Lemmings Forums

NeoLemmix => Bugs & Suggestions => Closed => Topic started by: namida on September 26, 2019, 09:29:25 PM

Title: [SUG][PLAYER] Recolor lemming count red when not enough remain
Post by: namida on September 26, 2019, 09:29:25 PM
If the user has too few lemmings remaining to complete the level, then the lemming count should be recolored red to clearly indicate this.

Edge cases to consider:
- Cloners are left in the skillset
- Cloners are left in the skillset, but they cannot be used because only neutral lemmings remain
- Nuke has been activated, so no more lemmings will spawn
Title: Re: [SUG][PLAYER] Recolor lemming count red when not enough remain
Post by: SQron188 on September 27, 2019, 10:37:48 AM
I second this notion, I in fact found myself quite often expecting the Lemming count to turn red or flash in such cases.
Title: Re: [SUG][PLAYER] Recolor lemming count red when not enough remain
Post by: Strato Incendus on September 27, 2019, 11:39:01 AM
Well, if the time limit is already red when it is not infinite, then this type of lemming-count warning would only be consistent. As far as I am concerned, go ahead! ;)
Title: Re: [SUG][PLAYER] Recolor lemming count red when not enough remain
Post by: Proxima on September 27, 2019, 12:24:59 PM
Good idea to consider the edge cases. I would say:

* Turn the count red when there are not enough alive lemmings, even when there are cloners. This reminds the player to use their cloners before ending the level!

* Once nuke starts, don't change the count colour from whatever it currently is.
Title: Re: [SUG][PLAYER] Recolor lemming count red when not enough remain
Post by: namida on September 27, 2019, 07:19:52 PM
Good idea to consider the edge cases. I would say:

* Turn the count red when there are not enough alive lemmings, even when there are cloners. This reminds the player to use their cloners before ending the level!

* Once nuke starts, don't change the count colour from whatever it currently is.

These edge cases were more "I need to remember to take these into account while developing such a feature", but yes, maybe the nuke one is a bit more debatable.
Title: Re: [SUG][PLAYER] Recolor lemming count red when not enough remain
Post by: Crane on September 27, 2019, 09:36:12 PM
I second the red numbers as well.  I'm not sure how cloners should be considered - personally I'd say to not count cloners, and still display a red number if there are fewer lemmings than the target left.  If cloning a lemming brings the count high enough again, then turn the number back green.

Though it's off-subject, I would request that the timer only have red digits if you have a minute left or less (I say a minute or less because it starting green on a 1:00 level then immediately turning red at 0:59 would be a bit distracting).  I'll open another discussion for that though.
Title: Re: [SUG][PLAYER] Recolor lemming count red when not enough remain
Post by: Flopsy on September 28, 2019, 01:19:54 AM
Doesn't the Lemming count number already flash if you lack the number of Lemmings to complete the level? I don't see why we need a red number over a flashing number.
Title: Re: [SUG][PLAYER] Recolor lemming count red when not enough remain
Post by: Dullstar on September 28, 2019, 05:05:09 AM
I like the idea of red  coloration, but if the flashing is there, we should probably keep it (or make it an option), as while color coding is very helpful, there may be some people that can't see it, especially if we're talking red/green, which is something we might not pick up in testing since red/green are normally pretty high contrast colors.

Main point: color coding is helpful but don't ONLY color code.
Title: Re: [SUG][PLAYER] Recolor lemming count red when not enough remain
Post by: namida on September 28, 2019, 05:55:14 AM
Doesn't the Lemming count number already flash if you lack the number of Lemmings to complete the level? I don't see why we need a red number over a flashing number.

I believe that feature disappeared during Nepster's culls. At any rate, it certianly doesn't exist anymore; I just could be wrong about the "when".
Title: Re: [SUG][PLAYER] Recolor lemming count red when not enough remain
Post by: namida on December 14, 2019, 11:02:28 PM
Implemented the simplest version of this: If not enough lemmings currently exist (including not-yet-spawned lemmings, but excluding potential lemmings from cloners), the lemming count will be red. This is in addition to the other possible colors (to indicate whether the lemmings are all neutral, all regular, or a mix).