http://forum.guildofwriters.com/viewtop ... f=6&t=2591 This topic inspired me to come up with an interface design for an open sourced Uru. I did not play MOUL, and know absolutely nothing about the design it had. For that reason, I might be missing essential functions. I might also have functions in the wrong places. This is not set in stone.
The initial login/register page. There would be a page before this with links to help sections, multimedia, about sections, etc. The scripty looking font represents the Uru script writing, and would be replaced with that. All the white areas would also be made more clean looking, like this image I stole from the aforementioned topic
Spoiler
So I decide to register. This is the page I see.
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg2/ ... ure1-1.jpg
1. This message welcomes the new explorer to Uru and gives some basic introductory information. It disappears after you watch the video or go to a shard.
2. That will log you out and take you back to the login page
3. This will be in the same font as the "WORDS" pic I stole, and the same pop-out brightness to it. Behind it will be a D'ni mandala or writing. The one I have is just the one I found on Mystlore. The real one would say something, like "uru" or "open" or something. I forgot to put the mandala in all the pictures, so just imagine it is there in some of the later pics. There might be fireflies moving around. The circle around "URU" should also be thinner.
I go to watch the introductory video
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg2/ ... cture2.jpg
1. nice little close video function up there... I don't know why I put this number...
2. The video would basically tell the explorer this
-welcome to open sourced uru live
-a brief bit of instructions for navigating the menus, especially the "help" menu
-explaining shards and seals (more on seals later)
-explanation that most beginner shards (more on that later as well) will put the beginner in the cleft alone so they won't wonder where everyone is
-follow Zandi and Yeesha, get Relto book
-how to get the KI
-have a good time
okay, had a nice time with the video... I come back and then open the help section (I need lots of help)
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg2/ ... cture8.jpg
1. note that the video has moved into the help section if you need to reference it later
2. this can turn the instructional scribblings back on, to help the person navigate the menus
3. takes you to an "about" page
4. the GoG and/or other helpful people keep up this chat. It integrates straight into the KI (IC, it is a KI hooked up to a computer, which in term answers queries of people who don't have KI's), and everybody signed up can see when a person signals they need help. Then they can chat through their KI to the person and help them.
I finish my nice chat with a helpful person and decide to visit a shard
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg2/ ... cture7.jpg
1. I'm calling them "shards" because I don't know any other better term. Feel free to correct me. This interface is meant to connect up to almost any shard. The only requirements are these:
No copyrighted materials
No overly adult content - mostly pictures, explicit themes, etc.
No tricks - the shards are relatively safe from crashing (test shards that are more dangerous are clearly marked), harming computers, or linking to malicious sites
2. You write in this box. The closest match will be position right next to the box and nearby shards (alphabetically) will be positioned in front or behind. There should also be a search function for seals, but I haven't thought of where to put it yet.
I click on "Guild of Maintainers Test Shard" because I want to go there
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg2/ ... cture6.jpg
1. those circles represent seals. Seals designate the shard as being something. For example, some possibilites:
Guild of Maintainers Seal - exceptionally bug-free
Guild of Archivists Seal - adheres to canon and/or MORE guidelines (or newer version, if we get one)
Guild of Greeters Seal - is intuitive and easy for beginners. This does not mean that it is bad for experienced players. It stays under the general Uru story arc.
Golden Seal - has the Guild of Maintainers Seal, the Guild of Archivists Seal, and the Guild of Greeters Seal. Recommended for beginners.
Hardhat Seal - testing area, more prone to crashing
No Yeesha Seal - eliminates Yeesha entirely from the story
I click on one of the seals to get a closer look at it
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg2/ ... cture3.jpg
1. yeah, you'll get a better picture than this one I found in clip art
2. explains what the seal means. Seals are filtered somehow to make sure that these blurbs are accurate representations of what they indicate.
3. to close the window
I decide to go to the GoMa Test Shard (nevermind why)
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg2/ ... cture5.jpg
1. a book appears with a picture (chosen by the shard owners) and the name
2. all my registered accounts on this shard (I have a lot). You can delete them by clicking on the negation symbol (there is a window that asks "are you sure?", don't worry)
3. my KI number (for Gehn, lord of ages, who you can see has been clicked on. It would be in D'ni numerals. If I hadn't yet gotten a KI, it would be grey, and just say "no KI"
4. don't expect me to use that name
When you click on the book or the "URU", it shines really bright and then deposits you to where you start on that shard (for most, Relto). If it is a new explorer, it takes you to the beginning wardrobe, and then drops you unceremoniously in the single player cleft (for most). Neither of the intro videos really fits, and I don't think we can just waltz in and order another one. Some shards will put you somewhere else. For instance, theater shards may put you straight into the nexus, so you can quickly join the shooting of "Indiana Jones and the Deep City"
If you want to give a donation
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg2/ ... cture9.jpg
1. I'm not sure on the legal issues. Some shards may have it so you can donate straight out, others may need you to go to their site and donate, some may not accept donations.
2. Cyan Worlds is also there.
3. explanation of how it is open source, where the donations go to (each shard will specifically say where there money goes to in their blurb)
I decide to change some things
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg2/ ... ture10.jpg
-visual options
-audio options
-music options
-themes
Let's change the music (that plays on the menu screen).
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg2/ ... ture11.jpg
1. a volume control. Clicking on "mute" or moving the slider there will mute the music. Similar bars are used in the other options to adjust overall volume, sound quality, etc. There are several music themes available.
If you don't like the design, you can always pick a different theme. Themes are like skins.
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg2/ ... cture4.jpg
This is a Yeesha based theme. You could alternatively have one that replaces the "URU" with a KI design, says "MOOSE" and has antlers, is David's Journey themed (
blatant advertisement -> http://forum.guildofwriters.com/viewtop ... f=5&t=2572), has the Guild of Writer's logo, even one that mimics the design of these forums. Themes are also filtered similarly to how shards are filtered.Well? Ideas? Critiques? Fixes? Problems? Encouragement?
