About texts and fonts (minor issues)

from Elemental Forums

Judging from what I've seen so far there are mainly a couple of things that I find less than "excellent!!!" or "awesome!!!"

I agree with the point raised by many about the fonts. They are too generic and detract a little from the overall feel of the setting. I mean a game is all about immersion, and Elemental scores very nice points in that department by having unique graphics that help sucking you away (even from the usual feel of other games!!!). It's really only the fonts that remind you you're still looking at a computer screen in Anno Domini 2010.

A slightly deeper issue is with the contents themselves of the text. There's nothing specifically wrong with them, it's just that they seem a bit simplistic or generic. Phrases like "this breakthrough allows you to..." are not so evocative and a bit too tied to the mechanics of the game. Or terms like Diplomatic Capital... the concept is very nice, but maybe we should talk about "Majesty" or "Prestige", or something... would we really offer an "enumerable" product like that during a "transaction" with a live person?

(I don't mean to invalidate the mechanic, I only think the wording could be improved).

I'll stress it again, these are obviously MINOR issues... still I hope they can be addressed in the future, as, as I think many will agree, it's the little details that can elevate a game to the mythical "timeless classic" status. I mean look at what quotes and various flavour excerpts did for Alpha Centauri (not that those helped too much with the sales, apparently, though -_-  )

elemental
5,361 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

So a lesser adjective would be "great"?  ;)

 

I agree, the words and phrases used occasionally seem out of place and a bit blunt... Also, browsing through screenshots also reveals typos here and there (eg. one hero -> many heroes... not heros and shear -> sheer, would be more like it). But heck, I could be wrong and who am I to say anything about your grammar, english is anything but my native language.  :)

 

Still, like you said, these and the font used are minor issues and "easily" fixed and improved in time. The release is way more important than fine-tuning the text-content.

 

Reference to Alpha Centauri hits the spot too, those well-thought flavor texts, audio- and video-clips and the whole atmosphere made you feel like you were inside the damn story!

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Judging from what I've seen so far there are mainly a couple of things that I find less than "excellent!!!" or "awesome!!!"
End of quote
Heretic! Burn him!!

:P

I could agree with the Diplomatic Capital name comment though.

Also, I really hope they changed the Empire Tree thingy name. Really. Kingdoms shouldn't be able to use Empire Trees. :P

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

It doesn't have a "name". Everyone just calls it Empire Tree because that's what it was called in Sins.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Annatar11, reply 3
It doesn't have a "name". Everyone just calls it Empire Tree because that's what it was called in Sins.
End of Annatar11's quote
It surely has one. How else can make reference to it in the manual if not? "That thing with floating things to the left of your screen..."

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

I wonder if there's a language file that can be modified and changed, like with Oblivion...