Game Page Layout - new proposal! [First Post]

[porkenbeans]

I have a suggestion that goes to the background and fore ground colors.
My idea is to make the background black, and the text could be white or gold or something.
My reasons for this, is this-

It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white.

We are used to reading black on white because books have always been printed this way. They are printed this way because, it would cost more, in ink, to do it the other way around.

The pixel world does not use ink, and many that are in the "know" nowadays, are using the white over black instead of the prehistoric black over white.

I can go into the technical reasons, like how the pupil widens and allows more info to the brain. Or how the muscles of the the pupil, have to exert themselves to narrow the pupil, resulting in "eye strain". But suffice it to say, The map will be much easier to read, and will stand out better if the background of the screen was black.

[vodean]

just make BOB standard... it'll make things easier

[Ffraid]

... It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white....

State your source, because I have never found this to be the case. Whenever I have to read text on web pages that use such a format, I always end up going up to the Edit menu and choosing Select All so that, basically, the text and background colors are reversed.

[porkenbeans]

... It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white....

State your source, because I have never found this to be the case. Whenever I have to read text on web pages that use such a format, I always end up going up to the Edit menu and choosing Select All so that, basically, the text and background colors are reversed.

And you have proven what ?

It is similar to when you go into a low light surrounding. Your eyes take a few moments to adjust. What they are in actuality doing is, relaxing the muscles that operate your pupil. when they are relaxed your pupils are fully open. Its these muscles for lack of a better word, that become fatigued when you are reading.

[Bruceswar]

Here is a mock up I think most people would be OK with... If we cannot get a disable button at least we can move things around...

Click image to enlarge.

Please not the names are just for show... That is why the game log is different from the names on the side...

[The Neon Peon]

Or... We could have the layout be similar to iGoogle in that we can move things around however we wish. That way, everyone would be happy with the placement of the map / log / chat / stats.

Bruce's way also works.

[Woodruff]

... It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white....

State your source, because I have never found this to be the case. Whenever I have to read text on web pages that use such a format, I always end up going up to the Edit menu and choosing Select All so that, basically, the text and background colors are reversed.

And you have proven what ?

It is similar to when you go into a low light surrounding. Your eyes take a few moments to adjust. What they are in actuality doing is, relaxing the muscles that operate your pupil. when they are relaxed your pupils are fully open. Its these muscles for lack of a better word, that become fatigued when you are reading.

Does this mean that you don't have a source, or just that you're intentionally avoiding the opportunity to provide it?

[RjBeals]

Here's an interface I did a few years ago - but nothing ever happened with it. I was trying show a better layout to allow for larger maps.

Click image to enlarge.

[edit]
ha.. and while i was poking around, i found this for a banner competition.

[porkenbeans]

... It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white....

State your source, because I have never found this to be the case. Whenever I have to read text on web pages that use such a format, I always end up going up to the Edit menu and choosing Select All so that, basically, the text and background colors are reversed.

And you have proven what ?

It is similar to when you go into a low light surrounding. Your eyes take a few moments to adjust. What they are in actuality doing is, relaxing the muscles that operate your pupil. when they are relaxed your pupils are fully open. Its these muscles for lack of a better word, that become fatigued when you are reading.

Does this mean that you don't have a source, or just that you're intentionally avoiding the opportunity to provide it?

I do not remember where it was that I learned this. Sorry old chap, just a bit of info that got packed into my brain, somewhere along the line.

[Ffraid]

... It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white....

State your source, because I have never found this to be the case. Whenever I have to read text on web pages that use such a format, I always end up going up to the Edit menu and choosing Select All so that, basically, the text and background colors are reversed.

And you have proven what ?

It is similar to when you go into a low light surrounding. Your eyes take a few moments to adjust. What they are in actuality doing is, relaxing the muscles that operate your pupil. when they are relaxed your pupils are fully open. Its these muscles for lack of a better word, that become fatigued when you are reading.

Does this mean that you don't have a source, or just that you're intentionally avoiding the opportunity to provide it?

I do not remember where it was that I learned this. Sorry old chap, just a bit of info that got packed into my brain, somewhere along the line.

Um... I wasn't trying to prove anything. You said, "It has been proven...." I was just asking you to tell me where. I certainly understand that you don't remember where you learned that. I don't remember where I learned most of the crap that's packed into my brain, either. I just don't think you should use statements like "It has been proven" unless you can back it up.

