Gui List

[dteviot] · February 24, 2006

I thought making a list of Dialogs/Windows/Screens would be useful, so that we can see what they are, their similarities and differences, and how they relate. I’ve used the term GUI to refer to these, until such time as we can figure out exactly what the difference between Dialogs/Windows and Screens is.

So, here we go

Start GUI

This is the GUI shown when the game starts up.

It covers the whole display.

Currently, it doesn’t use any 3D images.

No “game time” is running while this GUI is showing.

Load Game GUI

GUI shown when loading game from a save file.

Probably doesn’t need a 3D image,

Probably doesn’t need to cover the whole display.

Game time isn’t running while the GUI is shown.

GUI can be invoked from where?

Start GUI

Planetscape GUI

Basescape GUI

Battlescape GUI.

Other?

Save Game GUI

Similar to Load Game GUI.

Options GUI

Used by player to set their game options.

Currently, has a number of “sub GUIs” (windows)

Doesn’t cover whole display

Probably won’t need 3D image.

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

GUI can be invoked from where?

Transactions GUI

Allows the buying and selling of items.

Could be either full or partial screen. (I’d recommend full screen.)

May or may not need a 3D image. (probably will want one)

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

Equip Soldier GUI

Used to transfer items between soldiers, bases and a battlescape.

Currently no sample.

Could be either full or partial screen. (I’d recommend full screen.)

May or may not need a 3D image.

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

Equip Craft GUI

Used to equip craft with weapons and soldiers. Might also equip craft with items to arm soldiers when on a mission.

Currently no sample.

Could be either full or partial screen. (I’d recommend full screen.)

May or may not need a 3D image. (Probably want a 3D image.)

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

Statistics GUI

Shows player assorted statistics. (Income by region, Alien activity by region.) Do we have a list of the graphs to show?

Currently is a partial screen. Would it be worth making full screen?

Uses a 3D image.

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

Projects GUI

Starts/Modifies projects (Research & Manufacturing). Assign personnel to projects.

Could be either full or partial screen. (I’d recommend full screen.)

May or may not need a 3D image. (Probably doesn’t need 3D image.)

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

Personnel GUI

Hiring and Firing of personnel.

Could be either full or partial screen. (I’d recommend full screen.)

May or may not need a 3D image.

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

End of Month summary GUI

A one page summary giving progress for the month.

Probably a partial screen.

Probably doesn’t need 3D.

Game time isn’t running when GUI shown.

XNet GUI

Display of Xnet. (Ufopedia)

Covers the whole display.

Has a 3D image.

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

Console GUI

Not sure how to classify this. It’s not really part of the Gaming experience.

Planetscape GUI

The image of earth, which allows placing bases, launching missions etc.

Covers the whole display.

Has a 3D image.

“Game time” can be running while this GUI is showing.

Basescape GUI

Laying out facilities in bases.

Covers the whole display.

Has a 3D image.

“Game time” can be running while this GUI is showing. (My opinion, this is not necessary.)

Battlescape GUI

This is the bit where soldiers fight aliens.

Covers the whole display.

Has a 3D image.

“Game time” is running while this GUI is showing. (Note, may be difference between Battlescape time and Planetscape time.)

Battlescape minimap GUI

Like the battlescape, but shows a bigger area, at a lower resolution.

Covers the whole display.

Has a 3D image.

“Game time” is running while this GUI is showing. (Note, may be difference between Battlescape time and Planetscape time.)

Aeroscape GUI

The GUI where X-CORP craft fight alien craft.

In X-COM is a window.

In X-COM, 3D is not required. (Although it DID have a simple 2D image.)

Not sure if game time runs while GUI showing.

Farscape

Brilliant SF that, sadly, is no longer being made. :-(

Other possible GUIs (I’m not sure of)

Item transfer GUI

For transferring items between bases. (functionality might be part of Transactions GUI.)

Personnel transfer GUI

For transferring peopel between bases. (functionality might be part of Transactions or Item Transfer GUI.)

Now, would people expand on this.

1. What GUIs have I forgotten.

2. Expand on the functionality the GUIs need to provide.

3. Provide a matrix showing where each GUI can be invoked.

[dteviot] · February 25, 2006

One item missed from list.

Way to examine soldier stats, and assign solders to PSI training.

reist · February 25, 2006

One that we don't have yet (only outputs to console)

Base Information GUI

Shows base data (facility amount, maintenance cost, capacities used/total, etc)

Covers the whole display? (I'd recommend at least to cover the base rendering area)

Probably doesn't need a 3D image.

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

SupSuper · February 26, 2006

Aeroscape GUI
The GUI where X-CORP craft fight alien craft.
In X-COM is a window.
In X-COM, 3D is not required. (Although it DID have a simple 2D image.)
Not sure if game time runs while GUI showing.

Game time only runs if the window is minimized.

Intercept GUI

Shows a list of all available craft and allows selecting them and giving them targets.

Probably doesn’t need to cover the whole display.

Probably doesn't need a 3D image.

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

UFO GUI

Displayed when a UFO is detected or when a UFO is clicked on the Planetscape, shows info on the UFO.

Probably doesn’t need to cover the whole display.

Probably doesn't need a 3D image.

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

Craft GUI

Displayed when a craft is clicked on the Planetscape, shows info on the craft and allows change of orders.

Probably doesn’t need to cover the whole display.

Probably doesn't need a 3D image.

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

Mission GUI

Shown when a mission (terror site, alien base, etc.) is clicked on the Planetscape, shows list of targets for that mission (and maybe some info on that mission?).

