you do realise how fast the small space allocated for chat can fill when theres a major rush going on with kill messages right?
pretty easy for it to get lost in the shuffle.
allow me to introduce an engine feature called the console:
it is the primary facility to browse through bulk messages and messages received during heavy combat.
it can be opened by pressing the tilde key on common keyboard layouts:
*sigh* I'm sorry, This is rediculous:
Firstly: I do not want to be browsing through the console during heavy combat for one reason: You cannot move nor shoot/chomp nor even look around during heavy combat.
u have managed to completely misinterpret the meaning of my sentence. more clearly stated: the console is the primary facility to browse, when u r NOT in heavy combat (for example, u r healing), through messages that u have received (but were unable to immediately read) in a heavy combat scenario.
Secondly: There is no reason for me to be scrolling through console text if I am unaware of the chat message directed at me.
wether a message is directed at u is irrelevant to wether u need to look at the message; u still need to read an unread message, at least to find out wether the message was directed at u. also note that a lot of semi-directed-semi-broadcasted messages (ie., team messages) r important.
finally, i present an algorithm to schedule reading and player controlling xD.
upon receiving an in-game message (this case can be identified by sounds),
- if u can read the message immediately, then do so now,
- otherwise (u require maximal attention to control ur player, ie. u r in heavy combat, etc.) note that there r unread messages.
if there r unread messages when u r able to read them, then use the console to look through the messages.
done properly, it is impossible to miss an important message.
