RE: [GD-Design] (GUI) Playfield aspect ratio

[Erin D. <ed...@re...>]

I think one major distinction to make is whether the game requires you =
to view the HUD elements, or interact with them using a mouse.  In an =
FPS, you only need to view your health, ammo count, current weapon, etc. =
 In an RTS, you need to click on the command icons, the build icons, the =
mini-map, etc.

I think the reason most RTS's clump all the HUD elements together is for =
speed and accessibility.  Mouse movements are minimized when the HUD =
elements are closer together, and it's arguably easier to locate the =
element you need when you have a contained area to search in.

Most RTS's will place non-interactive HUD elements in other locations on =
screen, such as the resource count / population count which are usually =
at the top of the screen.


edaly


-----Original Message-----
From: Brian Hook [mailto:ho...@py...]
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2003 7:23 PM
To: gam...@li...
Subject: [GD-Design] (GUI) Playfield aspect ratio


Okay, this is one of the more esoteric observations I'll make, but I=20
have to ask since it's been bugging me.

For games with HUD elements, the typical choice you see is to either=20
place the elements along the bottom, or possibly along the bottom and=20
one side.

To me, placing elements in an L or reverse L makes a lot more sense,=20
since you get a playfield area that is much closer to square than a=20
typical 4:3 or 16:9.  This is desirable because it gives you an equal=20
amount of play room in both directions.

However I've noticed that some games, such as Warcraft 3, put all the=20
GUI elements along the top and bottom, and this in turn actually=20
accentuates the rectangularity of the playfield.  You get an extreme=20
letterbox effect, which I would intuitively find undesirable.

The main reasons I can see for preferring this layout are:

1.  Text prefers to be wide, so for chat dialogs, etc. it's better to=20
have it along the bottom.

2.  Letterbox is perceived as more "cinematic".

But I still don't think I like it.  Are there other obvious reasons=20
I'm missing?

Brian




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