The fiance offers this, being the tablet user that I am not: The large extra buttons on the lower right hand side are probably designed for tablet uses, both the size, and placement. If you're right handed, you'll probably hold the tablet in your left hand, and hit the buttons on the right side, with your right hand.
I'm curious as to whether the buttons can be reversed, or flipped, for left-handed tablet users.
I like the new GUI, especially when I made the picture do "full screen" as suggestion. I would like a little space between the portraits. Everything else, I'm fine with.
If I understand correctly, one of the devs' main selling points is that they have supposedly made the UI code, and other aspects of the code, even more mod-friendly than it was before.
I personally don't like the drab grey interface designed by @Kerozevok. That's why I think that the user should be able to customize the interface colors, just like in Windows.
I know that it's totallly possible to customize the interface, even before the code enhancements, because it's already been done in the mod I posted about earlier.
There is no way in heck that any interface design is going to please every user. I've seen interface suggestions in this thread that I like, and several that I hate. The default one that the devs posted in the screen shot kind of makes me go "meh". I'm not super turned on by it, but it will certainly not influence my support of their efforts.
As far as customizing screen space and moving buttons around, that could not possibly be implemented ten days from release of the download. However, I would think that maybe the community modders could tweak it and create mods that offer lots of different approaches.
And maybe, if we're nice, and they get enough financial backing from us the consumers, the devs could create some kind of downloadable utility that would allow even more UI customizability.
We need to support them almost no matter what at this point. First, they need funding. Then, they can do oh-so-much to make us all happy.
They have repeatedly demonstrated their respect for the game and for us, the fans.
Maybe in the future they'll release theme packs for the game. They said they'd be releasing paid and free DLCs after release. I wouldn't pay for a theme pack, but would certainly try a free one.
Really I don't even notice the GUI after I start playing. As long as I know where the icons I want are, it's all automatic.
This time I made a GUI resembling the Baldurs Gate 1 GUI a little bit more. To do that I removed GUI's edges and portrait borders. I also tweaked the bottom icons by changing some of the colors and made the combat log resemble the Baldurs Gate 1 style.
P.S I am making these mockup screenshots only to give "Overhaul" some suggestions if they ever made new free GUI as a DLC later date. I also want to play around with "what if it looked like this" scenarios, so I am not trying to insult anyone and certainly not trying to say that my GUI are better than Overhaul one. And if the new UI system is more adaptive than the old one, I wanted to hear some feedback first so that if I ever decided to make a GUI mod for myself and for anyone else interested, it would be easier if I had foreknowledge of what people wanted and some work files ready to use.
As they say feedback always makes the artist better in the long run.
I also know that if Overhaul ever decided to make a new GUI, it would be a quite a workload. You would have to make main menu, character creation screen, character screen, options screen, multiplayer screens, inventory screen, map screen and everything else not included in the list to accommodate the new GUI. This includes buttons, highlighted buttons (if not done in code), GUI animations, highlights and more. Otherwise the new GUI would really look out of place with rest of the game..
Last but not least, the GUI has to work and look good in all resolutions and in different PC monitors (every PC monitor has a different contrast and color range). The job would be easier if you had to work with only one resolution, then you could make all kinds of neat details in the GUI's background without worrying if those details looked odd, too small or too large in other resolutions. Hmmm... I am wondering if that is one the reason why most of graphic artists and coders prefer work with consoles and Ipad or Iphone.
As being a student of game graphic artist myself, I would probably be ready to bury myself alive than redo all the work I have done for couple of months (or years!!!!) at near deadline. But as a fan of the game and freeloader at the moment its doable and fun without the deadline.
Whoever read the longish and rambling text, I sincerely applaud and thank you. I just wanted to get it off my chest and clear any misunderstandings unknowingly created by my actions. Apologies to developers and for anyone else if I have done so.
P.P.S We also don't know if Overhaul is making a different GUI for PC from Android or Ipad versions. At least that I know of.
Wanted to try make a different kind of GUI while listening to different kinds of people advices.
I changed the button layout a little bit, extended the text box, made the GUI's backgrounds color resemble somewhat Baldurs Gate 1, kept my portrait frame borders, kept the new icons which "Overhaul" made while making a little bit changes in color scheme, tried to use up all the free space without suffocating GUI too much, changed the new NPC portraits saturation a little bit to make them in harmony with other BG portraits (though Neera still stands out thanks to all that pink) and that's about it.
I hope I didn't mess the GUI up too badly, 'cause i have been painting with mouse instead of a pen and it took a little bit of time, therefore i am "blind" to my own work 'cause I have stared the same picture for far too long, losing my objectivity in the process. So the screenshot mockup might be a little too detailed and gaudy...
P.S Apologies if my explanation and writing sounds weird, I am little bit of tired for not sleeping well thanks to my neighbors party rumble for all night long.