Probably doesn’t need to cover the whole display.

Probably doesn't need a 3D image.

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

[dteviot] · March 21, 2006

Mission Results GUI

Shown when player finishes a mission.

Will show:

1. Mission success/fail (possibly degree.)

2. Aliens killed/captured.

3. Soldiers killed/lost.

4. Items salvaged.

5. Items lost.

6. Other mission specific data. e.g. civilians killed/saved on terror missions.

Probably doesn’t need to cover the whole display.

Probably doesn't need a 3D image.

Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

[dteviot] · March 26, 2006

Mission GUI
Shown when a mission (terror site, alien base, etc.) is clicked on the Planetscape, shows list of targets for that mission (and maybe some info on that mission?).
Probably doesn’t need to cover the whole display.
Probably doesn't need a 3D image.
Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.

Is this the same as the mission breifing GUI? The one you get just before starting the battlescape? If not, we've one more GUI to add to the list.

`kelargo` · March 27, 2006

Will the menu system have keyboard navigation, as well as mouse driven?

In the original game, I always wished I could navigate via the keyboard.

Some things require mouse input, but I'd love to see keyboard navigation, also.

:-)

Kelargo

SupSuper · March 28, 2006

Mission GUI
Shown when a mission (terror site, alien base, etc.) is clicked on the Planetscape, shows list of targets for that mission (and maybe some info on that mission?).
Probably doesn’t need to cover the whole display.
Probably doesn't need a 3D image.
Game time isn’t running when GUI is shown.
Is this the same as the mission breifing GUI? The one you get just before starting the battlescape? If not, we've one more GUI to add to the list.

Nope, it's not, so that's another one for the list. I was referring to this one:

/--------------\
|SOME MISSION-5|
|              |
| Targeted by: |
| SOME CRAFT-1 |
| SOME CRAFT-2 |
|--------------|
|     OK       |
|--------------|
\--------------/

We also need one when a terror site pops up.

Hmm, that's a whole lot of GUIs we've got so far, maybe we should look into merging some of them. Like a generic Alert GUI for all detected stuff (UFOs, missions, etc.) with a box in the middle with detailed info on what was detected and a button to take you there.

SupSuper · April 9, 2006

Ohhh, just remembered another one.

Psi Training GUI

Shown when the month ends if at least one Psi-Training Facility in built, to view and manage psi training on each base.

Probably doesn't cover the whole display.

Probably doesn’t need 3D.

Game time isn’t running when GUI shown.

`red knight` · April 9, 2006

Added to project planning..

Greetings

Red Knight

Zombie · April 10, 2006

Just a few more GUI's:

Planetscape

Funding GUI
Not sure if this is contained within Graphs. If no:
- Covers whole display.
- Probably no 3D image.
- Game time could be running, but as with any Planetscape GUI's I'd say no. (Unless there is a "pause" option for time).
[*]Base Under Attack GUI
This happens when a UFO directly attacks your base with defensive capabilities.
- Whole display (maybe).
- Probably no 3D image.
- See game time above.

Base

Build New Base GUI
Allows you to place a base on the planet.
- Whole display.
- 3D image.
- Game time could be running.

Battlescape

Time not running during battlescape.

Unit Inventory GUI
Battlescape GUI for units to access inventory.
- Whole display.
- Probably no 3D image.
[*]Abort GUI
Allows the option to accept or deny abort condition.
- Only part of the display.
- No 3D image.
[*]Unit Statistics GUI
Allows you to view the stats of a unit during battle.
- Whole display.
- No 3D image.
[*]Motion Scanner GUI
For display of unit movement via detector during mission.
- Part display.
- Probably no 3D image.
[*]Medi-Kit GUI
For helaing/reviving/morale boost of units.
- Probably part display.
- Probably no 3D image.

Not sure about winning/losing the game cutscene. In the original game you could skip each scene by clicking any key. Technically, this could be consedered a GUI.

I really think this info should be ordered according to where it is found. An outline format would be best. This way, certain GUI's will not be forgotten and sub-GUI's can be defined under the parent. In addition, characteristics common to a group can just be listed under the parent. :wink1:

- Zombie

Edited April 10, 2006 by Zombie

[dteviot] · April 11, 2006

Just a few more GUI's:

[*]Motion Scanner GUI
For display of unit movement via detector during mission.
Part display.

Probably no 3D image.
- Zombie

I'd suggest we don't do this. Instead we er do a homage to UFO:Aftershock, and put a "3D question mark" on the battlescape where the detected unit is.

Zombie · April 11, 2006

Forgot one: Psionic Probe GUI.

Though, it technically uses the same GUI as the Unit Statistics GUI in the Battlescape. Thought I should mention it anyway.

- Zombie

guyver6 · April 11, 2006

I agree with dtevoit, showing detected units on battlescape instead of GUI is more user friendly. Saves player the hassle of figuring out what is what on scanner GUI.

[dteviot] · April 11, 2006

Just a few more GUI's:

[*]Medi-Kit GUI
For helaing/reviving/morale boost of units.
[*] Probably part display.
[*] Probably no 3D image.

- Zombie

I'm going to suggest that this GUI is also unnecessary. Just equip soldier with a medkit as you would a weapon, and use. Should see the effects displayed on the target's health bar.

`red knight` · April 11, 2006

Simple model without part specific critical wounds for a first approach as dteviot proposed.

Greetings

Red Knight

[dteviot] · July 27, 2006

That reminds me, we will need another dialog. Cheat (er. testing) mode settings.

e.g. Make all technologies available.

