Look of upgrade menu

Game Play & Game Design
#1

Hi

I didn’t really know what board to post this topic on, sorry if it’s in the wrong topic :frowning:

For my project I am working on, I am going to start on an upgrade menu. I don’t know whether to have a whole unique page or a tab that slides in from the side. The reason I brought this topic to JGO is because I don’t want to spend forever working on a certain layout if the community has a different opinion.

Any thoughts or ideas would be helpful :slight_smile:

Thanks
CopyableCougar4

#2

For the most part, I think the community just roles with what the developer has chosen.

In my opinion, since people generally dislike change, taking a some cues from a different game might be best.

#3

Thanks for your input :slight_smile:

CopyableCougar4

#4

What is the game about? Its art style? These things are important, because if its an RTS you’re not going to want a huge upgrade screen covering your face. :slight_smile:

#5

It’s a sci-fi topdown 2d shooter where the upgrades are bonuses to things like health, regen, reloading, etc.

CopyableCougar4

#6

Are there multiple tiers of the upgrades?
Or is it that you just get the upgrade in more like a perk form?

#7

Some will be picked up and able to be activated from the menu, while others will have various tiers that the perks increase as the tier increases.

CopyableCougar4

#8

Your standard tech tree should be fine, although creating it so the style fits the game might be the next hard bit.
Without knowing the style, I can’t provide any more opinions on the matter.
I mean even googling “tech tree” brings up so many variations.

I guess the next thing to consider would be ease of conveying the information and also providing the data.

For example, having an icon, with a red outline, with a larger bullet than normal, might signify increase weapon damage.
Or an icon with a green outline with a good old green plus, one would assume that would mean increased health.

And then show what it does to your stats, like on a health bar, show it adds +100 points to the total or something.

Also, having it so that you can pick an upgrade/perk and then cancel your decision is a good thing to have.