0006710: Targeting brackets for especially interesting or threatening enemy units - DEV Arcen

ID	Project	Category		Date Submitted	Last Update

0006710	AI War 1 / Classic	Suggestion - Interface Ideas - Visual Indicators, Tooltips, and Summaries		Mar 18, 2012 2:51 pm	Mar 18, 2012 3:44 pm

Reporter	doctorfrog	Assigned To
Status	considering	Resolution	open
Product Version	5.030

Summary	0006710: Targeting brackets for especially interesting or threatening enemy units
Description	Currently, the icons for enemy units that are of particular concern usually appear larger compared to other units. This has worked pretty well. But this is still a criteria that applies to a heck of a lot of units, so it more or less just separates the starships from the smaller units. I don't need to tell you that AI War has a lot of unit types, all represented by original (and initially unfamiliar) icons. I suggest the addition of targeting brackets for more frightening or interesting enemy units. The targeting brackets will appear on the enemy units whether they are targeted or not. This will: - give a different visual level of importance (currently we have three visual levels: small icons, medium icons, big icons) - make certain units that you have to hunt-n-peck for (guard posts) a heck of a lot easier to pick out - make tracking tougher baddies easier in a blob of other ships - look pretty cool - it will be easier for new players as they parse an interface filled with unfamiliar icons There are multiple ways to use this feature: - simple brackets (literally: [ ]) around certain stronger starships. - corner brackets (just the corners of the square showing) around guard posts and other reinforcement-spewing units - top-bottom brackets (think [ ] rotated 90 degrees) for very desirable units (ARS, Spire Civ Ldrs, etc.) - brackets with spines (similar to { }) to denote units that contain other units (carriers, fortresses) - super big targeting reticule style for especially threatening units (warheads, Avenger, etc.) I'm talking a full square reticule around the unit itself, and lines extending to the four compass points, regardless of zoom. Stuff like this needs your attention right now. The color of the brackets can vary based on the color of the AI, they can just be red, or can be red/yellow/green according to how directly threatening they are. Friendly units might also similarly be marked, just as visual reminders of important or fragile assets (ion cannons, ARS, factories and fabs, etc.) Obviously, I don't have all the answers as to how this should be used, such that reticules report clear visual information and not just more visual clutter. I'd be willing to bet that the developers or the community would have a better handle on how (or if) targeting brackets would be helpful.
Tags	No tags attached.

Internal Weight	Feature Suggestion

Date Modified	Username	Field	Change
Mar 18, 2012 2:51 pm	doctorfrog	New Issue
Mar 18, 2012 3:44 pm	tigersfan	Internal Weight	=> Feature Suggestion
Mar 18, 2012 3:44 pm	tigersfan	Status	new => considering