Downlord's FAF Client

[pza]

minor stuff:
- random map, random blind map (cant see before u start, if possible at all)
- map selection filter for size/no. of players if possible

major ideas, tho not necessarily important stuff:
- tab to wiki, as web interface (or whatever equivalent you find for it)
- implementation of a unit database, preferably an auto-updating one for when balance changes happen
- update notes for game

Enhanced User Experience for new players: "basic/extended client"- checkbox somewhere visibly positioned. the "basic" client only shows most important stuff aswell as tutorial stuff. check the box and the client shows everything. (this feature is debate-able, since not everyone likes such a checkbox. it's an idea though.)

i'll let you know if i have more ideas. feel free to discuss or simply say "f*** this, because xyz".

[Blodir]

I suggest you look at #aeolus every now and then and see what people are asking a lot about - those are generally the things that need improvement. For example there's many people every single day asking about rating ("how do I find out my rating", "I played a game, but my rating didn't change", "I played a ladder game but my rating didn't change" etc.) - it's fairly easy to create an UI that answers all these questions.

[Downlord]

I do and your points are already in the pipeline Your rating will either be displayed on top directly (where it says "Downlord"), or in your stats when clicking. I also plan to notify users about new ranking after a game. However, I can only do what's not limited by the server.

Keep me updated with more of these questions.

[pza]

what do you guys think, would a "weekly poll" be manageable, or even any good? i can imagine someone would have to come up with ideas for polls like
"favourite faction" --> Aeon, Cybran, UEF, Seraphim
"favourite map" --> x, y, z, other
"best way to die" --> air drop, nuke, suicide other...

well i'm not the most creative. thoughts?

[Downlord]

well i'm not the most creative. thoughts?

I think we could notify the user about "important" votes he should participate in, like elections or something, but I don't feel like implementing some "who cares" polls no offence. They will however be able to rate maps (more prominently than at the moment) and we may collect stats about most played maps or so (becoming "favorited" automatically)

[Downlord]

The client now provides the minimum set of necessary features to be released as alpha.

You can get it here: https://github.com/micheljung/downlords ... v0.4-alpha

Keep in mind that the current goal is to implement many features rudimentary. The reason for that is to find problems as soon as possible. Once a feature has basically been implemented, polishing is the easier task.

What's new?

Proxy
The proxy code within the client now works. It's also an improvement over the original client's code (the original client allows max 11 proxied connections and uses fixed ports for those).

Map download
When joining a game, the map is downloaded automatically.

Automatic port configuration (PortCheck/UPnP)
Just after startup, the client checks whether your game port is reachable from the outside. If not, it tries to open it for you using UPnP. If this fails as well, you'll be notified.

Ladder
The 1v1 ladder is browsable and can either be searched by rank or a player name.



Chat improvements
Moderators are now correctly displayed in the "Moderators" panel. TAB auto-completion now works.

Player statistics
90-day statistics for a player can be queried. Since in my opinion the original client's graph is pretty useless (I'm interested in the change of my global rating, not at my maximum rating and the "area" in which I'm in), I reduced it to display the global ranking only.



As always, feedback appreciated.

[speed2]

TAB auto-completion works only if I start with capital letter (for those who has capital letter in nick), thats bit annoying.
I hope you'll also add colors for friends/moderators in chat.

Its nice that mods are on top, pretty clearly marked, but could you exclude AeonCom and QAI from it? so ppl dont message bots?

For the hosted games Id recommend to sort it as chat, first group all public games, second that would be below, games with password, right now its not very clear.
I guess you wants to use that Show pritave games button, but I think, putting them at the bottom would be more elegant solution.

Also I like more how FAF currently shows who's in the lobby, just hovering curson over a game is enough to quickly check. In your lobby I actually have to click every game hosted to see that. Also adding country flags to names will be good.

Otherwise it looks good, I guess some of my suggestions might be planned, but still, its better to mention it.

[---]

I havn't tested he client yet, so this comment refers only to the provided images. The client looks really nice. I would remove the4 digits after the comma (win ration). That's a bit too hard core Also numbers of games played would be easier to compare if the numbers somewho were alligned to the right.
302
...2

instead of

302
2

[Downlord]

TAB auto-completion works only if I start with capital letter

Thx, fixed.

I hope you'll also add colors for friends/moderators in chat.

Started that with Aulex on his PC

Could you exclude AeonCom and QAI from it?

Yes

For the hosted games Id recommend[...]

There's a lot going to be changed/improved in the games screen anyway. It's just rudimentary a.t.m.

I would remove the4 digits after the comma (win ration)

Oh yes, I remember that moment I wanted to change it (that's what the server sends... lol), but something must have had distracted me.

[Androish]

Here is the look on retina, with dpi scaling on