AChat Forum
Discussions about AChat => Share your creative ideas => Topic started by: jayc on May 13, 2012, 11:57:56 AM
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forgive me if this has been discussed before, but i would like to see the interface improved. with smaller control buttons and maybe a smaller chat box. the way it it now just takes up too much screen real estate. perhaps a task bar with all the contols and meters and a "hide poses" button to give us a nice clean screen to play on. i think the laptop users would like this upgrade
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I agree with more room for the actions - but a smaller chat window? No, I want more room for chatting, I would prefer something similar to msn messenger and all the other programms.
The icons for moving, cam... can be smaller and placed above. We also talked about more cam actions including cam lock, this is also a great idea but doesn't belong to this topic.
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Smaller chat window?? Hell no, that's one area that would benefit from some improvement. Pop-up window you could size and move would be awesome! Yes the controls/action icons take up too much space and could be made smaller. Pull down menu or a "start menu" type interface would be outstanding. I have a 15" laptop and yearn for more viewing space too. Hmm I'm due for a Laptop upgrade soon... *evil grin*
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Indeed the chat is an important element within the interface. I would even argue that it's the most important element of the game. Without it, AChat would just be A. The chat alone could be improved which has been discussed numerous times on this forum. Just to name a few:
- -Bring General Chat back
- -utilize all keys on the average keyboard.
- -Make the chat a seperate window.
- -A way to invite another friend to join an existing conversation without going to a 3some room.
- -use a "Tab" system to organize conversations by user.
- -Add more emotes
- -Enable "/emote" code. (Example: "Keiko: /emote dances and sings." would look like this, "Keiko dances and sings."
- -Enable user-programmable away/busy responses.
- -Enable messages be sent to the user's inbox if user's busy state is set.
- -Enable alerts to notify a user when a friend, lover, or spouse has logged in.
I would like to see AChat's Chat rival other chat systems, however, this will require alot if work. But, back to the main topic, the interface.
I remember when poses were first organized into groups. Before, they used to cover nearly a 3rd of the screen because every pose was always visible to be selected. They were in order only by release date, so finding specific poses was difficult. Once they were organized and grouped into categories, it opened up alot more space. As long as I can remember, the Profile/Search pages have always remained the same except for the addition of the busy state button. I think something should be done about the profile search results side of the window. It takes up alot of potential space. It is an important part of the game but it should change depending on what the user is viewing. If the user is viewing a profile, then perhaps the search results can minimize so an extension of that profile can be viewed where the profile pictures normally are.
But if you're more interested in hiding parts of the interface, I would take all the buttons visible on the window and stash them into a common drop-down menu like all the other programs. :)
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- -Bring General Chat back
- -utilize all keys on the average keyboard.
- -Make the chat a seperate window.
- -A way to invite another friend to join an existing conversation without going to a 3some room.
- -use a "Tab" system to organize conversations by user.
- -Add more emotes
- -Enable "/emote" code. (Example: "Keiko: /emote dances and sings." would look like this, "Keiko dances and sings."
- -Enable user-programmable away/busy responses.
- -Enable messages be sent to the user's inbox if user's busy state is set.
- -Enable alerts to notify a user when a friend, lover, or spouse has logged in.
mmmh, all interessing, keiko but what did you mean a separate window for the chat!? something who can be setted in a separate way!?
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Well in answer to jayc needs.. there may be others who are more into the visual than narrative...
A hide screen option perhaps keyed shortcut would be nice... it would make it nice for print screen options... the issue there is you'll need to minimize the functions with a capacity to create some form of alert a chat message has been sent... or pose change requested. The latter issue probably doesn't need any tweak utilizing the current request notice... minimizing chat to a tab on the bottom screen with a which highlights with a message notice would work.
Setting the camera functions into a tab shouldn't be difficult...camera one,.. two and first person, free mode view easily set into a singular tab... which leaves rotation functions... perhaps tied to the free mode a tab to activate and show..Likewise tab applications could be set to the partners name and excitement meter... a single drop down menu with the ability to mark which components you wish to see displayed...
As to the general "lobby screen",... Keoko I think I would like to see a collapse option there...Reducing the screen to a tab on the bottom, click-able to restore.
