Current Project(Warning, Images)
by Michael Vanderpool · 09/13/2008 (9:21 pm) · 5 comments
Hello Everyone. Decided to Drop By And let everyone know whats been happening. Im currently being deployed to Iraq. When Ive been able to get time, Ive been working on the game a bit. Just a simple FPS, and It really helps being in the military and having the new found knowledge about weapons and other misc. things that I hadnt had before I joined. Enough about me. I am not going to release too much about the game at the moment, but Ive got lots of work to do.
I need some input on the main menu, for sure. It is not the greatest looking. Im thinking it is too cluttered with visual things and not focusing on one main idea, but I dont know whats throwing it off and what needs to leave the menu. Here is a Screen(also gives the Name of the Game)
Ok. It has alot going on in there, and Im still in process of changing things. I would rather have an animated background, preferably a video, But Im working out the code for that. But, the second image shows the interface at its early stage.
Im mainly just requesting some C&C to tell me how its looking, Is it too Cluttered, or could it use some more things? I can add a whole bunch more stuff too it, but if it isnt needed, Im not going to add it. Im having some issues getting my Ammo Text to work atm, and if anyone has any tips on how to fix that, it would be a great help.
But thats whats been done so far, there is more to the game, but those are test scenes and not the actual missions. I only have a few more things to finish up on the engine side of the code before all thats left to do is build the missions. So it shouldnt be too long, if I dont run into lots of bugs along the way.
C&C Welcome,
Michael
I need some input on the main menu, for sure. It is not the greatest looking. Im thinking it is too cluttered with visual things and not focusing on one main idea, but I dont know whats throwing it off and what needs to leave the menu. Here is a Screen(also gives the Name of the Game)
Ok. It has alot going on in there, and Im still in process of changing things. I would rather have an animated background, preferably a video, But Im working out the code for that. But, the second image shows the interface at its early stage.
Im mainly just requesting some C&C to tell me how its looking, Is it too Cluttered, or could it use some more things? I can add a whole bunch more stuff too it, but if it isnt needed, Im not going to add it. Im having some issues getting my Ammo Text to work atm, and if anyone has any tips on how to fix that, it would be a great help.
But thats whats been done so far, there is more to the game, but those are test scenes and not the actual missions. I only have a few more things to finish up on the engine side of the code before all thats left to do is build the missions. So it shouldnt be too long, if I dont run into lots of bugs along the way.
C&C Welcome,
Michael
#2
The jagged edges on the background of the menu are a bit distracting to my eyes, and the buttons don't look organized. Maybe group them together more closely.
I've never been a fan of video menus, especially if they degrade the performance of the menu or make the player wait. Not to say you can't make it cool by animating some of the actual gui objects. Sliding or fading the menu items for options can give life to the menu if done right, if it's not though it could be annoying.
Those are just my opinions, I'm sure others would disagree with me.
All in all, I think you have the start of a very cool looking game.
If you explain a little more about the ammo text, we probably could help you get that sorted out.
What is it supposed to do? Display the amount of ammo left? clips?
What does it currently do and what does it need to do differently?
Keep up the good work
09/14/2008 (5:01 am)
I think the buttons look a bit crowded, maybe a slightly smaller font or buttons that are a few pixels bigger might look better. Perhaps change the shape of the opening to be circular with crosshairs aiming at the forehead of the skull. maybe that would be a little too cliche but it might add anticipation of looking through the scope at your mark. This would allow the title to appear above the circle on a less cluttered background and stand out more.The jagged edges on the background of the menu are a bit distracting to my eyes, and the buttons don't look organized. Maybe group them together more closely.
I've never been a fan of video menus, especially if they degrade the performance of the menu or make the player wait. Not to say you can't make it cool by animating some of the actual gui objects. Sliding or fading the menu items for options can give life to the menu if done right, if it's not though it could be annoying.
Those are just my opinions, I'm sure others would disagree with me.
All in all, I think you have the start of a very cool looking game.
If you explain a little more about the ammo text, we probably could help you get that sorted out.
What is it supposed to do? Display the amount of ammo left? clips?
What does it currently do and what does it need to do differently?
Keep up the good work
#3
09/14/2008 (7:03 am)
My personal opinion, (take it with a grain of salt, I'm not an artist) is you should move the quit button up under options. The whole image looks awesome.
#4
Thank you for the Help with the Menu, It was needed horribly. There are other buttons, but they are invisible at the moment, Ive got 6 buttons per side, One side mainly consisting of customization options for the player, Like weapons Locker and Store, Player Uniform, and what not.
@Bruce: I love the Menu Idea, I Also Think the Jagged edges on the side panels throw it way off and drag the players eyes away. It can be a pain sometimes thinking of a good menu, but you nailed it dead on, Thank you.
09/14/2008 (9:22 am)
Thank you for the comments, they are very appreciated. Im trying to get it to display the current and max( 9/24, for example) ammo for the Weapon In hand. I am not sure where Im messing this up, But I get it semi Working, and then I lose control of the player completely.Thank you for the Help with the Menu, It was needed horribly. There are other buttons, but they are invisible at the moment, Ive got 6 buttons per side, One side mainly consisting of customization options for the player, Like weapons Locker and Store, Player Uniform, and what not.
@Bruce: I love the Menu Idea, I Also Think the Jagged edges on the side panels throw it way off and drag the players eyes away. It can be a pain sometimes thinking of a good menu, but you nailed it dead on, Thank you.
#5
09/14/2008 (11:06 am)
If you have character costumization on the right side... i would "dock" all of the buttons to the left panel .. and the character option to the right one ... and then have them move in/out from each side as the player moves thrue the menu, this would help present the optios in a clean and neat way. 
Torque Owner Mikael Pettersson
Snowpeak Studios
for a animated background i would recommend to record a looping (with no glitches) sceen and have it play in the background.
It would realy save the players fustration, As a animated main menu is cool and all. but if the player have to sit thrue a loading screen even before entering the game...it tends to put them off abit. Some games try to hide the loading screens with movies you can't skipp ... and this only makes the player more fustrated. ... there is nothing that irritates your players more then being forced (to do something and /or look/listen to something).