Map Directional Indicator
Cxwf
Join Date: 2003-02-05 Member: 13168Members, Constellation
Join Date: 2003-02-05 Member: 13168Members, Constellation
SHORT VERSION
When viewing the full-size map, the indicator for YOURSELF should be highlighted in a different color than the rest of your teammates, and have a directional indicator attached so you can see which way you are currently facing.
LONG VERSION
I finally installed the NS2 beta just today, and man is it gorgeous. There's still some pretty major issues with framerates, but that's got plenty of attention already so you don't need me repeating that again. What I do want to give feedback on is the marine Map system. (I didn't get a chance to play as an Alien yet, so I can only guess that alien map views are probably similar.)
After being thrust into a new map for the first time(s), I rely very heavily on the map to help find my way around, until I get comfortable enough with a map layout to navigate by myself. Unfortunately the current map is not very helpful in that regard -- I feel like it will be somewhat more useful once I already know where I am and where I am going, but I am getting very little help in figuring those things out initially. My best guess at the moment is that this is mostly due to one (and a half) significant omission from the NS1 map system:
The indicator for YOURSELF on the full-size map needs to be highlighted in a different (preferably bright) color than the rest of your teammates, and have a directional indicator attached so you can see which way you are currently facing. When I pull up a map full of team icons that I'm not familiar with, it can take quite some time just to find myself on the map at all, and when I do, my position is marked with a circle. Now even if I decide I need to go, say, West to reach my next goal, I don't actually have any way of determining which way "West" is in the gameworld -- except by running to the next room and then checking my map again to see if I'm closer or farther away from my goal. I need to be able to translate map directions to view directions, and the easiest way to do that is just to add my current view-direction onto my personal icon on the map.
When viewing the full-size map, the indicator for YOURSELF should be highlighted in a different color than the rest of your teammates, and have a directional indicator attached so you can see which way you are currently facing.
LONG VERSION
I finally installed the NS2 beta just today, and man is it gorgeous. There's still some pretty major issues with framerates, but that's got plenty of attention already so you don't need me repeating that again. What I do want to give feedback on is the marine Map system. (I didn't get a chance to play as an Alien yet, so I can only guess that alien map views are probably similar.)
After being thrust into a new map for the first time(s), I rely very heavily on the map to help find my way around, until I get comfortable enough with a map layout to navigate by myself. Unfortunately the current map is not very helpful in that regard -- I feel like it will be somewhat more useful once I already know where I am and where I am going, but I am getting very little help in figuring those things out initially. My best guess at the moment is that this is mostly due to one (and a half) significant omission from the NS1 map system:
The indicator for YOURSELF on the full-size map needs to be highlighted in a different (preferably bright) color than the rest of your teammates, and have a directional indicator attached so you can see which way you are currently facing. When I pull up a map full of team icons that I'm not familiar with, it can take quite some time just to find myself on the map at all, and when I do, my position is marked with a circle. Now even if I decide I need to go, say, West to reach my next goal, I don't actually have any way of determining which way "West" is in the gameworld -- except by running to the next room and then checking my map again to see if I'm closer or farther away from my goal. I need to be able to translate map directions to view directions, and the easiest way to do that is just to add my current view-direction onto my personal icon on the map.
Comments
Well, would only be used a few times in a new map.
different color/size would be good as well.