Console UI for PC?

captainpost

Is there anyway to get the devs to put the console UI into the PC version? I would love to use the controller for this game with the proper UI.

duncanidaho11

Nope, a lot of the technical gubbins in the data tubes had to be reworked for the new UI on console. It's not simply a layer added on top of the PC version of STO. Apparently, they'd need to rebuild it (repeating a major point in the development of the console port) with the added layer of complexity that it would have to simultaneously support the old PC UI (something the consoles didn't have to worry about.) Plus, rebuilding this system would also represent an opportunity cost in not being able to build something else which was more directly impactful to the STO experience (ex. a new system for Tardigrade breeding, clearly the most pressing omission at this point.)

So, console-style controller support would be a nice option to have but circumstances aren't right for bringing it over to the PC version. I'd look for it in Cryptic's next MMO (they may approach the technical parts of the UI with multi-platform in mind).

jaguarskx

Well back around the summer of 2016 when Cryptic was demonstrating the console version of STO in Germany, the devs in fact were showing off what the console version would like on the PC. Therefore, the custom PC version of STO had the UI that would appear on the console version of the game.

There was a huge interest in having the console UI be officially implemented into the PC version of STO; Germany has the 2nd largest player base behind the US. The only response from Cryptic was, "We will look into it".

duncanidaho11

jaguarskx wrote: »

Well back around the summer of 2016 when Cryptic was demonstrating the console version of STO in Germany, the devs in fact were showing off what the console version would like on the PC.

I'd interpret that as them demoing the console iteration of STO on PC hardware instead of exporting it to a console dev kit. Remember, this is a software problem, not hardware. Running the console version of STO on developer work station doesn't mean that the PC build (an entity in software) can accept the changes required to run the console UI without terrible complication (which is how devs have handled the question subsequently: it's a big project and probably not something they'll ever do.)

markhawkman

Honestly the only thing i really want from the console UI is the ability to give bridge officers standing orders.

seaofsorrows

It would be nice, but I don't expect it will ever happen.

I would still play with keyboard/mouse most of the time, but it would be a nice option to be able to play with a controller from my couch on my big TV.

I don't believe for one second that it would be all that hard to do, it's certainly not impossible. It's just a matter of Cryptic being willing to devote the time and effort do doing it. It probably wouldn't make them any additional revenue, so in all fairness.. I can understand their hesitance to do it.

tyler002

I don't havemuch interest in the console UI on PC, but there are some things I think would be good to transfer over. Such as the way the Shipyard is organized.

warpangel

markhawkman wrote: »

Honestly the only thing i really want from the console UI is the ability to give bridge officers standing orders.

Me too. That's the most obviously useful feature, even for people using mouse-keyboard controls.

On the other hand, the game does contain official, named support for "Xbox gamepads" as a control option so it seems odd they don't have a UI that could be reasonably operated with one.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

leemwatson

sophlogimo wrote: »

Well, technically, can you not play the Xbox version of the game on Windows 10?

But I'd be happy if we could just right-click on powers to put them on "autofire" as we can do with weapons.

As someone who plays both PC and XB1 versions, you don't want the Console UI on PC OP. Even though the auto-triggers are useful, they actually are a hinderance when compared to the PC version. You'll have powers popping when you don't need them, keeping you in Red Alert for way longer and mostly importantly, you'll notice a drop in optimal DPS. With a keyboard you can tactically choose when and where to use your powers many times faster than you can using the 'wheel' of the Console UI. The only people that the Console UI will benefit are those who have physical difficulties, if you don't have any, don't bother.

warpangel

leemwatson wrote: »

sophlogimo wrote: »

Well, technically, can you not play the Xbox version of the game on Windows 10?

But I'd be happy if we could just right-click on powers to put them on "autofire" as we can do with weapons.

As someone who plays both PC and XB1 versions, you don't want the Console UI on PC OP. Even though the auto-triggers are useful, they actually are a hinderance when compared to the PC version. You'll have powers popping when you don't need them, keeping you in Red Alert for way longer and mostly importantly, you'll notice a drop in optimal DPS. With a keyboard you can tactically choose when and where to use your powers many times faster than you can using the 'wheel' of the Console UI. The only people that the Console UI will benefit are those who have physical difficulties, if you don't have any, don't bother.