Make all purchases free.

etc.

SupSuper · July 29, 2006

What's wrong with using the console like any other game?

[dteviot] · November 13, 2006

My thought was I should build up a list of the “screens” (and yes, some of these are actually dialogs) in X-Com. Then we can discuss what sort of changes we will be making for Xenocide.

I’ve barely started on this, so if others would like to help by chipping in for some of the other screens, that would be nice. But what I’ve got so far.

Name: IntroFMV

How you get there:

Start the game

Purpose: Entertain User

What it shows: Prebuilt FMV

Available user actions:

Wait, will go to “SetLanguage” screen.
Hit Escape, will go to “SetLanguage” screen.

Name: SetLanguage

How you get there:

IntroFMV screen ends

Purpose: User can select language to use for interface

What it shows: User’s options

Available user actions:

“English” button. Sets English text and goes to “Start” screen.
“German” button. Sets German text and goes to “Start” screen.
“French” button. Sets French text and goes to “Start” screen.

Notes:

Xenocide will not have this screen. So IntroFMV will go straight to that Start screen.

Name: Start

How you get there:

When IntoFmvScreen exits
Selecting “Abandon” on “Options” screen

Purpose: Let user enter/leave game

What it shows: User’s choices

Available user actions:

“New game” button. Goes to “SetDifficulty” Screen
“Load saved game” button. Goes to SavedGamesScreen?
“Quit” button. Exits game

Name: SetDifficulty

How you get there:

Selecting any “New game” option on the Start screen

Purpose: Let user set game’s difficulty

What it shows: User’s choices

Available user actions:

“Beginner” button. Sets difficulty and goes to “CreateBase” screen
“Experienced” button. Sets difficulty and goes to “CreateBase” screen
“Veteran” button. Sets difficulty and goes to “CreateBase” screen
“Genius” button. Sets difficulty and goes to “CreateBase” screen
“SuperHuman” button. Sets difficulty and goes to “CreateBase” screen

Notes:

We will probably consolidate this into the Start screen, by providing a “difficulty” combo box or radio button on the Start screen. Or it might be a setting on the options dialog(s).

Name: CreateBase

How you get there:

Selecting any option on the “SetDifficulty” screen.
Pressing “Build New Base” button on the Base screen

Purpose: Create a new base at a position on the globe

What it shows: Globe, with existing bases.

Available user actions:

User can rotate and zoom the globe.
User can right click on position on globe, and globe will rotate to put position in middle of screen.
If launched from start screen. User can left click on a position on the globe. This will put a base there and ask user to give the base a name. Then goes to “Geoscape” screen.
If launched from “Build New Base”. User can press “cancel”, and go to “Geoscape”. If user left clicks on geoscape, OK/Cancel dialog appears with country and cost of base. If user clicks “Cancel” goes back to set base location on geoscape. If user clicks “OK”, user has to name base. Then goes to “BuildFacility” screen and requires user to position the “access lift”. Once lift is positioned, goes to “Bases” screen for the new base.

Name: Geoscape

How you get there:

Create Base, if starting game, or user clicked “cancel” button.
“Geoscape” button, from “Bases” screen.
“Load Game” dialog, if game was saved from geoscape.
Exit from “Battlescape”

Purpose: Observing UFO activity

What it shows:

Globe
Position of Human bases
Position of Human craft
Position of Observed UFOs. (Flying or Landed.) Note different icon to indicate state.
Position of Waypoints
Position of Mission sites: Crashed UFOs, Terror sites, Alien Bases
Game Time
Game Speed

Available user actions:

User can rotate and zoom the globe.
User can right click on position on globe, and globe will rotate to put position in middle of screen.
User can left click on human base on the globe. Goes to the “LaunchInterception” screen.
User can left click on a human craft on the globe. Goes to the “CraftMission” screen.
User can left click on a UFO on the globe. Goes to the “UfoInfo” screen
User can left click on a Mission site on the globe. Goes to ??? screen
User can left click on a Waypoint on the globe. Goes to “Waypoint” screen
Note, if there are two items close to where the user clicks, user will get a list box with the items, and user needs to click on one to resolve.
“Intercept” button. Goes to the “LaunchInterception” screen.
“Bases” button. Goes to “Bases” screen
“Graphs” button. Goes to “Graphs” screen
“Ufopedia” button. Goes to “UfopediaIndex” screen
“Options” button. Goes to “Options” screen
“Funding” button. Goes to “Funding” screen

Name: Waypoint

How you get there:

User clicks on a waypoint in Geoscape

Purpose: Tell user which human craft is heading towards the waypoint

What it shows: The human craft heading towards the waypoint

Available user actions:

“Cancel” button. Goes to “Geoscape” screen.

Name: UfoInfo

How you get there:

User clicks on a UFO in Geoscape

Purpose: Tell user what is known about a UFO

What it shows:

Name of UFO
Size of UFO (Does this show the type of UFO, if we have the hyperwave decoder?)
Altitude (only really interested if flying or landed.)
Heading of UFO
Mission? (If hyperwave decoder available.)

Available user actions:

“Cancel” button. Goes to “Geoscape” screen.

Name: LaunchInterception

How you get there:

User clicks on “Intercept” in geoscape screen.
User clicks on a human base in geoscape screen.

