# The new interface in "Delores" **URL:** \ **Category:** Development/Design\ **Created:** [May 10, 2020, 4:39pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265 "2020-05-10T16:39:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 4:39pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/1 "2020-05-10T16:39:10Z")
I’ve played [“Delores”](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/announcing-a-new-thimbleweed-park-mini-adventure/4261) and would like to discuss a little bit the new interface. In my opinion it’s very close to the Larry 7 and especially the [Delphin Software](https://www.gamesdatabase.org/media/commodore-amiga/artwork-in-game/future-wars) interface. I like the approach, but I have several issues with the current implementations: - The text “pulsates” each time I move the cursor over an object. This makes me a little bit -hm- edgy. 🙂 Especially in an area with several objects. I would suggest to let only the cross pulsating. - Actions are triggered by a left _and_ a right click _and_ drag and drop. I found this a little bit unintuitive. I would suggest to put only the “walk” and the “look at” actions on the left mouse button. - The cursor suggests an action (like opening a door), so it gives (sometimes) a hint. What do you think about the new interface? ---
**Author:** ![ZakPhoenixMcKracken](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/zakphoenixmckracken/32/41_2.png) [@ZakPhoenixMcKracken](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/ZakPhoenixMcKracken)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/2 "2020-05-10T17:45:38Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > The text “pulsates” each time I move the cursor over an object. This makes me a little bit -hm- edgy. There’s an option to turn it off. > [@Someone](#): > > What do you think about the new interface? I liked it very much, the way it is. Drag and drop is easy, it’s more intuitive. ---
**Author:** ![Frenzie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/frenzie/32/4416_2.png) [@Frenzie](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Frenzie)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/3 "2020-05-10T19:13:47Z")
> [@ZakPhoenixMcKracken](#): > > Drag and drop is easy It’s surprisingly hard on my laptop’s touchpad actually (which doesn’t have real buttons like they used to), and I know there are plenty of people with issues like arthritis who have difficulty with it too. So I think it’s fine but not as the one and only way. Just click to pick up and click to drop is easier to operate. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/4 "2020-05-10T20:59:04Z")
> [@ZakPhoenixMcKracken](#): > > There’s an option to turn it off. Ah, thanks for the hint. I haven’t explored the options yet. 🙂 > [@Frenzie](#): > > Just click to pick up and click to drop is easier to operate. +1 I fully agree with you. I have a touchpad with real buttons and it’s still hard to drag and drop. And I can imagine that it’s hard on mobile devices too. ---
**Author:** ![RonGilbert](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/rongilbert/32/7_2.png) [@RonGilbert](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/RonGilbert)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/5 "2020-05-10T21:19:31Z")
> [@Frenzie](#): > > Just click to pick up and click to drop is easier to operate. This is something I looked at and implemented (and then removed). How do you select an action on an inventory? Clicking on it would pick it up, not do the default action. You could force right-click on inventory, but that got cumbersome as well. This issue only seems to come up with track pad users, so maybe there needs to be an option for that use case. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/6 "2020-05-10T21:29:37Z")
> [@RonGilbert](#): > > Clicking on it would pick it up, You could show the verb menu after a left click on the object in the inventory. Then in the menu give the player the options to “look at” or “pick up” the object. > [@RonGilbert](#): > > This issue only seems to come up with track pad users, Well, not only. I know a lot of people who have problems with the concept of drag and drop (like a close relative of mine). But it’s a common control scheme in most adventure games, so I think you are right. ---
**Author:** ![Frenzie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/frenzie/32/4416_2.png) [@Frenzie](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Frenzie)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/7 "2020-05-10T21:46:17Z")
I have nothing substantial to add to what @Someone wrote; I think that’s a good suggestion. For me personally it was merely slightly less convenient than it could be. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/8 "2020-05-10T21:51:30Z")
> [@RonGilbert](#): > > right-click on inventory You can easily simplify the interface even more: - simple left click on an object opens the verb menu. - highlight the most used verb (= position the most used verb under the cursor). - Another click selects the verb. - In the inventory use my method mentioned above. With this you eliminate the right click and the drag and drop. Smart people can just double click on an object to select the suggested verb/action. ---
**Author:** ![Frenzie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/frenzie/32/4416_2.png) [@Frenzie](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Frenzie)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/9 "2020-05-10T21:53:16Z")
You’ve basically just described the skull/coin interface. There you could also do hold & drag to more efficiently select a verb. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 9:54pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/10 "2020-05-10T21:54:58Z")
> [@Frenzie](#): > > You’ve basically just described the skull/coin interface. Ron has implemented this interface already - but in a more complicated way. 😉 No, it’s still different: The game shows you the verbs that makes sense in the corresponding situation. And the designer is able to use more and different verbs. ---
**Author:** ![Frenzie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/frenzie/32/4416_2.png) [@Frenzie](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Frenzie)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 10:05pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/11 "2020-05-10T22:05:17Z")
Of course, I just meant it had certain clever ways of working just like that. For example, after I found out about it I always used the more efficient method with a proper trackball/mouse. That’s click & hold + let go on option. Contrast that with the touchpad or less agile person method of click, move, click again. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/12 "2020-05-10T22:14:03Z")
> [@Frenzie](#): > > That’s click & hold + let go on option. You could implement that in my suggestion too (in addition to a click): If the player holds the mouse button for, let’s say, 2 seconds, the game chooses/activates the verb under the cursor. So each player has the free choice to click on a verb or just hold the mouse button to chose a verb. ---
