Accepted probation task to Herocraft
First task
Abstract
Make design of unit control for tablet RTS by given draft.
(No prototype avalible)
Solution
Start screen
On the first screen I placed main control element:
— "Menu" and "Pause" button (top left);— Map and map minimize function (top right);
— "Select area mode" button and "Select all visible unit" button (bottom left);
— "Buildings" button (bottom right);
For some button I wrote a label under icon — that will help for players to remember function of button.
"Buildings" button planned for building making and can be used for Shop.
I include some gestures for useful control:
— Swype: viewport (map) mooving;
— Pinch: scale of map;
— Hold on the unit: add to group (See "Screen of group");
Unit or building menu
Unit and building have control menu bar. At now we can see unit "Красный танк" ("Red tank"). To control unit we can choose one of the actions below:
— Find unit on the map;
— Unit behavior mode (Dropdown menu);
— Advanced function;
Unit menu bar placed on bottom part of screen to focus player atention. Also I have
possibility make that buttons big and useful for RTS playing.
possibility make that buttons big and useful for RTS playing.
Why i didn't use context menu (pop-up buttons around unit)? Becouse in this case I lost visible area around unit. This is not acceptable for dynamic RTS games.
May be by some reason possible to use context menu, but in probation task case I didn't see the reason.
Same menu for unit, building and group.
Selection tool
I placed selection tool buttons in bottom left part of screen.
Selection rectangle tool mode activated by tap or hold button with rectangle icon. After that player can make selection area by swipe (map navigation disabled in selesction mode), and create group by tapping pop-up button "Создать отряд" ("Create group").
"Create group" button are displayed in place, where player up him finger. It help find button fast and continue player goal.
Second button, with round icon, select all visible unit at current screen. "Create group" button pop-up from the right from that button.
Working with group
Group of unit showed in group bar from left. Groups placed in vertical line. It scrolled after overflow.
Player can navigate to group by tappig group icon. If group placed in different parts of a map, viewport switched between group members by tap.
Swype avalible for group bar to.
Player can navigate group from group bar: player start drag group cell from group panel and drop it to viewport, like on the picture. That help navigate group without having necessarily see goup, or to find group.
Cell of group include:
— icon of group members;
— unit count;
— "ungroup" buton;
— group placment from viewport;
— group distance from viewport;
After second group was add, player can see bottom cell "All groups" ("Все отряды"). Player can select all groups from bar.
To select one more group, player can hold finger on another group cell.
Second task
Abstract
Make user interface by draft for cavalry control in tablet historical war action game.
Result (without graphic detail)
I make a lot of change from original concept. After every talk with game designer I saw difference betwen game function and given conception. After few iteration we find better solution.
