v6: which wba/gui style?
 

Instead of using the blue style by default, which style should be used in v6 as default? Please give the name of a wba / gui style on which we should base on the default look.

On Classic I was hoping to access default gui control profiles and set a .wba style to make windows appear like this:

http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/2927/pmgui.th.png

I wouldn't object to it or a similar style being global :p
(though it would actually require some work on the file we have).

Anything that gets rid of that god awful "toon" background on login.

I want pm windows to have a windows like feel to them instead of that ugly blue. I already have to settle for the in game playerlist so atleast make it nice.

This is why he's asking for a WBA style that mimics the default style.

Found one that's pretty close. It could use some tweaking, though. You can download it here.

http://u.graalcenter.org/i/Picture%205.png http://u.graalcenter.org/i/Picture%206.png http://u.graalcenter.org/i/Picture%209.png

F8 doesn't look very good—maybe just use it for external windows and figure something else out for the server list?

http://u.graalcenter.org/i/Picture%2010.png

i like that one with the exception of the windows vista start button

Ah ugly Windows style :eek: Wouldn't something simple but game-stylish be better?

If windows are going to be external they should mimic the default UI. Any player will tell you they prefer the old external PM windows, which used the default OS style, to the new ones.

i'm using the vPlusBlue theme from the website on the Theme "skinin" thread (forgot name of it + can't get on graal ATM to post screenshot)

I like GUIBlue In-Game/Serverlist, but for external windows I would prefer a neutral/gray OS style.

I just like themes that aren't buggy and aren't too stylistic. The best themes, in my opinion, are the ones that are neutral as far as OS goes, and adhere to the slick grey/silver controls that we're used to.

http://i.imgur.com/vRs4R.png

This, but I can't say I don't miss the dark green style the client used before all these themes.

This one, in my opinion, is absolutely perfect!

I think the problem lies with more than just a skin. The actual GUI is kind of ugly and I don't know if any skin can simply cover it up. I do remember Rufus or Luda (I forgot who) had a pretty decent nice theme though.

For now I would like to see the all blue theme from v4 (v5 used to have it but it doesn't work anymore) until the GUI can actually be fixed, but not as default. Just an option.

In the end none of your suggestions will fix the playerlist, just saying. It will help but it's still not the old default one. :(

Personally, I've been using this exact same theme ever since Dusty first posted it and never looked back.

Whats the name @ Dusty?
Btw I still use the toon theme :)

Here you go.

I think people SHOULD be able to choose more cartoony themes, in fact isn't that why we have the option? But I think it would be in Graal's best interest to offer a more OS-like theme by default and package a few varieties with Graal instead of just a single very stylistic one that is very vulnerable to taste.

Personally I think Graal should get its own tailor made theme. It's just getting someone to make it really.

I think it is of extreme importance to get a good non-wba design for the login screen, and possibly even the serverlist.

Dusty's WBA blends in with OS themes and doesn't look too bad in that respect, but I think it looks god-awful for making the game look appealing and fun. The WBA makes the login screen look like a login for a spreadsheet corporate application.


In summary, I'm saying that we should definitely consider that WBA for external windows, but try and find something better/more interesting for the 'first impressions' that people get of the game (like the login screen). I imagine this may require moving away from WBAs or getting a custom one made for Graal.

Stefan, would it be possible to have options for two separate default themes? One for external windows and one for internal? I ask this because while some themes benefit external windows(by having a theme tailored to making external windows feel like part of the OS), it doesn't exactly benefit internal windows where OS themed windows feel out of place.

I would love this.

Some themes look amazing as external, but the borders of the internal windows are just so damn ugly.

dusty you should make a theme. it would be sooooo good i bet.

Honestly I'm horrible with interfaces.

Theoretically any window can use a different gui style in v6, so it wouldn't be a problem to use different themes for internal and external windows.

then add the 'External Windows' gui-style select option to F3. :P

Ohh, then operating system default for external windows (playerlist, options, etc) and some nice pretty theme for ingame. :-) personally i'll just use blue gui ingame but would be excellent to have windows default on external.

as well as internal pm windows

ya!!

Ok modified the vista blue theme, stripped some unneeded stuff etc. and uploaded to the login server for testing. You can select "VPlusBlue" as GUI style in the options. Please tell me if it's fine or needs some improvements.

The all blue theme was fixed for a second then it changed to the fancier version. D:!

The playerlist and PM windows look much nicer, as well as the options.

I think everything looks nice, but the main "start bar" could maybe use a slight upgrade. Possibly add some transparent image like the other bars have to make it look less plain (attached). The download bar should have the green changed to a lighter color so the text is more readable.

On an unrelated note, is it possible to bold ingame text?

Now that is looking very polished. One thing to note is that under start I can hardly see the highlighting over the menu choices. (it's over options in the screen shot)

I think it's stupid that it's trying to look like Windows XP/Vista inside Graal. The Default GuiBlue theme looks just fine in-game.

It's the external windows like PMs, Playerlist and Options that need to look better with the 'Native' look and feel.

You know, the strangest thing is that when I selected the new theme for a second or two my blue GUI was fixed (before you used to be able to select all blue, now the default blue has toons windows for some reason :/) and then disappeared again.

Yes, it will show the normal window GUI whilst the wba is still being downloaded.

No no...I mean I can't ever see the proper "normal" GUI. When I select it I see blue PM windows and stuff but the frames on the login screen are toon, not blue. :(.

It's using the toon look by default for the serverlist.

Do you think the new wba could look good if it's recolored in green?

Ah, i used to have a grey and green one that, although it may not sound, had a graalish look to it and i will try as hard as i can to dig deep into my system files to find it again. Lol but i like your idea of a new skin Stefan by the way.

I hope its a huge success.

tease us with a preview of how it would look like