At its core, its an information hub for your CMDR. Modular in design, at a high level would provide access to the many tools a CMDR needs to succeed. It would be similar in size to the Station Services screen & follow same UI design in ED but be accessible anywhere.
Including capabilities such as the GalNet News Network with extended functions, Navigational assistance, Asset overview and management, Extended Stats, Pilot Portal for in-game, game related content, CMDR History/Event Viewer, Notepad app, Dynamic Lore/History database, Integrated Web Browser to access 3rd party sites without leaving the game, and also a basic media player. Some modules may also include Mini-Mode compatibility to allow some information to be displayed in a small window while in flight.
To save this post becoming an essay, and to further illustrate the concept, I created some basic visual mock-ups of some of the module sections for perusal. They are quickly put together for demonstration purposes only, using screenshots, web caps & assets from EDAssets site. I'm sure they could be designed better with time (like this awesome example), but hope it gives you an idea on what I envision without the need for a TLDR:
[IMGUR]vGar1[/IMGUR]
Some overall benefits could include:
- De-clutter of some of the side panels
- Keep more records/stats while also providing further depth & history to your CMDR over time
- Unified Experience; no more leaving the game to visit your fav 3rd Party sites, game updates, bug reports or to play media
- Deeper player engagement into the history, events & lore of the galaxy
- Centralizing & improving on CMDR Management tools
- Suitable for Modular/Iterative design (Start with few basics then expand)
- Provides ongoing player engagement & distraction on longer flights / downtime scenarios
- Does not replace existing functionality/design only enhances
- ?
Few comments/thoughts on specific module sections:
2. GalNet: News Search - For those following a story or interest, you can tag new articles for later. If you have an existing lore/history article present you can also relate/save to the entry. Could be a valuable research tool, but also simply help players keep track of story arcs.
3. GalNet: Gal-O-Pedia - Would only house commonly known information. Detailed info on ships, modules, weapons, known history, powers, famous events etc. This would be Static.
4. GalNet: Markets - When system visited/scanned or trade data bought, you can get an up to date inventory of the markets in the system. If you do not have recent data then prices may be up to 24hrs old. Keep tabs open for when trading between systems.
5. GalWeb: Browser - Nothing fancy here, just a basic web browser panel, with bookmarking facilities & integrated controls (or mouse enablement). Default tabs can be saved and reopened between sessions.
8. GalMap: Quick Route - Introduces ability to save routes and re-use later. Enhances display by showing quick route view and provide quick access to few key route changes.
9. Journal: Lore/History - Can be seeded with new information as you make discoveries around the galaxy. These can expand dynamically as you learn more, discover more. All system names in here (or any other sections) are clickable to quickly navigate to. Listen to Audio logs again at any time or re-read text.
13. Stats: Criminal Rep - Stats in general can be expanded with the additional UI space. In here you can keep track of your criminal activities, where you are wanted, recent activity & Karma. Could be scannable between CMDRs.
14. Notes - Basic text editing with auto-save. Can create heading links to create new quick access tab along the top. System names can be linked/copied to map. Up to 6 separate notes could be saved, and renamed. Can export / edit externally.
18. Media Player - Picture says it all really, but one idea with the integration of a player was to have music taggable to scenes in the game. Then ED could control when it plays or even volume/effect say if the canopy was blown out. Other than that, the usual music/video player features.
19./20. Mini-Mode - Configurable position. Window can be changed on the fly for quick access, while maintaining visibility in the cockpit. Tab between modules and interact directly without going full screen mode. Hide/Show anytime. Could possibly expand on this core concept to include new modules in the future (perhaps different exploration/mining/scanning tools or readouts?).
Further note: CMDR Logbook would be accessible from the right panel replacing HoloMe & Engineers buttons, but also selectable via hotkey. Stats could be removed from right panel to free up room too.
Most of the ideas here are not my own. Much of this have been suggested many times before, in some form or another. This concept ties many of these together, gives them a potential home & focus. I'm sure there is plenty I have failed to consider. Devil is in the details as they say. Good, bad, ugly .. feel free to discuss.