Well I for one couldn't care less about "optimal DPS." The game is effing easy. Having abilities on auto-triggers would be more convenient than the current spacebar-mashing as well as more immersive like being a real starship captain with, you know, a bridge crew to mash buttons for me.

leemwatson

warpangel wrote: »

leemwatson wrote: »

sophlogimo wrote: »

Well, technically, can you not play the Xbox version of the game on Windows 10?

But I'd be happy if we could just right-click on powers to put them on "autofire" as we can do with weapons.

As someone who plays both PC and XB1 versions, you don't want the Console UI on PC OP. Even though the auto-triggers are useful, they actually are a hinderance when compared to the PC version. You'll have powers popping when you don't need them, keeping you in Red Alert for way longer and mostly importantly, you'll notice a drop in optimal DPS. With a keyboard you can tactically choose when and where to use your powers many times faster than you can using the 'wheel' of the Console UI. The only people that the Console UI will benefit are those who have physical difficulties, if you don't have any, don't bother.

Well I for one couldn't care less about "optimal DPS." The game is effing easy. Having abilities on auto-triggers would be more convenient than the current spacebar-mashing as well as more immersive like being a real starship captain with, you know, a bridge crew to mash buttons for me.

I completely get you on this. I've been playing the XB1 alot cause I had a shoulder op recently. The auto-triggers are a real pain in the back-side though. I too don't care about DPS, but I care more about tactical combat on PC and I only use the keyboard with minor use of the touchpad. It's far more efficient for me.

warpangel

leemwatson wrote: »

warpangel wrote: »

leemwatson wrote: »

sophlogimo wrote: »

Well, technically, can you not play the Xbox version of the game on Windows 10?

But I'd be happy if we could just right-click on powers to put them on "autofire" as we can do with weapons.

As someone who plays both PC and XB1 versions, you don't want the Console UI on PC OP. Even though the auto-triggers are useful, they actually are a hinderance when compared to the PC version. You'll have powers popping when you don't need them, keeping you in Red Alert for way longer and mostly importantly, you'll notice a drop in optimal DPS. With a keyboard you can tactically choose when and where to use your powers many times faster than you can using the 'wheel' of the Console UI. The only people that the Console UI will benefit are those who have physical difficulties, if you don't have any, don't bother.

Well I for one couldn't care less about "optimal DPS." The game is effing easy. Having abilities on auto-triggers would be more convenient than the current spacebar-mashing as well as more immersive like being a real starship captain with, you know, a bridge crew to mash buttons for me.

I completely get you on this. I've been playing the XB1 alot cause I had a shoulder op recently. The auto-triggers are a real pain in the back-side though. I too don't care about DPS, but I care more about tactical combat on PC and I only use the keyboard with minor use of the touchpad. It's far more efficient for me.

In any case, it would be better to have the option to use the auto-triggers. People who don't want them don't have to use them.

leemwatson

warpangel wrote: »

leemwatson wrote: »

warpangel wrote: »

leemwatson wrote: »

sophlogimo wrote: »

Well, technically, can you not play the Xbox version of the game on Windows 10?

But I'd be happy if we could just right-click on powers to put them on "autofire" as we can do with weapons.

As someone who plays both PC and XB1 versions, you don't want the Console UI on PC OP. Even though the auto-triggers are useful, they actually are a hinderance when compared to the PC version. You'll have powers popping when you don't need them, keeping you in Red Alert for way longer and mostly importantly, you'll notice a drop in optimal DPS. With a keyboard you can tactically choose when and where to use your powers many times faster than you can using the 'wheel' of the Console UI. The only people that the Console UI will benefit are those who have physical difficulties, if you don't have any, don't bother.

Well I for one couldn't care less about "optimal DPS." The game is effing easy. Having abilities on auto-triggers would be more convenient than the current spacebar-mashing as well as more immersive like being a real starship captain with, you know, a bridge crew to mash buttons for me.

I completely get you on this. I've been playing the XB1 alot cause I had a shoulder op recently. The auto-triggers are a real pain in the back-side though. I too don't care about DPS, but I care more about tactical combat on PC and I only use the keyboard with minor use of the touchpad. It's far more efficient for me.

In any case, it would be better to have the option to use the auto-triggers. People who don't want them don't have to use them.

