Option to Remove the Circle Image on Skill CD

I really don't like the new timer animation. I saw that Devi replied about making the circle less obvious. Was there a timeline on that change?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Felis

Do these 3 new jobs use own UI, or share they the UI wih the other jobs?

---

They have new icons - same UI, new icons. New icons = more memory. My point was you can squeeze in all these new ability icons into memory but can't toggle the circle? If it's there, it can be removed - the original icon simply needs an overlay.

If they are saying that for each animation it uses a whole new set of animated icons to create the circle (which it sounds like they did) - go back and do it with an overlay and you'll free up loads of memory.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zhexos

Hello, everyone.

The following is a comment from UI Lead Hiroshi Minagawa in regards to the new recast timers implemented in Patch 3.2.

There were 50 testers, and comments were taken from both actual players and non-players.

out of 10,000 players, 1,000 players would be against it.

---

Now explain to me how 50 testers translates to representing the true population of the community???

Possibly one of the most ignorant decisions I have ever seen. REMOVE THE DAMN CIRCLES, MY GOD WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO RUIN MY ENJOYMENT OF THIS GAME.

The ironic part? The change actually doesn't work.

The original intent of the change was to fix a problem where people thought that skills were ready but they weren't in the last second or so of recast.

In fact, you can fire off a skill BEFORE the icon animation shows that it is finished. This is due to round trip lag time. This is no different than before the change which, of course, does nothing to address the time synch effect.

It's questionable whether the problem actually existed in the first place in real world environments that have lag (testing done in a lag free test environment?)

Here is an alternative design for the designers to consider if they are so intent on having bright, sweeping white circles.

1. Just dim the icon when it isn't ready and include the count down digits. In the last 2 seconds before it is ready, do your white circle animation. This will attract you to the icon at an appropriate time, instead of distracting you all the time. For those who understand lag and want to get a jump, the shorter duration of the white circle sweep will allow them to "jump" conclusion with more precision (fire at 9 o'clock for example, instead of fire at 11:45).
2. Don't do the circle animation on GCD abilities. If needed, add a single element that can show GCD time remaining

Personally I really like the change. I do however agree that it should be an option not a forced thing. So people should be able to toggle in or out of it.

That being said though, the way some people are reacting to this and the way some of these comments are going is basically starting to sound a little like
http://40.media.tumblr.com/eeea11373...713j8_1280.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by heynowjose

Personally I really like the change. I do however agree that it should be an option not a forced thing. So people should be able to toggle in or out of it.

That being said though, the way some people are reacting to this and the way some of these comments are going is basically starting to sound a little like
http://40.media.tumblr.com/eeea11373...713j8_1280.jpg

---

I agree when you read the convoluted post that UI Lead Hiroshi Minagawa posted , you can see the hubris he demonstrated by so stupidly changing something that did not need to be changed. And then asking non-players to chime in about what they thought. I mean SE if your reading this, if you claim you have 5 million players worldwide then out of 5 million players 500,000 are now pissed. Scale the truth so your ignorance is more meaningful.

My issue with this change is that my toolbar animations now look and feel totally different than other mmos, of which I occasionally play quite a few.

I'm the type of person that likes having my UI in similar games fairly similar, so I can IGNORE the UI, and focus on the gameplay itself. That's why having a customizable UI is important in the first place. I can put my skillbars where I like, HP, party list, primary target, focus target, questlog, etc. They all go in my "usual" spots, so I only have to pay minimal attention to them.

This is like having my car speedometer updated to suddenly flash bright lights in my face when I'm accelerating. Yes, it helps me know I'm accelerating, but I don't need that information. Give me the option to turn it off so my car gives me information the same as other cars.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gunspec

My issue with this change is that my toolbar animations now look and feel totally different than other mmos, of which I occasionally play quite a few.

I'm the type of person that likes having my UI in similar games fairly similar, so I can IGNORE the UI, and focus on the gameplay itself. That's why having a customizable UI is important in the first place. I can put my skillbars where I like, HP, party list, primary target, focus target, questlog, etc. They all go in my "usual" spots, so I only have to pay minimal attention to them.

This is like having my car speedometer updated to suddenly flash bright lights in my face when I'm accelerating. Yes, it helps me know I'm accelerating, but I don't need that information. Give me the option to turn it off so my car gives me information the same as other cars.

---

Like having an airplane dashboard in car or texting while driving. I would rather not have to look at a UI at all so I can focus on environment. Why is texting and driving illegal in the states?

The change...

Old cool down overlay vs new cool down overlay. Not so much has changed when you examine the two side by side.

http://i.imgur.com/e4rhB5g.png * http://i.imgur.com/ehv8ZYp.png

Hiroshi Minagawa's response is complete and utter nonsense. They simply made a few minor changes to the overlay texture. A very basic and simple modification that wouldn't require any change to the existing code to function. What is so truely bizarre is why did he make up such an elaborate tale when he could have just told the truth? Hiroshi Minagawa's has lost what credibility he had.