Vanguard: UI Creation Interview
UI Creation Interview Interview with Malacki, Grimmier and Sokol. When did you start working on Custom UI's and why?
Malacki: I haven't been much of a modder actually. I dabbled in it in EQ1 but got tired of constantly having to update my mods every time a patch rolled out.
I'm also not much of a graphic artist and I wouldn't write a mod just for the sake of it. I get into a UI as much for the look as for its functionality. Sooooo I prefer to leave that kind of thing to those with talent .
Grimmier: I saw a lack of functionality in the standard UI many years ago and thought someone could make a better one. So I tried.
Sokol: I began back when EQ was out. I was curious and wanted to tinker around to see if i could make it better. Or at least fit what I thought was better. It has grown ever since, to what we have here at our site today.
If you have not designed custom UI's befor, what would make you want to try?
Malacki: Meh, I'm really not that interested. Even when I get this editor done I doubt I'll do much modding, other than maybe slight changes to a UI made by someone else, just to make it fit better with my tastes.
Grimmier: I have made a few UI's in my day for different games. But what drew me to the UI modding scene was pure curiosity. It started when EQ first introduced the ability to mod the UI, I wanted to see how it was done.
Later though they removed the default UI from the game, and thats what really made me start modding. I had always used the original default UI, non full-screen. The biggest thing that erked me was that all my windows were now in my field of view inside the game world, instead of around the outsides of my view.
I tried to recreate the same feeling with my EQ mod. But added in some extra information to save from having to toggle other windows to see it, since you now had a larger resolution to play with than 640x480. I still have the site up for it "http://home.rochester.rr.com/grimmier/EQUI"
Sokol: Can't realy answer this as I've had a lot of custom UI experience in EQ1, but I enjoy tinkering, and will dable in Vanguard. Originaly I was going to recreate my UI's for VG as they were very popular in EQ1, but time restraints and commitments to this site, (and my newborn 5th child) will prevent me from truly being able to make and maintain a UI. Frankly making a UI is a very easy thing, often times down in hours to make even a miraculous UI, the time sink is in maintaining them, patch after patch. For that your on a clock, patch comes out, and your users expect to have a patch for your UI. Thats the seedy dark side of making UI's. People generaly take it for granted, and after awhile the thanks stop, and the demands start. Ok, I'm being melodramatic, but all in all it was fun times.
Why do you spend the emence amount of time you do on designing a program for creating Custom UI's, and what is your motovation to begin such a task?
Malacki: Heh, where do I start? Well, first off I hate tedium and repetition. That sounds ironic coming from a programmer, since programming is very detail oriented and certainly can be repetitive, but you only have to write a program once and then it's done. And in so doing you've probably eliminated some other tedious and / or repetitive task.
Using a text editor to modify or create something visual, like a UI, is very tedious and repetitive. Open editor, make some changes, save, go into the game, notice that you forgot to align something, exit game, rinse repeat a bazillion times. When I see a process like that I can't help saying ""There's got to be a better way!"
We're in an age of graphics. Everything is visual - web designers, development environments, cash registers... everything's visual. WYSIWYG or iconic interfaces are standard nowadays, so having to use text editors to modify a game's GUI doesn't make sense.
Then there's just the plain fact that alot of would-be modders don't mod because they aren't technically inclined. They may have artistic and creative senses but won't get into modding because it's too "nuts 'n bolts"-ish. You don't have to be a technical guru to understand XML, but to someone who just wants to get down to business and create a nice UI, wading through XML is less than appealing. I'm sure many are detered by it.
And finally, because I need to stay ahead of the curve. Technology is constantly changing and you have to dabble in as much of it as possible to stay on top of things. I don't ever want to become just a power user; I'm a programmer and intend to keep it that way. Wow, long enough answer for you?
Grimmier: I could not have said it beter
Sokol: It is something I enjoy, almost as much as playing the game. If someone can benifit then its worth it.
What style UI's do you perfer and why? Malacki: I like modular, kinda minimalistic UI's. I don't like the all-encompassing dashboard type thing. I want to be able to move things around and display only the stuff that's important to me. Graphically, a streamlined polished look is what I look for. Sharp clean edges, thin borders, that kind of thing. Nothing bulky.
Grimmier: Simplistic, simple and easy to use. I perfer to see the game.
Sokol: I like a combination, minimalistic and modular at the same time. Something where i can get the information I want or need when I need it. Not too busy.
What do you look for personaly in Custom UI's?
Grimmier: This one is definitely up to personal preference. I myself generally look for something that will present the "pertinent" information (what I think is important for said game), but not do so in a very obtrusive fashion. EQ did this really well with viewporting the game window. great feature I wish more games would implement.
Sokol: I enjoy a modular UI that I can lay out any way I like. I am particular about having my info in one section of the screen, and my clickables in another section of the screen
What is it about Custom UI's that makes you perfer them over the default?
Malacki: Well, the devs. can't put everything everyone would possibly want to see on the default UI. There'd be too much clutter. Melee chars. are interested in some stats, casters in others, pet classes want their pet bars within easy reach, etc. Custom UIs have more flavors than a game developer could ever put in a default UI.
Also it used to be that default UIs were just plain bad. Devs are getting better at making acceptable default UIs but there's always something you'd do differently if you could.
Grimmier: Custom UI's are what you need. Personalized to your game and play style.
Sokol: I Like to tinker. Back in EQ1 when the UI first came out I was estatic! My first UI was nothing more then changing the colors, and it progressed from there to a Horizontal hotkey/inventory mod, then to the Vert and later Solaria UI's. I was able to create my visions, and it was exciting. I did alot of custom UI request work, and loved every minute of it. And it was a wild ride!
The best thing you see about using Custom UI's? Grimmier: The best thing about Custom UI's is that things are completely up to you as to how you want everything to look. You can create or modify others, UI's to fit your particular style of play.
Sokol: Simple, you are custom tailoring your gaming screen to suit your needs, and this can vastly increase your gaming enjoyment. There is alot of satisfaction in getting your UI "just right". |