P.P.S And while at it, thanks to all folks for kind comments for my mockup screenshots! I appreciate it.
Took out the extra button which expands the dialogue/battle log.
This looks amazing, much better then the official screenshot imo...
Wanted to try make a different kind of GUI while listening to different kinds of people advices.
I changed the button layout a little bit, extended the text box, made the GUI's backgrounds color resemble somewhat Baldurs Gate 1, kept my portrait frame borders, kept the new icons which "Overhaul" made while making a little bit changes in color scheme, tried to use up all the free space without suffocating GUI too much, changed the new NPC portraits saturation a little bit to make them in harmony with other BG portraits (though Neera still stands out thanks to all that pink) and that's about it.
Took out the extra button which expands the dialogue/battle log.
This is the pure awesome i thought overhaul would have come up with, the color of the UI blends with the game screen, it frames the game perfectly, and would become invisible until you need it. That is what the UI should be, and the text window is full size, which is the biggest complaint i have about the new screen.
If overhaul doesn't adapt the sheer awesomeness of what you created, do you think you could make a mod for the game that would be this? I would donate for this.
I am sorry but I must be daft or something, how is it not possible to make those changes when you have the source code for the UI? community mods have done more by just reverse engineering the game.
Heh, i think in the end, overhaul is trying to change it waaaaaaaaay too much. People love baldur's gate and don't want major changes, update it, just lol, don't change it to make it look modern. I know this doesn't make much sense, but all i can say is that games now a days may be pretty, they may be shiny, but they have little to no heart.
If they 'modernize' this game, and make it pretty and shiny and kill the heart of the game, i'm done with this developer, no matter what they do in the future. Sadly, their new ui looks pretty and shiny, but it seems what was important (to me at least) was stripped away to make it so.
This is my OPINION by the way, and i speak for myself, not for anyone else. I've already bought the game and i will wait and see what happens, and i'm perfectly free to comment on my worries. But this isn't to hate on it, and i pray that i'm wrong. I just wish that the UI looked like something @daylight created, as that seems more BG then the official UI.
Edit: Wow, this was my 1000th comment, and i have roughly 100 agree/100 likes.....guess 1 outta 10 isn't too good. :P
Took out the extra button which expands the dialogue/battle log.
This is exactly what I expected from the UI overhaul. The colors, layout and the details you added are beautiful. I believe it can look even better if the background was slightly transparent. This would definitly make me buy BG for the third time.
The official one looks very cheap. The poorly upscaled BG logo Overhaul is using since the announcement was a bad sign.
I like the new UI. Gold/Blue is a very nice combination, and stretched text box is better for reading. Maybe I would swap one or two buttons from the right to the left of the UI, but that's just me.
Strange - release date is coming, while dev input is shrinking. I though it would be vice versa.
I'm not surprised, if my project management experience is anything to go by, they've run into a load of problems they never expected, and everything has taken twice as long and cost twice as much as they initially forecast
The blue stone and gold borders is actually beginning to grow on me. I'm starting to like it. I think what's still throwing it off a bit for my taste, though, is the shape of the gold border. I agree also that the portrait borders should be reworked.
If I understand correctly, one of the devs' main selling points is that they have supposedly made the UI code, and other aspects of the code, even more mod-friendly than it was before.
I personally don't like the drab grey interface designed by @Kerozevok. That's why I think that the user should be able to customize the interface colors, just like in Windows.
I know that it's totallly possible to customize the interface, even before the code enhancements, because it's already been done in the mod I posted about earlier.
There is no way in heck that any interface design is going to please every user. I've seen interface suggestions in this thread that I like, and several that I hate. The default one that the devs posted in the screen shot kind of makes me go "meh". I'm not super turned on by it, but it will certainly not influence my support of their efforts.
As far as customizing screen space and moving buttons around, that could not possibly be implemented ten days from release of the download. However, I would think that maybe the community modders could tweak it and create mods that offer lots of different approaches.
And maybe, if we're nice, and they get enough financial backing from us the consumers, the devs could create some kind of downloadable utility that would allow even more UI customizability.
We need to support them almost no matter what at this point. First, they need funding. Then, they can do oh-so-much to make us all happy.
They have repeatedly demonstrated their respect for the game and for us, the fans.
I love Belg's suggestion that the GUI be customizable, although that will probably have to be patched post release, as he observes.
I must say I’m quite surprised by the screenshot. Having read about the UI overhaul on the website and on Twitter, I expected functionality changes, instead of the updates to the aestethics and button arrangements.
I was hoping for an interface consisting mostly of customisable slots, as in NWN (purely talking about functionality here, I vastly prefer BGI & II’s aesthetics). Unfortunately, the bottom button layout appears to be unchanged w.r.t BGII. For example, this means that accessing spells, changing weapon/shield layouts and changing ranged weapon ammunition type still have to be done via sub-menus and/or the inventory.
