[CONCEPT] A more fitting GUI

[groenroos]

So this isn't exactly a mod per se, since I haven't actually done any development. Currently, this is just a concept I'm working on. I'm not even sure if this is achievable or not in the current version of the alpha and its modding tools.

Anyway, one thing that I really hate about the game is how the gray plain UI does not fit it whatsoever. This is further compounded by how much I adore the desert-western-swordy-steampunky thing it has going on. But I get it that it's an alpha, written by a single guy, maybe fretting about the appearance of a button shouldn't be the top priority.

So I made a better GUI myself. Inspired by the architecture in the game, and Age of Empires. Mind you, this is still WIP and it's a graphical upgrade only, the layout of stuff still being the same.


Concept image


Click for full size.

Original reference screenshot; http://tinyurl.com/buxskff


So, as I'm only a noob in the game (bought it yesterday), I'd like the input of you veterans on how well you think this fits the style of the game, and how playable you reckon this would be.

Any opinions and help about turning this flat image into an actual GUI mod would also be appreciated. Thanks!

[Horasm]

Nice! is it a way to dl it?

Edit: Finaly... not nice. PERFECT!

[Kelly0o0]

Where can i download this?

[groenroos]

Hi guys! Thanks for the interest!

As I mentioned in the post, unfortunately this is only a concept for now. I've been playing around with the modding tools a bit, but I don't still know whether making this UI with the current tools is possible or not. Somebody more versed in Kenshi mods probably could tell me.

[Horasm]

i have pass few time to (try to) understand how modify this GUI and it looks like a sort of CS sheet type. Not easy to place a texture on this cause the size of button, panels etc is determined by a code, probably an *.xml file. Not realy sur about that cause im a total noob with this.

[Sydious]

fekkin smik

but yea, u should put it up as is and up date with newer/different versions as you change things. I can see this getting a lot of attention. I'd grab it straight out 'ey

[KEBW1144]

So this isn't exactly a mod per se, since I haven't actually done any development. Currently, this is just a concept I'm working on. I'm not even sure if this is achievable or not in the current version of the alpha and its modding tools.

Anyway, one thing that I really hate about the game is how the gray plain UI does not fit it whatsoever. This is further compounded by how much I adore the desert-western-swordy-steampunky thing it has going on. But I get it that it's an alpha, written by a single guy, maybe fretting about the appearance of a button shouldn't be the top priority.

So I made a better GUI myself. Inspired by the architecture in the game, and Age of Empires. Mind you, this is still WIP and it's a graphical upgrade only, the layout of stuff still being the same.


Concept image


Click for full size.

Original reference screenshot; http://tinyurl.com/buxskff


So, as I'm only a noob in the game (bought it yesterday), I'd like the input of you veterans on how well you think this fits the style of the game, and how playable you reckon this would be.

Any opinions and help about turning this flat image into an actual GUI mod would also be appreciated. Thanks!

As a player of probably around 10 hours I would say awsome. At this point anything is better than the current. That being said I think the designer said he would be implementing different climates eventually, so after that I am not sure if the post apocalyptic feel would still go with the game ..... not sure the eventual graphical direction the Dev is gonna take it so I can't say. But seriously upload it then go from there.

Cheers!

[groenroos]

That being said I think the designer said he would be implementing different climates eventually, so after that I am not sure if the post apocalyptic feel would still go with the game .....

Perhaps when that time comes, the GUI could be customized to an extent that its graphics always go with the current climate/biome. So in a snowy environment, the GUI is more frosty and arctic looking, in a forest, you'd get a more leafy mossy thing going...

Anyway, I'm still only maybe 10% into making even this interface into an actual mod, let alone make multiple versions. I'll keep this thread updated on the progress.

[Slaineify]

This is beautiful :'o

[Sydious]

please can u upload this......... PLEASE!!! *on knees, groveling like a hungry baby*

[groenroos]

Hi guys,

So what was originally just a concept (that is, a screenshot I just photoshopped a better UI into), due to popular request I now started actually building it.

Let me say first; they have not made it easy. Kenshi seems to be using a third-party library called "MyGUI", and there's next to zero useful documentation anywhere on the planet.

The biggest problem I'm facing is the rusty metal borders around the main interface; as far as I've been able to find, only the rightmost panel (run, jog, walk, etc.) has an editable file, others seem hardcoded into the game, and I can't edit them. I'm hoping that this will change in future updates.

Overall, I think in the current version, it's not possible to make the UI look exactly like in my photoshopped concept image.

But I'll give it a shot anyway. I've so far recreated the window and button styles. Check it out;


Actual in-game screenshot.

Obviously this isn't ready enough for a releasable file, but I'm still hard at work at it. I'll keep you posted on how the development goes

[Sydious]

well speaking for myself I'll be waiting patiently for its release. will add a lot more depth to the UI rather than flat grey. Looking forward to it.

[xDarkGunx]

Hi guys,

So what was originally just a concept (that is, a screenshot I just photoshopped a better UI into), due to popular request I now started actually building it.

Let me say first; they have not made it easy. Kenshi seems to be using a third-party library called "MyGUI", and there's next to zero useful documentation anywhere on the planet.

The biggest problem I'm facing is the rusty metal borders around the main interface; as far as I've been able to find, only the rightmost panel (run, jog, walk, etc.) has an editable file, others seem hardcoded into the game, and I can't edit them. I'm hoping that this will change in future updates.

Overall, I think in the current version, it's not possible to make the UI look exactly like in my photoshopped concept image.

But I'll give it a shot anyway. I've so far recreated the window and button styles. Check it out;


Actual in-game screenshot.

Obviously this isn't ready enough for a releasable file, but I'm still hard at work at it. I'll keep you posted on how the development goes

This is awesome! I can't wait for the finished product.

[gremrod]

I really like the look of it. Great job!

[Nox]

+1, love the look of this GUI, would be great to see this as a mod

[groenroos]

Hi guys;

I'm glad to see so many of you are excited for this mod! It's very tedious work to make it all fit together and look nice, especially since the current GUI system likes to stretch instead of tile, so everything often ends up looking distorted...

Anyway, while you're still waiting for me to get this mod to a releasable state, I made a graphical upgrade to the lofigames.com website that should

a) go along with the GUI mod better, and
b) hopefully hold you over for a while.

Grab it here.

I welcome any feedback for the userstyle in the other thread.

Best,
- groenroos

[Gahaln]

Id say that the new look you gave would blend perfectly in with the game and to everyone who may read through this, i would say let us advise it to chris for minor updates so he can still send us small changes but still be able to focus on the more pressing issues such as walls, npcs, and etc.
I for one love the fact he is willing to let out small updates which as long as he continues this practivce will never warrant a complaint from me which we all shouldnt be doing in the first place.

[Deathhood98]

Got the one for the website and cant wait for the one in game

[iSuck345]

It just blew me away...

[groenroos]

Hey guys; glad to see you're still excited!

I've had less time to work on this the past week due to things being hectic at my dayjob, but I did do up the main menu, and the whole tutorial, where I did some styling as well as rewording.


Click for full size.


Click for full size.


Click for full size.

I am having issues with the ugly stretching behavior that MyGUI uses, and with the fact that none of the main HUD is defined in the editable UI files as far as I can tell, which makes doing the heavy styling required there... rather impossible for the time being.

I'm hoping Chris will fix that in a future update, even though I know that the GUI is of no concern to him right now (nor should it be, either).

Next up I want to make sure to have all the panels, radio buttons and sliders styled, to make sure that if I can't make the HUD exactly like I wanted it, at least I'll have all that gray removed. I also want to style the forums in the website edition. I'll keep you guys posted!