[dev1156]

[lllen]

I like what I'm seeing and I might have just missed it, but I have one thing I'm hoping I can reposition: The Party/alliance boxes.

As it stands now the list of Party members is on the right side. After playing many years as a mage, left eye has to read text "pp", "stona" "zzzzz" etc...on the left side and the right eye has to read the Party/alliance boxes to see who's dying on the far right side (and my third eye likes to peak every now and then at the battle).

Being from NA we read left to right, if the party/alliance boxes can be relocated to the left side I would be the happiest mage in the world. Ideal for me is to have party boxes in the bottom left hand corner with text starting to the right of the party boxes

[Kincard]

They spent well over a year talking about/working on a new UI and they can't even make it display things like total accuracy?

[FaeQueenCory]

I am... not a fan of the new UI.
It's just..... too industrial for me.
If that makes any sense.
Though many of the changes I like a lot. (namely the macro coloring, icon tagging, and the "cool down light".)
But the overall appearance of it......... just feels wrong.

It's too.... technical. I'm not quite sure what the perfect word for it that I'm looking for is... But it's very... sterile.
There's no FF charm to it.
At least not to me.

[Mnejing]

Reminded me of EQ UI, hope the final product significantly changes things.

[Camate]

Greetings,

Below is a message from Yoji Fujito in regards to feedback we have been receiving about the new UI.



Hello.

Thanks so much for the feedback regarding the new UI.
I'd like to respond to some of the system-related aspects.

To start off, we've been proceeding with the creation of this new UI based on what was commented previously in the thread titled, "New Windows Version User Interface." (http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/threads/22877-New-Windows-Version-User-Interface?p=309013&viewfull=1#post309013) With that said, if there are those of you who have yet to read over this, please be sure to do so first.

Also, please understand that we are still very much in the midst of creating this new UI.
We implemented this on the Test Server at a much earlier point than normal in order to show off the progress as well as allow you to get the general feeling of the new UI.

Due to the above, it's a bit difficult to answer in detail about particular aspects, but I would like to respond with some comments about the basic plans.


Using a gamepad with the new UI



Please make it possible to use gamepads with this new UI.


While the current UI is very user-friendly for gamepad controls, we are making it so the new UI is much more user-friendly when using mouse and keyboard. It's not that gamepads cannot be used with the new UI at all, but it's quite difficult to make it function like the current UI where gamepad controls are very comfortable. Though, the special characteristics of controls for gamepads and mouse/keyboard are different, so having them exist at the same time could cause functional degradation of the UI.

However, just as I mentioned at the start, we will be making adjustments and working on the UI from here on out. Naturally, moving forward we will be doing various things to improve overall operation, so we’d like to do our best to secure ease of gamepad operation as much as possible.


Using the new features with gamepads



Please make it possible to use some of the new features with the old UI so we can continue to use gamepads.


Due to resolution and input device differences, it's not possible to add all of the new features to the current UI. As this was designed as a new UI, there are a lot of features that comprise it. With that said, we’d really appreciate it if you could understand that it is not so easy to separate parts from it and implement only these portions for the current UI.

However, I very much understand what you are saying, and we will continue to look into this the best we can.


Operability improvements, new feature requests, etc.
I've read over all of the feedback we have received thus far.
While the fundamental plan of creating a UI that focuses around keyboard and mouse control will remain unchanged, in addition to basic improvements in operation and design, we will continue to look into gamepad support as much as possible.

[OmnysValefor]

Playing with the new UI, it was a bit buggy (but this is the test server). The thing that shocked me though is that it seems we still can't see others' TP. This isn't as useful as it would have once been, but still, it would be nice.

[Dazusu]

Please tell me its current graphical design isn't the final one. I might have missed them posting saying its temporary -- but similarly, might not have. It's ugly. As all hell.

[Kincard]

I assumed it was temporary myself given how plain it looks (If you look at something like the new magic icons they often overdesign stuff rather than underdesign it), but I guess some reassurance wouldn't hurt.

