There's no simple solution; [...] in game text may be the best, or at least easiest option here.
Text can be one way. Although it would need an entirely new way to display text; you can't overwrite anything in the status panel because everything in the status panel remains important during replay
auto-replay optional and off by default
many players will miss out on what is actually an extremely useful feature.
That hints us at offering two modes of restart: Restart with replay, restart without replay ... at least it's a way to do it without printing text during play.
I remember having that issue back in the day when I first played Cheapo (which may have even introduced this behavior? Or was it in WinLemm too?)
I'm surprised that clicking the R does not cancel the replay, having that would be a good start at least
I think realistically what Lix is doing by displaying some text is a decent solution. It's slightly inelegant, but at least should leave no room for confusion.
The status panel has been a safe zone for clicks. If you click the panel, you don't misclick buttons yet, and neither you mis-cancel the replay (as clicking into the main map would). Now, we'll sacrifice this safe zone for newbie-friendly UI.
Lemmini R: ... when we click that R, we have clicked the map, and NL will cancel the replay even if you don't write extra clicking code. It's the same in Lix: The wobbling R is in the corner of the map, and clicks go to what's on the map behind the R -- air, usually, and that cancels the replay.
Dialogs: Let's try other ideas than dialogs first ... Don't put important info only in a one-shot dialog.
Option to disable replay: No strong opinion. I'd wait. We have seen people want this, e.g., Dave4 wanted this, but only after he failed to cut the replay. We'll have to see if people still want this after cutting the replay has become obvious for new players.
Cursor: ... on Lix: Scissors mouse cursor while replaying[/url] is an unrealized feature idea ... The idea is that you can now click to cut the replay. It's more feedback, but untested. In NL, I'd only try this together with our other ideas.
Dialogs: Let's try other ideas than dialogs first ... Don't put important info only in a one-shot dialog.OK, agreed. But, I'd personally be happy if that's what we end up falling back on: it gets the job done well enough, and if people choose not to read it that's up to them.
QuoteCursor: ... on Lix: Scissors mouse cursor while replayingThis is a brilliant idea! I'd also suggest turning the cursor red for standard Replay mode, and blue for Replay Insert mode.
Right, let's do other things first, and see if that improves it for newbies.
Do you mean red scissors and blue scissors? In insert mode, NL doesn't allow cutting the replay by clicking.
...
And as usual, I caution against signalling different meanings only by color
Let's assume at this point that the end of level behavior is a one off special case and aside from that, "no new suggestions" remains the case for NL. This doesn't mean the discussion can't be had for the benefit of other engines / forks, of course.
There is a problem when you click on restart button: Same actions are replay. I have fixed it. But for the moment, i havent found where fix when you restart the level with the menu screen.