New match setup options. Population Cap and Starting resouces

[Spahbod]

Wouldn't be possible to put the map preview in a tab and the map setting in another tab? One could choose the map and see the preview, and then alternate the tab to change the settings of the match and etc.

One of the biggest advantages of the current layout is that you can immediately see what the map you selected looks like. So, I am explicitly against this.

[Pedro Falcão]

One of the biggest advantages of the current layout is that you can immediately see what the map you selected looks like. So, I am explicitly against this.

Then we could reduce the width of the chat box by a half, move the map description to left and put the options where the map description is, now.

[gudo]

One of the biggest advantages of the current layout is that you can immediately see what the map you selected looks like. So, I am explicitly against this.

Just have the view map tab as the default?

[Spahbod]

Just have the view map tab as the default?

That doesn't work. We should change the tab to select an another map.

Then we could reduce the width of the chat box by a half, move the map description to left and put the options where the map description is, now.

Remember that this should work on 1024x768. In that resolution, map description shrinks a lot and there won't be enough space for our options.

[Mythos_Ruler]

I have had some thought about that and must say that I prefer it. But there are two problems.

1:People may miss the n. of players box if it is in the top of the page.

I think people would get used to it.

2:Where should we put the more options button then?

Probably right below the map size. The map descriptions are usually rather short, and we already have a scroll bar for them, so it should work fine.

[Spahbod]

Final version. My own favorite:

Any comments?

[feneur]

I still think we'll have to go with a tabbed layout eventually, but for now that looks really good. And seeing the player count setting there it makes a lot of sense

[Pedro Falcão]

So... How will the other players, in a multiplayer match, know what settings were chosen?

[Spahbod]

So... How will the other players, in a multiplayer match, know what settings were chosen?

They will open the option box. They won't be able to change anything but they can see all of them.

[Mythos_Ruler]

Looks good. I often wondered what the 'C' stands for on the buttons next to the AI drop menus. Would a question mark be better?

[feneur]

Or maybe an O (for options)

[Mythos_Ruler]

Or maybe an O (for options)

Right, but a '?' is more universal. You're just getting information about the bots with that button.

[zoot]

Or an ellipsis (commonly used in Windows UIs).

Right, but a '?' is more universal. You're just getting information about the bots with that button.

Isn't it intended for setting difficulty and the like?

[Mythos_Ruler]

Or an ellipsis (commonly used in Windows UIs).

Isn't it intended for setting difficulty and the like?

I'm not sure what the end-goal of that button is. But I'd rather difficulty use a drop menu. There's room for one.

[quantumstate]

Difficulty should use the existing dropdown.

[Mythos_Ruler]

Difficulty should use the existing dropdown.

Thinking about it, you're right. Well, unless others add their own bots? But then it could be:

Default Bot: Hard

Default Bot: Medium

Default Bot: Easy

Default Bot: Sandbox

Joey's Sixpack Bot: Insane

Joey's Sixpack Bot: Hardest

Joey's Sixpack Bot: Hard

In one dropdown.

[Spahbod]

Well, should I proceed and commit it?

[feneur]

It's an improvement of the current situation and adds new features, so I say go ahead

[luziferius]

maybe the 'C' button will let you configure the AI more. like choosing a personality like rusher, turtler; ability to define worker/soldier ratio, how likely it will create/break alliances, how far the AI tries to support allies or some other fancy feature you might come up with

[historic_bruno]

Looks good. I often wondered what the 'C' stands for on the buttons next to the AI drop menus. Would a question mark be better?

If the button must be so small, it would be better to use an icon (maybe a gear?), instead of a cryptic letter. I envision having a number of options for each AI, more than could fit into a single dropdown, but that may be overly ambitious I'm thinking we'll need such an advanced options menu for random maps though, so we should plan for that too.

[Mythos_Ruler]

Does anyone else think that the options and map preview in the game setup screen, which is currently on the right, should go on the left? Since that's where the main menu is. You click Single Player -> Matches in the main menu, and then it would be nice if in the next screen (match setup) all the options and stuff were right under your cursor.

[WhiteTreePaladin]

I imagine "C" was for computer? (Just a random guess)

[fabio]

Does anyone else think that the options and map preview in the game setup screen, which is currently on the right, should go on the left? Since that's where the main menu is. You click Single Player -> Matches in the main menu, and then it would be nice if in the next screen (match setup) all the options and stuff were right under your cursor.

I already suggested something like that here.

[feneur]

I imagine "C" was for computer? (Just a random guess)

C was for configure unless I'm incredibly mistaken But I guess this is one more "vote" to change it to something else =)

[wraitii]

If the button must be so small, it would be better to use an icon (maybe a gear?), instead of a cryptic letter. I envision having a number of options for each AI, more than could fit into a single dropdown, but that may be overly ambitious I'm thinking we'll need such an advanced options menu for random maps though, so we should plan for that too.

I must say, I'd like that. Could allow to set "strategies: all/rusher/boomer/turtler", or whatever.