Claysys 2 - The self installing HuD with a sense of style!

[B1ackmagic]

After a few months of beta testing on the OPP forums,
I thought I'd let other people know about my new HuD, in case they like it. =)
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From the creator of full screen human radar and the first known on screen menu system,
I bring you: a pure-compatible HuD with a sense of style.  Claysys 2!

Remember, it takes a few hours to get use to a new HuD!
Please post if you are using it so I can feel encouraged ^_^

Changelog
Beta 1.1.3

• New automatic Installer for Windows with Configuration Options!
• It can currently configure chat font sizes, health bar text, and fullscreen human radar
• New, easier to understand file structure

Beta 1.1.2

• Chat area no longer overlaps with votes

Beta 1.1.1

• Fixed Human Inventory Selector Alignment

Beta 1.1

• First Open Public Beta

Differences:

• Everything was too big on the default HuD, especially the text, thus it is now smaller.
• I ignored the standard "hud at the bottom" fps-style layout in favor of a compact set of elements in the upper left.
• The chat/message area is in the lower left.
• Non-FullScreen Human radar is now in the upper right.
• Stage counter on screen.
• Build in alien crosshair, middle of screen barb counter.
• Human and Alien health bars with % Life Text (Optionally "real" health amount text instead).
• Human stamina "bar"

Screenshots: (It looks better in-game imo)
Human HuD


Alien HuD

(your evo count is the small number next to the lighting bolt, I have 9 in this shot.)
(the 2nd bar will be a charge bar in svn/1.2 but for now is just decorative.)

Download:
Click here to download automatic installer & configurator for windows (102kb)
Click here to download .zip (11kb)

Automatic Installer
For Windows Users: Simply Run the installer to update, install, or configure the HuD.

Manual Install

• Delete the <tremulous home>\base\ui\claysys2 directory
• Copy the ui directory in the zip to your tremulous home>\base\ folder
• Open your tremulous client and hit '~' for console then type:
    "/exec ui\claysys2\install.cfg" (without the ""s)
    (Don't forgot the "ui\" in front!)

Manual Uninstall

• Open your tremulous client and hit '~' for console then type:
    "/exec ui\claysys2\uninstall.cfg" (without the ""s) (DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP)
• Delete the claysys2 folder from your <tremulous home>/base/ui/ directory

Manual Configuration
console commands: (do NOT include the ""s)

• type "/cs2_hptext 0" for no text on hp bar
• type "/cs2_hptext 1" for by % hp text on hp bar
• type "/cs2_hptext 2" for literal hp text on hp bar
• type "/cg_disablescannerplane 1" for fullscreen radar
• type "/cg_disablescannerplane 0" for normal radar

config options:

• Change the font size in \ui\claysys2\config\FontSizes.cfg
• You can also explore the color files, but please don't ask me endless questions about that feature

Notes

• Install.bat assumes you have a new tremulous client (eg one with a GUID, if you have admin you have one.)
• If for some reason install.bat fails, post here about it and then copy the files manually to your tremulous home directory
    (usually C:\documents and settings\<username\Application Data\Tremulous\base\)
• The HuD will not function correctly w/o the default map niveus installed
• I recommend you use a resolution of 1024x768 or higher with this HuD, if the text is pixellated your resolution is too low.

Design Philosophy Notes
I originally abandoned on-screen menus because I came to believe that every key on your keyboard
should always do the SAME thing, no matter what "menu" is open so that you never have to look
at the corner of your screen find out what hitting a button will do.  Thus, although
I may create an addon which contains buy binds extra, any hud elements will merely be a
key reference.  The keys will always work with 1 touch regardless of any other keys.

I also wish to avoid ANOTHER HuD which wants to replace your main menu or rebind some of your keys.
Any additional features which require such will only be option add-ons, hopefully with version compatible
with popular main menu replacements.

~ b1ackmagic ~

[Helix.]

I fucking love this. Consider me sold.

