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<H1>[MUD-Dev] Usability and interface and who the hell is suppo</H1>
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<LI><em>To</em>: <A HREF="mailto:mud-dev#null,net">mud-dev#null,net</A></LI>
<LI><em>Subject</em>: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface and who the hell is suppo</LI>
<LI><em>From</em>: Maddy <<A HREF="mailto:maddy#fysh,org">maddy#fysh,org</A>></LI>
<LI><em>Date</em>: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 14:40:30 +0100 (BST)</LI>
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<PRE>
Previously, Travis Casey wrote....
> clawrenc#cup,hp.com <clawrenc#cup,hp.com> wrote:
> >What is wrong with:
> >
> > > get rock
> > Do you want the:
> > 1) stone
> > 2) pebble
> > 3) gem
> > 4) boulder
> > 0) Cancel command
> > >
> >
> >?
> >
> >No ambiguity, simple interface, obvious, easily learnable,
> >predictable...
>
> The "cancel command" part seems to imply a modal interface, which can be bad
> in a time-intensive situation, such as combat. Also, this could be annoying
> if the command was typed by accident... for a somewhat silly example:
>
> The orc draws his sword!
>
> > weld sword
> Do you want to weld the:
> 1) long sword (in scabbard)
> 2) two-handed sword
> 3) short sword
> 0) cancel
>
> The orc attacks you!
>
> > wield sword
> I'm sorry, that isn't one of the options.
>
> The orc strikes you with his sword, cutting your arm!
> You swing a fist at him, but miss.
>
> > 0
> Command canceled.
With a system like this I'd expect (at least if it was one keypress) the
interface to switch into mode-char so you didn't need to press enter, but
that is just an aside.
I think such a system would work far better if it was....
>weld sword
Do you want to weld the:
1) long sword (in scabbard)
2) two-handed sword
3) short sword
>wield sword
[Canceling weld menu]
You wield the sword.
Namely that if you type something which is not a valid option, it's assumed
that it's another command and you want to cancel. This (in my mind) works
more along the way that players type. If they make a mistake - they quickly
retype (usually with the same mistake) the command.
Maddy
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<ul><li>Thread context:
<BLOCKQUOTE><UL>
<LI><STRONG>Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface and who the hell is suppo</STRONG>, <EM>(continued)</EM>
<ul compact>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01470" HREF="msg01470.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface and who the hell is suppo</A></strong>,
Travis Casey <a href="mailto:efindel#polaris,net">efindel#polaris,net</a>, Fri 26 Sep 1997, 00:59 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01509" HREF="msg01509.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface and who the hell is suppo</A></strong>,
Chris Gray <a href="mailto:cg#ami-cg,GraySage.Edmonton.AB.CA">cg#ami-cg,GraySage.Edmonton.AB.CA</a>, Sat 27 Sep 1997, 17:16 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01513" HREF="msg01513.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface and who the hell is suppo</A></strong>,
Brandon J. Rickman <a href="mailto:ashes#pc4,zennet.com">ashes#pc4,zennet.com</a>, Sat 27 Sep 1997, 20:58 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01514" HREF="msg01514.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface and who the hell is suppo</A></strong>,
Travis Casey <a href="mailto:efindel#polaris,net">efindel#polaris,net</a>, Sat 27 Sep 1997, 23:15 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01530" HREF="msg01530.html">[MUD-Dev] Usability and interface and who the hell is suppo</A></strong>,
Maddy <a href="mailto:maddy#fysh,org">maddy#fysh,org</a>, Mon 29 Sep 1997, 13:40 GMT
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01549" HREF="msg01549.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface and who the hell is suppo</A></strong>,
Brandon J. Rickman <a href="mailto:ashes#pc4,zennet.com">ashes#pc4,zennet.com</a>, Tue 30 Sep 1997, 22:04 GMT
</LI>
</ul>
</LI>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01275" HREF="msg01275.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface and who the hell is suppo</A></strong>,
Chris Gray <a href="mailto:cg#ami-cg,GraySage.Edmonton.AB.CA">cg#ami-cg,GraySage.Edmonton.AB.CA</a>, Fri 19 Sep 1997, 14:46 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01310" HREF="msg01310.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface and who the hell is suppo</A></strong>,
Jon A. Lambert <a href="mailto:jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com">jlsysinc#ix,netcom.com</a>, Sat 20 Sep 1997, 06:22 GMT
<UL>
<LI><strong><A NAME="01326" HREF="msg01326.html">Re: [MUD-Dev] Usability and interface and who the hell is suppo</A></strong>,
Caliban Tiresias Darklock <a href="mailto:caliban#darklock,com">caliban#darklock,com</a>, Sat 20 Sep 1997, 20:19 GMT
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
</UL>
</LI>
</UL></BLOCKQUOTE>
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