Yes, there currently are such BGII UI features as a few spell quickslots, but the functionality/ease-of-use has always been somewhat lacking. An example: BGII's bottom bar only supports switching of your primary weapon. Thus, changing from a ranged weapon to a one-handed weapon does not automatically re-equip the corresponding off-hand item. Therefore, the inventory needs to be openend anyway, making the bottom bar's quick weapon selection largely useless.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m immensely happy that BGI is getting renewed attention, everything is scaled for use on large monitors, zooming has been added and everyone can just install and play without having to sort out which mods they want, checking compatibility, installing mods, etcetera. Also, running on iOS and Android devices is really, really cool (even though I don’t own any). I was just expecting more functionality improvements from the interface.
They've stated customizable GUI is on their post ship release agenda, remember they still have lots of optimisation work to do for BG2 and as they're making it in the same engine I would expect a substantial amount of these changes to be retroactively applied to BGEE
I must say I’m a quite surprised by the screenshot. Having read about the UI overhaul on the website and on Twitter, I expected functionality changes, instead of the updated to the aestethics and button arrangements.
I have to agree with this. In that respect I was actually a little shocked. Just being honest. I think they oversold there.
I’m immensely happy... that everyone can just install and play without having to sort out which mods they want, checking compatibility, installing mods, etcetera.
Eventually this should be true...
Beamdog needs to release a mod manager ASAP post-release. Because for so many fans of this game it is all about the mods. That is something that should not be done as an afterthought, as it somewhat appears. I know they have been wrestling alligators all day long just cleaning up code. But a mod manager application is essential for this project.
Just for the fun of it and commemorate where all my inspiration came from, I decided to make one last mockup screenshot (just to leave the poor developers alone for releasing unfinished screenshot). I present you one my mockup GUI in blue and mixing two of my old GUI's together.
I must say I’m a quite surprised by the screenshot. Having read about the UI overhaul on the website and on Twitter, I expected functionality changes, instead of the updated to the aestethics and button arrangements.
I have to agree with this. In that respect I was actually a little shocked. Just being honest. I think they oversold there.
I was a bit surprised as well, I think they ran into bigger problems with the code than they expected, definitely oversold it and I think if they had prioritised it there would be a lot less carping
I expect some thorough changes to the UI "under the hood". Hopefully it will be possible for modders to customize button layout and some functionality of the GUI with the new code.
I like the original GUI, and I can understand that overhaul may not want to depart too much from this with the first EE version, as evidenced by some members on this forum who are already yelling "they changed too much!", because of the new color scheme (!). That being said, I think the old UI leaves room for a lot of improvement, particularly in terms of functionality, and I think the potential modernization of the code is a much more important part of the new UI than the fact that the rocks look blueish.
I'd also like to reiterate something I posted a few pages ago: the game is still in development, and every screenshot shown prior to the release of the game will consequently be of a work in progress. I think feedback regarding things like the size of the dialog box is good and constructive, but picking apart every little detail down to the portrait borders seems a little hysterical to me. It doesn't make sense to finalize these things for playtesting! I'm sure the team has competent graphic designers who are well aware of all the little blemishes, and I fully expect the finished GUI to look well polished.
The gold borders around the "game window" itself might be a bit too much, as it distracts the eye (perhaps it's too bright gold?), otherwise I think it's ok. Daylight got a really good thing going as well!
Comments
I'm curious as to whether the buttons can be reversed, or flipped, for left-handed tablet users.
I like the new GUI, especially when I made the picture do "full screen" as suggestion. I would like a little space between the portraits. Everything else, I'm fine with.
I love that stone texture with the wood. It looks like a good combination of the two UI's plus looks like a foundation for the UI.
I personally don't like the drab grey interface designed by @Kerozevok. That's why I think that the user should be able to customize the interface colors, just like in Windows.
I know that it's totallly possible to customize the interface, even before the code enhancements, because it's already been done in the mod I posted about earlier.
There is no way in heck that any interface design is going to please every user. I've seen interface suggestions in this thread that I like, and several that I hate. The default one that the devs posted in the screen shot kind of makes me go "meh". I'm not super turned on by it, but it will certainly not influence my support of their efforts.
As far as customizing screen space and moving buttons around, that could not possibly be implemented ten days from release of the download. However, I would think that maybe the community modders could tweak it and create mods that offer lots of different approaches.
And maybe, if we're nice, and they get enough financial backing from us the consumers, the devs could create some kind of downloadable utility that would allow even more UI customizability.
We need to support them almost no matter what at this point. First, they need funding. Then, they can do oh-so-much to make us all happy.
They have repeatedly demonstrated their respect for the game and for us, the fans.
Really I don't even notice the GUI after I start playing. As long as I know where the icons I want are, it's all automatic.
