Hi,BOSS Oleg,
still some thoughts about those details and minutiaes,
last time, I suggested that the instruction tips bubble which in your words is "help pop up line" could have some improvements in decorating, for example, when in a german plane, it can use a Gothic font, some Gothic patterns, and with an eagle symbol by it.
this time, it's about the mouse cursor.
Why not give it a set of animated appearances for different operation, for example,
an index finger switch off animation for a click indicating,
a rotate gesture animation for a gun sight adjustment indicating, etc,
at least, a
is better than a simple arrow
, I think.
and to expand some further, to integrate this feature into the whole in-cockpit GUI system, for example,
when in a tuition mode, it can offer a full cockpit instruction with a "
?" question mark cursor(
for "why",
for CAUTION!, etc). You move it on a certain equipment, it will show some detailed descriptions just as what you have already done, to give those novices like me a more humanizing friendly feeling.
I think there are many subtle improvements you can do with the cursor and the bubble.
although these aspects are simple and subtle, it can be helpful to enhance the immersive gameplay.
Actually, I incline to believe that you have already thought about it, but just haven't got enough time to do it.
And, dear BOSS, IMHO I have to say that, to some extend, you do not know(I incline to use "CARE ABOUT") the art of packaging. Your FlightSim perhaps is the best in specialization, but sometimes it looks too harsh, a typical classical russian style, efficient but impersonal, that will drive away many craving novices, as far as I know, this has been happening in IL2 series.
or I incline to believe that you specially leave these "unimportant" minutiaes to your long term add-ons, Mods communities, and so on?
Boss, it gives me an impression that the word "humanizing" in your dictionary is for developers and veterans, not for novices.
And "garish" means guilty in such a specialized sim, and you do not need to use childish tricks such as making some GUI decoration to appeal players, because they are all hardcore players, they won't care about these minutiaes as well.
It seems that debugging is a more important work in your schedule, and dress up we can ignore.
If so, I would say I generally agree with you. However, you are making a game, sometimes it looks more like a industrial and engineering software(although it is a very positive and exclusive feature). By the way, the main UI you had posted a few weeks ago have got the some problem, clear enough but not attractive. Considering it's a WIP, I don't know if I could say the main UI needs some aesthetic improvments.
I'm not criticizing, just a little complaining, and
it's not my hope that you will remove some hardcore raw stuff, reduce the specialization,
I just hope that, to eat those hardcore raw stuff can be easy and pleasing.
For a novice, I think it's very important to give him an impression that you are in a very interesting machine rather than you are now in a iron coffin...
so give them some sweets please, and give them a feeling that they have got strong support.(As we all know, the only strong support we can get nowadays, comes from Online-communities, not the game itself)
Sometimes, some people need to add some sugar or milk in their black coffee.
hoho~~~
A veteran can learn and feel the potential of your Sim, but a novice can only SEE the potential at the very beginning
(or perhaps you can add these garish subtle features into a special novice expansion pack which is specially made for novice and has got a full detailed aviation course just like SEGA'S aero dancing/aero elite series, I would be very happy to buy one
)