[Demon6324236]

Please tell me its current graphical design isn't the final one. I might have missed them posting saying its temporary -- but similarly, might not have. It's ugly. As all hell.Agreed, I hope it looks better than this. v_v

[Creelo]

Really don't care at all about an UI overhaul.

AF Upgrades and Delve II, yes please!!

[Anjou]

Can anyone provide a picture of the current UI? I'm kinda curious as to what I'm going to -have- to play with from now on.

[Anjou]

provide one of the new one* sorry I goofed.

[Vasch]

The new UI looks horrible and is completely unnecessary if it doesn't fix issues like having too few lines per macro. Seeing precious resources go to such useless garbage over other areas that really need it is mindblowing.

[Kaisha]

Is there any plans to use the higher-resolution icons for weapons/equipments/items/etc that you have sitting archived somewhere with the new UI?

The Linkshell Community (RIP) used them when you viewed player profiles for what they had equipped, and they were damn nice and clean looking compared to what we have in the game currently.

[Moppet]

Can anyone provide a picture of the current UI? I'm kinda curious as to what I'm going to -have- to play with from now on.

Looks like someone put up a youtube video showing the new UI: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ahPmIFTiOA

[Twille]

Didn't really see anything mind-blowing in that video. My hopes would be that we have the option to choose to keep the old UI (I'm much more comfortable using the gamepad as I began FFXI on the PS2 and still play from my 360 occasionally) and that we can have at least 2 seperate chat boxes present. I'd very much like to be able to filter all the system messages / battle spam into a seperate window from my actual chat such as LS / Party etc.

[Demon6324236]

You can pick to have either old, or new, no mix, and no being forced. They have been saying that for a long time now, nothing has changed as they even said it recently as well...

[Lynxis]

I'm not sure how possible or realistic it would be but it would be nice to be able to condense a full equipment swap macro into a single line. Like being able to create a few gear sets and then reference that gear set in a single macro line and include this with the new UI upgrade. Food for thought if no one has thought of it yet.

[OmnysValefor]

People have suggested it, but it's still a good idea.

To be able to equip all your RDMEnfeebling gear, save it as "RDMEnfeeb" and then your paralyze macro would look like

/equipset "RDMEnfeeb"
/ma "Paralyze" <t>
/wait 1
/equipset "RDMIdle"

[Umichi]

Greetings,

Below is a message from Yoji Fujito in regards to feedback we have been receiving about the new UI.

Just looking at the new UI info (I browsed the new UI system on the forum) It looks promising. It's fantastic that you have gotten it out this early for us to look at and I look forward to any improvements you implement. This is mainly as I enjoy playing on the PC versus my Xbox. Although, I do enjoy doing battles with my controller everything else I also enjoy doing mouse and keyboard so in the long run when I get a PC this is win win. Ganbatte!

[Magnox]

It just looks so horrible, almost as if they are trying to make it look cheap and tacky. Not gonna make me want to look at it every other day.

[OmnysValefor]

I don't know if people are looking at the screenshots or the UI in game. The screenshots do look awful, they do, but actually seeing implemented, it's not terrible. It's not beautiful, but I'm pretty sure, and hope, they'll be applying skins soon.

[Byrth]

The current UI as implemented on the test server is ugly and not functional. Also, the majority of the actual feature additions only really benefit people that actively use the mouse when they play FFXI.

There are exactly two features of the new UI that I welcome, and I'm still not sure how I would use one of them:

1) Macro indicator that shows you when an ability is unusable, waiting on recast, or available. -- I doubt I would be able to behaviorally incorporate this into my playstyle, but it's at least a good idea.

2) A second log. -- I do not know how I would use this at the moment. Perhaps I would use it to create a "battle" vs. "chat" log?

[Trumpy]

They have said tons of times this is early build so of course this isnt its "final look." Theres buttons missing and descriptions missing. They are developing the function before appearance, so it will look better in the future. No use in a pretty UI if it doesnt work worth a crap.

[Trumpy]

That is how i am going to use the two logs. have one be battle centric and one with chat, then i can filter less stuff. Unless not filterign makes it laggy still.

