Best adventure interface

Alien426 · 05-16-2006, 07:44 AM

verbs:
Used in Maniac Mansion (15 verbs), Day Of The Tentacle (9), Zak McKracken (14), Monkey Island 1 (12), Monkey Island 2 (9), Indy 3 (12), Indy 4 (9)

context menu:
Used in Curse Of Monkey Island (coin) and Full Throttle (tattoo).

mouse pointer:
Used in Sam & Max (cycle through actions) and The Dig (examine, action).

keyboard:
Used in Grim Fandango and Escape From Monkey Island.

Joshi · 05-16-2006, 08:59 AM

I went for the mouse pointer. Whilst the other have their charms (my second choice would probably be the context menu), I loved the simplicity of the simple mouse pointer (I'm swaying more towards The Dig and The Longest Journey here as they were simply interact and examine) as it makes things slightly less tedious (no need to try out every verb on everything in the hope of finding a solution) and gives you more time to focus on the story and puzzels when you're stuck.

***Thrik*** · 05-16-2006, 10:01 AM

I'm partial to any kind of hotspot-based system really, although I definitely prefer the context menus to verbs as not only is a lot of superfluous and uninspiring trial and error cut out, but there's also more likely to be more custom responses due to there only being three to fill per item.

Although less of a problem in the text days, it can become a bit unrealistic with actual voices to record a custom line for every verb for every object. With the three-prong context menu, chances are that you'll get a set of custom responses for everything, which is of course good.

I still prefer the context menus on a strictly functional basis too, though. It's nice to be able to bring up the menu right there and then over an item instead of having to scuttle back down to choose the right verb. It also seems a bit more intuitive, with more vague actions; I don't really get a kick out of deciding whether “pushing” or “using” an item is more appropriate.

Ray Jones · 05-16-2006, 10:37 AM

Verbs are great, I really enjoyed them. And the mouse cursor was cool, too, but it appears somewhat annoying to me, as I tend to switch always one action too far. And seriously keyboard control in EMI was like trying to steer a car without a wheel.

Context menu all the way, I say.

Alien426 · 05-16-2006, 01:15 PM

Well, I chose the context menu, too. The overkill on verbs in the early adventures was surely the remnant of old text adventures where the parser had to be very tolerant to different verbs. But even the 12 of MI were still too many.

On the other hand, the single action of The Dig seemed to result in unexpected stuff sometimes. With the context menu you know what to expect, but are not flooded with choices. And like Thrik said, it's nice to have those choices at hand in an instant.

Joshi · 05-16-2006, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alien426

Well, I chose the context menu, too. The overkill on verbs in the early adventures was surely the remnant of old text adventures where the parser had to be very tolerant to different verbs. But even the 12 of MI were still too many.

One of the failings of Maniac Mansion (well, not really a failing, it was SCUMM in it's earliest stage, you have to let it go) was the fact that you had 15 verbs and they had to be used with each other, upping the number of possible moves on a single object or person.

And yeah, I get your point on the mouse pointer in The Dig, but later games did employ it slightly better (giving action to a double click as well as right click and single click). I can't really fight for it, though, I just prefer it.

Udvarnoky · 05-16-2006, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshi

One of the failings of Maniac Mansion (well, not really a failing, it was SCUMM in it's earliest stage, you have to let it go) was the fact that you had 15 verbs and they had to be used with each other, upping the number of possible moves on a single object or person.

Explain?

Peff · 05-16-2006, 05:40 PM

What is the thingy in broken sword III called ?? the.. interferce (or whatever you call it :] )

Joshi · 05-16-2006, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Udvarnoky

Explain?

No

Actually didn't we already have this ~~argument~~ conversation?

Actually I was dead wrong, but nevermind. 15 verbs was still a lot for the day.

peff, the BSIII interface was technically keyboard (although an interesting use of it)

Samnmax221 · 05-16-2006, 05:47 PM

love the context menu

Udvarnoky · 05-16-2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshi

No

Actually didn't we already have this ~~argument~~ conversation?

Sort of, I never did figure out what you meant by using two verbs at the same time.

Joshi · 05-17-2006, 05:34 AM

That's again, probably because I was talking out of my... mouth which was saying wrong things.

It was ages ago when I played MM and me in my old age, do get confused sometimes.

Ray Jones · 05-18-2006, 04:30 AM

Pfft. Less cheeba could easily do the trick.

Krakko · 06-07-2006, 05:37 PM

Context menu... the coin in CMI was so easy to use, and looked cool too

The keyboard in EMI was the worst, cycling through all the actions... took me a while before i even figured out you had to use the page up/down keys

Gabez · 06-07-2006, 06:08 PM

My favourite adventure game interface is probably Discworld Noir's... just seemed to make so much sense. I think left click was walk/use and right click was look. Very simple.

Joshi · 06-07-2006, 06:12 PM

So, the mouse pointer then. The Dig had a very similar interface, as did many other games back then and yes, it was very simple, which is why I chose it.

**elTee** · 06-08-2006, 01:16 PM

Dreamfall's kind of annoys me.

So I have to look at the item, focus on it, open the inventory and then click the 'use' icon...

Still, a great game.

**Smon** · 06-08-2006, 03:34 PM

The context menu was great but the verb commands had keyboard shortcuts...

atanhel · 06-09-2006, 03:13 AM

I peronally liked the verbs a lot, since they made you think so much out of the box.
Back in MI 1, when you had to open the cereal box... I can't remeber ever seen such a puzzle in any of the later games

urluckyday · 06-11-2006, 10:06 AM

While Grim Fandango's set up was amazing, I'd have to go old school with the verbs.

MI1_Guybrush · 08-05-2006, 03:50 PM

Old school verbs for me too!

So simple and fun!

Ben31 · 08-06-2006, 05:45 AM

Verb for me. Brought up on Simon the Sorcerer and Monkey Island does that to a guy. Never liked any other things really - keyboard is definately the worst like in EfMI. Mouse pointer isn't the best but is definately bearable like i think in Broken Sword but then i didnt like it in Sam n Max.

faceNside · 08-15-2006, 08:15 AM

I preferred verbs, which gave u a total freedom feeling, though context menu is obviously more intuitive, mainly for beginners.

Herman Toothdecay · 10-24-2006, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Udvarnoky

Sort of, I never did figure out what you meant by using two verbs at the same time.

Well... in MM, you had 15 verbs, yes? If you were to have to use 2 verbs to form a command, there is in theory possibly 15x15 (225) unique combinations of verbs. With so many verb options with the number of items in the game, it made it difficult at times.