[B1ackmagic]

Thanks, I myself personally know quite a few people who use it already. =)

~ Clayborn ~

[Colynn']

From the creator of full screen human radar [...]

False (Mexel or Paradox). And even if it's not one of them, somebody had the idea before you do. It's pointless to attribute to himself the creation of something, because there HUDs are so close and HUDers generally take ideas from others people to make something new, or not.

What do you mean by on screen menu system? 
The HUD is very nice and esthetic. Placing the chat on the bottom is a good idea. But the part with the ammo/hp/etc is not visible enough because of the colors' choice, and that's the most important thing of a HUD. You have to put your eyes on a corner, instead of just looking a bit lower on most HUD. That's a lost a time and concentration.

I am doing a lot of criticism, yeah I know, but that's only to do some feedback and giving you idea of what's wrong. Keep doing, because you are doing good!

[Volt]

From the creator of full screen human radar [...]

False (Mexel or Paradox). And even if it's not one of them, somebody had the idea before you do. It's pointless to attribute to himself the creation of something, because there HUDs are so close and HUDers generally take ideas from others people to make something new, or not.

What do you mean by on screen menu system?  
The HUD is very nice and esthetic. Placing the chat on the bottom is a good idea. But the part with the ammo/hp/etc is not visible enough because of the colors' choice, and that's the most important thing of a HUD. You have to put your eyes on a corner, instead of just looking a bit lower on most HUD. That's a lost a time and concentration.

I am doing a lot of criticism, yeah I know, but that's only to do some feedback and giving you idea of what's wrong. Keep doing, because you are doing good!

Dude shutup lol, blackmagic has been working in the hud codding backgrounds for sometime.
HE IS FATHER OF FULLSCREEN RADAR AND CHATMENU

He came up with the idea to fix fullscreen radar once and for all, everyone else was using image as background and then making its alpha channel 0, blackmagic was using the null.tga.

Back on topic
Great release, and kickass installer LONG LIVE BLACKMAGIC!

Mexel's implementation of fullscreen radar


Blackmagics fullscreen Implementation with null.tga that is used in my hud(and chatmenu)

[Archangel]

haha @ Mexel's hud. how the fuck can you play with that huge blue shit in your face?!

this hud isn't half bad. i just wouldn't be able to stand the text being down there. my eyes are fixed to the top left for life.

[Colynn']

Dude shutup lol, blackmagic has been working in the hud codding backgrounds for sometime.
HE IS FATHER OF FULLSCREEN RADAR AND CHATMENU

He came up with the idea to fix fullscreen radar once and for all, everyone else was using image as background and then making its alpha channel 0, blackmagic was using the null.tga.

Just use cg_disableScannerPlane 1, no need to use a null.tga or to put alpha channel at 0.

[Archangel]

last I checked cg_disableScannerPlane doesn't exist, Colynn. At least not on my client (using TF head)

[Volt]

Colynn, the problem with cg_disablescanner pannel, is that it resets very often.
Meaning that you'll get mex's fullscreen blue mess if you depend on that cvar, whilst using blackmagics method problem is fixed for good.

STOP MESSING WITH BLACKMAGICS TOPIC

back on topic, GREAT RELEASE love the .bat installer

[Colynn']

Default HUD - Tremfusion 0.99r3 - Just have the superpie's packs.
cg_disableScannerPlane 0
cg_disableScannerPlane 1

Wiki#1
Wiki#2 (just CTRL+F cg_disableScannerPlane)

Sure it doesn't exist.

@Volt: use autoexec.cfg? Back on topic as you want.

[Volt]

Default HUD - Tremfusion 0.99r3 - Just have the superpie's packs.
cg_disableScannerPlane 0
cg_disableScannerPlane 1

Wiki#1
Wiki#2 (just CTRL+F cg_disableScannerPlane)

Sure it doesn't exist.

@Volt: use autoexec.cfg? Back on topic as you want.

