Visual feedback
Racer1
Join Date: 2002-11-22 Member: 9615Members
Join Date: 2002-11-22 Member: 9615Members
<div class="IPBDescription">When loading</div>Please provide visual feedback when loading content. It doesn't have to be fancy. I prefer something like "Loading <object type> <object> - <percentage>% complete. (e.g. Loading sound "sounds/marine1.mp3" - 22%). Progress bars are ok as well, as long as they tell you what they represent somehow. An overall progress that says "Loaded item 321 of 4567" is another option. (Both are even better!)
A common user interface guideline is to provide feedback to the user at least every 0.1 seconds when in "interactive" mode, and every 2 seconds when in "blocking" mode. So, if a resource has stalled loading, then at least indicate this to the user. While fancy graphics are nice -- if you don't have time for that, then at least adding a dot every second or so would be appreciated.
P.S. I understand that while in beta, load times may be especially long...which is fine. But even once you optimize everything I would expect load times to at least be in the 10+ second range. Plus, there are always scenarios that come up where something should have loaded fast but doesn't for some reason. In these cases, it is helpful and to know what is taking so long.
A common user interface guideline is to provide feedback to the user at least every 0.1 seconds when in "interactive" mode, and every 2 seconds when in "blocking" mode. So, if a resource has stalled loading, then at least indicate this to the user. While fancy graphics are nice -- if you don't have time for that, then at least adding a dot every second or so would be appreciated.
P.S. I understand that while in beta, load times may be especially long...which is fine. But even once you optimize everything I would expect load times to at least be in the 10+ second range. Plus, there are always scenarios that come up where something should have loaded fast but doesn't for some reason. In these cases, it is helpful and to know what is taking so long.
Comments
A skulk animation, when loading the skulk animation will play, when it is slowing the animation will also slow.
Some DI, The screen could start off with Natural Selection (looking mariney) and the screen can slowly infest until full, showing loading complete.
An alien egg, could grow bigger and bigger, stopping growth whilst stalled, when its finished a baby something emerges, how about an onos? Thatd look cool :)