P.S
I am making these mockup screenshots only to give "Overhaul" some suggestions if they ever made new free GUI as a DLC later date. I also want to play around with "what if it looked like this" scenarios, so I am not trying to insult anyone and certainly not trying to say that my GUI are better than Overhaul one. And if the new UI system is more adaptive than the old one, I wanted to hear some feedback first so that if I ever decided to make a GUI mod for myself and for anyone else interested, it would be easier if I had foreknowledge of what people wanted and some work files ready to use.
As they say feedback always makes the artist better in the long run.
I also know that if Overhaul ever decided to make a new GUI, it would be a quite a workload. You would have to make main menu, character creation screen, character screen, options screen, multiplayer screens, inventory screen, map screen and everything else not included in the list to accommodate the new GUI. This includes buttons, highlighted buttons (if not done in code), GUI animations, highlights and more. Otherwise the new GUI would really look out of place with rest of the game..
Last but not least, the GUI has to work and look good in all resolutions and in different PC monitors (every PC monitor has a different contrast and color range). The job would be easier if you had to work with only one resolution, then you could make all kinds of neat details in the GUI's background without worrying if those details looked odd, too small or too large in other resolutions. Hmmm... I am wondering if that is one the reason why most of graphic artists and coders prefer work with consoles and Ipad or Iphone.
As being a student of game graphic artist myself, I would probably be ready to bury myself alive than redo all the work I have done for couple of months (or years!!!!) at near deadline. But as a fan of the game and freeloader at the moment its doable and fun without the deadline.
Whoever read the longish and rambling text, I sincerely applaud and thank you. I just wanted to get it off my chest and clear any misunderstandings unknowingly created by my actions. Apologies to developers and for anyone else if I have done so.
P.P.S
We also don't know if Overhaul is making a different GUI for PC from Android or Ipad versions. At least that I know of.
Thanks.
If they 'modernize' this game, and make it pretty and shiny and kill the heart of the game, i'm done with this developer, no matter what they do in the future. Sadly, their new ui looks pretty and shiny, but it seems what was important (to me at least) was stripped away to make it so.
This is my OPINION by the way, and i speak for myself, not for anyone else. I've already bought the game and i will wait and see what happens, and i'm perfectly free to comment on my worries. But this isn't to hate on it, and i pray that i'm wrong. I just wish that the UI looked like something @daylight created, as that seems more BG then the official UI.
Edit: Wow, this was my 1000th comment, and i have roughly 100 agree/100 likes.....guess 1 outta 10 isn't too good. :P
The official one looks very cheap. The poorly upscaled BG logo Overhaul is using since the announcement was a bad sign.
Have absolutely no issues with it..
I was hoping for an interface consisting mostly of customisable slots, as in NWN (purely talking about functionality here, I vastly prefer BGI & II’s aesthetics). Unfortunately, the bottom button layout appears to be unchanged w.r.t BGII. For example, this means that accessing spells, changing weapon/shield layouts and changing ranged weapon ammunition type still have to be done via sub-menus and/or the inventory.
Yes, there currently are such BGII UI features as a few spell quickslots, but the functionality/ease-of-use has always been somewhat lacking. An example: BGII's bottom bar only supports switching of your primary weapon. Thus, changing from a ranged weapon to a one-handed weapon does not automatically re-equip the corresponding off-hand item. Therefore, the inventory needs to be openend anyway, making the bottom bar's quick weapon selection largely useless.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m immensely happy that BGI is getting renewed attention, everything is scaled for use on large monitors, zooming has been added and everyone can just install and play without having to sort out which mods they want, checking compatibility, installing mods, etcetera. Also, running on iOS and Android devices is really, really cool (even though I don’t own any). I was just expecting more functionality improvements from the interface.
Beamdog needs to release a mod manager ASAP post-release. Because for so many fans of this game it is all about the mods. That is something that should not be done as an afterthought, as it somewhat appears. I know they have been wrestling alligators all day long just cleaning up code. But a mod manager application is essential for this project.
Thanks for everyone's kind feedback.
I like the original GUI, and I can understand that overhaul may not want to depart too much from this with the first EE version, as evidenced by some members on this forum who are already yelling "they changed too much!", because of the new color scheme (!). That being said, I think the old UI leaves room for a lot of improvement, particularly in terms of functionality, and I think the potential modernization of the code is a much more important part of the new UI than the fact that the rocks look blueish.
I'd also like to reiterate something I posted a few pages ago: the game is still in development, and every screenshot shown prior to the release of the game will consequently be of a work in progress. I think feedback regarding things like the size of the dialog box is good and constructive, but picking apart every little detail down to the portrait borders seems a little hysterical to me. It doesn't make sense to finalize these things for playtesting! I'm sure the team has competent graphic designers who are well aware of all the little blemishes, and I fully expect the finished GUI to look well polished.