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| 20 OCT 2002 at 9:07pm |
JonasKyratzesSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 280
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Online | As a designer, I'd say that a ball on an arrow does not make people think of action or movement and would therefore confuse them.
But they could get used to it, and it might be better to leave it that way. Sometimes the easiest way is not the best (quite often, in fact).
It's your choice. What feels best?
[i]
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| 20 OCT 2002 at 10:54pm |
dimidimidimiSchattenjger
Posts : 1784
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Online | I think that you should change it. In my opinion a cursor has to change radically when a different action is to be taken.
I will give you a good and a bad point & click interface.
Bad:
Syberia. One of the best games ever, but the interface was bad. The cursor was confusing. When you had to speak to someone the cursor turned into something that I think is a magnifying glass. But a magnifying glass usually implies looking at something. And the exits from one screen where not obvious.
Goof:
Longest Journey. One of the best games ever and with a perfect interface. Over an interactive hot spot the cursor turned into a big blue bright arrow. Over something that you could only look at it got a little bit toned town.
The exits from a screen where obvious by themselves but the developers remembered also to add a key to light them up when pressed. And the best feature that I have not seen in another game. The cursor can turn into your inventory items, be scrolled with the use of a single key, and they light up if they can be used on sth else.
I wonder why nobody else have tried to use it? Instead developers try to make game with keyboard controls ???
My opinion is different cursors from each other that state clearly what they do, in bright colours and big sizes. Good luck with your game...
PDF adventure magazine - The Inventory&&http://www.justadventure.com/TheInventory/TheInventory.shtm&&&&What would you give to know the truth?&&http://www.brokensaints.com
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| 21 OCT 2002 at 5:08pm |
mbc841Space Cadet
Posts : 194
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Skye, I too think your cursor might be confusing - although, from having played SO MANY GAMES over the years, I know the player can get used to pretty much any cursor well enough if the game is good. Good luck with your game and keep us posted ! !
[url=http://www.justadventure.com/IndependentDevs/TheArrangement/index.htm][[img]http://www.justadventure.com/IndependentDevs/TheArrangement/Graphics/banner1.jpg[/img][/url]
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| 21 OCT 2002 at 6:22pm |
ratracerIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 41
Joined: 21 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Well, I can say what's my favorite since that's what I'm using in my game:
when no action - arrow with dull color (white)
when action - arrow with "active" color (yellow or red or green...)
But, hey, maybe the ball looks better - anyway, once the player knows what it means, I don't think there should be a problem...
And wellcome to the forum!
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| 21 OCT 2002 at 8:47pm |
mszvPrivate Detective
Posts : 751
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Hi all,
Adventure games are quite popular with older gamers, and our eyesight is not what it once was! There are also a number of people out there who are color blind. If you want to signify a change in a cursor, you might also want to vary the shape, as well as the color.
I don't have any strong feelings about the shapes to use when you want to vary what the cursor does, just that the shape be distinctive. There are some conventions that are commonly used (the hourglass for examining what is up close), but, as long as you are consistent throughout your game, most people can figure it out.
All for now.
Regards, mszv
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