Odyssey - Optimisation/Performance and UI (Galaxy & System Map) Feedback

[Florenus]

- No easy way to remove bookmarks
"Add bookmark" icon could simply change to "remove bookmark" when bookmark is present under selection

- Plotting course to bookmarked location is hidden too deep in bookmark options.
Previous solution was much better

- To plot course on system map holding mouse button is required - but clicking on the target moves the target to the centre of the screen, cancelling course selection, so it is required to click on the target and then move the mouse again and press and hold mouse button.
There should be a key that would plot course to the selected target instead of holding mouse key

 

[emaughan]

Overall thoughts – I like the general idea of the UI improvements, but more information should be accessible without so many menus. The more information, the better -- being clean is nice but I'd wager most Elite players are more leaning towards information accessibility over 'rule of cool'.

Specific Issues – Have to click on planets to get info. This is true of stations as well.

Suggested Fixes for the Issues – Let us mouse over them and immediately get the info in a popup menu.

 

[Vingtetun]

System and Galaxy Map:

Typing in a system name doesn't always return the exact match as the top item as it should - it returns your top bookmark that has a partial match, THEN the exact match. Exact match should ALWAYS be the top item. (Example, search for TIR when you've got TIRADA bookmarked.

Index of ships when you're searching for ships - your currently active ship should be TOP. Beyond that, should be in distance order. Your most LIKELY choice at any point in time will be your currently "active" ship.

Selecting a mission destination on a planet surface is cumbersome. You click the mission button. Then it highlights the system, then you have to go INTO the system, click it AGAIN, then you have to zoom on the planet and click it AGAIN.

This is the same with "points of interest" - you click a planet base - it goes to that planet and have to click AGAIN to get to that base. Too many clicks

Fleet carriers filter - should be optional to view ALL, LANDABLE (i.e. there are permissions to land there relative to you), OWN CARRIER

Bookmarks - the icon for setting a bookmark at current location (right hand menu), if it is ALREADY bookmarked, should change to "REMOVE BOOKMARK"

Buttons on the right panel should stay the SAME - and grey out if unavailable rather than things disappearing from the list.

"at a glance" data for any system/body should contain more. Owner, state, faction percentage etc without clicking further. Think of the classic Elite "data on system" - a page at a glance.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

A few thoughts on the Galaxy Map:

1. Half the screen is unreachable with the mouse on wide screens
2. Plotting a route to a bookmark stops at the system in which the bookmark is located, leaving you having to select the actual bookmarked item when you get there
3. I really like the search box
4. You should be able to click & hold on the system name from the search box to plot a route to it. Finding the system on the map and then click/holding there is a waste of time.
5. There needs to be a "plot route to my carrier" button. Seriously, this should have been in from the launch of fleet carriers
6. Carrier bookmarks are no longer present in the list of bookmarks. Or they are hidden. (But, see point #5 above)
7. There should be a "send my carrier to my current location" button. But, see point #5 above
8. The "highlight" marker is frequently several light years from the selected system

 

[Nighthawk7567]

I actually like the new UI, in my opinion it's very intuitive (especially the on-foot UI; well done on that in my opinion). The only thing that needs a major rework is the ship outfitting UI, making sure that it's as intuitive as everything else. The fact that people were accidentally selling engineered modules without knowing that's what they were doing is representative of how this UI needs to be updated.

 

[CMDR MattyD242]

Overall thoughts – The old map had five tabs, the new one has dozens of buttons! It’s overwhelming and needlessly complicated.

Specific Issues – jet cone boost plotting doesn’t work! Also it’s no longer possibly to see at a glance the star type and system features just by clicking a star, or at least if it is I can’t work it out which is an issue itself.

Suggested Fixes for the Issues
Fix plotting routes via jet cone boost
Reduce the number of buttons on screen
Have a permanent window for the system details pinned to the screen as it was before

 

[ferus]

• "Goodbye" response in conversations should be bound to the back button.
• Consider giving us the option to fetch our SRVs and change our loadout from the board ship menu (without having to board the ship every time)

 

[Exard3k]

The usual "we are aware" transformed to "keenly aware". That's some progress...not much, but progress.

