RolePlay onLine RPoL Logo

, welcome to RPoL Development

20:40, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

2 ideas - Sticky List Colors & Game Menu Bar.

Posted by YoYo-Pete
YoYo-Pete
member, 7 posts
Wed 1 Jul 2009
at 16:35
  • msg #8

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors & Game Menu Bar

More so... why isnt the list consistant?

I should have the same links on the game menu (left side) available on every game page.

Like why cant I get to the scratch pad from the cast page?  Why is game into only available from some pages?
JohnB
member, 1821 posts
Demigod of the Stunties
Wed 1 Jul 2009
at 17:01
  • msg #9

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors & Game Menu Bar

To part answer your questions ....

Many of those issues have been debated before -  I remember a nice long discussion about what should (and should not) go under the game menu a few years ago.  So, in part, things are the way they are because jase asked us users and we gave an opinion :)

As to yout intuitive / counter intuitive argument -  intuitive depends very much on what you are used to :)  I remember my first introduction to the windows environment and found it very easy to navigate (in part because I didn't have any preconceptions of what graphical interfaces should look like).  A few years later, I had a opportunities to play with macs (after being told by regular mac users what a marvelously intuitive interface it had)  and could hardly find my way around it at all.

Although when you are talking about the arrangement of text menus, the concept of intuitivity is tenuous at the best of time  :)  I suspect you really mean 'These menus don't match up to my previous experience'
YoYo-Pete
member, 8 posts
4 8 15 16 23 42
Wed 1 Jul 2009
at 17:37
  • msg #10

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

Agreed...  That is indeed what I meant.

I was just throwing ideas out there...

But after all that's said and done... why is the 'Game Intro' link so hidden?
MagickalMelody
member, 3863 posts
THE GUMMIE BEAR OVERLORDS
WILL RULE US ALL!
Wed 1 Jul 2009
at 19:48
  • msg #11

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

It fits the way it is currently quite simply.

In the 'little header' are all of the game links; in the main header (the one with the banner) the more 'static' or important game details are held. Quite simply if all of the options were on one side the interface would be cluttered and confusing (not to mention ugly). Currently it's pretty intuitive, especially for those people who have the fixed headers on (NOT me), because all the links are still available to them... just on the footer. *shrug*
Yoss
member, 1170 posts
A Serious Waste of Time
The largest game on RPOL
Wed 1 Jul 2009
at 20:03
  • msg #12

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors & Game Menu Bar

YoYo-Pete:
Sticky List - Can you color code it using Red / Blue / Purple instead of Underline / Italics?  That would make it more visible.

I like this one.  +1

I don't care one way or the other on the 2nd idea in the OP.
YoYo-Pete
member, 11 posts
4 8 15 16 23 42
Wed 1 Jul 2009
at 20:14
  • msg #13

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

MagickalMelody:
the more 'static' or important game details are held. Quite simply if all of the options were on one side the interface would be cluttered and confusing (not to mention ugly).


No..  I think you're missing my point.

When in my game (list of threads) I have these options:

 Character Details| ScratchPad| Dice Roller| Game Map| The Cast

Where is Game Into?

If I view the Game Map, I get these options:

 Character Details| The Cast| Game Intro

Where did scratch pad and character details go?

Character details, Scratch pad, Dice roller are consistent but map, game intro, and the cast are not.  I should be able to get from game cast to scratch pad without having to go to top menu.

I would think ideal would be no matter which game page you are on, the menu would show:

Character Details| ScratchPad| Dice Roller| Game Map| The Cast| Game Into

Why arent the menus for game pages consistent?

Is this an over site or by design?
JohnB
member, 1824 posts
Demigod of the Stunties
Wed 1 Jul 2009
at 20:20
  • msg #14

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

YoYo-Pete:
Is this an over site or by design?



As I said earlier ...

Many of those issues have been debated before -  I remember a nice long discussion about what should (and should not) go under the game menu a few years ago.  So, in part, things are the way they are because jase asked us users and we gave an opinion :)


In case I wasn't clear - the discussions applied to other menus as well :)
MagickalMelody
member, 3864 posts
THE GUMMIE BEAR OVERLORDS
WILL RULE US ALL!
Wed 1 Jul 2009
at 21:15
  • msg #15

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

You can see game info from *EVERY* page; it's in the upper right hand corner with the other static (mostly unchanging) links.

I can't speak to Game Map; I've not played (recently at least) in a game that included one, but the diceroller and the scratchpad are easily accessible from anywhere that you can (feasibly) reply to a post. Putting them elsewhere is needlessly cluttering things (Why would I need to go straight to the diceroller from the main page? I wouldn't; I would need to go from either a thread, or character details, after I've seen what I need to roll. Why do I need to visit my scratchpad when I'm at a place that can't possibly include information I need to scrawl in it? I don't, I need to use it for notes during character creation, or from things my character sees/notices, etc. in response to information from game threads.

