Whatever you do - GET THAT DAMN GUI RIGHT! *_*

[papillon]

Pretty GUI is definitely cool, and I WOULD like to see a topic where we can talk about the details of some good/bad ones.

[Aleema]

Also, "simple and plain" IS good GUI by many people's definitions, even if it doesn't meet your personal tastes.

I don't mean the opposite of "simple and plain" to just be tons of decorations and crap flying around. I actually care diddly squat about ornaments. What I mean by simple/plain is that it looks like it didn't take long to do. It's not polished or dynamic. It's just a solid color with a border, for example. Solid color boxes everywhere needs to die. Texture, gradients, something. Please.

It's the difference between:

Cooked up in a few minutes. ;_;

Simplistic is good, yes. But I think there's a threshold of simplicity, when it just comes off as incompetence or laziness. Look at Google. Simplisitic to the max, but they have an entire department that works on GUI, and it shows. They don't throw away the concept of a good button, even if there's only one of them.

[HotLimit]

However, if you are talking about pretty "skinning"/aesthetics (ex: pretty edges around the screen; flowers or bats on the corners), then that is something I don't really notice or care about.

I care about the bats

But, anyway, I'm not sure what you are talking about when you say "bad" GUI. Are you talking about plain GUI? Or are you talking about confusing, ugly, or cumbersome GUI, etc?

My guess is plain GUI. Confusing/ugly GUI are a matter unto themselves, often cherished by some gamers (people that like PC classics such as X-Com or the original KOEI strategy games).

Though to reign in the ugly-GUI hate for a moment, I've played a few VNs (usu. static/non-kinetic) on the Nintendo DS (both commercial like Phoenix Wright and independent/ports via VNDS), and their interface is usually pretty ugly or nonexistent (artwork is also subtle or nonexistent). So as not to discourage those who don't want to bother with GUI, I would say that there is certainly an audience for games that focus solely on the text.

edit: In light of some new posts, I should say that 'simple' and 'plain' are two different things.
edit2: Oh wait, Aleema just said the same thing, more or less.
edit3: I think gradients, shading, textures, etc. can be a double edged sword. Sometimes they end up making a game look super-cheap. Maybe that's just my personal preference.

[Aleema]

I suppose, of the two words, I am stressing "plain" more than "simple". They usually come hand in hand, though. It is easy to have a bad GUI by being overly complex, though. Almost too easy.

[HotLimit]

In either case, the distinction I was making between 'simple' and 'plain' was that if your game only has one button (the 'forward the text' button), make sure that button is as clean ('simple') as possible. If it's too plain, it might look obnoxious.

IMO, Phoenix Wright DS's big brown button with white arrow is UUUGGGLLLY, but the game is brilliant, so it's all good (one of the few exceptions).

[xelacroix]

what is GUI anyway

[Auro-Cyanide]

what is GUI anyway

Graphic User Interface. It encompasses things like stat bars, menus, text windows, the stuff that a person uses to actually play the game.

[Glasskitten]

*more insecure about the visuals of personal projects than before, which is saying a lot*

[Aleema]

*more insecure about the visuals of personal projects than before, which is saying a lot*

Eep, most of this is for commercial games ...

[bunny-gypsy]

Also, "simple and plain" IS good GUI by many people's definitions, even if it doesn't meet your personal tastes.

I don't mean the opposite of "simple and plain" to just be tons of decorations and crap flying around. I actually care diddly squat about ornaments. What I mean by simple/plain is that it looks like it didn't take long to do. It's not polished or dynamic. It's just a solid color with a border, for example. Solid color boxes everywhere needs to die. Texture, gradients, something. Please.

It's the difference between:

guis.jpg

Simplistic is good, yes. But I think there's a threshold of simplicity, when it just comes off as incompetence or laziness. Look at Google. Simplisitic to the max, but they have an entire department that works on GUI, and it shows. They don't throw away the concept of a good button, even if there's only one of them.

Ah, I see. If it's a commercial game, then yes, I would expect a little more work than that, heh.

[Efreet]

"A good GUI ..." checklist:

has a good font that doesn't require glasses nor seem out of place
has a clean, clear layout that doesn't take up the whole screen
has a non-invasive interface (careful of all those "Are you sure?/Are you really sure?/Really, really sure?" menus)
has all the essential buttons you need
makes a sound and change looks to confirm that you've pressed it
it'll also make a sound when you hover over it
sparkles and moves without you pressing it
alternatively, has a non-hassle layout that does the job
has a transparent/gradient text box
will not use the Times New Roman font

This is by no means an exhaustive list...