Thoughts on UI design
Okay, so I have some quick questions regarding the look of the TrotMania theme that might influence the design of the next version:
1. From an aesthetic standpoint, should we make the look of elements (like buttons, backgrounds, etc.) simpler (i.e. closer to the MLP art style) or fancier (i.e. textures, shiny stuff, etc.)?
2. Functionality-wise, should we keep the more advanced statistic displays (individual step/hold/etc. counts), have them optional, or remove them entirely?
3. Should we keep the cover art-based song wheel or go back to a more "traditional" display that uses a wheel with titles on it only?
4. If we keep the cover art wheel, should it be changed to a different orientation?
By RIME 09-12-2015 03:55:58
Moderator and Manager of Trot 100 · 46 comments1. Simpler; I still think some sort of theme that has a location from the show (or movies, such as Canterlot High) in more concrete design would be cool.
2. I think optional is the way to go. Maybe it could be like Fiesta 2 where you have a button to toggle a mini-window from the side.
3. Cover art is here to stay imo. pop'n music is slowly implementing more jackets into its design, REFLEC and jubeat naturally have their touchscreen jacket systems, and GITADORA and DDR are settling into interface synergy. I still think the look is sleek and the only thing that could be more appealing to users might be a "catalog" like REFLEC and jubeat, which would be difficult to implement since StepMania is based around the wheel for song selection.
4. I think the current orientation is fine if we keep the wheel.
By blehe38 09-15-2015 21:07:45
Blank Flank · 3 comments1. I thought TMIII's color palette (more like colette lel) looked too much like TM:RiM's (though they were both good, especially for the tone of the former's theme). Other than that, I think the graphics are fine as is.
2. I think the advanced statistics were perfectly fine (in fact, I wish more rhythm games would actually implement them), though I could get behind the idea of it being optional.
3. Like RIME said, keep the cover wheel. No matter what BEMANI's doing with them, I think banners are being phased out in the SM community (at least from what I can tell), and the cover wheel is just kind of a standard now.
4. Although the current orientation does its job, I think it'd be interesting to see what other configurations you guys could come up with.
hi kids bye kids
By Retropony 02-18-2016 12:49:38
Blank Flank · 2 comments1. Maybe simpler shiny graphics.
Explanation: it would be nice with flatter colors, and common forms, but also with the shiny elements, the lights and the glowing stuff.
2. Add more statistics, but, if possible, make the display optional on the song wheel (like in the theme "DDR 2014" where you can show informations with a combination of 2 directions)
3. The cover art-based song wheel is fine like that.
The banner cover songs are messed up, but it's fine for me, personnaly.
4. I think it's better with the horizontal presentation, so, keep it like this.
By Lirodon 02-21-2016 00:35:10
TM Head · 162 commentsI think I posted this in a different thread already, but...
By Retropony 02-25-2016 21:44:55
Blank Flank · 2 commentsI approve this design!
(Sorry, I don't know what else to say)
By Diskette 02-26-2016 23:13:59
Blank Flank · 9 comments(regarding the new Music Selection UI based on the above screenshot of TM4)
For functionality, i would like it if you could somehow implement the Groove Radar on this theme too. Very glad with the numerical step stats still staying (awesome accidental alliterative aside), but would also like to have the radar too at the same time...while Air and Freeze is unnecessary (and to my discovery, apparently Stream too), since the numerical Holds and Jumps (and looks like steps too) already takes care of that, but would be awesome to know the most dense steps on a song, number of stream sections (i thought the Stream value covers that), and amount of off-beat/BPM tricks in a song.
Looking at the current UI design, i dunno where it would fit best...maybe...behind the steps difficulty?
Or is there maybe an alternative for Voltage and Chaos atleast? (EDIT: Well, BPM tricks kinda covers the BPM display)
Also, i noticed, that the numerical Mines value is missing, which i see why...not enough space there...would making the numerical value fonts smaller just enough to fit the Mines value aswell's a good idea?
Other than that, everything else looks great so far. Looking forward for more, whenever you feel like teasing some more 
Last edited by Diskette (02-26-2016 23:16:43)
With love by The Kancsar Productions!
Founded by humans, Ran by ponies!
By Lirodon 02-27-2016 06:18:01
TM Head · 162 commentsMight look into those
The rest of the theme is mainly going to re-use layouts from TM3, case in point, gameplay.
Don't break what isn't broken.
By Diskette 03-07-2016 09:06:32
Blank Flank · 9 commentsOhyea, a small request on the gameplay screen...
...
Can we have the difficulty numbers back, like you had for Chrystalize?
With love by The Kancsar Productions!
Founded by humans, Ran by ponies!
By Lirodon 03-08-2016 16:35:38
TM Head · 162 commentsI'm thinking about doing that, yes. I'm considering a slight refactoring of this screen now, actually.
By Lirodon 03-31-2016 23:03:27
TM Head · 162 comments
The implementation will be cleaned up, but is this what you wanted?
By Diskette 04-01-2016 06:33:22
Blank Flank · 9 commentshttp://i.imgur.com/45kv42f.jpg
The implementation will be cleaned up, but is this what you wanted?
Yes! Thanksies very much! This shall help me easily identify difficulties, when i'm playing randomized songs, for example.
With love by The Kancsar Productions!
Founded by humans, Ran by ponies!
By Lirodon 09-12-2015 03:25:26
TM Head · 162 comments