Purpose: Allow User to send a human craft on a mission

What it shows:

If entered from “intercept” button, shows all human craft.
If entered from “clicking on human base” only shows craft “owned” by the base.
Name of each human craft
Status of each human craft (Ready, Out, Rearming, Refuelling, other?)
Home base of each craft
How many weapons each craft has
How many soldiers each craft has
How many HWPs each craft has

Available user actions:

“Cancel” button. Goes to “Geoscape” screen.
User may click on a craft that is in state “Ready”. Goes to “SelectDestination” screen.

Name: SelectDestination

How you get there:

In “LaunchInterception” screen, user clicks on a human craft in “ready” state.
In “CraftMission” screen, user clicks on “NewTarget” button.
Other?

Purpose: Allow User to pick a destination for a craft

What it shows:

This dialog is essentially identical to the “CreateBase” screen except that the text says “Select Destination” instead of “Select site for New Base”

Available user actions:

“Cancel” button. Goes to “Geoscape” screen.
Left click on UFO, will be asked to confirm UFO as target. If confirm, craft heads towards target, and screen goes to Geoscape. If choose “cancel”, goes back to “Select Destination”
Left click on Mission site, will be asked to confirm Mission site as target. If confirm, craft heads towards target, and screen goes to Geoscape. If choose “cancel”, goes back to “Select Destination”
Left click on Geoscape, will be asked to confirm waypoint as target. If confirm, craft heads towards target, and screen goes to Geoscape. If choose “cancel”, goes back to “Select Destination”

Name: CraftMission

How you get there:

User clicks on human craft in geoscape screen.

Purpose: Allow User to change human craft’s mission/target

What it shows:

Craft’s name
Status (essentially, what craft’s target is.)
Base that “owns” the craft
Current speed
Maximum speed
Altitude
Fuel remaining. (Currently is percent. Perhaps we should change to hours or km?)
Weapons craft is armed with
Ammo remaining for craft’s weapons.

Available user actions:

“Return to Base” button. Sets target and goes to “Geoscape” screen.
“Change Target” button. Sets target and goes to “Geoscape” screen.
“Patrol” button. Sets target and goes to “Geoscape” screen.
“Cancel” button. Goes to “Geoscape” screen.

`red knight` · November 13, 2006

Put it in the design doc

Greetings

Red Knight

[Mad] · November 13, 2006

Incorporated into design document. Could you please write a short overview/introduction to this one dteviot? Only a few sentences to give the reader a general idea. Thanks.

[dteviot] · November 13, 2006

Incorporated into design document. Could you please write a short overview/introduction to this one dteviot? Only a few sentences to give the reader a general idea. Thanks.

OK,

The main idea is we're trying to do a remake of X-COM.

However, the new wrinkles are:

1. We want to use modern, 3D graphics.

2. We want it to be easily modifyable.

3. We want to fix a number of the annoying faults it has.

While we are all in agreement over these points, the exact details of what we're planning are not clear. In fact, they appear to differ from person to person. So, I'm trying to nail down the details. That is, specify the user interface, at least down to the level of: the screens, what the screens do and how the screens relate. Obviously this will be tied to the features - e.g How the game will play.

So, as a first step, I'm trying to document the screens in X-COM (and to a lesser degree the features of X-COM).

The next step will be to propose what we're going to change in the X-COM feature set, and the different screens.

[Mad] · November 13, 2006

Sorry, got me wrong. What I was trying to say, could you give an overview over the screens? Like an introductory sentence we can put over your comppilation in the screens section of the design document.

Incorporated into design document. Could you please write a short overview/introduction to this one dteviot? Only a few sentences to give the reader a general idea. Thanks.
OK,

The main idea is we're trying to do a remake of X-COM.
However, the new wrinkles are:
1. We want to use modern, 3D graphics.
2. We want it to be easily modifyable.
3. We want to fix a number of the annoying faults it has.

While we are all in agreement over these points, the exact details of what we're planning are not clear. In fact, they appear to differ from person to person. So, I'm trying to nail down the details. That is, specify the user interface, at least down to the level of: the screens, what the screens do and how the screens relate. Obviously this will be tied to the features - e.g How the game will play.

So, as a first step, I'm trying to document the screens in X-COM (and to a lesser degree the features of X-COM).
The next step will be to propose what we're going to change in the X-COM feature set, and the different screens.

[dteviot] · November 14, 2006

Sorry, got me wrong. What I was trying to say, could you give an overview over the screens? Like an introductory sentence we can put over your comppilation in the screens section of the design document.

This is a list of the screens in X-COM, what they do, and how they are related.

Eventually it will become a list of the screens that will be in Xenocide. I.e. it will describe the Xenocide UI.

How's that?

[Mad] · November 14, 2006

Sorry, got me wrong. What I was trying to say, could you give an overview over the screens? Like an introductory sentence we can put over your comppilation in the screens section of the design document.
This is a list of the screens in X-COM, what they do, and how they are related.
Eventually it will become a list of the screens that will be in Xenocide. I.e. it will describe the Xenocide UI.

How's that?

Hm... better.

`red knight` · November 14, 2006

ROFL

Greetings

Red Knight

[dteviot] · November 15, 2006

ROFL

Greetings
Red Knight

I don't see what's funy. Can you let me in on the joke?

`red knight` · November 15, 2006

Sorry for that dteviot,

When you read everything from the start, between your comments and Mad's response; the "Mhh better" with the smily looks very funny. Will delete my post in a couple of hours... There wasnt for anything in particular.

Greetings

Red Knight

November 15, 2006

He's been drinking again

`red knight` · November 15, 2006

Naaaahhhh... I was at work

Greetings

Red Knight

[dteviot] · November 19, 2006

Name: Graphs

How you get there:

“Graphs” button in geoscape screen.

