Sleuth Home - Message Boards - Sleuth Talk


0 0
I've tried...
  <<First Page  |  <Previous Next>  |  Last Page>>  

cfm
cfm
Nomad

Mar-16-2005 20:18

Really, I have, but I still miss my sidebar! Anyone else wishing the handy little thing would be gifted back to us? Especially with all the traveling, trying to keep track of what is where, it would make it so much nicer.

*gets down on her knees, folds her hands, and looks up pleadingly*

Ben, please, I'm begging you, will you at least consider bringing it back?

Replies

jstkdn
jstkdn
Well-Connected

Mar-24-2005 16:25

Torrey has a point. And Jameslee, if we would go back to a new slow loading side bar. Further, I don't care. I don't think it is much harder work, with or without side bar. And personally, I don't mind going without out it, if it means someone with a slower connection will be hurting over it if we do get it back.

I am not sure what the use of a petition is, since there is only 1 party we can vote for. And, those with slower connections whom would be hurting over the side bar, won't be reading the message board as it is too slow for them to load.

Also I think a petition is a bit rude to Ben. He works his tail off on his spare time. And I never liked it when people get to forceful about implementing something that is a bit more work. I think we should stay with suggestions and ideas.

There are way more important issues in Sleuth, that we should be petitioning for. My 2 cts.

Makensie Brewer
Makensie Brewer
Super Steeper

Mar-24-2005 18:40

Even tho I wasn't around when the side bar was here, I dont even know what it is haha....BUT, I like how it is now, and I find it quite easy to get around. Either way, doesnt really matter to me....I'm satisfied with how it is now tho :)

cfm
cfm
Nomad

Mar-24-2005 19:09

Let me say that I am on dial up. I really haven't noticed a difference with or without the sidebar as far as loading time. However, the sidebar loaded much quicker than the map does, and I would love to have it back. I do see the complications with the new cities, and I trust that Ben will do what is best for the game as a whole, as he always does. I just thought it was worth the effort to see if others are still missing the sidebar as much as I am.

James_Lee
James_Lee

Mar-24-2005 20:18

i too am on dial up and it is hampering the loading speed, the only thing i can find unfavorable about this map is that the colors load last and i like the colors

jstkdn
jstkdn
Well-Connected

Mar-25-2005 02:42

We have to keep in mind one dial up is not the other. I kill dial up markets for a living, hahah. Or to put it nicer, I implement broadband infrastructures. :)
On a lot of dial ups, this game is play-able with or without side bar. Loading the bar would take longer by definition, but not annoyingly long. However, I'd say for the majority of dial ups (particularly those outside of the North-American continent), the side bar could disappoint someone whom is now used to playing without it. That's the problem, people are now used to playing without it.

I have tried to play this game on dial up connection from several business trips. I got so worked up about it....that I decided to wait until I got home, and rather play my games comfortable over cable. Loading bar and map, were just too much wait for. Even on a cable connection there were times, that I had the same problem. I haven't since Ben installed the new hardware, performance is great. But as more subscribers will go on, these times will re-visit again, at least temporarily. There is after all a point where new hardware is nice, going to a point where new hardware is absolutely required to bump up performance.

The bar got taken away during a time, where Ben did not install new hardware yet. And the change of loading speed, and aggravation, were significant.

However, I think there are solutions that would accomodate everyone.
1. Possibility to have the side bar optional.
2. Instead of using graphics as a side bar, using links.
3. Instead of having a side bar with rather big icons. For instance minimize the icons we have currently on the map to a few milimeters (for those not on metric, very very small), and instead of being as big as them spanning from top to bottom next to the map. Have them be only a bit bigger then a button, so you can just make out what the picture is. Small tiny little squares. Either Ben puts those in by seperate graphics, or even better as a image map.






jstkdn
jstkdn
Well-Connected

Mar-25-2005 02:46

So there, problem solved. :)

jstkdn
jstkdn
Well-Connected

Mar-25-2005 02:56

As a time saver to Ben, for now he could do this. Having tiny little links.

For instance for NYC.
BRB FTT
BNK WTR
TLR BAR
SHM PST

This would take up as much space as I wrote it above. And still indicating all PE places, and non-PE places.

Then forget about the detective shop, and real estate.

Technically there would even be space for it in the area above the tabs (HQ, city hall etc), next to the sleuth logo.

Or another very simple solution. Which would make the side bar almost optional, without Ben having to create something that puts in rules. Have another page, where the map is not present, but the side bar is. The situation gets really interesting now, as someone on a dial up, would not use the map page, but the side bar page.



Dogberta
Dogberta
Nomad

Mar-25-2005 04:02

No think you for tiny icons or tiny anything. When I play at home with my Mac and 52K dialup, the images are still too small - remember the flap when Ben redid the page, and some of us could barely see the fonts. I've been able to get the text bigger by adjusting my browser but the images are still the same size. Interestingly not a problem on my PC at work, though there are other problems there (like it being work...)

Anyway, please think of the visually impaired as well as the connection impaired - I think its ok now.


Sleuth Admin
Sleuth Admin
Tale Spinner

Mar-25-2005 07:50

Thanks for coming to my rescue Nikkie, but I don't mind petitions. Whatever feedback you guys want to give me is good, I do read most of it, even if I often don't chime in on certain issues.

I think we could do a sidebar (actually, I always though of it as a map legend) without much effect on performance. I would probably use the same images that are already on the map, so I would not be adding to the total number of file downloads. However, the javascript for doing mouseovers might be a little slower (3 swaps per rollover instead of 2).

My biggest concern is the varying layout issue, but I'll play around with it when i have time. I still have some other priorities though right now though.

Jojo
Jojo
Old Shoe

Mar-25-2005 13:53

I like the idea of an "optional sidebar"! Great thinking!


Thanks to all who voted in the SHHL poll! For Ben, here are the results:

1. Sidebar: 44 votes - 81%
2. No sidebar: 10 votes - 19%


Thanks again to all who voted...



*hopes that convinces Ben*

  <<First Page  |  <Previous Next>  |  Last Page>>  

[ You must login to reply ]