative evaluation. Even the decimal total could be written up somewhere (such as used in the prefs.ini file).

- Vertical slider is a common HLS grabber and, at the same time, a basic values (4 into the actual greys area, to white lightness or any other hues.) pusher to the wheel-center. Making up for at total of 16 variables.

- Two boxes with their respective symbols can be used as "auto-configuration" and/or variants through progressive spectrum.

- Previous version swatches (all of them) in their regular boxes (smaller though).

- Top row "working" area where temporary slots can be used or be loaded from a user-saved preset (available with the diamond shape selector, bottom right).

- Arrows in the --five-- selectable boxes are there to navigate through memorized choices and defaults. Middle box ships to the accept parameter, or can also reset via transition clicks left/right.

Generally speaking, i think the above new concept would be much more powerful and almost easier to handle.

- Zyxpsilon.

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And, finally, to conclude this issue (as far as i'm concerned) i have made two alternative wheels.

None has better advantages or are actually worst than the previous attempt... but, to me a better color picker would certainly be quite useful!!

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So, it's back to modding now.

- Zyxpsilon.

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Are you kidding?

That's way too complicated for an average user, it would confuse the hell out of people, and would put them off. Hell, it's confusing the hell out of me and i'm a graphic designer and digital artist.

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True, i almost agree.

But what's more complex between the two processes below?

1) Managing a galactic empire of, say, 100+ planets which crank out tons of spaceships each time a turn lapses against 5+ solid (what's left from early stages of small military scale encounters!) Races vowed to obliterate every last representative of yours truly.

or...

2) Having the capacity to alter colors of in-game stuff (dunno, once or twice, and sometimes a few tiny corrections later, fleet of ships are the focus of attention anyhow.) within an efficient device called a color-picker.

The wheel(s) is a standard, you should know that. To me, rows and columns of boxed colors is something which isn't - appealing or more importantly, comprehensive. Three sliders and an accept button. Can't be any simpler than this. To some people.
I prefer fine-tuning, schemas (saved & devised from personal tastes), and on-screen functions. A report on alterations, solid facts & references to default values (HTERI, btw)... easing the activity after what, 10 or 15 attempts at understanding. Intelligence is a concept. What most people make of it, another.

A general user might (or should) enjoy simplistic, direct access without any fuss or help. I don't as i roll along the rainbow highways and can differenciate a 32:32:32 gray from a 48 when i stare at it for hours of gameplay.

- Zyxpsilon.

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Oh, and with the second wheel... the color designers out there can compare --3-- races sets just by loading 'hem up onto the 15 slots worth of "diamond shaped" boxes!
Btw.

- Zyxpsilon.

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Eh... I think you're missing my point, and making a somewhat unbalanced comparison. But just to go by your comparison, i think the game itself IS easier to the average user than navigating that color menu would be, they'd take one look at it and say, WTF!? The game itself isn't very WTF. And besides that, it's so overkill it's not even funny. All you need is RGB sliders and a color map, if you want to get fancy, some HSL sliders, but that's all you need. You don't need a menu that looks like it could be used to control the Enterprise.

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Kay, okay... understood!

- Zyxpsilon.

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Hex, Dec, HTERI, HSL, ...WTF!

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BTW, FYI TRM & BS. BIP-LOL.

Yup, i can also abbreviate my thoughts... but when it comes to input of values, some of us real programmers, are comfortable with typing in FF in one swift double-touch instead of wristing the mouse out 3 times left from right between 0 and 255 or revert the processing many times over if still unclear.
0123456789ABCDEFh. Simple mathematics with base-16 standards.

So, F**K YO, act23456 or show me substance -- in english.

- Zyxpsilon.

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Zyxpsilon, watch your language please. No personal attacks.

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Sorry 'bout that... but, i really couldn't resist, WTF (too).
- Zyxpsilon.

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