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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0001588AI War 1 / ClassicSuggestion - Interface Ideas - Notifications, Warnings, and AlertsDec 15, 2010 8:29 pm
ReporterTheDeadlyShoe Assigned ToChris_McElligottPark  
Status resolvedResolutionfixed 
Product Version4.040 
Fixed in Version4.051 
Summary0001588: More feedback: the cure for complexity
DescriptionThe more stuff that's in the game the more information overload there is. I think that more explicit feedback would go a long way in the game.

For example, at the moment the Alarm Post gives a klaxon ring when it goes off, but this doesnt necessarily mean anything to players and it might be missed because of music or battle sounds. There should at least be a text message saying that 'Alarm post has triggered on xxx, guards are counterattacking' or something of that nature. Ideally, there would also be an alert on the galaxy map (a flashing ! perhaps) on the system that just alarm'd. Players can then mouse over it for detailed information.

Another place feedback would be helpful would be on AI waves themselves. If you clicked the wave alert, it could tell you specifics like that the wave is '10,000 points because of AI progress, +-x% random fluctuation, +x% because of a recent wave, x3 because of wave multipliers for a final wave strength of 35,000'.

Even a newer player would then at least be able to compare one waves strength to another wave, and understand [i]why[/i] that wave is the strength it is.

In a similar vein, if you read up on Hybrid Hives you understand that they mature and get stronger over time, and that there are different varieties of Hybrid Hives. But this is explained nowhere ingame - if you could mouseover a Hive and see its maturity level and type, it would explain a lot. (The hives also apparently have cool names for their maturity level/types, but theyre internal only?)

And, going off the other post that inspired this one, the AI Eye could definitely use an alert where it tells the player its triggered, and then the player can somehow find out more information like "It triggered cuz of all them damn ships you brought" and how many ships it spawned.
TagsNo tags attached.
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Relationships

related to 0000832 resolvedChris_McElligottPark audio suggestion: give a taunt when the AI is responding to a fleet that is too large 
parent of 0002055 feature for laterkeith.lamothe Hybrid hive maturity/names. 
Not all the children of this issue are yet resolved or closed.

Activities

Chris_McElligottPark

Dec 15, 2010 8:12 pm

administrator   ~0006272

Some good points -- definitely clarity is very much desired. The following changes are now in:

* When alarm posts are triggered, there is now a chat message sent saying what kind of alarm post was triggered and on what planet.

* When AI Eyes or SuperTerminals are spewing out ships, a warning message (like the "you have flown into a minefield" message) is now shown. This is helpful particularly with the AI Eye for making sure that players (especially new players) aren't accidentally setting them off.


Regarding the AI Waves, that's just out of scope for now, and I think recent changes to the game since your post of it make that less of an issue, anyhow. And frankly -- I'm not sure I'd want to detail exactly how the waves are made up in-game, it strikes me as a little immersion-breaking and isn't really actionable data apart from the pieces that the player is already aware of, anyway.

Regarding the hybrid hives, I've made a separate issue for that, which Keith can evaluate separately, as those are his deal.


Thanks!

keith.lamothe

Dec 15, 2010 8:27 pm

administrator   ~0006277

FYI, you can use Advanced Logging to get it to generate log files giving a very large degree of detail on how it computed how many ships of each type to send.

Chris_McElligottPark

Dec 15, 2010 8:29 pm

administrator   ~0006279

Well, sure, but I think he meant as a learning aid for new players, to which that doesn't really apply. But, good to note anyhow.

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
Nov 24, 2010 3:15 pm TheDeadlyShoe New Issue
Nov 24, 2010 3:18 pm TheDeadlyShoe Relationship added related to 0000832
Nov 24, 2010 3:19 pm TheDeadlyShoe Description Updated
Dec 15, 2010 7:55 pm Chris_McElligottPark Relationship added parent of 0002055
Dec 15, 2010 8:12 pm Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0006272
Dec 15, 2010 8:12 pm Chris_McElligottPark Status new => resolved
Dec 15, 2010 8:12 pm Chris_McElligottPark Fixed in Version => 4.051
Dec 15, 2010 8:12 pm Chris_McElligottPark Resolution open => fixed
Dec 15, 2010 8:12 pm Chris_McElligottPark Assigned To => Chris_McElligottPark
Dec 15, 2010 8:27 pm keith.lamothe Note Added: 0006277
Dec 15, 2010 8:29 pm Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0006279