05-25-2003, 12:03 AM
Hi,
As to some of the Starcraft specific points Pete made, I could be wrong thanks to War3, but shift-# should add a unit to a group and if the group doesn't exist, it should create the group.
Doesn't seem to work.
Control-# will create/overwrite that group number,
Yes, as I said. The three group commands (in SC) are Ctr-# assigns the selected units to a group, # selects that group, and ## selects and centers on that group.
I also thought that you could do the map location with either shift or control for similar reasons
That would make sense, but doesn't seem to work.
The right click is just a short cut for the common commands for that unit. So I don't see that as a problem really.
If you think of it as left click selects the subject and right click selects the action (i.e., go one step beyond "programmer" think) then you will see my point. I select a group of marines (left double click) then I select where I want them to go (right click). I select a barracks (left click) and the rally point (second left click) and then I select where I want it to go (should be right click for intuitive consistency, but it is left click). In both cases, I am selecting a destination, but I use left click in some circumstances right in others. I am *playing* the game, not *programming* it. I should not have to worry about modes and shortcuts. I should only worry about cause (which click) and effect (set a location).
I did think it lacked in some of the feedback mechanisms and could have made a lot better use of color coding information
Yes. Feedback like giving the group number of selected units. The rally point of selected structures. Some indication of what the selected unit is doing. A whole bunch of other stuff.
Not counting communication in MP games, bringing up menus that are unnecessary while playing, and build orders, SC has 12 hot key commands:
Space Bar . . . . . . . Center on last transmission
Shift F2, 3, or 4 . . . Save map location
F2, 3, 4. . . . . . . . . . Center on map location
Ctrl+C, Alt+C . . . . . Center on selected unit
Shift+unit. . . . . . . . Add/remove unit from selection
Ctrl-unit . . . . . . . . . Select all that unit type on screen
Doubleclick unit . . . Select all that unit type on screen
Ctrl+# . . . . . . . . . . Assign group number
# . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Select group #
## . . . . . . . . . . . . . Select and center on group #
Alt+unit. . . . . . . . . . Select group that unit is in
Shift+Command . . . Set waypoint
In those 12 commands, Shift, Alt and Ctr are all three used. It does not appear that anyone gave any thought to a decent interface, just went along with whatever the programmers hit upon as a first choice.
Yes, there are people who have made a study of the field. Two days of consulting fees to one of those people would probably cost much less than one of the trailers they put together for E3. And it would actually add to the game instead of the hype. But as long as most gamers buy the sizzle, they'll keep getting crap served in place of steak. :)
--Pete
As to some of the Starcraft specific points Pete made, I could be wrong thanks to War3, but shift-# should add a unit to a group and if the group doesn't exist, it should create the group.
Doesn't seem to work.
Control-# will create/overwrite that group number,
Yes, as I said. The three group commands (in SC) are Ctr-# assigns the selected units to a group, # selects that group, and ## selects and centers on that group.
I also thought that you could do the map location with either shift or control for similar reasons
That would make sense, but doesn't seem to work.
The right click is just a short cut for the common commands for that unit. So I don't see that as a problem really.
If you think of it as left click selects the subject and right click selects the action (i.e., go one step beyond "programmer" think) then you will see my point. I select a group of marines (left double click) then I select where I want them to go (right click). I select a barracks (left click) and the rally point (second left click) and then I select where I want it to go (should be right click for intuitive consistency, but it is left click). In both cases, I am selecting a destination, but I use left click in some circumstances right in others. I am *playing* the game, not *programming* it. I should not have to worry about modes and shortcuts. I should only worry about cause (which click) and effect (set a location).
I did think it lacked in some of the feedback mechanisms and could have made a lot better use of color coding information
Yes. Feedback like giving the group number of selected units. The rally point of selected structures. Some indication of what the selected unit is doing. A whole bunch of other stuff.
Not counting communication in MP games, bringing up menus that are unnecessary while playing, and build orders, SC has 12 hot key commands:
Space Bar . . . . . . . Center on last transmission
Shift F2, 3, or 4 . . . Save map location
F2, 3, 4. . . . . . . . . . Center on map location
Ctrl+C, Alt+C . . . . . Center on selected unit
Shift+unit. . . . . . . . Add/remove unit from selection
Ctrl-unit . . . . . . . . . Select all that unit type on screen
Doubleclick unit . . . Select all that unit type on screen
Ctrl+# . . . . . . . . . . Assign group number
# . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Select group #
## . . . . . . . . . . . . . Select and center on group #
Alt+unit. . . . . . . . . . Select group that unit is in
Shift+Command . . . Set waypoint
In those 12 commands, Shift, Alt and Ctr are all three used. It does not appear that anyone gave any thought to a decent interface, just went along with whatever the programmers hit upon as a first choice.
Yes, there are people who have made a study of the field. Two days of consulting fees to one of those people would probably cost much less than one of the trailers they put together for E3. And it would actually add to the game instead of the hype. But as long as most gamers buy the sizzle, they'll keep getting crap served in place of steak. :)
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?