Search the archive:
YaBB - Yet another Bulletin Board
 
   
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send Topic Print
What We Wish: Improved UI (Read 2150 times)
Oct 6th, 2010 at 4:32pm

BrandonF   Offline
Colonel
The Future of Flight
Location: Earth...Duh!!!!

Gender: male
Posts: 2296
*****
 
Many were disappointed with how FSX's user interface turned out. Especially with the aircraft selection dialog, which took FOREVER to load. I'm just curious as to what YOU would like to see improved/changed in the main menu. (where you select your flight, change settings, view the learning center, etc)

Cool
 
IP Logged
 
Reply #1 - Oct 6th, 2010 at 4:49pm

Fozzer   Offline
Colonel
An elderly FS 2004 addict!
Hereford. England. EGBS.

Posts: 24861
*****
 
For me, the biggest disaster, (from what I can remember), was the omission of the drop-down, in-game, Menu option for connecting to any Multiplayer Server of your choice, using the same, simple, straightforward, interface as used on FS 2004.
It was possible to connect to Multiplayer via the drop-down Menu while the Sim was running, instead of having to restart the Sim and return to the Main Menu.

The top-of-the-screen, in-game Menu, in FS 2004, covered everything you ever wanted to do, whilst the Sim was running.

If the same Menu could be included in the new Sim, (maybe with a few improvements?), it would be ideal!

A lot of very useful "things/options" were left out in the change from FS 2004 to FSX!

Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Nav... Cool...!
 

Dell Dimension 5000 BTX Tower. Win7 Home Edition, 32 Bit. Intel Pentium 4, dual 2.8 GHz. 2.5GB RAM, nVidia GF 9500GT 1GB. SATA 500GB + 80GB. Philips 17" LCD Monitor. Micronet ADSL Modem only. Saitek Cyborg Evo Force. FS 2004 + FSX. Briggs and Stratton Petrol Lawn Mower...Motor Bikes. Gas Cooker... and lots of musical instruments!.... ...!
Yamaha MO6,MM6,DX7,DX11,DX21,DX100,MK100,EMT10,PSR400,PSS780,Roland GW-8L v2,TR505,Casio MT-205,Korg CX3v2 dual manual,+ Leslie 760,M-Audio Prokeys88,KeyRig,Cubase,Keyfax4,Guitars,Orchestral,Baroque,Renaissance,Medieval Instruments.
IP Logged
 
Reply #2 - Oct 6th, 2010 at 8:03pm

Steve M   Offline
Colonel
Cambridge On.

Gender: male
Posts: 4097
*****
 
How about a little window that would tell you when you have scenery conflicts or more scenery activated than you need for this flight. You would plan your flight before scenery loads and only the flight specific scenery (and aircraft) would load. Might be a quicker load time and could result in better frame rates.  Smiley


Of course the option to not do it this way should be there to.
 

...
Flying with twins is a lot of fun..
IP Logged
 
Reply #3 - Oct 6th, 2010 at 8:44pm

BrandonF   Offline
Colonel
The Future of Flight
Location: Earth...Duh!!!!

Gender: male
Posts: 2296
*****
 
Steve M wrote on Oct 6th, 2010 at 8:03pm:
How about a little window that would tell you when you have scenery conflicts or more scenery activated than you need for this flight. You would plan your flight before scenery loads and only the flight specific scenery (and aircraft) would load. Might be a quicker load time and could result in better frame rates.  Smiley


Of course the option to not do it this way should be there to.


I like this idea. Would probably help with FPS and allow for much more detail. This feature could also just be embedded and take effect automatically. While the flight loads, it locates where you are and only loads autogen within, say, a 60 mile radius.

Cool
 
IP Logged
 
Reply #4 - Oct 6th, 2010 at 9:43pm

DaveSims   Offline
Colonel
Clear Lake, Iowa

Gender: male
Posts: 2453
*****
 
BrandonF wrote on Oct 6th, 2010 at 4:32pm:
Many were disappointed with how FSX's user interface turned out. Especially with the aircraft selection dialog, which took FOREVER to load. I'm just curious as to what YOU would like to see improved/changed in the main menu. (where you select your flight, change settings, view the learning center, etc)

Cool


I have to agree 100%.  This is one of the reasons I have stuck with FS9, the aircraft selection window just doesn't work well.  The programmers did not figure on those of us with hundreds of variations for aircraft/textures.
 
