I still don't understand what you consider "a few..." 1? 10? 100? 1000? 10000?
The fact that icons were perfectly functional to all parties prior to the change points to much bigger problems within Cryptic's planning division.
"perfectly functional?"
I have to disagree there. The ONLY way to be able to tell what consoles were before this was rote memorization, because NONE of them had much if anything in common with what they did.
I have to disagree there. The ONLY way to be able to tell what consoles were before this was rote memorization, because NONE of them had much if anything in common with what they did.
What's wrong with memorization if the image identified the console's role / function on a 1-1 basis? The problem with the new icons is that they are so generic that color coding doesn't help clarify what they do. After all, why does a tac console require both a pink background and a baby-food jar image to identify when one or the other would have been enough? I'm still left guessing the item's rarity now that the purple/blue/green/white rarity factor is hidden somewhere in the icon's multi-shaded background.
No one complained about the old images until the revamp took place, and the latter left many people unable to play STO.
And yes, we've already covered this earlier in the thread.
EDIT: Instead of re-hashing the same points repeatedly without end, is it safe to conclude that the new icons do have issues that cannot be addressed short of changing their format once more?
I have to disagree there. The ONLY way to be able to tell what consoles were before this was rote memorization, because NONE of them had much if anything in common with what they did.
If the subject has been adequately covered in the past why do you keep bringing it up?
The rarity isn't hidden, it's in the lower left, just like it was on the old icons. I do liek the idea of adding tickmarks like doffs have though.
Do I think they could be made better? yes. Do I think the old icons were better? no.
Memorizing the old icons was like learning to read Mayan glyphs. Anyone can do it, but it's not quick or easy.
I agree that the old console icons were not perfect, but they were functional. Yes, you had to memorize what each image was to tell them apart. But bear in mind that every symbolic system requires memorization, from traffic signs to the Latin alphabet to Chinese characters. Do you also think the trait icons for doffs are poorly designed? I happen to think the trait icons are well designed.
I think most people agree on what can be done to improve the new icons. Make the hull plating icons more distinct from each other; the same goes for the energy tac consoles and projectile tac consoles. Change the colored gradient used to indicate rarity to a solid color (like for doffs).
If the subject has been adequately covered in the past why do you keep bringing it up?
Ahem, I only point out your old-icon-memorization-complaint's previous coverage whenever you resurrect it. If you don't complain about memorizing the old icons yet again, then I won't point out that we've already covered it.
Do I think they could be made better? yes. Do I think the old icons were better? no.
Memorizing the old icons was like learning to read Mayan glyphs. Anyone can do it, but it's not quick or easy.
This is where we can partially agree. Yes, the new icons need improvement. No, they can't possibly be better if they have generated this much negative feedback and attention. Seriously, isn't the length of this thread a big hint that something about the new icon set isn't quite right???
Please get this point straight: I DON'T want the old icons reinstated as-is. I just want new console icons that can be easily discerned from each other, memorization or not.
I agree that the old console icons were not perfect, but they were functional. Yes, you had to memorize what each image was to tell them apart. But bear in mind that every symbolic system requires memorization, from traffic signs to the Latin alphabet to Chinese characters. Do you also think the trait icons for doffs are poorly designed? I happen to think the trait icons are well designed.
I think most people agree on what can be done to improve the new icons. Make the hull plating icons more distinct from each other; the same goes for the energy tac consoles and projectile tac consoles. Change the colored gradient used to indicate rarity to a solid color (like for doffs).
Thank you frtoaster -- you nailed my point exactly.
Not really, especially when you count how many posters participated. :P
Actually it is -- if the new icons didn't have such a polarizing effect, then this thread would have died a few weeks ago. While there was plenty of back-and-forth bickering, there were also many single posts approving or disapproving the new icons. Either way, I don't see any recent change-related threads that have approached this one's behemoth participation levels.
Actually it is -- if the new icons didn't have such a polarizing effect, then this thread would have died a few weeks ago. While there was plenty of back-and-forth bickering, there were also many single posts approving or disapproving the new icons. Either way, I don't see any recent change-related threads that have approached this one's behemoth participation levels.
The Tour the Galaxy change only impacted EC-farming, and there are plenty of alternatives to generating vast EC quantities. The new icon change actually stops many from being able to play STO.
The Tour the Galaxy change only impacted EC-farming, and there are plenty of alternatives to generating vast EC quantities. The new icon change actually stops many from being able to play STO.
At least they could still play... now the latter isn't even an option for many thanks to the icon revamp. The worst part is that Cryptic refuses to acknowledge that this thread even exists
Fortunately Borderlands2 is proving to be an awesome replacement to STO. Not the same genre, but every bit as entertaining.
At least they could still play... now the latter isn't even an option for many thanks to the icon revamp. The worst part is that Cryptic refuses to acknowledge that this thread even exists
Fortunately Borderlands2 is proving to be an awesome replacement to STO. Not the same genre, but every bit as entertaining.
You could play if you really wanted to. you just choose not to...
You could play if you really wanted to. you just choose not to...
