UI: Action Buttons
One of the things that feels fundamentally wrong for me in Prime is the action buttons. Consider the following image:
When you use the Main button to attack, the position of the action shifts up. This make the action area change and, even if you don't notice it, it forces you to have that in mind when you try to use the next action. In my first days I would hit "X" accidentally because of it. I had to force my brain do adapt to something that didn't came naturally for him.
Then the biggest issue here for me: there's a reason commit buttons are usually below selection areas, This is particularly important when holding a mobile phone, As you can see in the right image, because the button is above the selection area, I lost all that information that it gives me: the current XMP level I'm using and the quantity I have, Also, it hides a part of the game area. Still today I have the need to move my finger to the side to have regular updates on this info.
Switching the Back(X) and the Action button should be the logical decision here. Also, because of visibility, LEVEL and QUANTITY should be above the XMP.
Regarding the Back/Exit button, this could be an gesture in the Action button, like "sliding down" or "sliding left".
Comments
Nice insight, sir. The thing I don't understand is why would you want to fire at Resistance portals anyway?
After I touch-slide up from the action button to start an attack, my thumb stops in about the same spot where the fire button is located.
@TheFarix If it weren't for all the problems that came with the button being there I would probably be ok with it. Although having action buttons in different areas it's not a good thing when it comes to UI.
@Rivotti I have the same issue with the fire button. It's unnatural. Could'n the fire button be on the center of the carrossel, insted of a new action button?
@jdenc that was what I meat when suggested switching the Action(Fire) and the Back/Exit(X) Button.
I already raised this as an issue in Ingress Insights, which is a feedback page for the new UI
that would be to low on the phone when playing with one hand.
i took your screen and that how my thumb is when i play (yes i know my drawing skill is not existant 😂)
So as a one hand play the attack button is right where it should be, well for me it is
Also, the back/exit button is in the same place on all screens, and also matches the location of the back/exit buttons in Niantic's other games, Pokemon Go and HPWU.
Wasn't aware, thank you for the heads up.
Sorry, not really interested in the other games, I'm here for Ingress.