Configurable GUIs was Re: [GD-Design] (GUI) Playfield aspect ratio

[Brian H. <ho...@py...>]

>To make it makes sense to let the player choose the layout of=
 all
>status windows. 

I actually stridently disagree (as a generalization).  I think 
completely configurable interfaces are a sign of lazy designers,=
 
because instead of thinking about careful layout and optimal 
configuration, they force the player to do this.  The player gets=
 a 
default configuration that's "okay", and they're expected to=
 tweak 
until it's ideal.

Unfortunately, if not much thought has been put into the GUI=
 design, 
then achieving an ideal state is extremely difficult.  For=
 example if 
you have collapsible status windows, the player may find=
 themselves 
with a completely cluttered screen because there isn't much room=
 to 
place all the status windows they may find relevant on the=
 screen.

If, instead, a talented game designer had laid out the=
 information in 
a manner that makes the game streamlined and accessible then this=
 
actually reduces the burden on the player.  They just play the=
 game, 
instead of configuring the game constantly in order to play it. =
 
Games are games, they should not become applications.

In addition, configurable interfaces often don't go far enough,=
 or 
they have poorly defined semantics when it comes to tasks like 
switching between windows, collapsing/minimizing windows, etc.

Console games are the masters of "proper GUI" because they have=
 to be 
intuitive and approachable to a diverse audience using a limited=
 
controller.  That's not to say all console games have great 
interfaces, but in my experience console games tend to have much=
 
better thought put into their interfaces than PC games.

I've had a pretty much 180 degree turn on this.  Two years ago I=
 was 
a staunch believer in "ditch the layout tools, just let the=
 player 
configure it", and now I'm a fairly big believer in the other 
direction ("ditch the layout tools, just make it work").

I think it was Tom Forsyth that said (on another list?) something=
 
like "the user interface can only ever be considered a=
 hindrance", 
the gist being that the more of an interface you consciously=
 interact 
with, the less ideal it is.

Brian