But why play and support a game you no longer enjoy? The icon change has taken that element away from me, so until Cryptic gets rid of the new nauseating color schemes and confusing icon imagery, I'm better off putting my time and money elsewhere.
There are a lot of people who have complained about this 'artwork'. I'm visually impaired and cannot make head not tail of these new icons and their insipid colours.
All I want is the ability to CHOOSE which icon set to use in my game setup so I can play the game rather than reading the description of every console in my inventory before finding what I need.
I must admit, i am not a fan of the new icons either. Previously, i had a much easier time seeing what was what. The only easy thing with the new icons, are the colour-coding of the tac, eng and sci consoles. What they are, on the other hand demands a mouse-over and reading the tooltip.
I have to read every icon description now, which means I have less time to spend in the game giving PWE/Cryptic my money. Make it easy for us. Try again on the graphics art! FAIL!
I have to read every icon description now, which means I have less time to spend in the game giving PWE/Cryptic my money. Make it easy for us. Try again on the graphics art! FAIL!
I totally agree, but it seems that Cryptic / PWE is hell-bent on ignoring this thread to death given their lack of any feedback whatsoever.
When the icon change went live, there were numerous complaint threads that were consolidated into this one. After that, Cryptic went completely silent, never to revisit this topic again. Any official answer would have been appreciated, but all we received so far are ***crickets*** Worst of all, we're not allowed to create survey nor petition threads either since it violates PWE's forum use rules.
I find such CS tactics absolutely deplorable, so I've stopped sinking any further funds into STO (and I've spent thousands already, so GG Cryptic).
It's very disappointing they ignoring this and pretending that people with visual problems still exist.
I have to say I'm disappointed too.
I was holding off on posting this to see if Cryptic would do anything about it, but since it seems that they aren't going to address this, I think I will.
There is an organization out there who both supports and advocates on the behalf of disabled/impaired gamers.
Visual disabilities and impairments definitely count. In the past I've seen them conduct interviews with major game developers on how accessible their games are for people with disabilities. They do game reviews and even reach out to developers to try to get changes made to help people out.
It might be time to contact them with a quick write up about this. Obviously there's no way to know if anything will come of it, but at the very least they can get the word out that STO is being very unfriendly to those of us with visual impairments.
Since you have decided to ignore the visually disabled in favour of the console revamp, thereby making it a lot harder for visually disabled people to at least save some time in this game, and since you seem to now be rubbing salt in the wounds with this latest Crystalline event (yeah, screen CONSTANTLY covered in static does wonders for a screen magnifier) I have forwarded this thread to the following people and magazines.
Jim Doherty, UK Disabled Gamers Group
Leslie Thompson, Disabled Gaming
Anthony Wilson, UK Visually Impaired Gamers Group
James Robertson, PC Gamer Magazine (UK)
I've also contacted a few friends I still have in CBS (since i used to work in Interplay when they still held the first run of Star Trek games licenses) to inform them of Cryptics lack of care, understanding and complete incompetency.
If you lot was working under me back in the nineties, i'd have sacked the lot of you. Hopefully a couple of the above mentioned folks will throw out an article or two.
As for me, i've had it with this game. An MMO which had a lot of potential, unfortunately ruined by the company who is running it.
"You know when that shark bites, with its teeth dear... scarlet billows start to spread..."
Since you have decided to ignore the visually disabled in favour of the console revamp, thereby making it a lot harder for visually disabled people to at least save some time in this game, and since you seem to now be rubbing salt in the wounds with this latest Crystalline event (yeah, screen CONSTANTLY covered in static does wonders for a screen magnifier) I have forwarded this thread to the following people and magazines.
Jim Doherty, UK Disabled Gamers Group
Leslie Thompson, Disabled Gaming
Anthony Wilson, UK Visually Impaired Gamers Group
James Robertson, PC Gamer Magazine (UK)
I've also contacted a few friends I still have in CBS (since i used to work in Interplay when they still held the first run of Star Trek games licenses) to inform them of Cryptics lack of care, understanding and complete incompetency.
If you lot was working under me back in the nineties, i'd have sacked the lot of you. Hopefully a couple of the above mentioned folks will throw out an article or two.
As for me, i've had it with this game. An MMO which had a lot of potential, unfortunately ruined by the company who is running it.
Nicely stated, not surprised coming from someone such as yourself.
Comments
I have to disagree there. The ONLY way to be able to tell what consoles were before this was rote memorization, because NONE of them had much if anything in common with what they did.
My character Tsin'xing
What's wrong with memorization if the image identified the console's role / function on a 1-1 basis? The problem with the new icons is that they are so generic that color coding doesn't help clarify what they do. After all, why does a tac console require both a pink background and a baby-food jar image to identify when one or the other would have been enough? I'm still left guessing the item's rarity now that the purple/blue/green/white rarity factor is hidden somewhere in the icon's multi-shaded background.
No one complained about the old images until the revamp took place, and the latter left many people unable to play STO.
And yes, we've already covered this earlier in the thread.
