[Freeciv-Dev] (PR#12029) Freeciv 2.0 interface and bugs

["Vasco Alexandre da Silva Costa" <vasc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

<URL: http://bugs.freeciv.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=12029 >

> [gianmario.scotti@xxxxxxxxx - Thu Jan 27 09:29:57 2005]:
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I noticed a bug where the AI can build cities within my "zone of
>    influence" or "borders". I don't think this should be possible?
>    Otherwise, what's the purpose of the borders?

This has been reported before and it should be fixed:
http://forum.freeciv.org/viewtopic.php?t=493

If there are any remaining bugs please report.

> However, my biggest concern is the interface. I played the Win32/GTK2
>    version of freeciv 2.0, and the interface was hideous. Compared to
>    1.x, I feel like I lost all control over what is going on. Changing
>    production in a city is so painful it makes me cringe. Overall,

Why? It takes 3 clicks to change production now, same as in the old
design. I submit you are just not used to it yet. It can be pretty hard
to unlearn learned patterns.

If you use the cities report, it takes a single mouse click to change
production. You can even select cities on the main map using the mouse
and this will be reflected in the cities report selection.

>    things seem to happen without my control over them, and they happen
>    badly: the AI seems to be beating me even if in "novice" mode. Or,
>    there is a bug where "novice" is not implemented? I don't know, but

"novice" was an attempt to make the AI easier by crippling it, but it
seems many people find even that too hard. We'll just have to cripple
it some more.

>    either way, this is the end of my Freeciv adventure, it seems. I'm
>    glad my previous bug reports (some directly to the Win32
>    maintainer) made the previous version a bit better. This one is
>    unfixable and I won't ever try to play 2.0 again.

If you do not like the gui-gtk-2.0 client, the gui-win32 client is still
available. Alternatively, enumerate causes of grievance with the
gui-gtk-2.0 UI and they will be fixed in the next version.

> As this is my goodbye to freeciv, let me just add what I felt was an
>    unnecessary "improvement": the isometric view. You went ahead with
>    the implementation, even though your own poss showed that people
>    prefere the top-down view. I don't understand that decision, which
>    brought to stopping the development of top-down tilesets and an
>    inflation of iso tilesets.

But you can still choose the top-down view! In fact, I always play with
it. As do most seasoned players. It is just that now there is more
choice. I still remember when some users talked derisively about
top-down view, how isometric view looked nicer, how Freeciv "looked
just like Civilization I", etc. Some of us were skeptic and considered
isometric view to be eyecandy that was more of an usability nuisance
than anything. So the developers had lots of work getting *both* views
to work correctly, so everyone would be pleased. AFAIK no other
Civilization like game offers this possibility. On games like
Civilization II or III, you are stuck in isometric view and there is
no choice.

Regarding tilesets, remember, the developers have no control over what
the art contributors wish to do. This is a volunteer effort. We just
take what gets dropped in our lap. Making a tileset is a painstaking
process of meticulous work. The art contributors seem to like isometric
view because it allows them to make their art more expressive, so they
usually focus on those. In fact, we even had an isometric hex tileset
before we had code for it! While there is still no top-down hex tileset
available, despite the code for it being in place for a long time now.

Those of you who prefer top-down tilesets should either contribute art
or convince contributors to make the art. To make improved top-down
tilesets. Most of the developers have quite limited artistic skills,
so this is not something we can do ourselves, even if we had the time
for it.

> I hope one day freeciv 3.x will fix the interface, some years from
>    now. If freeciv becomes fun to play again, count on my humble
>    contributions.