Topic

New growl messages - idea

Q: The new growl messages (explanation/notification text at the bottom of the screen) are bugging me!
A: We are still working on the final design for this, but they will bug you a lot less soon anyway, since a large number of them will just stop showing up and go straight to your activity log (e.g., almost all animal interactions, since those already give you feedback via talk bubbles).
- from www.glitch.com/forum/genera...

As they are still being worked on I have a suggestion.  As they are now they seem to pop up in the center when they appear, and scroll out to the side when they go away.  I would recommend reversing this.

In the game a player's eyes are going to be roaming throughout the screen as well as focusing most on the center areas where their glitch character is.  That means that the area at the bottom of the screen where the growl notices appear will most likely be in our peripheral vision until something draws our attention to it.  The scrolling draws attention to the text more than the popping up of the text does, which means that when you're scanning the screen it's more likely to notice the text when it's going away, rather than when it appears.

It's possible that this isn't an issue for most people? I do know that fast readers (I am one) do more scanning over large areas at one time / peripheral vision viewing so it might matter more to those types of people. But I don't see it being more of an issue for anyone if it got reversed as opposed to how it is now.

(Actually I'd probably prefer no scrolling at all, but that's more of a personal preference whereas my idea here focuses more on notice-ability of the messages.)

Posted 7 months ago by diaveborn ♥ Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • The speeding growler makes me ill. The bubble-fill motion in the action word/bar thing also made me feel ill. I'm not sure it's really in human nature (cognitively, biologically, whatever) to like it when text zooms around and has internal motion and stuff. It usually only does that when you're sick, nauseated, drunk, or otherwise unwell, so little wonder that seeing text do that of its own accord is a negative stimulus.

    I have a hard time believing either of those ideas were UI tested because it's pretty uncomfy. I mean, they're not *strobing* so nobody's going to get epilepsy, but as far as producing a progressive low-grade discomfort...

    Never mind. I like it. It will keep me from playing for too long in any given sitting. :-) Silver lining. 
    Posted 7 months ago by Aviatrix Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It doesn't bother me - I'm already ignoring it as the Giants intended.  I am also a speed reader; I do not get sick while reading in moving vehicles like cars or boats. The bubble-filling also does not cause me any problems.  Keep in mind that many of the current messages there will only show up in local chat soon.  In the meantime, I'm sorry it's making you queasy.
    Posted 7 months ago by Scarlett Bearsdale Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I am learning to ignore it too, and it never bothered me as far as motion sickness type things (although I think Aviatrix has good points) but I do think as far as what catches the eye best it probably isn't ideal.
    Posted 7 months ago by diaveborn ♥ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It seems gratuitous to me (doesn't ADD any info) and it does make some people (like me) a little woozy.

    What is the argument for the zoom?
    Posted 7 months ago by Pascale Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The text scrolling by, I'm not making an argument for per se - I'd honestly rather see it go, as would others. But if it HAS to be there, then I'd like to see it scroll in and fade out rather than the reversed way it is now.

    (If you're asking about the dev's argument for it I of course have no idea and wouldn't even be able to speculate as I don't think it adds anything either.)
    Posted 7 months ago by diaveborn ♥ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have to stop playing Glitch after half an hour now...I am feeling very dizzy. And before I could play all day. So I am waiting for them to go *poof* :D
    Posted 7 months ago by Atlantis Subscriber! | Permalink