Option to remove some of the UI clutter.
Chris0132
Join Date: 2009-07-25 Member: 68262Members
Join Date: 2009-07-25 Member: 68262Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Finding it very obstructive.</div>I'm having a recurring problem when I play. All the flashing icons and names and waypoints and info popups are getting in the way of me being able to actually see anything in the game world.
It's especially noticeable when say, I'm fighting skulks, and I can't actually see the skulks because of the giant bright blue 'ENEMY IS HERE' circle that you get from observatories and scans. It's useful of course to see how many and where the enemies are when you're outside the room, but when it comes to actually fighting them, the sheer glare off the UI elements makes it really hard to actually see the muted greenish-brown skulk against the muted greenish-brown metal or muted greenish-brown rock. Granted I'm colourblind but most of the problem stems from the fact that the UI is so much brighter than the environment that it makes it very difficult to focus on or even see anything else a lot of the time.
And I don't really need all the information anyway. I don't need to see a vague ping alert on the other side of the map. It doesn't help me actually navigate there. I don't need a giant bar in the middle of my screen telling me the command station's health. I don't need to see every marine's name and a box outlining them just in case I can't tell that the human standing over there with the lights all over his armor is a marine. I just need to be able to see the environment, the things in it, without having 'helpful' UI popups obscuring everything.
The game kinda feels like one of those 'augmented reality' concept videos where everything is crawling with superimposed animated graphics trying to sell you crap you don't need. The UI should be helpful, not an obstacle to overcome.
It's especially noticeable when say, I'm fighting skulks, and I can't actually see the skulks because of the giant bright blue 'ENEMY IS HERE' circle that you get from observatories and scans. It's useful of course to see how many and where the enemies are when you're outside the room, but when it comes to actually fighting them, the sheer glare off the UI elements makes it really hard to actually see the muted greenish-brown skulk against the muted greenish-brown metal or muted greenish-brown rock. Granted I'm colourblind but most of the problem stems from the fact that the UI is so much brighter than the environment that it makes it very difficult to focus on or even see anything else a lot of the time.
And I don't really need all the information anyway. I don't need to see a vague ping alert on the other side of the map. It doesn't help me actually navigate there. I don't need a giant bar in the middle of my screen telling me the command station's health. I don't need to see every marine's name and a box outlining them just in case I can't tell that the human standing over there with the lights all over his armor is a marine. I just need to be able to see the environment, the things in it, without having 'helpful' UI popups obscuring everything.
The game kinda feels like one of those 'augmented reality' concept videos where everything is crawling with superimposed animated graphics trying to sell you crap you don't need. The UI should be helpful, not an obstacle to overcome.
Comments
I have asked for less clutter for ages or the option to disable/tone them down but looks like its going to be down to the modders to do it.
Sal
No modifications of health, but remove the HUD (e.g. mini-map, jet pack energy, health bar, etc.) and all the Commander notifications.
Both teams would need to rely solely on communication and experience of the game / maps. The only thing you'd get to keep is the ammo display on the Marine weapons and a minimal Observatory highlight, otherwise they'd be significantly more disadvantaged than Aliens.
Could be great in competitive play - needing to know the subtle differences between Umbra and Spore nozzles on the Lerk before flying in, or knowing your approx. health by how much red-edge you get would be something definitely worth mastering.
...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Marines have visors that display information. In CoD it's rather logical that you would not get any tactical info. In NS2, a space-age game, it would be weird to get no info all of a sudden, what with all that tech. Not saying it's not possible, I just think such a mode does not fit with NS2 <b>at all</b>.
-
As for the options, it would be nice to be able to customize the HUD. Perhaps in the future.
-
As for the options, it would be nice to be able to customize the HUD. Perhaps in the future.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Would be cool if the HUD felt more like an actual device then, rather the current disconnected one. More pixelated, with curvature where it bends in your mask. Ala Star Wars Republic Commando.