EDIT: Instead of re-hashing the same points repeatedly without end, is it safe to conclude that the new icons do have issues that cannot be addressed short of changing their format once more?
The rarity isn't hidden, it's in the lower left, just like it was on the old icons. I do liek the idea of adding tickmarks like doffs have though.
Do I think they could be made better? yes. Do I think the old icons were better? no.
Memorizing the old icons was like learning to read Mayan glyphs. Anyone can do it, but it's not quick or easy.
My character Tsin'xing
I agree that the old console icons were not perfect, but they were functional. Yes, you had to memorize what each image was to tell them apart. But bear in mind that every symbolic system requires memorization, from traffic signs to the Latin alphabet to Chinese characters. Do you also think the trait icons for doffs are poorly designed? I happen to think the trait icons are well designed.
I think most people agree on what can be done to improve the new icons. Make the hull plating icons more distinct from each other; the same goes for the energy tac consoles and projectile tac consoles. Change the colored gradient used to indicate rarity to a solid color (like for doffs).
Ahem, I only point out your old-icon-memorization-complaint's previous coverage whenever you resurrect it. If you don't complain about memorizing the old icons yet again, then I won't point out that we've already covered it.
This is where we can partially agree. Yes, the new icons need improvement. No, they can't possibly be better if they have generated this much negative feedback and attention. Seriously, isn't the length of this thread a big hint that something about the new icon set isn't quite right???
Please get this point straight: I DON'T want the old icons reinstated as-is. I just want new console icons that can be easily discerned from each other, memorization or not.
Thank you frtoaster -- you nailed my point exactly.
My character Tsin'xing
Actually it is -- if the new icons didn't have such a polarizing effect, then this thread would have died a few weeks ago. While there was plenty of back-and-forth bickering, there were also many single posts approving or disapproving the new icons. Either way, I don't see any recent change-related threads that have approached this one's behemoth participation levels.
My character Tsin'xing
The Tour the Galaxy change only impacted EC-farming, and there are plenty of alternatives to generating vast EC quantities. The new icon change actually stops many from being able to play STO.
Not quite the same, eh?
My character Tsin'xing
At least they could still play... now the latter isn't even an option for many thanks to the icon revamp. The worst part is that Cryptic refuses to acknowledge that this thread even exists
Fortunately Borderlands2 is proving to be an awesome replacement to STO. Not the same genre, but every bit as entertaining.
My character Tsin'xing
But why play and support a game you no longer enjoy? The icon change has taken that element away from me, so until Cryptic gets rid of the new nauseating color schemes and confusing icon imagery, I'm better off putting my time and money elsewhere.
Perhaps I am in the minority, but the game is becoming less accessible to me because of changes like these.
All I want is the ability to CHOOSE which icon set to use in my game setup so I can play the game rather than reading the description of every console in my inventory before finding what I need.
Hence, I 'Need' everything during PvE missions.
I totally agree, but it seems that Cryptic / PWE is hell-bent on ignoring this thread to death given their lack of any feedback whatsoever.
When the icon change went live, there were numerous complaint threads that were consolidated into this one. After that, Cryptic went completely silent, never to revisit this topic again. Any official answer would have been appreciated, but all we received so far are ***crickets*** Worst of all, we're not allowed to create survey nor petition threads either since it violates PWE's forum use rules.
I find such CS tactics absolutely deplorable, so I've stopped sinking any further funds into STO (and I've spent thousands already, so GG Cryptic).
I have to say I'm disappointed too.
I was holding off on posting this to see if Cryptic would do anything about it, but since it seems that they aren't going to address this, I think I will.
There is an organization out there who both supports and advocates on the behalf of disabled/impaired gamers.
http://www.ablegamers.com/
Visual disabilities and impairments definitely count. In the past I've seen them conduct interviews with major game developers on how accessible their games are for people with disabilities. They do game reviews and even reach out to developers to try to get changes made to help people out.
It might be time to contact them with a quick write up about this. Obviously there's no way to know if anything will come of it, but at the very least they can get the word out that STO is being very unfriendly to those of us with visual impairments.
Mine Trap Supporter
Since you have decided to ignore the visually disabled in favour of the console revamp, thereby making it a lot harder for visually disabled people to at least save some time in this game, and since you seem to now be rubbing salt in the wounds with this latest Crystalline event (yeah, screen CONSTANTLY covered in static does wonders for a screen magnifier) I have forwarded this thread to the following people and magazines.
Jim Doherty, UK Disabled Gamers Group
Leslie Thompson, Disabled Gaming
Anthony Wilson, UK Visually Impaired Gamers Group
James Robertson, PC Gamer Magazine (UK)
I've also contacted a few friends I still have in CBS (since i used to work in Interplay when they still held the first run of Star Trek games licenses) to inform them of Cryptics lack of care, understanding and complete incompetency.
If you lot was working under me back in the nineties, i'd have sacked the lot of you. Hopefully a couple of the above mentioned folks will throw out an article or two.
As for me, i've had it with this game. An MMO which had a lot of potential, unfortunately ruined by the company who is running it.
Nicely stated, not surprised coming from someone such as yourself.