The ingame chat

Skyforger2

<div class="IPBDescription">Just a quick idea.</div>As ns is multilayer game sometimes on servers we chat about totally unrelated topics to game, and and fairly often you have to hit console and look up what the other bloke said.
So just idea is to make the visible chat line or space longer but fade out the oldest ones, by fade out i mean that the ones closest to screen center would become more transparent and wouldn't bother you if you are deep in the game looking for skulks, but the chatter could still see it with a bit of a more concentration.


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spellman23

Or do what many other games do, which is have a key (like Z) where when held down shows as much chat as possible on your screen so you can review it and perhaps even scroll up.

Crispix

Or do what Source multiplayer games do, when you hit your chat key (y), all the previous chat messages are displayed and you can scroll up. Similar to what spellman said.

Align

The source solution seems best.

RobB

Yep. Just make the textchat a log window. Problem solved.

Runteh

Or just use ingame chat. If you don't have it, you should do.

Runteh

Actually that is a point... Could we have avatars, so when someone else's ingame chat display appears, it has a picture/name and location. That would be great if your location came up on the screen as well, because then you could tell people exactly where you were. Like near to your crosshair or something.

Simple things like this would make a huge difference to communication and player location.

fanatic

I have no illusions about this making it into the final game, but a basic ingame irc client would be A+.

Schreq

If the chat stands out in some way, i.e. special colors for chat, imo it's best to just show it in the console. A good addition would be consolemessage filters which you can apply. Then make a bindable function 'chat-window' which opens the console but with by default applied 'chat only' filter. Another thing could be to already put 'say ' in the console if you press the key to open the chat window :)

Harimau

Nah I agree with spellman23. Sometimes you don't wanna type a message, just look at the recent chat. Hold Z and use mousewheel to scroll up and down. When you want to type a message, using Y for example, you can still scroll up and down to view the recent chat.

Feha

Make the chat work like in cs, altough maybe add so if you hold w, then press y, and have to type w in msg, you still walk (in cs you walk until you release w, better if you want until you exit chat).

Harimau

That's the thing about Z though. You can read the chat but still be able to use your other keys, e.g. movement keys and voice chat.

spellman23

<!--quoteo(post=1798282:date=Sep 12 2010, 04:56 AM:name=Harimau)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Harimau @ Sep 12 2010, 04:56 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1798282"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->That's the thing about Z though. You can read the chat but still be able to use your other keys, e.g. movement keys and voice chat.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Even better, make it a bindable button.

I'm so happy I have more than 2 buttons on my mouse now. Voicechat button on the mouse so I don't lose the ability to strafe right!

Harimau

<!--quoteo(post=1798416:date=Sep 14 2010, 03:53 AM:name=spellman23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (spellman23 @ Sep 14 2010, 03:53 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1798416"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Even better, make it a bindable button.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This. I wasn't necessarily saying Z only, it was just an example from a game I've played. Hold "Z" or some other binded key down to view chat, and still be able to use all of your other binded keys without issue. Pressing (single tap) "Y" or some other binded key for this purpose will not only view chat but allow you to type chat - but in doing so it would interfere with your other binded keys.

PapaGadusch

For player communication, I'd say take the ideas from Left 4 Dead 2; small chat window on HUD, and bound voice key. It's simple and necessary, and works great if voice is clear enough.