Was good fun putting these concepts together. Thanks for checking it out.
Including capabilities such as the GalNet News Network with extended functions, Navigational assistance, Asset overview and management, Extended Stats, Pilot Portal for in-game, game related content, CMDR History/Event Viewer, Notepad app, Dynamic Lore/History database, Integrated Web Browser to access 3rd party sites without leaving the game, and also a basic media player. Some modules may also include Mini-Mode compatibility to allow some information to be displayed in a small window while in flight.
To save this post becoming an essay, and to further illustrate the concept, I created some basic visual mock-ups of some of the module sections for perusal. They are quickly put together for demonstration purposes only, using screenshots, web caps & assets from EDAssets site. I'm sure they could be designed better with time (like this awesome example), but hope it gives you an idea on what I envision without the need for a TLDR:
[IMGUR]vGar1[/IMGUR]
Some overall benefits could include:
- De-clutter of some of the side panels
- Keep more records/stats while also providing further depth & history to your CMDR over time
- Unified Experience; no more leaving the game to visit your fav 3rd Party sites, game updates, bug reports or to play media
- Deeper player engagement into the history, events & lore of the galaxy
- Centralizing & improving on CMDR Management tools
- Suitable for Modular/Iterative design (Start with few basics then expand)
- Provides ongoing player engagement & distraction on longer flights / downtime scenarios
- Does not replace existing functionality/design only enhances
- ?
Few comments/thoughts on specific module sections:
2. GalNet: News Search - For those following a story or interest, you can tag new articles for later. If you have an existing lore/history article present you can also relate/save to the entry. Could be a valuable research tool, but also simply help players keep track of story arcs.
3. GalNet: Gal-O-Pedia - Would only house commonly known information. Detailed info on ships, modules, weapons, known history, powers, famous events etc. This would be Static.
4. GalNet: Markets - When system visited/scanned or trade data bought, you can get an up to date inventory of the markets in the system. If you do not have recent data then prices may be up to 24hrs old. Keep tabs open for when trading between systems.
5. GalWeb: Browser - Nothing fancy here, just a basic web browser panel, with bookmarking facilities & integrated controls (or mouse enablement). Default tabs can be saved and reopened between sessions.
8. GalMap: Quick Route - Introduces ability to save routes and re-use later. Enhances display by showing quick route view and provide quick access to few key route changes.
9. Journal: Lore/History - Can be seeded with new information as you make discoveries around the galaxy. These can expand dynamically as you learn more, discover more. All system names in here (or any other sections) are clickable to quickly navigate to. Listen to Audio logs again at any time or re-read text.
13. Stats: Criminal Rep - Stats in general can be expanded with the additional UI space. In here you can keep track of your criminal activities, where you are wanted, recent activity & Karma. Could be scannable between CMDRs.
14. Notes - Basic text editing with auto-save. Can create heading links to create new quick access tab along the top. System names can be linked/copied to map. Up to 6 separate notes could be saved, and renamed. Can export / edit externally.
18. Media Player - Picture says it all really, but one idea with the integration of a player was to have music taggable to scenes in the game. Then ED could control when it plays or even volume/effect say if the canopy was blown out. Other than that, the usual music/video player features.
19./20. Mini-Mode - Configurable position. Window can be changed on the fly for quick access, while maintaining visibility in the cockpit. Tab between modules and interact directly without going full screen mode. Hide/Show anytime. Could possibly expand on this core concept to include new modules in the future (perhaps different exploration/mining/scanning tools or readouts?).
Further note: CMDR Logbook would be accessible from the right panel replacing HoloMe & Engineers buttons, but also selectable via hotkey. Stats could be removed from right panel to free up room too.
Most of the ideas here are not my own. Much of this have been suggested many times before, in some form or another. This concept ties many of these together, gives them a potential home & focus. I'm sure there is plenty I have failed to consider. Devil is in the details as they say. Good, bad, ugly .. feel free to discuss.
Was good fun putting these concepts together. Thanks for checking it out.
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