IP Logged
 
Reply #5 - Oct 8th, 2010 at 4:35pm

Capt.Propwash   Offline
Colonel
Let's get a little mud
on the tires!
KCHS, Charleston, SC, USA

Gender: male
Posts: 1958
*****
 
while i do sort of like the "at-a-glance" aircraft selection of FSX, (and it does offer the dropdown menu as well)... Like Davy said, they must have forgotten that some designers offer 20 different paint jobs for 1 aircraft and if you have 20 aircraft with that many paints... well, it takes up a hell of a lot of space and time just to scroll through the list.


I think they should have at least 50 different types of craft to choose from as DEFAULT.. everything from the Wright Flyer to the Space Shuttle.  Some of these could only have 1 paint, others maybe 2-3.    Throw in some Fighter Jets, F14 / 15 / 16 / 18, and 5 Highly detailed carriers for Carrier Ops would be nice too.
 

The thoughts and expressions contained in the post above are solely my own, and not necessarily those of Simviation.com, its Moderators, its Staff, its Members, or other guests. They can not, are not, and will not be held liable for any thoughts, or expressions, or posts that I have made, or will make in the future.

Computer Specs:: Acer Aspire Laptop..Win7 Home Premium 64-bit (sp1), AMD Athlon II X2 P340 (Dual Core) [2.2 Ghz], ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 (256mb), 4GB DDR3......FS9.1(sp3) / FSX (sp2)..... Ultimate Terrain X, Ground Environment X, REX, FTX ORBX PNW-PFJ-NRM-CRM, OZx, Tongass Fjords, Misty Moorings
IP Logged
 
Reply #6 - Oct 9th, 2010 at 12:49pm

Fr. Bill   Offline
Colonel
I used to have a life;
now I have GMax!
Hammond, IN

Gender: male
Posts: 962
*****
 
Actually, the aircraft selection menu in FSX is quite well done...

...provided that every author remembers to use the two new ui_ entries that is!


Quote:
ui_typerole="Twin Engine Jet"
ui_createdby="Eaglesoft Development Group"


With the above, I can set the "filters" for either "typerole," "createdby," or both...  Grin
 

Bill
... Gauge Programming - 3d Modeling Eaglesoft Development Group Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600-4GB DDR2 Crucial PC6400-800 GB SATA-ATI Radeon HD2400 Pro 256MB DX10 NOTE: Unless explicitly stated in the post, everything written by my hand is MY opinion. I do NOT speak for any company, real or imagined...
...
IP Logged
 
Reply #7 - Oct 9th, 2010 at 5:57pm

DaveSims   Offline
Colonel
Clear Lake, Iowa

Gender: male
Posts: 2453
*****
 
Fr. Bill wrote on Oct 9th, 2010 at 12:49pm:
Actually, the aircraft selection menu in FSX is quite well done...

...provided that every author remembers to use the two new ui_ entries that is!


Quote:
ui_typerole="Twin Engine Jet"
ui_createdby="Eaglesoft Development Group"


With the above, I can set the "filters" for either "typerole," "createdby," or both...  Grin


However I prefer the FS9 and earlier method, with just a listing and only showing the selected aircraft.  The whole thumbnail thing I don't like, some aircraft don't have thumbnails, most you can't see enough in the thumbnail to matter.  Microsoft allows you to choose how you view files in Windows, you would think they could do something similar with this.
 
IP Logged
 
Reply #8 - Oct 9th, 2010 at 7:23pm

Travis   Offline
Colonel
Cannot find REALITY.SYS.
Universe halted.
Dripping Springs, TX

Gender: male
Posts: 4515
*****
 
What would be really interesting is if you could have an actual hangar-style selection menu.  Where your viewpoint moves around a large "hangar" that houses all the aircraft in your inventory.  Variations of each aircraft (alternate paint schemes, loadouts, etc) could be done at the same position, but if you press the left/right arrows or use the mouse to pull out a hidden selection menu, your viewpoint switches to another aircraft that is housed inside the endless "tunnel" that is your hangar.  Much like the aircraft selection system in some fighter-jock "sim" games for XBox or PS.  Doesn't really add much to the realism or actual functionality, but would be kinda fun and gimmicky. Wink
 

...
IP Logged
 
Reply #9 - Dec 21st, 2010 at 6:53pm

Spindrift   Offline
Colonel
Simple things done well.
58N

Gender: male
Posts: 267
*****
 
Travis, I don't think I could take exception to a single idea you've had for FLIGHT in these threads! I had thought a hanger style menu would be awesome too, I even thought of the "never ending tunnel" bit. IMO i would love a hanger menu similar to 'Colin McCrae: Dirt 2's '3D trailer' and corral. Where you can even walk around your car between events, and people are milling about with background atmosphere. Also I hope the lighting system ends up much like Dirt's , judging by the webisodes, it's already heading that direction!  Cool  WOOT!
 

