User Interface Review

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> Gary Grigsby's Eagle Day to Bombing the Reich >> User Interface Review

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User Interface Review - 10/18/2009 9:13:10 PM

matchwood

Posts: 71
Joined: 9/9/2004
Status: offline

One of the key metrics in evaluating a user interface is the "User Journey Experince". To compare the new interface with the old one I've mapped out a simple bombing raid involving 7 steps.

1) Click Bombing raid
2) Click on the target
3) Select Pick a lead unit
4) Select a lead unit
5) Go with the selection
6) Configure height / time
7) Go with the selection

< Message edited by matchwood -- 10/18/2009 9:14:38 PM >

Post #: 1

RE: User Interface Review - 10/18/2009 9:15:49 PM

matchwood

Posts: 71
Joined: 9/9/2004
Status: offline

The BTR interface looks like this:

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by matchwood -- 10/18/2009 9:16:14 PM >

(in reply to matchwood)

Post #: 2

RE: User Interface Review - 10/18/2009 9:17:17 PM

matchwood

Posts: 71
Joined: 9/9/2004
Status: offline

The EDBTR interface looks like this:

Attachment (1)

(in reply to matchwood)

Post #: 3

RE: User Interface Review - 10/18/2009 9:29:40 PM

matchwood

Posts: 71
Joined: 9/9/2004
Status: offline

Conclusions:

1) The user journey was "Tighter" for the BTR interface with a sort of triangle formed between the menu pane on the left, the map and unit selection options at the bottom.

2) The user journey for EDBTR is more erratic than BTR and covers more "mouse miles" in comparrison. This distance increases if the scenario includes adding multiple bombing units and escorts. However, the EDBTR interface has retained consitent button placement and delivered a larger map area.

3) A possible improvement for the EDBTR interface could be to move the top menu pane to below the map area. This would create a tight working triangle similar to BTR although based on a vertical axis rather then horizontal.

4) Interface issues such as above are unlikely to be a significant barrier to core wargaming fans but will hinder the potential mainstream sucesses of Matix releases.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to matchwood)

Post #: 4

RE: User Interface Review - 10/18/2009 9:45:04 PM

harley

Posts: 1700
Joined: 10/13/2005
Status: offline

Interesting. I worked with the graphic designer on the layout, our concern was with consistency. I tried to keep all actions in the top, but that was not practical with the unit/target selections.

Your idea may work better if the command bar is at the very bottom, as the info panel is variable in height. By doing that I'd be able to move the one or two command buttons out of the info panel into command panel - in a lot of screens it is nearly empty.

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Post #: 5

RE: User Interface Review - 10/18/2009 10:28:35 PM

JudgeDredd

Posts: 8573
Joined: 11/14/2003
From: Scotland
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I was about to come on here and write something similar.

I think the interface should be clickable by doing the following

1. Click Bombing Raid
2. Select primary target
3. Select secondary target (or click none/done)
4. Select Lead unit (game automatically allows you to select bombers after you select lead unit - being as you can only select one lead unit)
5. Select Bombers to add
6. Click Done (game automatically moves you to add fighter escort)
7. Select Fighters (if any)
7 Click Done

At the minute, planning a bombing raid goes like this (I've omitted time/height/delay etc because you would have to do those)
1. Click Bombing Raid
2. Click Primary Target
3. Select primary target
3. Click Secondary Target
4. Select secondary target
5. Click Pick Lead Bomber
6. Select lead bomber
7. Click done
8. Click Add Bombers
9. Select bombers
10. Click Done
11 Click Add Fighter Escort
12 Select Fighters
13 Click Done

Bearing in mind (just from the Eagle Day interface) you'd be planning 50 missions maybe? For 50 missions, a new interface would mean 350 clicks of the mouse...the old one is closer to 700!

Might help stave off the RSI!

(in reply to harley)

Post #: 6

RE: User Interface Review - 10/19/2009 3:32:31 AM

harley

Posts: 1700
Joined: 10/13/2005
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: JudgeDredd

I was about to come on here and write something similar.

I think the interface should be clickable by doing the following

1. Click Bombing Raid
2. Select primary target
3. Select secondary target (or click none/done)
4. Select Lead unit (game automatically allows you to select bombers after you select lead unit - being as you can only select one lead unit)
5. Select Bombers to add
6. Click Done (game automatically moves you to add fighter escort)
7. Select Fighters (if any)
7 Click Done

Hmmm...

The way you present that should have been obvious to me from the start. I'm a Windows/Active Directory security architect by profession. What you have described is a wizard, something I deal with in Microsoft products constantly.

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Post #: 7

RE: User Interface Review - 10/19/2009 4:43:13 AM

Golden Bear

Posts: 190
Joined: 3/27/2006
Status: offline

...and maybe, when plotting NFs, you could at least lead from "Follow" automatically to "Select Lead Unit" without the extra click. Just an itsy help there.

C.

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Post #: 8

RE: User Interface Review - 10/19/2009 7:19:14 AM

JudgeDredd

Posts: 8573
Joined: 11/14/2003
From: Scotland
Status: offline

Sometimes you can't see the woods for the Trees Harley. I wouldn't beat myself up about it.

When you go to the Preview All Raids screen, just clicking the raid could (should? put you in modify mode...really no need to click the modify button

(in reply to Golden Bear)

Post #: 9