screen layout

[Waog]

We need an Idea for an overall screen layout. And I'd prefer it, if you @hectorblanco as an artist you make a rough sketch of it, since it's much easier to experiment with this in Photoshop than to program it.

We need to decide on the following topics:

• landscape vs. portrait vs. both (I'd prefer both or landscape, not sure if the phaser game engine is capable of "both")
  • how are different ratios handled? (I'd prefer a minimal viewport which is always shown, regardless of ratio and which is extended to the sides for wide screens, and to top/bottom for high screens)
• is it still a plan, that we have camera zoom, dependent on the aliens distance to each other?
  • if not, there seems to be no advantage in walking away from each other.
• overall proportions on the screen (aliens, buttons, screen-borders, etc.)

Can you write your opinions here and add some sketches with show the screen borders, together with some game elements (aliens, skorpions, spaceship, etc.)?

[lauraluiz]

• Landscape makes sense if the spaceship is randomly placed in the map and/or the map is square or similar. Portrait makes sense if the spaceship is always north of the map, therefore you have to go through an specific path in the shape of a rectangle. But generally landscapes looks better because it is the typical shape of screens, so in any case I would decide for landscape.
• About ratios, what you say sounds good enough for me.
• There was an idea about making the shield bigger or smaller depending on the distance. If there is enough minimal viewport I think we can still play with this even though we have no zoom. But I'd say it's up to you.
• I would go for some unrealistic proportions like any overhead perspective game. As long as you can properly see the elements in the screen, it doesn't matter whether they have the correct size or not.

[Waog]

I agree with Lauras points.

Both, the different shield sizes and the camera zoom, could be technically challenging. But lets leave this topic for later. First we need to implement any working prototype. :)