Purpose:

Allows User to view historical data.

Primary use(s)

Determine where UFO activity is. (And so know which areas might need attention.)
Other?

What it shows (depends on graph selected):

The end of month figures, for the previous 12 months (or less than 12 months, if haven’t been playing for 12 months of game time.)

UFO activity by Region.
UFO activity by Country
X-COM activity by Region
X-COM activity by Country
Income/Expenditure/Maintenance/Balance

Available user actions:

“Geoscape” button. Goes to “Geoscape” screen.
Select graph to show.
Depending on graph selected, the historical information to plot.

Notes:

The interface can be regarded as a set of radio buttons. The first radio button specifies the graph to show. The graph then controls the set of “Y” quantities to show on the graph.

Regions are:

North America

Arctic

Antarctica

South America

Europe

North Africa

Southern Africa

Central Asia

South East Asia

Sibera

Australasia

Pacific

North Atlantic

South Atlantic

Indian Ocean

Countries are:

USA

Russia

UK

France

Germany

Italy

Spain

China

Japan

India

Brazil

Australia

Nigeria

South Africa

Egypt

Canada

Name: Ufopedia

How you get there:

“Ufopedia” button in geoscape
“View Reports” button in “ResearchCompleted” screen

Purpose: Inform user about items in game.

What it shows:

Indexes, or info on selected topic

Available user actions:

Select item to view.
”OK” button, return to Geoscape, if launched from Geoscape
”OK” button, goes to next screen in “ResearchCompleted” notification sequence, if launched from “ResearchCompleted” screen.

Notes:

I’m not going go into great detail in Ufopedia, however there’s one or two points to record.

In X-COM, the Ufopedia is made up of a number of screens, A top level “subject index”, a “topics in subject” screen, and the individual topics.
In Xenocide, we’re going to have a single screen, with a “tree like” topic list to allow user to select topic, the text of the topic, and an image.
When launching from notification, Ufopedia goes straight to the research topic, without showing the indexes. (So X-Net should also go to that topic.)
The topic list must only show the topics that are currently known to the user.
The tree view should give a visual clue about which topics have been viewed by the player, and which haven’t. E.g. viewed topics appear in a grey font. Unviewed topics are in a white font.
The text needs to show important gameplay information for topic. E.g. for facilities, it should show cost and build time, for weapons, damage.

The “research completed” screen sequence goes like this.

1. Show “ResearchCompleted” screen. Has options “OK”, and “View Reports”

2. If choose “OK” goto step 4

3. If choose “View Reports” open “UfopediaTopic” screen. When “OK” selected, goto step 4.

4. If a new research topic has become available show “We can now Research” screen. Options “OK”, “AllocateResearch”. If no new research available- what?

5. If choose OK, goto step 7

6. If choose “AllocateResearch” open “AllocateResearch” screen. When “OK” selected, goto step 7

7. If we can now produce a new item, open “We can now Produce” screen. Options “OK”, “AllocateProduction”. If no new production available, return to geoscape.

8. If choose OK, return to geoscape

9. If choose “AllocateProduction” go to “Allocate Production” screen. When done, return to geoscape.

Name: Options

How you get there:

User clicks on “options” in geoscape screen.

Purpose: Allow User to load/save/quit game

What it shows:

User’s options

Available user actions:

“Load Game” button. Goes to “LoadGame” screen.
“Save Game” button. Goes to “SaveGame” screen.
“Abandon Game” button. Asks Yes or No. If select Yes, goes to “Start” screen. If No, goes to Geoscape screen.
“Cancel” button. Goes to “Geoscape” screen.

Name: Funding

How you get there:

User clicks on “Funding” in geoscape screen.

Purpose: I think it’s a quick look at where X-COM gets it’s money from, and which countries have a problem with alien activity.

What it shows:

The amount X-COM is receiving from each country expected this month, or from last month?
The change in amount X-COM is receiving from each country What is the change is being calculated from? Is it expected change for this month, change in last month, total change since game started?)

Available user actions:

“OK” button. Goes to Goes to “Geoscape” screen.

`red knight` · November 20, 2006

Great work, except for a minor thing (Ufopaedia is named Logistics) the rest is ok.

Greetings

Red Knight

[Mad] · November 20, 2006

Great work, except for a minor thing (Ufopaedia is named Logistics) the rest is ok.

Greetings
Red Knight

In X-COM? Definetly not.

Edited November 20, 2006 by Mad

`red knight` · November 23, 2006

But this is Xenocide

Greetings

Red Knight

[Mad] · November 23, 2006

But this is Xenocide

Greetings
Red Knight

Well, for one the screens list is the UFO screenlist. Second, Why the he!! logistics for the ufopaedia? If any, XNet woule be adequate...

November 23, 2006

But this is Xenocide

Greetings
Red Knight
Well, for one the screens list is the UFO screenlist. Second, Why the he!! logistics for the ufopaedia? If any, XNet woule be adequate...

Logistics is, IMHO, not the appropiate term.

As Mad I suggest UFOPAEDIA ---> X-NET

And, since we're at it...

EXISTING BASES ---> LOGISTICS, this makes far more sense and sounds more... 'professional' than existing bases.

Edited November 23, 2006 by Azrael

[dteviot] · November 23, 2006

But this is Xenocide

Greetings
Red Knight
Well, for one the screens list is the UFO screenlist. Second, Why the he!! logistics for the ufopaedia? If any, XNet woule be adequate...
Logistics is, IMHO, not the appropiate term.
As Mad I suggest UFOPAEDIA ---> X-NET
And, since we're at it...
EXISTING BASES ---> LOGISTICS, this makes far more sense and sounds more... 'professional' than existing bases.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logistics

Um. I think "logistics" probably better fits the "buy, sell transfer" buttons on the base. So if I can compress all three of those into single dialog, logistics is good label.