I understand your explanation about the muscles, etc. however, an explanation is not proof. The explanation seems reasonable but, and I don't want to be a wanker here (possibly too late for that), I believe the reason that your eyes take a few moments to adjust to entering a low light surrounding is that a protein called opsin is reattaching itself to a pigment called retinal in the rods of your retina to reform a chemical called rhodopsin, which is essential to night vision. Sources: Chemistry of Vision, also Biological night vision. Of course, Wikipedia doesn't count as a real source, since anyone can write whatever they want, but it does give a nice, simple explanation of the process.

[porkenbeans]

... It has been proven that white text over a black background is easier on the eyes, and can actually be read faster and with less eye fatigue than black text on white....

State your source, because I have never found this to be the case. Whenever I have to read text on web pages that use such a format, I always end up going up to the Edit menu and choosing Select All so that, basically, the text and background colors are reversed.

And you have proven what ?

It is similar to when you go into a low light surrounding. Your eyes take a few moments to adjust. What they are in actuality doing is, relaxing the muscles that operate your pupil. when they are relaxed your pupils are fully open. Its these muscles for lack of a better word, that become fatigued when you are reading.

Does this mean that you don't have a source, or just that you're intentionally avoiding the opportunity to provide it?

I do not remember where it was that I learned this. Sorry old chap, just a bit of info that got packed into my brain, somewhere along the line.

Um... I wasn't trying to prove anything. You said, "It has been proven...." I was just asking you to tell me where. I certainly understand that you don't remember where you learned that. I don't remember where I learned most of the crap that's packed into my brain, either. I just don't think you should use statements like "It has been proven" unless you can back it up.

I understand your explanation about the muscles, etc. however, an explanation is not proof. The explanation seems reasonable but, and I don't want to be a wanker here (possibly too late for that), I believe the reason that your eyes take a few moments to adjust to entering a low light surrounding is that a protein called opsin is reattaching itself to a pigment called retinal in the rods of your retina to reform a chemical called rhodopsin, which is essential to night vision. Sources: Chemistry of Vision, also Biological night vision. Of course, Wikipedia doesn't count as a real source, since anyone can write whatever they want, but it does give a nice, simple explanation of the process.



[/quote]I did not mean to infer that the pupil opening and closing, is the only thing going on. I was only trying to explain why, and how eye fatigue occurs. The pupil is dilated at its resting state. in order for the pupil to narrow it needs to exert a certain amount of force. If you are staring at a mostly white screen for a prolong amount of time, you may experience "eye strain", or "fatigue". This is because the pupil is working hard to narrow itself, so as to let less light into your eye. This is not really "rocket science". And, simple logic will tell you that the more dilated that your pupils are working the less strain you will encounter.

[denominator]

Here's an interface I did a few years ago - but nothing ever happened with it. I was trying show a better layout to allow for larger maps.

Click image to enlarge.

[edit]
ha.. and while i was poking around, i found this for a banner competition.

This would definitely take some getting used to, but I really like this. It sets up all the info in places that it's easy to see without having to scroll everywhere, and allows for bigger maps. Is the game log gone for a specific reason?

To accommodate the stats bar, you could simply move your game info from where it is to where it currently sits (horizontally under the map) and replace that box with the stats bar.

For those of us with BOB, it would simply push everything down like it currently does.

[sherkaner]

Here's an interface I did a few years ago - but nothing ever happened with it. I was trying show a better layout to allow for larger maps.

Click image to enlarge.

[edit]
ha.. and while i was poking around, i found this for a banner competition.

This would definitely take some getting used to, but I really like this. It sets up all the info in places that it's easy to see without having to scroll everywhere, and allows for bigger maps. Is the game log gone for a specific reason?

To accommodate the stats bar, you could simply move your game info from where it is to where it currently sits (horizontally under the map) and replace that box with the stats bar.

For those of us with BOB, it would simply push everything down like it currently does.

Not entirely true. The player names/teams are used for highlighting every country someone has in BOB. Moving the names lower wouldn't be appreciated by everyone (including me). I agree that time, additional links and game number work fine above the map (though time should be in the upper right corner). But the players (and cards, I can't find that info now) are an important part of the game, you'd definately want to see them in 1 screen with the map.

[RjBeals]

yeah - this was a rough draft i did a while ago when there was talk of an interface redesign. If Lack would have even shown the slightest interest, I could have pursued it.

[AndyDufresne]

yeah - this was a rough draft i did a while ago when there was talk of an interface redesign. If Lack would have even shown the slightest interest, I could have pursued it.

Lack's idea for a redesign I think is going a different angle than that one (and a couple of other proposed ones I've seen over time). But we do have a lot of unnecessary space, so that is something he is going to try to minimize...


--Andy