The last 3(!) hotfixes in the week since release didn't improve my performance noticeably. The forums alone are a good source of wishes from the community. One of the biggest threads is about the new planetary tech where everyone can see the problems and wishes that players have.

And I'm not your Quality Assurance employee. I payed you to do this, not the other way around.

My continued support solely relies on whether FDev can deliver their promises in a reasonable timeframe and is not unconditional, so don't thank me before it is given.


edit: How about we make a Q&A or roundtable in the community stream with you community managers and talk about what is wrong and what wishes we have?

 

[MartinG]

Galaxy Map & System Map Feedback

Overall thoughts:
The new maps are definitely more aesthetically pleasing. Usability-wise, I think the new UI can be made as comfortable as the old one, if several key issues are fixed.

(Edit: I should perhaps say that bookmark groupings and the search bar are additions I very much appreciate. Same for the list of mission targets.)

Specific Issues:
(roughly in the order of importance to me)

• Both maps are frustrating to use with anything other than a mouse – lots of up/down key-clicking required, made worse by:
  • buttons on the right being grouped ‘logically’ rather than by frequency-of-use;
  • the ‘stop points’ (I cannot recall what the proper term is) between groups of buttons that prevent me from getting quickly to the relevant button by holding the ‘down’ key and timing its release.
  • Also, with a mouse, the galaxy map requires a lot of mouse movement – stars focus in the centre of the screen while all the relevant buttons are on the far right.
• In the system map, the splitting of ‘description’ and ‘planetary info’ splits related information, causing lots of back-and-forth.
• When I want to rename a bookmark, the previous name is wiped and I need to type everything from scratch.
• 128 bookmarks has never been enough.
• In the planetary map, the lists of POIs on the left are for the whole system instead of just the body viewed.
• Cannot see friends on the galaxy map any more.
• Need to go into ‘Manage Bookmarks’ to plot route to a specific planet, station, or port.
• Galaxy map search bar: To focus on the system I need to either move down to the list of systems or press Enter and move right to the triangle button.
• If an info panel is open on the right-hand side of the galaxy map, I cannot click to select a system below that panel, even though it is not visually obscured.

Suggested Fixes for the Issues:
(roughly in the same order as above)

• Bindings for all the commonly used map buttons, at least for System/Planetary Map, Description, Planetary Information, Set Target, perhaps also Market Information.
  • Failing that, bring back the pop-up on Galaxy Map (perhaps make it optional).
  • Failing that, at least move View System/Planetary Map to the top of the right-hand stack of buttons.
• Duplicate some info between Description and Planetary Info panels. Specifically:
  • Copy Atmosphere Type to Description;
  • Copy Surface Pressure and Volcanism to Planetary Information. Surface Temp, Gravity and First Discovered/Mapped/Footfall would be appreciated there, too.
• Make bookmark name editing work like it used to in Horizons.
• More bookmark slots.
• In Planetary Map view, make it possible to list only ports/settlements on that specific body.
• List friends in the system information panel, or add an extra button if you must.
• Lose the stop points between groups of buttons. (They can remain visually, but they should not stop the movement of UI focus when holding down the relevant button.)
• Clicking on a bookmark should bring up a context menu with the following buttons: Select, Plot route, Target; also View for bookmark types other than System.
• In the galaxy map search bar, make Enter move the UI focus to the triangle button.
• Fix the click-system-below-the info-panel bug, obviously

 

[smoke_th]

Also I almost forgot, and not sure if that's ui or graphical bug - at some distance from settlements terrain chunks refuse to render on both srv and ship maps

 

[Justinian Octavius]

Galaxy Map Feedback

Thanks for looking again the the Galaxy Map. Here is my suggestions for consideration:-

• Clicking on a Bookmark should select and plot a route to that location whether that be a system or port
• Pressing enter in the search box should focus that system if it exists without the need to select it from the drop down menu list
• Clicking on an already selected menu, such as map mode, should close that menu
• Move and group buttons of related functions together. Move the plot route buttons to a more prominent position as they are the most used (see mock up below)

In the above example I moved the routing buttons to the bottom middle whilst grouping Commander related info on the left and galaxy info on the right. I moved the route settings button next to the search box. I did this because in my personal opinion it makes it easier to spot the button you want and it makes plotting a route faster for mouse users as their mouse pointer will usually be somewhere near the centre of the screen.