November 24, 2006

But this is Xenocide

Greetings
Red Knight
Well, for one the screens list is the UFO screenlist. Second, Why the he!! logistics for the ufopaedia? If any, XNet woule be adequate...
Logistics is, IMHO, not the appropiate term.
As Mad I suggest UFOPAEDIA ---> X-NET
And, since we're at it...
EXISTING BASES ---> LOGISTICS, this makes far more sense and sounds more... 'professional' than existing bases.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logistics
Um. I think "logistics" probably better fits the "buy, sell transfer" buttons on the base. So if I can compress all three of those into single dialog, logistics is good label.

My idea was that manufacturing, transfers, building and research were in Logistics.

`red knight` · November 24, 2006

I dont know what I was thinking... ufopaedia -> XNet --- graphs -> logistics

Greetings

Red Knight

[dteviot] · November 28, 2006

Name:Bases

How you get there:

User clicks on “bases” button in Geoscape.
Returning from many of the available user actions. (see below)

Purpose: Allows user to manage each base.

What it shows:

The facilities in the current base.
Which facilities are under construction, and how long until they are completed.
Space available for further facilities.
Which craft are in their hangers or out on a mission. (I’m not sure if this is useful.)
Name of currently selected base
Region the currently selected base is in
Total available funds
How many other bases there are.
Free space available in each of the other bases.
Used space in each of the other bases
Space “under construction” in the other bases.

Available user actions:

Show the statistics for a different base. By clicking on the icon for the desired base.
“Build New Base” button. Sets target and goes to “CreateBase” screen. Doesn’t return to this Bases screen. It either goes to Geoscape (if action is cancelled) or goes to “Bases” screen for the new base.
“Base Information” button. Goes to “Base Information” screen. Note that if the user selects a different base while in the “base information” screen, when the user returns the “Bases” screen will be updated to show the selected base.
“Soldiers” button. Goes to “Soldiers” screen. (Will return to bases screen.)
“Equip Craft” button. Goes to “Interception Craft” screen. (Will return to bases screen.)
“Build Facilities” button. Goes to “Installation” screen. (Will return to bases screen.)
“Research” button. Goes to “Research” screen. (Will return to bases screen.)
“Manufacture” button. Goes to “Manufacture” screen. (Will return to bases screen.)
“Transfer” button. Goes to “Transfer” screen. (Will return to bases screen.)
“Purchase/Recruit” button. Goes to “Purchase” screen. (Will return to bases screen.)
“Sell/Sack” button. Goes to “Sell” screen. (Will return to bases screen.)
“Geoscape” button. Goes to “Geoscape” screen.
Dismantle a facility in the base. (Click on the facility, and then click on “yes” in the confirm delete dialog.)

Notes:

I’m assuming the “base icons” buttons change the information that’s being shown on the screen, rather than take the player to a new screen.

Name: Base Information

How you get there:

User clicks on “Base Information” in “Bases” screen.
Return from “Transfers in Progress” screen.
Return from “Stores” screen.
Return from “Monthly Costs” screen.

Purpose:Graphical summary of base’s total and used capacities, allows user to see what extra capacity may be needed or is unused.

What it shows:

Name of the currently selected base.
Icons for all bases, same as ones shown on “Bases” screen. (Probably just a side effect of desire to provide a way to “jump” between the “base information” screens for different bases.)
Total number of soldiers in base
Number of “idle” soldiers (wounded, or not assigned to a craft and not Psi training) in base
Total number of engineers in base
Number of idle engineers in base
Total number of scientists in base
Number of idle scientists in base
Total number of people the base can hold in base
Number of people in the base. Includes people being transferred TO the base, does not include people being transferred FROM the base.
Base’s total storage capacity
Base’s storage capacity that is in use, includes space that will be used by items currently in transit. (Either purchased or transferred.)
Base’s total laboratory capacity
Base’s laboratory capacity that is in use
Base’s total workshop capacity
Base’s workshop capacity that is in use
Number of hangers in base
Number of base’s hangers that are in use.
Base’s defence strength. (It just adds up values for each defence installation. The Grav Shield does not modify this number - it just allows the facilities to fire a second time.
Number of Short Range Detection
Number of Long Range Detection . Includes transmission decoder

Available user actions:

Change the base we show the information for. By clicking on the icon for the desired base.
“OK” button. Goes to “Bases” screen for the selected base
“Transfers” button. Goes to “Transfers in Progress” screen.
“Stores” button. Goes to “Stores” screen.
“Monthly Costs” button. Goes to “Monthly Costs” screen.

Notes:

Capacities do not include facilities under construction.
When the store rooms are overfilled, the stores are only shown as completely full. There’s no indication of how “overfull” they are.
As detection facilities don’t stack, there’s no point in having more than one of each kind. So showing a count of facilities is pointless.
Information that appears to be missing from the display is:

Total “alien containment” space.
Available “alien containment” space.
Gravity Shield (not sure about this, it might be included in “Defence Strength”)
Mind Shield

Name: Transfers in Progress

How you get there:

“Transfers” button in “Base Information” screen.

Purpose:Let player know when his purchases/transfers are going to arrive.

