User:AceMcCloud/Main view

Main view (Switch)

The main/default view includes the following elements:

• Research progress bar (upper right corner)
• Mini-map (upper right, below research process bar)
• Character armor and weapon status (lower left)
• Character (centered)
• Whatever items are within the game field of view
• Cursor

Switch/controller special note: When a player is on a Switch console, or playing with a game controller, there are two distinct cursor modes - free cursor and auto cursor. With auto cursor, there is no visible cursor, and the game behaves more like a typical console game, where interactions with the environment are centered on the character and the objects that are nearby. Free cursor mode is more like playing with a mouse and interactions are defined by the cursor, which is moved by the right joystick. The cursor behaves exactly like a mouse cursor in that its screen position does not change, even when moving between screens/views. It is possible, for example, to move items from one location to another by moving only the cursor. On the Switch, using the console touch screen in free cursor mode, the cursor will move directly to the touched location.

This view may also include:

• Crafting queue for the player (bottom, just to the right of the armor and weapon status)
• Shortcut hints (Switch) - a partial list of commands that are valid in the current circumstance (bottom, just above armor and weapon status)
• Item information box - if the cursor is on an object, a summary box will be displayed below the mini-map

Cursor and Range

The distance between the cursor and the character affects the player's ability to perform certain actions. Some actions have a shorter range (chopping down a tree) and some have a longer range (moving an item into or out of the character inventory). When the cursor is on an object within the view, it will be marked with a frame (size and shape varies). See below.

Frame markings

• If the cursor is on an object not within range, it will be marked with a red frame
• If the item is within range, it will be marked with a yellow frame
• If an item is part of or connected to the power grid, objects that are electrically connected to it will be marked with a blue frame
• If an item is part of an assembly chain, objects that are connected to it or that it connects to will be marked with a white frame, and red arrows will show the flow direction.

In the sample image from the game, the Chemical plant is marked with a yellow frame, since the cursor is on it and it is close enough to act on, and the Small electric pole is marked in blue. Note that the chemical plant does not have an electrical connection because the small electric pole is not connected to a power source.

TODO: play with characterless mode, which can be set in the map editor.