My largest gripe of the current setup is the location of the ignore button... I've been unintentionally ignored a couple times the past month and had to use 3rd party to alert someone to that effect in both cases. (At least I hope unintentional) I think the ignore button should be relocated to the left menu, onto the current profile side with the status requests. List management should go as an editing function or as a self profile function...
I support your suggestions relating to the chat functions though... the key ingredient to a this as a successful social site is going to be improving the communication functions.
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im a role player, and chat is everything in RP. what i meant was just less clutter with smaller buttons and drop downs for poses. my spouse and i do alot of 1st person and it would nice to have a liitle more open space on the in room screen. thanks for everyones intrest in the subject ans lots of good ideas
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Hello all kinds peoples of the Dreamworld's forum.
. General chat chan : I don't know Some times ago I used general chanels , and mainly those general chatroom are just full of trolls and flooders. Without any permanent moderator who get the hammer ... I feel it will be messy.
Anyway, as you said Miss Keiko: "Bring it back" I may guess that there was previously a general chat chan.
Why was it deleted ? And how did it work ?
Anyway, all others ideas are very nices and will surely lead for a better communication and Role-Play.
Please accept my best humbly regards.
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A general chat channel made a brief appearance in the fall of 2010... very brief... not much longer than 2 weeks of lifespan before being removed due to complications. What those were has never been disclosed.
A user had the existing channel and an option to switch to follow the general chat threads... the general chat threads contained 5-6 individual channels... which were labeled under a cluster of topics... lets see..... general,... bdsm,... a lesbian (which was badly named... sorry I can't remember the full breakdown of the others... )
Users could choose a one particular channel to follow... with the ability to switch between the options via a drop down menu to select the channel....
Only one channel was particularly utilized... the "general chat"... and honestly I thought it worked fairly well in shout outs for partners... building groups ... personally didn't use it much since at that time I was.... *coughs* ...preoccupied....and didn't have a need to involve myself in it.
99% of the chatter was on the general chat... the other channels were rarely used...
My own impression was they could have made do with one channel... seemed to be about all they needed.... the other channels were under used... neglected.
That is about all I remember of the experiment.
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ooook, a little refresh for us and for dev-team on chat solution.....
someone remember this thing!?
Here it is. To avoid showing third party screenshots i made a little photoshopping to the normal ACHAT chat section:
(http://monkeymoon.altervista.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Achat-with-Tabs.jpg)
Maybe not 100% clear. Sorry.
Everytime one of the friends writes a new line, the relative tab label flashes to show "your buddy wrote something new". If the tab is hidden (over the edge of the window), the >> button flashes so I know I've to scroll to see the tab updated.
This is so easy, fast and clear to use.
well, ok, we all agree about this idea and i think it's good to put it out of the closet and add it to the user interface topic. Now, please dev-team.......tell us if there is a chance to see a better chat and a good upgrade on the interface! at last. all we need are small contreller icons, they are really hiding most of the screen! too much!
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The general chat, as it was done, was awful imo. One and only a mess. Perhaps it's better not to ask for ageneral chat, but for several chat channels - or the chance to start own chat channels in which all friends/lovers/spouses are included automatically and you also can invite other persons.
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The general chat, as it was done, was awful imo. One and only a mess. Perhaps it's better not to ask for ageneral chat, but for several chat channels - or the chance to start own chat channels in which all friends/lovers/spouses are included automatically and you also can invite other persons.
I like that idea, Lover.. talk to friends together and the guilds/families can chat together also. I do like the tabs hentai showed.. but don't need to be that big....
pull down menu for the actions and poses along top would be nice.. hidden when not needed... but can be pulled down when changing. cam controls definitely don't need to be as big as the are and the speed/pleasure sliders could be made smaller also... I'd imagine most people play on laptops. So unless they have a 15" or larger screen it can get very crowded.
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I agree it would be great for more screen space and less clutter , I find some of my camera angles are blocked by items in the room, one such obstruction is "at the wall" pose where the pose is against the window in the cabin, the camera defaults to the orange wall and a real nusiance , I have to pan round or lose the room for a bit to improve the visual. I've tried re - installing but it didnt work.
