Funny World of Warcraft Video Hud Covers Screen

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• #51

A hard disagree from me, Kotaku

With exceptions like Persona 5 where they're stylish and mesh with the game's aesthetic

• #52

EDIT: late as hell

• #53

Clean>a icon from 1999. Possible for both but I rather the first of the devs can't get it correct.

• #54

I disagree, J-RPGs are played through their HUDs and P5 looks cool and functional.

AC1 in general had a more minimalistic HUD than AC games pre Origins and Odyssey. The difference is that AC's modern HUD is contextual.

• #55

There are two games, God of War and God of War, with identical names. it's not like it's perplexing or impossible to understand, but it's a funny thing to note.

I know there are two games with the same game. But it's not confusing, so it's an incredibly strange thing to to note.

• #56

Here I was thinking this would be a Dead Space article.

All the information the player needs, all conveyed organically through weapon and character design. Health and stasis meter on the back, hologram ammo counter on the tools, player-activated guidance towards your directive...

Dead Space's approach to HUDs is still worth praise.

I loved the way they did the HUD in this game! I hadn't seen anything like that before. I wish more games were able to do this!

For me, the worst indicator of low health (although it's not hud per se) is the black and white screen, like Uncharted games. They reduce the visibility entirely. Dead Space did it perfectly! One of the best games of last generation!

• #57

On one hand, I do think that finding alternative methods to communicate your stuff in games is preferably than just slapping text, bars, and icons everywhere, and I hate the MMO-y aesthetic with numbers popping off of everything that so much stuff seems to have have adopted now

That being said, I think the "No HUD is good HUD" approach does reek from pretensions of ~cinematic gaming~. I can't imagine X-Com or Persona 5 without a HUD, and I appreciate efforts made to make sure they're both functional and fashionable

• #58

I'm glad old immersion breaking HUDs are becoming a thing of the past. The less intrusive a HUD is, the better.

• #59

Most are. Some aren't.

I don't care what some people say, Persona 5 has one of the most stylish hud's in a video game ever. It's a work of art and stands out.

• #60

The new gow hud is a bit bland. They tried to get some shapes in there to make it look a bit like runes but the healthbar is a bit overly functional.

I do prefer this however over a big sword covering the screen

• #61

I know there are two games with the same game. But it's not confusing, so it's an incredibly strange thing to to note.

How does one know which game people are talking about without further clarification?

• #62

everything should be system shock

This. Everything should have a hackable game console built into the HUD.

Cyberpunk 2077 going to be an utter failure if it doesn't let you play a game while playing the game.

• #63

Is Kotaku a parody site now?

Should be called Dad of War

• #64

Wow, I like how they used an incredibly ugly HUD of an old game and compared it to the cleaner, easier to understand and less intrusive HUD of its modern comtemporary.

• #65

Devs, DONT DO THIS.

As oleds become more popular due to the fact they are the best displays gaming do everything you can to minimize burn in. No static elements.

• #66

Depends on the game I guess, I for one is thankful that for example RE this gen has moves to a more discreet HUD given that the games are supposed to be atmospheric. Other games need HUDs that display more information.

Also I feel like as the author mentions; the resolution has gotten better so game makers can have a smaller hud and still be kinda certain that the player understands what is happening. Slapping a big hud on the screen just looks strange these days when numbers are more easily seen.

• #67

With so much extra screen space I dun see how HUDs can be "intrusive". Like why can't some games have cool ones and other games not instead of demanding they be bannished from all games forever? Less/no HUD works for some games, more/some HUD works for others.

• #68

Metroid Prime was the most immersive game I ever played and it proudly brandished its HUD. You even saw Samus' face reflected in it when there was a bright flash. Obviously, that was a first person game where the actual character had a HUD so it made sense.

But even in a game that isn't trying to be immersive, I appreciate a good visual design that acknowledges that you are playing something rather than just observing it. One example that immediately comes to mind for some reason is Bioshock.

Also, did anyone honestly prefer the no HUD system in Splinter Cell Double Agent over how the previous games did it? Sometimes direct feedback of information actually improves a game. I swear, some of you would criticize Dead Space as too old fashioned.

• #69

Here I was thinking this would be a Dead Space article.

All the information the player needs, all conveyed organically through weapon and character design. Health and stasis meter on the back, hologram ammo counter on the tools, player-activated guidance towards your directive...

Dead Space's approach to HUDs is still worth praise.

You assumed the article would have some point beyond a weird gatekeeping sentiment that no one agrees with.

There are several elements of HUDs in most odler games, or even some older games that have unique HUDs that should have caught on, that are worth discussion and are superior to many modern games.