Currently it shows only the relevant options on any page. -1 to any changes in how/what the menus show... not only does it work, it's the simplest, easiest way to do it in a way that's user-friendly.
Boneio
member, 52 posts
Wed 1 Jul 2009
at 23:40
  • msg #16

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

YoYo-Pete:
why is the 'Game Intro' link so hidden?


Now that's a good question. I gave up looking for it the other day!
LoreGuard
member, 34 posts
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 02:00
  • msg #17

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

As far as using the colors in the sticky list... I think I would be for that.  [it took some getting used to the way it is currently, it would have been more intuitive probably from my perspective if it had used the color coding.

I have to admit the first time I remembered finding the Game info was in the game menu that it NORMALLY isn't in.   I think it took me a while to find it up there at the top.

Of course when reading this thread it reminded me of my original confusion, and thought, oh, its up there, I didn't know that.  [of course thinking it over, I realized at one point I did figure it out, but managed to forget again]

I'll also admit the mixture of main menu, game menu, private messages with the disappearing components was confusing to me at first.  [less the disappearing nature, than expecting game/private messages, as I keep trying to look for it on the other side.  However, now I'm used to it and would probably personally not see it move, but would potentially get used to it if I had to. I might have personally thought to leave the words in the menu for consistency and changed it from link to static text based on what page you were on, but I can understand saving screen space by skipping it.  [and appreciate it some on my phone with its limited screen]

I could see moving the Game Info to the "Game related info menu" instead of the top "systemwide info menu" all the time.
JohnB
member, 1828 posts
Demigod of the Stunties
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 02:05
  • msg #18

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

As I have said in a number of threads, I would like to see a simplified interface designed for mobile device users.  Not only are the native browsers on many of these devices very basic -  but you tend to get slow download speeds when using them.

I would love to see a text only version of the stickylist (plus basic menus) perhaps in colour as an optional interface,
This message was last edited by the user at 02:20, Thu 02 July 2009.
Alhaja
member, 277 posts
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 07:05
  • msg #19

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors & Game Menu Bar

YoYo-Pete:
Sticky List - Can you color code it using Red / Blue / Purple instead of Underline / Italics?  That would make it more visible.

Please! +1

I'd be in favor of more menu consistency as well. Why wouldn't I want to get to my scratch pad from the cast page or a character description? Consistency is good.
YoYo-Pete
member, 12 posts
4 8 15 16 23 42
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 13:07
  • msg #20

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

JohnB:
As I have said in a number of threads, I would like to see a simplified interface designed for mobile device users.  Not only are the native browsers on many of these devices very basic -  but you tend to get slow download speeds when using them.

I would love to see a text only version of the stickylist (plus basic menus) perhaps in colour as an optional interface,


You should make a thread for that and not post it in many other threads...  While similar, to have it really get air time to the developer, you might want to give it it's own thread.
JohnB
member, 1829 posts
Demigod of the Stunties
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 13:17
  • msg #21

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

*grins*  Jase is aware of my views  :)

My comment was in response to something that loreguard said in the previous post.
This message was last edited by the user at 13:19, Thu 02 July 2009.
YoYo-Pete
member, 13 posts
4 8 15 16 23 42
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 13:23
  • msg #22

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

Lol...

I do see that there is an RSS feed for the forums you visit.

/usermodules/profile.cgi?action=feeds

Does your mobile device support feeds?  It might give you better functionality.

Or...

If you know any coding, you could write a page that looks at your RSS feed and then gives you your notification in a simple view.

Doesnt give you a mobile UI for the site, but could give you your mobile sticky list pretty easily.
bigbadron
moderator, 10503 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 13:29

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors & Game Menu Bar

YoYo-Pete:
bigbadron:
The Game Menu link appears in the same place on every page in a game (except on the Game Menu page itself, where it isn't needed).


Yes... I know that.  I'm saying it's counter intuitive as all other game items are on the right side.

All the Menu type links are clustered together on the right - Private Messages|Game Menu|Main Menu.  I disagree that it's counter intuitive, but I think that moving it elsewhere would be.

-1 for changing it.
JohnB
member, 1830 posts
Demigod of the Stunties
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 14:24
  • msg #24

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

YoYo-Pete:
If you know any coding ...


I gave up busting my ass to get work-a-rounds a long, long time ago.  The operating platforms are rarely stable enough to allow a single solution, and maintenence becomes an ongoing task.  I can post OK from my PDA and I can successfully run games from the device *shrug* That works for me.

As you might have guessed, I have limited respect for developers from most of the bigger companies - they follow the MS  model of putting out poorly tested, half finished software and then expect their customers to live with thre results.