[FaeQueenCory]

1) Macro indicator that shows you when an ability is unusable, waiting on recast, or available. -- I doubt I would be able to behaviorally incorporate this into my playstyle, but it's at least a good idea.
I expect you'll be using it much like I will be: hmm it's been about 40s... *recast macro* 2s left till JA...
It's kinda just there to outdate the use of a recast macro. Which is nice. It basically means instead of hitting a recast macro, you'll just hold crtl/alt/or just look up at it and see that it turned green.

My only concern over the timer display color thing, gear change macros would always be "green" so a macro with a JA and gear swap will never go red. It will always go yellow due to the /equip being evergreen.
If there was a way of ignoring any /equip commands in the calculations of the display of the macro timer color...
that would be more in line with the intent of the timer, at least if I understand everything anyways.

[Kristal]

It just looks so horrible, almost as if they are trying to make it look cheap and tacky. Not gonna make me want to look at it every other day.

This is just a working prototype. The final version will very likely have plenty of customizing options, such as border style, border color, background color and window transparancy.

These new windows should also make it possible to list all the stats we can't see with the old UI, as well as seperate windows for pets. I really would like automaton attachments to be visible somewhere, so I know when an automaton ability is ready to occur.

[RichLester]

I myself play FFXI on my windows pc with a gamepad so I can navigate around with both keyboard (macros, mainly) & gamepad (menus & movement) & looking at the new images, it doesn't look good. Prone to many glitches & errors and I don't see why SE needs to change the UI so late in the day for the game.

I think there is a simple solution, however. Under "Windows" option in the menu, give us the option of either "Modern" UI (the new one) or "Classic" UI (the current one we're all used to). This then gives us flexibility in how we want to play FFXI & we can switch comfortably between the two UI. SE can also monitor how many people use each interface.

Remember SE, we are the customer & if we cannot play the game with ease, people may start to head over to FFXIV sooner rather that later.

[Umichi]

I myself play FFXI on my windows pc with a gamepad so I can navigate around with both keyboard (macros, mainly) & gamepad (menus & movement) & looking at the new images, it doesn't look good. Prone to many glitches & errors and I don't see why SE needs to change the UI so late in the day for the game.

I think there is a simple solution, however. Under "Windows" option in the menu, give us the option of either "Modern" UI (the new one) or "Classic" UI (the current one we're all used to). This then gives us flexibility in how we want to play FFXI & we can switch comfortably between the two UI. SE can also monitor how many people use each interface.

Remember SE, we are the customer & if we cannot play the game with ease, people may start to head over to FFXIV sooner rather that later.

You see FFXI as a game really isn't late in it's day... just gone are the days of many great adventerers joining the game on a consistant basis.. the game more or less has been getting continuous and progressive upgrades since the begining... the only thing that's happening is less players are playing.. so from my perspective this seems normal and actualy good for the game in the long run as giving more players freedoms to customize their game-play and understand their game without having to use internets for every nook and cranny is quite a boon to a game that prides itself for not really needing guides to continously increase your knowledge of the game in order to play it.

they already said they will keep servers going until there are literally no players left playing. so telling them their game is in jeopardy of players moving is somewhat intimidating but in the long run they know people will keep playing.

as to your first paragraph this is still beta testing... more updates to go and experimenting to be done on their part while we fiddle with the latest creation.

[RichLester]

True, I agree. Of course, there will be players playing FFXI for as long as it lives & for that, I apologise. Was premature of me. It's just I don't want the UI we have currently to disappear for good as so many players have got used to using it in certain ways over the years & a new UI can slow the speed of commands players activate while we get used it. I am expecting another world merge soon, though.

Looking at the announcement again, I believe we can toggle between the new & old UI:

"Activating the New User Interface

To activate the new user interface, you must first update your Test Client to the latest version and check the box next to “Activate New UI” in the “Misc.” tab of the FINAL FANTASY XI Config program." ... phew :) In that case, if we leave this unchecked, will the old UI stay where it is? Can SE leave this feature in the live version please?

I'm sure there will be skins added to help the players but testing won't be able to cover everything (will old cutscenes with certain options to select work alright? for e.g.). I'm sure they'll iron out most of the glitches before it is released.