For this unit we had to create a GUI interface that would be used for our game's 3D environment. This being all theoretical we'd use a frame in our game and conceptually develop an GUI based upon that frame. Before placing a frame, I created 3 concept designs based upon typical or popular GUI designs. These concepts are available on through this link. After penning these designs I recreated them using Photoshop, these Photoshop versions included a frame from the my part of our trailer. These designs are available here. From these Photoshop versions I selected my favourite which was the Role Playing Game example, then I recreated it again using Flash. With Flash I created roll over buttons on the GUI elements that would change when players either selected these elements or on screen prompts told the player about them.
Does the final graphic user interface meet your original intentions? If it does match your planning explain why?
Since I've completed this unit relatively quickly I pretty much matched my original designs, well at least my first concept which was the RPG example. I developed this design on Photoshop with a frame from my game environment. After the Photoshop example, I finished my original design using Flash. The concept to final product is pretty much 100% identical.
How did you manage your time?
I managed my time extremely well with this project, everything regarding the project besides this reflection was completed within two days (2 actual days). I spent around 5 hours on planning which 2 were allocated to concepts. I wanted to construct the planning properly so I spent a good amount of time on it. Photoshop didn't take that long as I used simple tools to get the concepts looking right and with colours it looked like a real GUI. Flash had taken slightly longer than Photoshop even though I only had one to do but this was due to playing with settings and remembering how to make roll over areas (buttons) over the GUI. All in all the time on this project was used well and effectively.
What did you struggle with?
To be fairly honest, pretty much nothing. The only place I slightly struggled with in this process was with Flash but I eventually remembered the skills I learned last year when I made my Flash questionnaire game. Here is my evaluation for that project.
How does your finished graphical user interface compare to professional examples?
In my planning I showed my inspirations for my concepts, I then developed the concepts to look realistic in colour on Photoshop. Finally I finished my RPG example on Flash with roll over areas. My final GUI looks very similar to the professional example I showed at the end of that blogpost. The only additions were the mini-map in the top right and a constant level bar at the bottom of the GUI. Here is a professional example of Skyrim's GUI and below it is a screenshot from my final Flash GUI.
What could you improve upon?
I guess I could of done more with my final Flash GUI, I'm more than satisfied with it but I could of done a lot more. I achieved what I wanted with it so it's not a major issue and it isn't bothering me but that's were I could of done more.
If you were to do it again what would you do differently next time?
To repeat what I said in my last statement, spent more time with Flash and padding out my GUI with multiple GUI layers.
What did you learn?
I learned that using my time effectively I can complete work in a relatively quick amount of time. I started this unit on Sunday and completed everything besides this reflection by Tuesday. If I applied this concentration and motivation to all my work I'll probably achieve better across all my work on this course.
Here are some more screenshots of my final Flash GUI.
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