What it shows:

For the selected base

Each type of item in transit.
Number of items of that type.
How long before the items will arrive.
Most items (guns, ammo, etc) are 24 hours from time of purchase
Craft 24 hours from time of purchase
Personnel are 72 hours from time of purchase
Transfer time depends on base distance. However, the time it takes is variable: min is 6 hours while the max is 16
Salvage from missions arrives instantaneously.

Edited November 29, 2006 by dteviot

Zombie · November 28, 2006

Here are some answers for your list, dteviot:

Base’s defence strength. how is this calculated? Assume it just adds up values for each defence installation. Does it have a 2 x multiplier for gravity shield?
Yup, it just adds the defense strength ratings together. The Grav Shield does not modify this number - it just allows the facilities to fire a second time.
Number of Long Range Detection check includes transmission decoder
Yes, the Hyperwave Decoder just adds one to the number of long range detection facilities.
Transfers are 12 hours from time of purchase does it differ depending on distance between bases?
Yes and no. Transfers do depend on base distance. However, the time it takes is variable: min is 6 hours while the max is 16.
Total maintenance cost of all facilities in the base. check doesn’t include facilities under construction.
You got it. Facilities which are being built do not count in base maintenance fees.
Total monthly income. check the amount you get from contributing nations, doesn’t include extra income from manufacture or selling salvage from missions.)
Yes, monthly income does not include selling stuff. It is just the money from contributing nations. The actual amounts differ between countries. Check this post for the specifics.
Craft assigned to. check or psi training.
*Nods* It will mention if a soldier is in psi training.
Psi something Psi something else
Psionic Strength and Psionic Skill respectively.
Psi skills don’t show initially. when do they show?
After one month of psionic training. Specifically, anytime when psi skill > 0.
Status: Out, Ready, rearming, refuelling, what else?
Repairs.
Commit the transfer, by clicking on the “Transfer” button. Items will be removed from current base and start moving to destination base. Will be shown a message box with the cost of the transfer how is cost of transfer calculated? Go to “bases” screen.
The cost depends on the item and the quantity. It also depends on base distance. More research needs to be done for the exact costs involved.

I think I covered it all. Anything else, just ask.

- Zombie

[dteviot] · November 29, 2006

Zombie,

Thanks for the answers to some of the todos. I've updated my post accordingly.

Now, the big question is, what do people think of my suggested changes?

Zombie · November 29, 2006

They are fine with me. Most of the changes are just drag and drop so that's a good change. As for the other ones, I'm comfortable with the changes as the original game had some problems with certain screens.

- Zombie

Edited November 29, 2006 by Zombie

`red knight` · November 30, 2006

They are ok, they should be updated in the design document.

Greetings

Red Knight

[dteviot] · December 11, 2006

Name: Aeroscape

How you get there:

Human craft gets in range of a UFO.
Expanding a minimised aeroscape dialog on the geoscape

Purpose: Control a human craft’s combat with a UFO.

What it shows:

Range between human craft and UFO
Human craft’s weapon(s)
Ammo remaining for each weapon in human craft.
Range of weapon(s).
Damage to Human Craft.

Available user actions:

Minimize dialog.
Choose attack type: Standoff, Standard, Cautious, Aggressive.
View image of UFO, with scale. Not sure what this is for.
“Disengage” (cancel attack)

Notes:

This is the only dialog that can be minimized. I believe this is to allow multiple human craft to attack a UFO simultaneously. If we introduce the concept of “wingmen” to human craft, and the mission type “follow UFO” (so we can trace supply ships to enemy bases) we will not need to minimize this dialog. However, we will want to be able to show multiple craft on the screen.
The dialog exits when the UFO leaves the range of the Human craft

UFO outruns human craft
UFO is shot down
Human craft is shot down
Human craft disengages.
check Human craft runs out of fuel?
UFO completes mission. (Assuming mode is standoff/minimized)

Name: Save/Load Game

How you get there:

“Load”/“Save” buttons on Geoscape’s “options” screen.
“Save Game” button on Battlescape’s “options” screen.
Expanding a minimised aeroscape dialog on the geoscape

Purpose: Allow player to save/restore a game

What it shows:

List of saved games. For each game

Name the player has given the game
The Geoscape’s game time at time of save.

Available user actions:

Save game. Click on slot, give it name,
Restore game
“Cancel”

Notes:

This is pretty much a bog standard Load/Save game screen. However, I would make the following changes.

The list of save files should also include if the save is in the geoscape or battlescape.
If a battlescape mission, should include mission number and turn (or time if real time battlescape.)
There should be no limit on the number of save games. (X-Com has limit of 10)

Name: Psionic Training

How you get there:

At end of month, if you have a Psi Lab

Purpose: Allow player to assign soldiers to Psionic Training

What it shows:

For Each soldier

Name
Psi Strength
Psi Strength
Psi Skill
Improvement in Psi Skill from this month’s training
If undergoing Psi training or not

Available user actions:

The number of spaces free in the base’s psi labs.

Assign a soldier to psi training. (If there is space available in Psi Lab)
Remove soldier from psi training
Exit, continues with end of month messages.

Notes:

This is actually 2 screens, one that lets you pick the base (with a psi lab) to examine, and a second screen that shows you the soldiers in the lab. I’d consolidate it to a single screen, showing the solders, with a list box or similar to allow the player to choose which base they’re looking at.

Thoughts on research.

If research is going to be global, then we could probably simplify the model and the UI.

