RE: [GD-Design] Configurable GUIs

[Daniel C. <dan...@an...>]

"At that point, the interface becomes much simpler to deal with."

Is this a bad thing? :-) In many cases, particularly games, fully =
customizable interfaces are overkill that add only a small amount of =
benefit for advanced users at the cost of a solid dose of confusion for =
new users.  But it depends on the game.=20

Perhaps a root question to answer first is 'What activities will the =
user be performing?"  List them out and then focus your UI around the =
activities the user spends 80% of their time.  You can almost think of =
this as requirements gathering.  Also list your secondary constraints.  =
These could include things like "Maximize view of playfield" or =
"Maintain basic UI conventions of RTS genre"=20

Now you have an optimization problem that can be solve with a series of =
mockups and user testing.  This sort of bottom up UI design usually =
results in some rather creative solutions that fit the exact game you =
are creating.  And as you've seen, its amazing how complex UI theory =
collapses into a bubbling heap under the harsh light of actual usability =
testing. ;-)=20

Some common patterns that useful when building your optimal UI:

- Moving UI elements into the environment.  Example: Speech bubbles over =
a character's head removes the need to have a dialog text palette.=20

- Context sensitive palettes:  A panel that shows the options that are =
available based on what the player character is looking at or has =
selected.  A single context sensitive palette can replace the vast =
majority of palettes in your typical program.=20

- Tabs:  Much of the time, a user needs to only look at a single pane at =
a time.  Using tabs hides much of the UI. Be careful of using too many =
of these or selection between tabs becomes a bit confusing.=20

- Docking panels.  These ensure that no part of the play field is =
covered and they can be resizable.  This is often useful if one of you =
constraint involves real-time control of the environment at all times.=20

You could combine tabs with docking panels.  If you set up tabs so it is =
possible to deselect all tabs, you have an intuitive method of hiding =
your docking panel.  Click a tab to pop up the panel.  Click a different =
tab to show a new panel.  Click the same tab again to deselect it and =
hide all the panels.=20

take care,
Danc.=20