Many thanks,
CMDR Justinian Octavius

 

[Kyobinoyo]

My biggest Issue with the UI is on the map the "Back" button that is just not Responding sometimes, also if you want to Jump with a Carrier and there is no Parking slot when you click on the destination it kicks you out of the map entirely.

 

[Jukelo]

Overall thoughts

I like the new sleeker feel of the maps, and I appreciate the new feature of hold to plot, it fels weird at first but is a welcome change after using it for a while. Additionally, the copy name feature is a welcome nice-to-have. But I do not understand why some commonly used features were made harder to access when using a controller or joystick.

Issues:

• Plotting a course to bookmarks is terribly cumbersome: using a controller or joystick, it takes at least 18 (!) inputs to be able to plot a course to a bookmarked space station from the galaxy map using the manage bookmarks method. Using the mouse, it still takes 5 clicks, which is 2 more than the old method if I remember correctly.
• The list of options on either sides of both maps seems to be ordered by categories. This is fine for mouse users, but joystick and controller users must cycle through each option to reach the one they want. This list concerns the galaxy map, but the issue exists on the system map as well:

1. There are 5 itemps before the Map modes option on the left. Of these, two are 'Your fleet' and 'Realistic mode', Realistic mode conveys no useful information, and 'your fleet', although a nice addition, isn't needed half as often as its position in the list would imply.
2. System information: it's the most important piece of information on the map. It needs to stay on at all time unless the user opts out. It has no business being on the same level (even if in firstp lace) as the other options.
3. The most important option on the right is the system map button. That button is buried all the way down in 9th position.
4. The second most important option, Set destination, is 5th.
5. Powerplay in 3rd position ??

Fixes:

• You added this nifty hold to plot feature: enable it in the bookmarks list. Instant 300% improvement (and even an improvement from the old system).
• Re-arrange the items by how often they are used. Maybe even add the ability to re-order them, so mouse users can keep the neatly arranged categories, while controllers save on button presses (my Hotas-X was already starting to show signs of fatigue, now I am too).

 

[Novaseta]

Galaxy Map UI:

While I understand the want to make the galaxy map more intuitive, the concept these menus were trying to simplify were already inherently complicated. The previous UI already did a good job of getting you where you needed to go, while navigating these complications, albeit with an acceptable learning curve.

I would also point out, that as a Mentoring CMDR, it is exceptionally difficult to explain to a new CMDR how to navigate a menu that is all hieroglyphs, instead of clear text marked tabs and buttons. While the old way used some icons there were far fewer and one could simply say, "Choose the third tab" and so on. Now, I have to describe an image while trying to teach an already complicated thing. Not to mention, there have been steps added to tasks that used to be quick, once the menu was understood... It just seems like a case of you guys trying to reinvent your own bicycle. Tooltips are nice, but ever present text, makes life much easier.

While I can see that some people after learning the icons might like the simpler look, perhaps that should be made as an optional.

The only good that came from the change, was search behaving like an actual search now... let's keep that. I know you guys put work into that menu system... But maybe give us some "classic" options for some quality of life here.

 

[bigcee75]

I have to wait for console release but this problem exists in Horizons too and I'm sure it's been mentioned countless times but a way to hide FC's in system map would be welcome.

 

[T'kael]

The system map and galaxy map still don't allow users with ultra wide monitors to use the entire screen. The cursor goes over only so far, then stops at the edge of a ridiculous invisible box.

 

[Lydia Rex]

The System Map and Galaxy map are great aside from the list of details missing, as other users have stated. Other users are sure to come around as long as you add the ability to manage bookmarks and give access to the missing info again. The only main issue I have is that the maps are poorly optimised with ultrawide monitors.

Having said that, the outfitting and customisation UI is absolutely atrocious and unusable to the point that users are swapping back to Horizons to do their outfitting. That should be your first priority here, even though it is disappointing to hear that people would rather all that work just be thrown in the trash. With some tweaks (a lot of tweaks) it can be fixed.