Assume all research is pooled. Then

X-Corp researches one project at a time.
All available researchers will be assigned to the project.
The UI for research is a list of the possible research topics, in order to be researched.
When current project is finished, next project in list is automatically started.
When a new project becomes available, it is automatically assigned to the end of the list of available projects.
A project will become available, regardless of where the necessary “prerequisites are stored”.
Thus we can eliminate the “New Research Projects” and “Research Projects” screens, and just have the “Current Research” screen. Which Player can use to change the prioritization of the projects. (Order of list.) It might also show the number of scientists and lab space in each base. (So that player can see if there are idle scientists/labs.)

Thoughts on screens

I’m wondering if we could come up with a consistent “look and feel” for the screens. By that, I mean, could we lay them out in a consistent fashion, with a vertical menu on the right of the screen?

E.g. the Save/Load dialog would be a grid control filling the left pane of the screen, with a menu bar on the right with “Save”, “Delete File”, “Cancel” buttons.

Same sort of thing with the “buy/sell” screens.

`Pi Masta` · December 11, 2006

I believe the aeroscape paused the game, thus you didn't have to worry about running out of or low on fuel while attacking. While minized though I'm sure it still checked for the fuel, which we will probably do as well, since we will just have an order of 'follow UFO' which will be in the Geoscape, which will monitor the fuel levels.

Research idea does sound simplified and better. We should make sure it's easy to move projects around, like being able to select one to go immediately to the top or bottom. Though, there is one possible problem I can forsee. If say the pre-requesite item for the current research is only available at a certain base, and that base gets destroyed, what happens? My thoughts are to check the requirements everytime we progress the research (every 'tick' to research). If what we are trying to research doesn't have the item available we put it at the bottom and go on to the next. (If there's nothing that can be researched, it will just keep rotating the list)

Another thing to consider on the research though: sometimes there are random 'bonuses' that allow you to get research done very fast, are we going to do anything like this?

Zombie · December 11, 2006

About the items, while a craft interception screen is minimized, the Geoscape functions normally (checking for fuel etc). I'd like to point out that if you follow a UFO around while it is about to leave in minimized form, the UFO disappears off radar and the game puts up a message such as "UFO-x Tracking Lost". This happens even if your craft is fast enough to follow the UFO at it's max velocity. This was how the game "got rid" of a UFO once the mission was complete.

About research bonuses, in the original game there were not any (technically speaking of course). Projects had an "average" completion period which depended on the number of scientists allocated. Min time was a function of this divided by 2, while the max was a function of this multiplied by 3 and divided by 2. (Min=Ave/2, Max=Ave*3/2). This only pertains to the scenario where the initial progress of the project was listed as "unknown". Obviously, sometimes you get other initial progress ratings (poor-excellent). I believe this is scientist dependant also, as the more you add to the initial project, the greater the chances it will get a higher rating and finish sooner. (This function has not been determined yet). Finally, there are times where you can add a ton of scientists to a project with low research time and get it to finish immediately (the progress still says excellent though). This usually happens only when a project finishes, or at the end of a month. :wink1:

- Zombie

Edited December 11, 2006 by Zombie

[dteviot] · December 11, 2006

About the items, while a craft interception screen is minimized, the Geoscape functions normally (checking for fuel etc). I'd like to point out that if you follow a UFO around while it is about to leave in minimized form, the UFO disappears off radar and the game puts up a message such as "UFO-x Tracking Lost". This happens even if your craft is fast enough to follow the UFO at it's max velocity. This was how the game "got rid" of a UFO once the mission was complete.

To be honest, most of my items I've listed are probably very minor implementation details that we just need to make sure we think about when we implement the screens. And in fact, if we implement the aeroscape the way I think we should, the aeroscape todos are completely irrelevant.

[dteviot] · December 24, 2006

OK, I think that's the last of the screens, except for the Battlescape ones, which will be left till later.

I'm now going to go and update the "Project Xenocide Design document.doc" in CTD assets.

Name: EndOfMissionBriefing

How you get there:

Complete a Battlescape Mission

Purpose: Tells user how well (badly) they did on the battlescape.

What it shows:

Events that earned (cost) the player points, how many times the event occurred, and total points from the events

Aliens killed
Alien corpses recovered
Alien artefacts recovered
X-Corp soldiers killed (-36 points per death)
X-Corp soldiers MIA. (Not in craft at dustoff, or under alien mind control at mission end. (-20 per MIA)
X-Corp craft lost (-200)
UFO Components recovered

Also, it player may receive a message that there are insufficient supplies at the base to rearm the soldiers.

Available user actions:

“OK” button. Goes to geoscape

Notes:

Note, loosing a mind controlled solder at the end of the mission is probably a bug, and should be fixed.
Instead of an “insufficient supplies message”, at the end of every battlescape mission, the player should be presented with a list of “materials expended during mission”, and given the opportunity to resupply. i.e. Player gets a “purchase order” saying 10 high explosives, 5 rifle magazines, 4 smoke grenades, 8 heavy missiles, 2 Missile HWPs etc. The Player can then adjust the quantities and either confirm or cancel the order.

Name: EndOfMonthBreifing

How you get there:

Geoscape clock reaches one second past midnight on the 1st of the month.

Purpose: Tells user how well (badly) they did on the previous month

What it shows:

The Month
Total points earned by player
Change in total monthly funding from countries.
Indication of how well countries are doing (very happy, unhappy, lost)

Available user actions:

“OK” button. Goes to Psionic trainging (if you have any labs), otherwise goes to geoscape.

[dteviot] · December 24, 2006

Updated Document attached. I don't have permission to update the CTD repository. So Mad, you'll have to do it.

Project_Xenocide_Design_Document.zip

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