...
IP Logged
 
Reply #10 - Dec 22nd, 2010 at 10:33pm

usapatriot   Offline
Colonel
Please Upload Image To
SimV!
Miami, FL

Gender: male
Posts: 270
*****
 
Travis wrote on Oct 9th, 2010 at 7:23pm:
What would be really interesting is if you could have an actual hangar-style selection menu.  Where your viewpoint moves around a large "hangar" that houses all the aircraft in your inventory.  Variations of each aircraft (alternate paint schemes, loadouts, etc) could be done at the same position, but if you press the left/right arrows or use the mouse to pull out a hidden selection menu, your viewpoint switches to another aircraft that is housed inside the endless "tunnel" that is your hangar.  Much like the aircraft selection system in some fighter-jock "sim" games for XBox or PS.  Doesn't really add much to the realism or actual functionality, but would be kinda fun and gimmicky. Wink


OMG...and give us the ability to walk around and examine the aircraft.  Cheesy
 

Antec 902 - i7 920 @ 4.0GHz - G.Skill 6GB DDR3 - Radeon 5870 1GB - Win 7 x64
IP Logged
 
Reply #11 - Dec 27th, 2010 at 6:55pm

Spindrift   Offline
Colonel
Simple things done well.
58N

Gender: male
Posts: 267
*****
 
YES! How about a real walk-around inspection! no pilot worth his peanuts would take off without first completing a walk-around. sometimes i would even simulate this in external view for my ultra realistic flights. would love to be able to manipulate rudder alerions and elevator with mouse and inspect hinges, linkages, fuel etc... oooooooh the possibillities!

Smiley
 

...
IP Logged
 
Reply #12 - Dec 27th, 2010 at 9:13pm

patchz   Offline
Colonel
What, me worry?
IN THE FUNNY PAPERS

Gender: male
Posts: 10589
*****
 
Yes, I too like the hangar idea. But, for a lot of us that hangar would have to be the size of an airport, or maybe two or three or more hangars. Now that I think of it, maybe that is the way to do it. As a hangar gets full,

another is added. And they could be organized by type, GA, Military, etc.

Which brings to mind another question, moot as it may be. I can't help but wonder if MS has someone trolling FS Forums to see what we are expecting or wishing for.
 

...
If God intended aircraft engines to have horizontally opposed engines, Pratt and Whitney would have made them that way.
IP Logged
 
Reply #13 - Dec 28th, 2010 at 2:14pm

BrandonF   Offline
Colonel
The Future of Flight
Location: Earth...Duh!!!!

Gender: male
Posts: 2296
*****
 
patchz wrote on Dec 27th, 2010 at 9:13pm:
Which brings to mind another question, moot as it may be. I can't help but wonder if MS has someone trolling FS Forums to see what we are expecting or wishing for.


We think that MS has someone over at Avsim's forums, as all the topics that were on the December 8th news update were brought up numerous times there and worded the exact same way. I  also emailed the link to this forum to MS a while back, so hopefully they are actually coming here as well.
 
IP Logged
 
Reply #14 - Dec 28th, 2010 at 10:25pm

patchz   Offline
Colonel
What, me worry?
IN THE FUNNY PAPERS

Gender: male
Posts: 10589
*****
 
BrandonF wrote on Dec 28th, 2010 at 2:14pm:
patchz wrote on Dec 27th, 2010 at 9:13pm:
Which brings to mind another question, moot as it may be. I can't help but wonder if MS has someone trolling FS Forums to see what we are expecting or wishing for.


We think that MS has someone over at Avsim's forums, as all the topics that were on the December 8th news update were brought up numerous times there and worded the exact same way. I  also emailed the link to this forum to MS a while back, so hopefully they are actually coming here as well.

Good to know, thanks. Smiley
 

...
If God intended aircraft engines to have horizontally opposed engines, Pratt and Whitney would have made them that way.
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send Topic Print