New UI Update: Gameboard

entrailbucket

Now that this thread is only for our own feedback and not critiques of others', I can update my own feedback, completely immune from criticism! 

After a couple days I got used to the board and it's fine.  I haven't talked to anyone who has a problem with it.  No one in my alliance has a problem with it.  No one I know has quit the game over it.

AndiTi

We had a long-time commander take a break after noting how much he hated the dimming issue. He didn't say it was about that, but the coincidence is spectacular if it wasn't. Other than that, some mixed negative reaction in general but no others stepping away.

I'll get used to it, and am already halfway there. That said, I'm glad they are adjusting it at least somewhat. I'll withhold final judgment until I see it.

As far as the wait, I'm sure there are a lot of other things that went into this beyond what the user can see that make them not want to simply go backwards (some of which have been discussed) and there may even be some other benefits later on--who knows. It's not that big a deal to me to wait for the adjustment, but I can understand the frustration for what appears an arbitrary and unnecessary change. Especially for those with accessibility or medical issues preventing them from playing. I'm lucky in that my objections are merely aesthetic.

As has been pointed out, I really, really recommend the devs seek help from an accessibility expert before making major UI changes. In my own field we are constantly aware of accessibility issues with online displays and the need to test these types of changes with multiple different user concerns in mind BEFORE going live.

LavaManLee

After playing for the past several days with the new UI, here are my completely biased thoughts:

1) I have totally gotten used to the gameboard.  Very surprised at how quickly I got used to it and now can't imagine playing the old board.

2) I feel for those who are having physical issues playing the game and hope they fix it ASAP.  It is great for me that I am not having physical issues, but I have empathy for those who are experiencing issues playing the new UI.  This is supposed to be fun and I hope the next adjustment allows all to play the game in a way that is not hazardous to their health.

DAZ0273

After a week or so of this:

1.) Yellow AP bar still difficult to differentiate for when ready to fire, it just needs a contrast tweak.

2.) The Game does seem slower. I cannot speak to knowing what the "speed hack" was or how this update may have fixed that as is being alluded to (and will likely never be confirmed) but if the new interface when tweaked is able to address this then that would be great.

3.) The Illusion of slow down - on top of an actual slow down I think there is also an optical trick being played on us here. I can't speak for others but when I play MPQ I am consumed mostly by a desire for it to be my turn again as soon as possible - whether this is because I have spotted a Match 5 or can fire a power, my brains little hamster wheel is going "My turn, my turn, me, me, now!" - with the dimming on the enemies turn my brain is having a major meltdown waiting for my turn to arrive and this is being exaggerated by the fact the AI now "taunts" the player by demonstrating in quantifiably measurable ways how long it is getting to play the game. This is a purely psychologial thing - previously it was not measurably obvious how long the AI was taking to do things except in long cascades or delays such as the Mindless Ones brushing their teeth or whatever - now though the game is showing you in dimmed screen detail "I am in control here sucker and I will make you wait". My brain does not accept or like this and is being a bit of a brat about it.

I have no actual physical issues to report and look forward to/hope that the Developers can fix the issues affecting other players whilst addressing their intentions for the change in the first place.

P.S. Please keep those damage numbers when the new/old UI comes around, they are Comic Book-tastic!

KGB

DAZ0273 said:

After a week or so of this:

1.) Yellow AP bar still difficult to differentiate for when ready to fire, it just needs a contrast tweak.

Also need charged tiles to stand out better like they used to do. If you've tried any battles with charged tile users you'll be shocked how hard it is to find the charged tiles now that they aren't highlighted.

KGB

BeetleGeorge

I've read that about the charged tiles for several times now. Therefore I just tried a quick lightning round with Black Bolt to confirm what I remembered. At least on my big screen with the steam version I would even call them "agressively visible" meaning they stand out above everything else. Either it has different graphics on PC or they are best suited for the big screen. Maybe that's also one reason why the new colours were okay for me.
So if there wouldn't be the darkening board and the too many flashes causing me headache if I try to play normal times or forget to close my eyes during AI moves I could consider myself one of the lucky ones.

justsing

I wouldn't say charged tiles stand out on Steam....... 

Waddles_Pines

I don't know if this has been said or not, but they also need a different shape for either blue or green.  The square and rectangle are way too close in shape for fast recognition.  At least the others are more distinguishable.  Black and TU are the same shape, but they are visually so different, so that's okay.  You basically have 2 circles, 2 triangles, and 3 quadrilaterals (1 square, 1 rotated square, and 1 rectangle).  I think that blue should either be a sideways triangle, or a completely different shape.

