Game Chat Improvement *Rejected*

by **Banana Stomper** on Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:36 pm

i'm not exactly sure how all of this works, but would it be possible to make the game chat a little more chat-like. A problem i have with it is that in order to see what someone has written, you must reload the entire screen. That makes it difficult to talk while moving. I'm not sure if that would be a great leap, or a little change, but it would rock!

by **Hoff** on Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:39 pm

Yeah I agree that it would be alot easier for everyone to use. But i'm not sure how difficult it would be to do either.

by **Aladriel** on Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:41 pm

Banana Stomper wrote:i'm not exactly sure how all of this works, but would it be possible to make the game chat a little more chat-like. A problem i have with it is that in order to see what someone has written, you must reload the entire screen. That makes it difficult to talk while moving. I'm not sure if that would be a great leap, or a little change, but it would rock!

But, every time you move, the page is reloaded.

I do understand what you mean though. If it's not my turn anymore but we're having good conversation, it would be nice to be able to just chat.

by **HighBorn** on Sun Apr 30, 2006 5:41 pm

id love a real chat theme...

by **onbekende** on Mon May 01, 2006 1:34 am

Its good if your partner isn't reading to your comments, messages and seeing the message box!!

by **kingwaffles** on Mon May 01, 2006 7:09 am

It would be really nice if there was a giant red flashing arrow pointing down at the chat window so people would actually read it.....

by **lackattack** on Mon May 01, 2006 7:21 am

Do you guys think the chat should be above the log?

by **Jota** on Mon May 01, 2006 7:33 am

Maybe. Or maybe just a line of red text could appear there whenever the log has been updated since the last time you refreshed the game. That'd mean tracking the last time you refreshed the game, but it's only one extra datum per player, and it wouldn't need to be saved once the game was over.

by **wicked** on Mon May 01, 2006 7:43 am

lackattack wrote:Do you guys think the chat should be above the log?

NO

by **kingwaffles** on Mon May 01, 2006 8:18 am

I like the positioning but I feel like there shold be some way of notifiying the players when there is new stuff in the chat. A lot of people I've played with don't even bother to check the chat, whcih is bloody obnoxious when you're trying to discuss strategy.

by **lackattack** on Mon May 01, 2006 10:16 am

Sometimes I take a turn first and read the chat later, only to find out that a teammate asked me to do something or an opponent proposed an alliance, and it's too late.

To detect whether something new appears in the chat or game log would be nice, but to be realistic that would have to wait untill I start working on the AJAX interface upgrade.

I thought flipping the log and chat would be a quick solution, but I won't do it if people prefer the log on top.

by **kingwaffles** on Mon May 01, 2006 10:38 am

Well actually flipping the log nd the chat would make it much more obvious when something new came up. And people are going to look at the log anyways so it wouldn't matter where it was.

by **Jota** on Mon May 01, 2006 11:07 am

If they were flipped, then the chat log should only be displayed when there's actually something in it. Since it'd be pointlessly inconvenient to have to scroll past an empty chat log to reach the game log.

by **rocksolid** on Mon May 01, 2006 11:28 am

Or maybe flip the windows but make the chat window only 1/3 the height - you already know what was said a while ago, the only info you need is the latest comment.

by **Hoff** on Mon May 01, 2006 11:35 am

Yea i think flipping it might be a solution. But Some sizing issues would have to be worked out.

by **onbekende** on Mon May 01, 2006 12:44 pm

Just a way that sais that there is a new entree is good, don't need to switch the windows.

by **kingwaffles** on Mon May 01, 2006 1:42 pm

I agree with that, but I believe Lack said that would be rather complicated until he upgrades.

by **onbekende** on Mon May 01, 2006 1:45 pm

As long as it is coming, I just lost my ally because of this.

by **freakshow** on Mon May 01, 2006 5:34 pm

Call me odd but i'd like it if it was taller, narrower, and ran vertically on the right side of the screen, effectively a chat sidebar. The other thing is that both the menu side bar and the chat sidebar should be in sepreate frames to allow you to scroll large maps left and right without losing those.

by **Hoff** on Mon May 01, 2006 5:41 pm

I dont think the sidebar things would work. Maps take up enough space as it is.

by **HighBorn** on Tue May 02, 2006 1:39 am

yeah best way is to make it a seperat window complety

by **freakshow** on Tue May 02, 2006 4:54 pm

If you know anything about web design you've heard the term frames. By useing frameset document it allows to to divide up a web page and layout and display multiple html files. By at least putting the left side bar in a frame, and possible a right chat bar, than the map and all the game options in the center could scroll left right, up and down without the menu bar and chat moving. imho if the CC logo menu bar and chat were in seperate frames and the game it self was in it's own place than it would be really nice, especally if some huge maps come out. Lack is there anychance you could set up the game chats as an IRC server, that way people could logon and switch to the channel there game is in without even needing to use the internet browser.

by **Banana Stomper** on Tue May 02, 2006 5:45 pm

I don't know how i would feel about having to scroll left and right to see the map. I like to be able to see it all in one shot. I'd get disoriented with the scrolling, especially if i'm not familiar with the map.

by **HighBorn** on Tue May 02, 2006 6:33 pm

freakshow wrote:If you know anything about web design you've heard the term frames. By useing frameset document it allows to to divide up a web page and layout and display multiple html files. By at least putting the left side bar in a frame, and possible a right chat bar, than the map and all the game options in the center could scroll left right, up and down without the menu bar and chat moving. imho if the CC logo menu bar and chat were in seperate frames and the game it self was in it's own place than it would be really nice, especally if some huge maps come out. Lack is there anychance you could set up the game chats as an IRC server, that way people could logon and switch to the channel there game is in without even needing to use the internet browser.

Brillant!!!!

by **General Brewsie** on Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:08 am

Both ideas, repositioning the chat board and putting a red flashing message to see the chat board when a new message (for the author's team) is enterred. Why not try one, then the other? I like the red flashing message better, but I agree wholeheartedly that something needs to be done so that "distracted" team members know to see the chat board. Maybe even a button to click on to activate the flashing message.