Brad Wardell's views about technology, politics, religion, world affairs, and all sorts of politically incorrect topics.

The more I work with the beta of Elemental the more I think we need to integrate info cards into it.  Those of you who have played Sins of a Solar Empire know what info cards are. They are one of the major game UI innovations that Ironclad has introduced to the genre.

The idea is that when you mouse over something, a “card” appears on the screen that gives detailed information about it. They’re kind of like super tooltips.

Well, for Elemental, that’s what we’re looking to do too. In this case, I’m thinking we should have them look like cards:

image

So the idea is that you could have your units on screen, mouse over them and see the card. Same for improvements in cities, artifacts, etc. It means a lot less click click click. 

It also gives another opportunity for players to customize something that has a practical use because they could, when designing units, have some control over the info card and thus be able to make distinctive cards for units they want to be able to recognize at a glance.


Comments (Page 1)
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on Oct 05, 2009

Those Sins info cards are one of the reasons I love that game so much. Very helpful to people jumping into the game.

Good move.

on Oct 05, 2009

This sounds neat!

on Oct 05, 2009

Anything to create less Click Click is a huge plus!!! And info cards will be a great universal way to get info across in a hurry. The less is more approach is what makes games addictive and fun and someday, hall of fame material. Keep up good work!!!

on Oct 05, 2009

Force of Nature would own chuck norris

on Oct 05, 2009

TatertotEatalot
Force of Nature would own chuck norris


What are you talking about? Nothing owns Chuck Norris.

on Oct 05, 2009

My only complaint about Sins cards was that the real-time nature of the game made it difficult to constantly mouseover a unit to actually read the infocard. Should work great in a TBS like Elemental.

on Oct 05, 2009

Look I found a Chuck Norris! "Few turns later..." Wait thats it... I won... damn that was fast...

Dang lots of stuff to add in 1b! Looks good!

on Oct 05, 2009

Damn double post sorry!

on Oct 05, 2009

Sounds like a great plan. Make it so

on Oct 05, 2009

You've got my support on this idea! As we're able to create our own units, are you thinking of letting players customise the Text for their cards as well or just have general descriptions?

on Oct 05, 2009

This sounds great. Would be cool if some of the unique mosters, like dragons or quest boss type monsters, have cards that detials some small back story or factoid about them. Would make finding and fighting/running away from them seem more epic.

Would also be intresting to be able to collect the cards of unique mosters slain, on a limited basis of course dont want to create pokemon mini game.

on Oct 05, 2009

 

The idea sounds great by the way. I love Sins' cards, and since Elemental is supposed to have some trading card style to it (ingame) this will fit right in!

on Oct 05, 2009

Sounds like an awesome idea I must say, it will help out with micromanagement in game and help see info easier as it did in Sins.

on Oct 05, 2009

While I dispise Chuck Norris, I looooovvvveeeee the card idea. Any chance of someone, somewhere actually printing up a pack of them for us dedicated fans to trade with our less-dedicated friends?

on Oct 05, 2009

Just please, PLEASE....Don't turn this into Yu-Gi-Oh or some other kiddy nonsense like that.

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