 

[MattG]

I need to preface this to mention I'm using an Xbox controller. I feel some of the issues I have with UI are possibly less horrific using keyboard and mouse. I should also add that I only explore, and so Galmap/Sysmap are my bread and butter. I don't "do" the bubble unless forced to.

Overall thoughts – you've "fixed" both Galaxy Map and System Map with things literally no-one asked for, and in doing so made the UI extremely tedious.

(Deep breath)
Specific Issues

• Galmap: when you put text in the search box and press Enter, nothing happens. You have to then select the system from the drop down.
• Galmap: When you have selected the system in the drop down and it goes to it, you then have to cancel the box before you can interact with the system.
• Galmap: Before I can interact with the system, I must click it. I must then navigate over to the other bar and find the appropriate icon. In Horizons, after I have searched it is 1 keypress to "target" the system, or 2 to plot a route. Including cancelling the search bar, we're looking at 9 or 10 clicks to do these things.
• Galmap: in Horizons, I can see star type, luminosity and other very useful detail about the system just by having the cursor over the system. In Odyssey, this requires a button press and selectiong the appropriate icon. It's buried away.
• Galmap: Bookmarks are useless. Adding or removing a bookmark is an exercise is frustration now.
• Galmap: accessing the system map for a system already visited using Odyssey is some 12 clicks after searching.
• Galmap: it doesn't remember filters! Go to Map Mode, Star Class and select some classes to filter on. Push back 30 times or whatever to get rid of it. Go back to Map Mode and although it shows me I'm using Star Class, it really helpfully highlights Allegiance for me. Another 7-8 key presses to get back to Star Class and actually into it.
• Galmap: why is "user data view" separated out from Map Mode?
• Galpmap: why is route settings even a thing? If I've changed a filter or something, it should automatically be recalculating the route.
• Galmap: why is "your fleet" a thing?
• Sysmap: Tags are buried. Let's say I come across a nice proc-gen planetary nebula system. I want to leave my name on one of the 80 bodies here, but it's already been discovered. In Horizons I quickly move cursor over them and in under a minute I can see the 79th is not mapped and I can tag it. In Odyssey I need to select each one individually. I RSI before I finish.
• Sysmap: For some unknown reason, we now have Planetary Information and Body Description separated out? What on earth does this achieve, but racking up extra pointless unneeded clicks? Go back to that 80 body system and tell me if there's a) any guardian sites there and b) what the gravity is for each body. This is trivial in Horizons.
• Sysmap: The blue atmosphere bubbles aren't centered!
• Sysmap: Re-interating xbox controller - moving the cursor left/right or up/down moves at correct speed. Moving diagonal is much slower than it should be. It's fine in Horizons. It is also the same in the FSS and is driving me crazy. I've tested 2 different PCs and 2 different Xbox controllers to verify this. I did open an issue in the tracker for this, but that's where things go to die.

Suggested Fixes for the Issues
These were all raised during Alpha - with suggested fixes - but you mostly chose to ignore them. It is abundantly clear no-one at Frontier ever explores, or this would never have been implemented. I will give you a clue about UX though: if the actions I most frequently take require any extra steps, it is a retrograde decision and therefore DON'T DO IT. Don't throw in 10 extra steps and call it done! With that in mind, my suggested fix:

• Restore Horizons UI for Galmap and Sysmap.

Explain to me what I'd lose in doing so? Because there is nothing in the new UI I'm not willing to lose to have back the old, working UI. If this is not an option, work out a way I can do all the things an explorer would do with no more than the current number of required interactions.

 

[Axil Celt]

Exploration is one of the main features of the game...How can I explore as intended if Jet Cone Boost routing fails / does not recognize the plotted route in Galaxy Map after refueling? Can do it if in Horizons, but i thought this feature would be properly included in Odyssey? Having to swap to Horizons to gain a lot of LY, then back to Odyssey to explore on foot!

 

[Allin]

Funny asking about specs and DXdiag when we know now the game rendering is of amateurish level that is responsible for majority of issues because it CANNOT not be responsible as every machine would lose frames due to lack of occlusion culling.

Also, the "some players" narrative is getting old.