Anyway, back to topic. The ideas mentioned already would be a great improvement, I like the drop down box ideas. Also being a rp-er, the chat box is an important feature too. The descriptive narrative and visual effects are as important as each other... for me anyway.
Well, got to go ... packing for Scotland this weekend .... will meet you at the airport Sweetheart .. mmm ... dont forget to pack that Stetson, I got mine :D
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(...)
A user had the existing channel and an option to switch to follow the general chat threads... the general chat threads contained 5-6 individual channels... which were labeled under a cluster of topics... lets see..... general,... bdsm,... a lesbian (which was badly named... sorry I can't remember the full breakdown of the others... )
(...)
Just for info :- GENERAL CHAT
- ROMANTIC LOVE
- KINKY DESIRES
- NASTY BITCHES
Oh don't look at me like that ! i'm not a super-memory-freak, and had no Achat account in 2010 ! I just checked in the code ;)
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Ah thanks Rubella... Lover you described it as a "mess"... care to explain your perception of it being so?
What I followed was pretty straightforward... and a constant stream of chatter... the purpose appeared to being served. There again, I was only unroomed for short periods though...
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Perhaps "chaos" is the better word?
You know the small chat window - now imagine, 10 people start to chat at once. And sometimes there have been more then 10...
no chance to follow or lead a real good talk or to have a common theme....
That was in general chat. As you already mentioned, the other channels have been neglected.
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Hentai, I like your explanation diagram. Thank you. That would be a real good improvement to the chat box. I have also accidentally ignored people without meaning too, so moving the ignore button to the left would perhaps erase any errors and misunderstandings.
A pull down menu for the poses is also a good idea, especially as this area is bound to get bigger now the Achat Gods are asking and accomodating for more positions mmmm. Thank you Achat Gods for that and all the free updates :)
The square pose request in the centre of the room is annoying too I find, especially as on occasions I may not be ready to move on ... it either needs shifting to flashing and highlighting the request situated with the other poses or have some kind of postpone button that can be reactivated when ready to enjoy... its bloody off putting when I'm getting lost in the moment lol Maybe an automated message to be sent at the same time saying something like.. PATIENCE SWEETIE, NOT READY YET ... lol
I'm all for removing unnecessary clutter in the main screen area to see the action better .. I enjoy the hot talk and the visuals soooo very much too hehehe. What can I say ... I'm a red blooded girl ::)
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I agree on the pose request Brandy... much rather it show up closer to the chat box where my attention is more likely to be focused. I am not certain how many times one has asked for a change and I didn't see it being too busy typing...
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I agree, the pose request needs to be nearer the chat window... more noticeable there and convenient
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I think the pose-request box should be placed where now the camera controls are. With an opened chat window, the pose request is almost covered and I have missed it for several minutes, on several occasions, *blush* My partner wondering what I was doing and if I was actually there..
I'd like to see the chat window detached from the game-screen itself. It can already be moved around, but within the borders of the screen. If the chat window could be 'lifted out', there would be more room for graphics and enough room left to write and read back a few lines
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Brandy, that diagram isn't mine, but it was realized by FateInfinity who make a nice job!
Tight, are you talking about a chat box who work like a standalone piece and you can move freely on your pc screen!? mmmmmm
it can be a solution, but need a full rework on the achat client, you know...and i dunno if dev-team is really interessed in it!
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HB, either a stand alone chat window or one that can be resized. But guessing that would take as much reprogramming as a higher resolution screen-size..
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Well I am trying to think where the 3some pose request pops up...Under the requestors name?.... think I need to revisit a 3some to sort that out.
Personally I don't see an issue where the chat box is currently located. I would like the option to narrow it a bit when expanded.
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HB, either a stand alone chat window or one that can be resized. But guessing that would take as much reprogramming as a higher resolution screen-size..
i think work on a higher resolution screen-size, need less work then a resized chat window......anyway, we need to know if the dev team have some project for those issues!
@Bear: what did you mean!? 3some pose request pop up isn't the same of pair one!? only the invitation work in a different way! or am i wrong!?
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I have only cone one 3some since my return ,... and my attention was on.... *coughs* well certainly not the layout... ;D
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Wonder what had caught your attention so much.... :o