However, that isn't the issue.  The issue is that there are more and more people using mobile devices  - and many of them are not able to code solutions for themselves, don't want to fiddle with Midlet managers (etc) to enhance or replace installed software, and who don't want to fluff with feeds.  Those are potential RPoL users of the future, those are the guys we need to cater for.

Those of us who claim to be tech savvy really have nothing to complain about :)  Anyone who claims to be tech savvy and has difficulty making RPoL do the things they need to play their games -  perhaps isn't as tech savvy as they think they are :)
This message was last edited by the user at 14:26, Thu 02 July 2009.
MagickalMelody
member, 3867 posts
THE GUMMIE BEAR OVERLORDS
WILL RULE US ALL!
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 15:04
  • msg #25

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

I would think that any mobile-friendly-site would have to be just that, though... a mobile-friendly site. As I said before, a mobile.rpol.net would be nice, but that's a separate thing from rpol.net...

(this coming from one of the people who occasionally writes/updates/reads from his iPod!)
JohnB
member, 1834 posts
Demigod of the Stunties
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 15:37
  • msg #26

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

Why does it have to be a separate site?

Any specifically mobile pages need to be attached to rpol.net somehow to access the data in the database.  That could be through a sub-domain (mobile.rpol.net) as you suggest -  but it could equally use different page names like  rpol.net/messagem.cgi etc  etc to achieve the same thing.  Access to the mobile pages could be managed  via cookies on the accessing device or RPoL could look at the visiting browser to check if it is a mobile browser, and then offer the mobile pages automatically as a destination ...

There are lots of different ways to handle this type of thing  (many more than I have suggested there) and I wouldn't presume to try and tell jase which solution was best for his site or his development plan :)
Boneio
member, 54 posts
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 15:41
  • msg #27

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

JohnB:
RPoL could look at the visiting browser to check if it is a mobile browser, and then offer the mobile pages automatically as a destination ...


That would be irritating unless it was optional. I like to view the full site on my phone rather than a cut-down version.
MagickalMelody
member, 3871 posts
THE GUMMIE BEAR OVERLORDS
WILL RULE US ALL!
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 15:54
  • msg #28

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

The only reason I suggest mobile.rpol.net is because it's easy to remember and access straight away; really we're suggesting the same thing :P I didn't mean to imply that it would be a seperate site, just a different display of the same site.
pdubs83
member, 151 posts
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 16:22
  • msg #29

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

Boneio:
JohnB:
RPoL could look at the visiting browser to check if it is a mobile browser, and then offer the mobile pages automatically as a destination ...


That would be irritating unless it was optional. I like to view the full site on my phone rather than a cut-down version.



Change your browser emulation?
YoYo-Pete
member, 14 posts
4 8 15 16 23 42
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 16:43
  • msg #30

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

Yeah... The site can detect the platform and render mobile or full depending...

But if you wanted it visibly separate (and really easier to support) then a sub domain probably would be ideal:  mobile.rpol.net

That way the mobile code and full code would be a bit more separate .  Easier to dev that way.

I guess it might be a moot point as we're in 3rd (maybe technically 4th) generation of phones and mobile devices... The mobile concept is near dead as new products support rich browsing.

Sucks for existing legacy users, but why code up a mobile version that will be antiquated in 1-2 years.
Boneio
member, 55 posts
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 16:47
  • msg #31

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

pdubs83:
Change your browser emulation?


Alas, that's not possible in Opera Mini as far as I'm aware. Though there is a box called 'Mobile View' which I've unchecked...that might be exactly enough to quell any tiny worries I might have about a mobile site :D

(I'm in favour of a mobile-friendly site, I just have reservations as in my experience the full-site versions are better!)
JohnB
member, 1835 posts
Demigod of the Stunties
Thu 2 Jul 2009
at 17:25
  • msg #32

Re: 2 ideas - Sticky List Colors

YoYo-Pete:
Sucks for existing legacy users, but why code up a mobile version that will be antiquated in 1-2 years.


Oh I suspect there are plenty of people on Dial up that would enjoy the lower bandwidth :)  And lets face it,  download speed for most mobile networks isn't going to increase dramatically in the time span you are talking about.

My handheld downloads the whole site easily and displays it without a problem -  however, it looks slow, clunky and all cramped up.  Those things certainly aren't going to change over the  next few years.

BTW - I wasn't advocating any of those options I listed before - just pointing out to MM that a mobile version did not have to be a separate version of the site as he said :)  I am sure jase will choose whatever system he thinks is best, if he should develop any mobile-friendly pages :)

However, my preferences would be to have Mobile access cookie controlled  -  RPoL looks at the browsing device and if it is a mobile system  asks if you want the mobile version  (as I think the BBC does).  Once selected, your preference is written into the cookie on the device, so you get the same display next time.

Yes - there would need to be a manual option to change it  :)
Sign In