Oh absolutely I do agree. I'm just adding context to the discussion as I do list the pro's and con's of the UI and auto-triggers.

markhawkman

warpangel wrote: »

markhawkman wrote: »

Honestly the only thing i really want from the console UI is the ability to give bridge officers standing orders.

Me too. That's the most obviously useful feature, even for people using mouse-keyboard controls.

On the other hand, the game does contain official, named support for "Xbox gamepads" as a control option so it seems odd they don't have a UI that could be reasonably operated with one.

I've experimented with joysticks enough that I managed to rig basic weapon controls and movement in space. mapping the full power tray seems impractical, but you could set categories of abilities and trigger abilities by category with a joystick button. The one I experimented with had 8 or so buttons I hadn't used for anything. You could have hull heals on a button, etc... but a sophisticated setup would need to be customized for each build and to make it more versatile you might have to use tray exec and set binds by tray. Either way it's a lot of work.

leemwatson wrote: »

sophlogimo wrote: »

Well, technically, can you not play the Xbox version of the game on Windows 10?

But I'd be happy if we could just right-click on powers to put them on "autofire" as we can do with weapons.

As someone who plays both PC and XB1 versions, you don't want the Console UI on PC OP. Even though the auto-triggers are useful, they actually are a hinderance when compared to the PC version. You'll have powers popping when you don't need them, keeping you in Red Alert for way longer and mostly importantly, you'll notice a drop in optimal DPS. With a keyboard you can tactically choose when and where to use your powers many times faster than you can using the 'wheel' of the Console UI. The only people that the Console UI will benefit are those who have physical difficulties, if you don't have any, don't bother.

If you use it in a limited way, such as automatically using hull heals when your hull drops below 50% for example, that would be a nice option to have.

leemwatson

markhawkman wrote: »

warpangel wrote: »

markhawkman wrote: »

Honestly the only thing i really want from the console UI is the ability to give bridge officers standing orders.

Me too. That's the most obviously useful feature, even for people using mouse-keyboard controls.

On the other hand, the game does contain official, named support for "Xbox gamepads" as a control option so it seems odd they don't have a UI that could be reasonably operated with one.

I've experimented with joysticks enough that I managed to rig basic weapon controls and movement in space. mapping the full power tray seems impractical, but you could set categories of abilities and trigger abilities by category with a joystick button. The one I experimented with had 8 or so buttons I hadn't used for anything. You could have hull heals on a button, etc... but a sophisticated setup would need to be customized for each build and to make it more versatile you might have to use tray exec and set binds by tray. Either way it's a lot of work.

leemwatson wrote: »

sophlogimo wrote: »

Well, technically, can you not play the Xbox version of the game on Windows 10?

But I'd be happy if we could just right-click on powers to put them on "autofire" as we can do with weapons.

As someone who plays both PC and XB1 versions, you don't want the Console UI on PC OP. Even though the auto-triggers are useful, they actually are a hinderance when compared to the PC version. You'll have powers popping when you don't need them, keeping you in Red Alert for way longer and mostly importantly, you'll notice a drop in optimal DPS. With a keyboard you can tactically choose when and where to use your powers many times faster than you can using the 'wheel' of the Console UI. The only people that the Console UI will benefit are those who have physical difficulties, if you don't have any, don't bother.

If you use it in a limited way, such as automatically using hull heals when your hull drops below 50% for example, that would be a nice option to have.

There are options on some powers for such, but where you want powers to trigger ASA available (Tac team, EPtW etc), it's a royal pain sometimes....lol.

nimbull

I hope it's optional if they do put the console UI in. I'm not a fan of console/mobile UI interfaces on desktop applications.

postagepaid

I'd rather they finish off the console version first rather than add the half done system onto the PC.

To clarify there are things that appear on the radial menus that really don't belong there in combat such as lobi store or a different phoenix store entry for each token you happen to have on you.

I've got abilities tied to rep traits that I don't have slotted yet the radial has them listed.

Abilities will decide to alter their position. Not a good thing for combat.

Autofiring of abilities covers only some abilities, as such its a job half done. Autofiring of abilities also shouldn't continue for so long after the last hostile is dead.

And of course there's the botched aiming system that will randomly glue onto things in another room or anything that isn't a hostile. Target locking when there's a massive thing like the kethi station nearby becomes a total mess, especially when the ai ship you want to shoot at has flown into the station.