My work on GUI improvements is going on in very good tempo, altough not without obstacles...
Overall, I have managed to implement new species, new countries / factions (and eventual organizations), new modern design (still relatively minimalist), and figure out many things of how to improve GUI through coding and design, and not only for Scene Browser - but also the experience that will serve me very good in upcoming work on PE GUI.
Now, there is however a problem. You can see in below preview pic, how there are "special skill 1" and "special skill 2" - those elements should go down and would be relatively "cramped" in smaller GUI element. I have thought about increasing the Scene Browser on larger dimensions and using all the additional space for very comfortable text inputs, image placing or even comfortably using bit higher resolutions and dimensions of same elements, and larger / bolder font. Because on current default Scene Browser GUI element, which window is total dimensions of 960x640 px (thats also the model selection included from left, so whole window element), things get easily cramped and there seems to be always a need for more space.
Now, Im eager to make one thing ... expand this even more, resolution of window would be 1560x760... this means that game would be playable normally on resolutions where width and height are above the window dimensions ... so, here it would be all resolutions above 1600x900, while other smaller resolutions would have problems and displaced elements that could make things unselectable for the moment - at least until I fix them. There would be problems anyways even on 960x640 default dimensions because of usage of image elements which would get displaced also on smaller resolutions. Now, if this is acceptable by community, I will go with plan to resize things even more ... if not, Ill release it in smaller, more cramped version.
As for the fields themselves, decided to go with this "formula" :
- Name - all as default, field was given slightly more space even on this current smaller option
- Species - more species fields, all selectable and linked through scripts to display properly
- Age - as default, potentially I could expand some inputs, or even turn in into a text field, which could maybe be optimal, but its minor thing, and I left it as spinbox just because of one reason - so age is clearly defined above 18.
- Nationality - many more countries + more fictional factions and organizations - for example, I have implemented factions from Star Trek, Star Wars, 2 factions from Mass Effect and WoW, Resident Evil factions, as well as more potential.
- I have scrapped Sexual Desire preference in Scene Browser completely ... IMO, its relatively pointless, and it would be most wise to maybe have it just as text field in customizer and thats it. Instead I used its slot (which we are limited with default hardcoded links, as it seems so far ...) for other things.
- Special Skill 1 and 2 ... two specific skills / proficiencies or similar "abilities" that will be selectable in customizer and display here in Scene Browser. Will be as spinbox, ofc, both choices. I already have all icons prepared and custom made, just need to implement them...
- Custom Visuals - a specific slot I used to implement custom image that is underlayed on Scene Browser... thats the custom design you see in preview. There are more and I made more in various colors, but I will need to redesign (not a problem) if I go with higher resolution
- Voice - I have left it untouched. It is one "slot", however it has its function properly.
What Im trying to figure out : overall attempting to connect through scripts some external text file that would go into every model folder and should be auto-read and display text as biography in Scene Browser. Technically, something like that can already be set through UniqueID (which every model uses) but Ill think about multiple approaches to solution.
Sadly, it doesnt seem there is a way to connect more than default person characteristic inputs , bigger number than default number. Or I havent figured it out ... otherwise, if that would be possible ... phew ... I could connect any attribute or skill from customizer further into a Scene Browser, with even potential for customized rankings and XP system. But, Ill try something more with using .Symbol connection through Characteristics scripts for certain skills ... maybe I could implement something more.
Otherwise, the default slots are used, some unchanged (are essential) while some other still use same default name in code, but are displayed as new field. Still, limitation is there, sadly...
Now, if I go with enlarging the space of Scene Browser even more ... it would be less cramped, even bigger images in places, but most importantly, I could go freely with more text anywhere, without need to think about how to fit everything into margins.
So, what the people here think ? Go with enlargement, remake, enlarge and reposition some designs (wont take too long, though - this is not something experimental anymore) ... or release the smaller, but mainly finished version ? If enlarged, there would be problem with playing on smaller resolutions below 1600x900 until its fixed, but works normally on 1600x900 and above resolutions.