It resets, when you go to servers that use custom bases, and it becomes a hassle to fix.
Simplified method, use null.tga and you don't have to worry about using the command to disable scannerpannel, its easier this way.

[Archangel]

love the .bat installer

woo windows compat

anyway, it doesn't show up in my client for some reason. odd.

[Volt]

Colyn i stand corrected, you were right.

Clayborn uses this code

Filename: Techno_Human.menu
location: ui/claysys2/layouts

  itemDef
    {
      name "scanner-fullscreen"
      rect 20 40 600 400
      visible 1
     cvartest cg_disableScannerPlane
     showCvar { 1 }
      decoration
      forecolor 0.0 0.8 1.0 0.3
      background "gfx/null.tga"
      ownerdraw CG_PLAYER_HUMAN_SCANNER
    }

Looks like he uses, both methods.
although the disablescannerplane isn't needed if, background is set to a null.tga

[B1ackmagic]

Why I used both methods:
Yeah I used both methods so that people who enabled FS radar
under oticz will also have FS radar (same test cvar).  If the cvar doesn't exist,
then it will be created so it should work properly clients that don't support disablescannerplane
via null.tga. My original work only used null.tga, since no one else was using FS radar
then and it didn't include any way to disable FS radar.

On the new HuD, the radar in the the upper right if your not using FS,
hence I needed to do a cvartest.

As for cg_disablescannerplane resetting, that should only happen
if you already have an autogen.cfg from a modded server
which isn't updated when you install the Hud.  If you use the installer
it should scan for all autogen.cfgs in your tremulous and mod directorys
and update them.  And any new ones should be based on the default
so the installer should theoretically FIX all reversion problems with cg_disablescannerplane.

Btw, thanks for the backup Volt I was afraid someone was
gonna flamed for saying I came up with FS radar and
the first working on screen menus on here because only
HuD authors really know about my early work.

~ b1ackmagic ~

[B1ackmagic]

The HUD is very nice and esthetic. Placing the chat on the bottom is a good idea. But the part with the ammo/hp/etc is not visible enough because of the colors' choice, and that's the most important thing of a HUD. You have to put your eyes on a corner, instead of just looking a bit lower on most HUD. That's a lost a time and concentration.

I am doing a lot of criticism, yeah I know, but that's only to do some feedback and giving you idea of what's wrong. Keep doing, because you are doing good!

Thanks, hmmmm maybe I should include a high contrast color scheme.
Actually, because I include separate color themeing files, you can easily change it yourself!
check out all the files in this directory: ui\claysys2\themes
The Touchscreen.cfg is the human colors, BloodRage.cfg is the alien colors, and Default.cfg is the spec colors.
The rest control the font sizes.  Easy right? =)

This leads me to an imporant point:
If anyone makes a good color scheme sent it to me!
I may include it in the next version as an option =)

this hud isn't half bad. i just wouldn't be able to stand the text being down there. my eyes are fixed to the top left for life.

yeah, some people have told me that, but this is for all the people like myself
who feel the text should have been in the lower left.
(that is were almost ALL modern games have it.)

love the .bat installer

woo windows compat

anyway, it doesn't show up in my client for some reason. odd.

It will not work with the TJW backport atm,
and has only been tested using either mg or tremfusion.
(at least I THINK it was tested with MG.)

If I get unlazy, maybe I'll update the installer to work with any client.
In any case, manual install will always work. See instructions
on how to install and configure the HuD manually in the top post.

~ b1ackmagic ~

[Archangel]

like I stated earlier in this thread, I'm using TF's head (totally bleeding raw fresh source right out of CHINA)

[Colynn']

Btw, thanks for the backup Volt I was afraid someone was
gonna flamed for saying I came up with FS radar and
the first working on screen menus on here because only
HuD authors really know about my early work.

Excuse me to repeat my ask again, but what are on screen menus?

[Volt]

Excuse me to repeat my ask again, but what are on screen menus?