ThaRoadWarrior

For what it's worth, I don't think any of the actual shapes changed from old to new, just the color/contrast of them and some of the special tile icon treatments. But I agree, green and blue are not different enough to my eye if we're not going to be using high contrast.

BeetleGeorge

justsing said:

I wouldn't say charged tiles stand out on Steam....... 

I tried some snapshots too. Look quite like yours So I see on a smaller screen, e.g. of a tablet (or if I shrink the screenshot to simulate one) they cannot be recognized as clearly as on my big screen. However while testing that I noticed the charged tiles start pulsating after a second or so. Then there should be no problem seeing them I think but for my feeling in that situation AI special tiles are even less noticeable as they are anyway with the new graphic design. So I'd rather like the dedicated AI special tiles and countdown tiles made more prominent.

pheregas

justsing said:

I wouldn't say charged tiles stand out on Steam....... 

Was on vacation for a week and playing as little as possible and did my best to look away every turn.  I'm coping, but my enjoyment is down.

But what I find super interesting is that now that I've taken a minute to stare at a screen that isn't flashing back at me and isn't playing as fast as humanly possible for points or to get hit in PVP, I noticed that charged tiles have a LIGHTNING BOLT INSIDE!

This change has been live for how long and I just now noticed that.  This should go a long way towards informing the programmers behind this that charged tiles are not distinct enough, even with "anime sweat lines" and an almost invisible lightning bolt inside.

Akoni

pheregas said:

justsing said:

I wouldn't say charged tiles stand out on Steam....... 

Was on vacation for a week and playing as little as possible and did my best to look away every turn.  I'm coping, but my enjoyment is down.

But what I find super interesting is that now that I've taken a minute to stare at a screen that isn't flashing back at me and isn't playing as fast as humanly possible for points or to get hit in PVP, I noticed that charged tiles have a LIGHTNING BOLT INSIDE!

This change has been live for how long and I just now noticed that.  This should go a long way towards informing the programmers behind this that charged tiles are not distinct enough, even with "anime sweat lines" and an almost invisible lightning bolt inside.

I noticed it early on, but to be fair, I was purposely looking for it. I thought the same as you minus the anime sweat lines.   They really need to brighten the lightening bolt. Look at how bright the strike tile sword is compared to the lightening bolt which irl actually gives off light.

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DeNappa

pheregas said:

But what I find super interesting is that now that I've taken a minute to stare at a screen that isn't flashing back at me and isn't playing as fast as humanly possible for points or to get hit in PVP, I noticed that charged tiles have a LIGHTNING BOLT INSIDE!

This change has been live for how long and I just now noticed that.  This should go a long way towards informing the programmers behind this that charged tiles are not distinct enough, even with "anime sweat lines" and an almost invisible lightning bolt inside.

Charged tiles have always been displayed with a lightning bolt/electricity icon ever from the time they were first introduced. It's remarkable you haven't ever noticed that

pheregas

DeNappa said:

pheregas said:

But what I find super interesting is that now that I've taken a minute to stare at a screen that isn't flashing back at me and isn't playing as fast as humanly possible for points or to get hit in PVP, I noticed that charged tiles have a LIGHTNING BOLT INSIDE!

This change has been live for how long and I just now noticed that.  This should go a long way towards informing the programmers behind this that charged tiles are not distinct enough, even with "anime sweat lines" and an almost invisible lightning bolt inside.

Charged tiles have always been displayed with a lightning bolt/electricity icon ever from the time they were first introduced. It's remarkable you haven't ever noticed that

LOL.  Goes to show you how fast paced the play has to be to be competitive.  I only used to match colors, giving tiles a cursory glance as to their interiors.  Once you know which character belongs to a color, you need not look again!

Only time I even bother with charged tiles is if I'm playing against Bolt.  Any other matches are a happy accident.

ThaRoadWarrior

On gameboard classic, the anime sweat lines used to break the frame of the gem, which super enhanced their legibility as "charged" or at least different. They no longer do that, and that is 100% of why your eye is skating across them without finding them. Rather than project their charged-ness out into the world, they now hide their anime sweat under a bushel basket.

sinnerjfl

Look how pretty it used to be...  *sniff*

froggerjohn

Aesthetics aside, which are always subjective, it's trivial to demonstrate what a horrible change this is.

Make lists of which elements are easier to discern, and which are harder.
Not only is the 'harder' list much longer, but the elements on it are far more important to gameplay than the ones on the 'easier' list.

I had to play this outdoors at one point. What an absolute disaster. Can't see the enemy specials at all on some colors, no matter how hard I try. Game board is all but invisible during the enemy turn (where I previously did most of my planning).

This isn't something to "get used to". It's simply worse. A lot worse.