UI: Top Info Bar Organization

[dumpsterKEEPER]

Several of the recent updates have greatly improved the look and style of the top info bar. While it has already been dramatically improved, I would suggest a little more tweaking that would make it even easier to read. There are two issues that have struck me: the horizontal spacing between elements is inconsistent (widely spaced on the left and tightly packed on the right) and the lack of any grouping to highlight related information.

What I would suggest is dividing the bar into three clusters of information, with all elements within each cluster equally spaced. Adding some sort of vertical spacer between each cluster would help break up the bar into chunks that are visually distinct. These are the three clusters that logically come to mind: planet name and game time, resource information (metal, crystal, knowledge, energy), and AI info (progress level and threat display).

Since there is more unused space on the left than on the right, this could be accomplished without making the bar itself any longer. Overall I think this would make the information at the top easier to read, particularly when skimming it quickly.

[x4000]

What resolution are you playing on?  Most likely something wider than 1024.  Phil and I went through this as well ourselves in great detail, and right now we can't find any way to eke out any more space that will also be compatible with 1024-wide monitors.  We looked at doing some grouping stuff, too, but that also just never looked right because of space requirements and the fact that so much of this is dynamically sized.

The reason for the different amounts of space inside each section is based on how big the numbers can get there, by the way.  It only looks like there is more space available for metal/crystal when you have low numbers of it.  At its max size (considering the "unused" notes on the second row), there is the same amount of space between it and the other later stuff.  Same deal for AI Progress and onward.

It's definitely a challenge, but right now I think we've done about all we can with it.

[dumpsterKEEPER]

Ah, that does make sense. Yes, I am running wider than 1024 so that might make a difference.

There have been a few times where I've been maxed out on metal and crystal, and I thought I recall still having extra space (maybe the unused extractor messages make the difference?) which is what led to me thinking along these lines. It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into it already, so most likely my ideas aren't anything new

I don't think it looks bad the way it is, and I'm definitely getting used to it, I was just trying to think of some potential ways to improve it.

[x4000]

Yep, it's the unused counts that push it so very far wide -- that's the difference.  I appreciate the thoughts, for sure, and we might well revisit this at some point.  It's one of those things where we have to design for all sorts of crazy resolutions and setups, and that's quite a challenge as you might imagine!

[Valarauka]

Apologies if it's been considered before, but how about something like this?

Just split the top bar into two sections - screenshot is 1024px wide so it still works (albeit barely) there; as the screen size goes up, keep the resource bar centered, and right-align the AI status bar. The planet name / time is small enough that it can just be left there, I think, although another option is to split that off separately and left-align it.

[x4000]

Well, but I'm not really looking to have two bars.  I think that would look pretty strange at the top of the screen.  The other is really more regarding subdividing the existing bar in some way.

[Valarauka]

Fair enough.