Chatmenu, for buying, evolving, and what not.
Image reference below onscreen buymenu

[kangounator]

It's a really "nice" hud, the chat field position is good but it doesn't seem very useable (cf. below).

Some on the fly hud theory : the very top and the bottom of your screen is usually displaying parts of the scene that are of no interest (the ceiling my actually be interesting in trem due to the wallwalk) thus you should put any large hud element there as it won't make the player half-blind. The player is mainly looking at the center of the screen so critical informations (health/ammo) has to be put near it (not in corners).

I'd have personally put the chat field even more in the bottom-left corner to make it less intrusive (although it could make it hard to read) and all these bars somewhere else (cf Coynn's c&c).

It'll be hard to make custom themes without a cvartest spam (or using different cg_hudFiles values). Tremulous' preprocessor sucks, noone should use it!

[B1ackmagic]

Chat Area:
I already have had ppl say the text is too hard to read,
and it never really distracted me when playing.  You can even
see aliens through it pretty well, although I don't know how they
would be that close to you without you looking at them
more directly.  It's pretty much all the way in the bottom left
corner (it's hard to read text that is actually pressed against
the side of the screen and some monitors don't display it well.)
Also, is already much smaller than most HuDs,
so I'm not sure what you want o_O

Ammo Counter:
Honestly, when I play I don't look at ammo counters
that much, I prefer to keep total attention to aiming.
You pretty much know how much ammo you have left
just form how much you fired, although a quick reference
to the ammo counter to check clips can be useful..
that's what the counter is there for.

It's like a speedometer, its only for reference since
most of the time you know about how fast
your going anyway.  You should just glance at it
every so often, and probably should never look at
it in combat for more than a split second
and then only when you REALLY need to know.

You could even think about it as a training HuD if you want,
one that makes you keep track of your ammo yourself more,
which is good for your reaction time.

HuD Element Location Philosophy:
In general, I tried to place each element
where you would expect it to be after playing
other games: mmos, rts, and fps.  Most trem HuD
were disorienting because they were inconsitent
with each other and with the intuitive locations for
HuD items.  Thus, I had two objectives:
first, to make it easier to transition between games,
and second to make a HuD was that very intuitive to read.
(As well as aesthetic pleasing and optimized for a resolution besides
600x480 as well as being theme-able and other things.)

~ b1ackmagic ~

[Saturn]

Looks like,its just upside down from the regular HUD ON Trem 1.1.0

[Lonly]

My feedback to this Hud,

Humans, Inventory Text way to small, Don't you think the text should be to the right since the inventory is located there?, how bout lag meter on the bottom left, text on top right, Stage next to lag meter with fps and time, less transparency please.

Aliens, same with humans.

Both, Text on bottom left of the screen is a fail.

[Colynn']

My feedback to your message.

Read this: bla
Edit the HUD the way you want it.
Show it to the author.

Then you will do real feedback.

BTW, text on bottom is NOT a fail.

[B1ackmagic]

One of the entire purposes of this Claysys2 was to
create a HUD with text on the bottom.  I felt this
area was lacking and that is the standard location
for a large number of other games.  This HUD
was not designed to appeal to hardcore Tremulous only
players.  It was designed to be simple, small, easy
to use, and easy to understand and understand.  It is
also easy to modify the colors and a few other options
without editing the .menu files.

Lonly:
If you have such particular ideas about just how you want it,
you should make a custom one for yourself.  I've had to do
that before to get just what I want for my setup.  And
who knows, maybe someone else will really like it. =)
Usually it's good to comment on HUDs you already like
to help them improve or to encourage the author(s).
If it's not your style, just ignore it or better- make a new one! ^_^

Saturn:
Take another look at the default HUD-
it nearly monochrome and it's HUGE.
The reason parts of it look similar is that
in order to pass a pure check, you have to only
use the art from the original HUDs.
Otherwise I would have drawn a new one
from scratch.

~ b1ackmagic ~