**Author:** ![RonGilbert](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/rongilbert/32/7_2.png) [@RonGilbert](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/RonGilbert)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/13 "2020-05-10T22:25:44Z")
Holding is also problematic due to touch devices. TWP touch deals with up/down clicks differently due to the need for scanning. It’s not to say any of these ideas are bad, it’s just a rabbit-hole once you start to think about all the edge cases. 1) Implement your idea 2) Put it in front of anyone that’s not you 3) Start pulling you hair out. 🙂 Welcome to game-dev. I will continue to refine this UI and it will get better, thanks to good feedback. But also what comes with this UI is thinking about puzzles differently, that is something I didn’t delve deep into the Delores. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/14 "2020-05-10T22:34:14Z")
> [@RonGilbert](#): > > TWP touch deals with up/down clicks differently due to the need for scanning. So you (= the game designer) have to decide on mobile devices if you use clicks or holds in the interface? > [@RonGilbert](#): > > I will continue to refine this UI and it will get better, thanks to good feedback. Can’t wait! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elenahitomi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/elenahitomi/32/13292_2.png) [@elenahitomi](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/elenahitomi)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 9:01am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/16 "2020-05-11T09:01:14Z")
Top-of-mind thing I miss is the SCUMM-ish “Use / Push / Pull / Give” table, but I do understand why the new one was constructed to welcome new players and to make a more user-friendly experience. Although, would be nice to have the option to switch from intuitive to SCUMM-ish, but not a deal-breaker. (I dunno what that table is called, because SCUMM is the engine). ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 9:12am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/17 "2020-05-11T09:12:05Z")
> [@elenahitomi](#): > > Although, would be nice to have the option to switch from intuitive to SCUMM-ish The question is: Is that possible? As Ron mentioned, the designer of the/a game creates the puzzles according to the interface. So if you switch back to the old interface, some of the puzzles won’t work anymore. ---
**Author:** ![elenahitomi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/elenahitomi/32/13292_2.png) [@elenahitomi](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/elenahitomi)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 11:21am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/18 "2020-05-11T11:21:22Z")
There were some games that had the option to switch from enhanced mode to classic mode and vice versa. But yeah… I know… The work will be super tough. But technically it’s possible. Source: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlgYKwnyVPw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlgYKwnyVPw) ---
**Author:** ![Frenzie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/frenzie/32/4416_2.png) [@Frenzie](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Frenzie)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/19 "2020-05-11T15:47:17Z")
> [@RonGilbert](#): > > Holding is also problematic due to touch devices. TWP touch deals with up/down clicks differently due to the need for scanning. In the way I described it (i.e., as implemented in Full Throttle/MI3) those problems are (hopefully? 🙂 ) avoided because `click, move, click` and `click & hold, move, let go` execute the exact same action. The latter just happens to be slightly faster if you’re comfortable with it. > [@Someone](#): > > You could implement that in my suggestion too (in addition to a click): If the player holds the mouse button for, let’s say, 2 seconds, the game chooses/activates the verb under the cursor. Perhaps I used the wrong word when I said “hold.” I mean something much closer to “flick” or “swipe.” The point is that you don’t let go of the button while you do so. You _can_ hold for minutes at a time if you really want to I suppose, but then it would be much more convenient to just click, let go, and slowly ponder your next action before clicking on it. It’s like how the right click menu typically can work in Unixy environments, but in Windows only the regular left-click menubar does. > [@Announcing a new Thimbleweed Park mini-adventure](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/announcing-a-new-thimbleweed-park-mini-adventure/4261/60): > > > [@Announcing a new Thimbleweed Park mini-adventure](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/announcing-a-new-thimbleweed-park-mini-adventure/4261/56): > > > > would have liked to be able to click to skip dialogue as the . button is on the right side of my keyboard and awfully close to my mouse. > > I had the same argument. > In a private conversation with Ron Gilbert, during the test phase, he answered me what he thinks about (it’s a general info, so it’s safe to make it public): > > > [@](#): > > > > _"I refused to do this for TWP (I did add a power-user Pref to add it), but allowing right click to skip dialog is painful. People just click through dialog without reading and then complain they are lost and confused. Right-click is just too easy for casual players to find._ > > > > _Also, the right-click is now used, so it would prevent you from right-clicking while people were talking, or it would kill text when all you wanted to do was right-click to get verbs."_ I actually really like `.` instead of something like left click, right click, escape or space, and it’s for precisely that reason. There’s no accidental skipping when you mean to pause for example. Far too many games have escape for pause/menu _and also to skip_. Which is pretty much only fine if it brings up a skip/continue menu like in Deus Ex: Human Evolution. You also avoid any accidental skipping due to clicking, for example because of how it works in Delores. In Ace Attorney for example I’ve regularly been skipping dialog only to accidentally execute some random action afterward depending on what was under my nail/stylus. The TWP interface is superior to most adventure games I’ve played in the past two decades because of QWE/ASD/ZCX and `.`, and properly listening to arrow keys+enter in dialogs. ---
**Author:** ![toVerbOrNot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/toverbornot/32/1162_2.png) [@toVerbOrNot](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/toVerbOrNot)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2020, 9:50pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/20 "2020-05-11T21:50:02Z")
The interface is not horrible, but TWP was better, but then again TWP was the best adventure game interface I ever tried. ---
**Author:** ![uriel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/uriel/32/1340_2.png) [@uriel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/uriel)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 1:59am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265/21 "2020-05-12T01:59:20Z")
> [@RonGilbert](#): > > But also what comes with this UI is thinking about puzzles differently, that is something I didn’t delve deep into the Delores. Could you elaborate on this? … I feel like the new UI makes the puzzles less open. In the sense that the interface only provides appropriate actions. Almost as if the sense of exploration is lost. I’m not excited about the new UI, but I can’t tell wether it’s because I’m used to the old one or if it’s related to what I said above. [Next page](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/the-new-interface-in-delores/4265.md?page=2)