The article discusses neither.

• #70

everything should be system shock

Why is there a text of the sound card in the middle of the screen?

• #71

A hard disagree from me, Kotaku

With exceptions like Persona 5 where they're stylish and mesh with the game's aesthetic

And a lot of the old-school HUDs were designed in a way to mesh with the game's aesthetic/art direction...?

On one hand, I do think that finding alternative methods to communicate your stuff in games is preferably than just slapping text, bars, and icons everywhere, and I hate the MMO-y aesthetic with numbers popping off of everything that so much stuff seems to have have adopted now

That being said, I think the "No HUD is good HUD" approach does reek from pretensions of ~cinematic gaming~. I can't imagine X-Com or Persona 5 without a HUD, and I appreciate efforts made to make sure they're both functional and fashionable

That right there is the correct answer.

• #72

Devs, DONT DO THIS.

As oleds become more popular due to the fact they are the best displays gaming do everything you can to minimize burn in. No static elements.

they should make the UI bounce across the screen like old DVD player logos

• #73

Wow, original god of war would not have been my pick for a cool HUD. It's very Gamer™

Metroid prime released several years prior and is a great example of an amazing HUD from that era

• #75

Probably my favorite thing about Sony's exclusives is the minimal and dynamic HUD.

• #76

I wish we could turn the HUD off in MKXI. Such a good looking game but I can't take cool screenshots on PC.

• #79

EDIT: late as hell

Ironically I also think messages written on walls (especially in blood) gets old and is way overused.

• #80

What??? Personas complete menu style is so stylish and refreshing. You just feel there went a lot of money and passion into this alone.

I feel that a lot of money and passion went into the enemy designs and battle stages too shame I can barely see any of that.

• #81

I disagree, J-RPGs are played through their HUDs and P5 looks cool and functional.

Xenoblade could be improved

Too simplistic for my taste.

What??? Personas complete menu style is so stylish and refreshing. You just feel there went a lot of money and passion into this alone.

I agree with this. P5's menus/UI were gorgeous.

• #82

Nonsense.

What does a player need a HUD for outside of conveying certain information? If they could get rid of them all together it would be better.

Not everyone has the same cognizant skills. HUD's display info that might help someone with a disability enjoy the game easier.

• #83

Too simplistic for my taste.

I agree with this. P5's menus/UI were gorgeous.

The tendency to have insane HUDs is also why I avoid MMOs. Especially world of warcraft lmao.

Not everyone has the same cognizant skills. HUD's display info that might help someone with a disability enjoy the game easier.

They managed to make TLOU2 one of the most accessible games ever while till maintaining a minimalistic contextual HUD.

• #85

They just need to look good and fit thematically. They be either flashy or minimalistic. I like the HUD in Persona 5 ... but I also like the HUD in the modern God of War. Meanwhile, the OG God of War has a hideous HUD. I don't think it has to be one way or the other, but it's definitely something that takes talent to pull off.

• #86

I agree with them on the idea that huds are too sanitized and samey from the big games. Being minimalist is fine but they all have the same look and they're boring. It isn't a huge thing but a small artistic flourish in that stuff can go a long way.

• #87

I'm all for minimalist huds. I thought the Witcher 3 had some pretty good hud options.

I'm also a fan of how Assassin's Creed shows the face buttons change, as explained in the first one as being a marionette. Taking control of limbs and what not. Doesn't really make sense but it's a neat in game/universe explanation.

• #88

The tendency to have insane HUDs is also why I avoid MMOs. Especially world of warcraft lmao.

The nice thing about WoW is that it's UI is incredibly customizable. Those images are basically jokes. Sure, you could have all that information displayed if you want, but you can also have this (or alt-z and turn the UI off completely). It's also very scalable, so everything could be tiny and out of the way.

• #89

Games were far better when a quarter of the display was just a picture of your character. So immersive!

• #90

I don't trust anyone who doesn't like P5's HUD.

• #91

The nice thing about WoW is that it's UI is incredibly customizable. Those images are basically jokes. Sure, you could have all that information displayed if you want, but you can also have this (or alt-z and turn the UI off completely). It's also very scalable, so everything could be tiny and out of the way.

Well that's nice of them to have the option. Doesn't explain why my friends played with the HUD from hell though.

• #92

Why not the best of both worlds? Minimal UI which is themed towards the style of the game.

• #93

How can you not love ridiculous PS2 UIs!!! They're so fuckin good. This is video gaming, to me.

• #94

I don't trust anyone who doesn't like P5's HUD.

Lmao yes

• #95

Well that's nice of them to have the option. Doesn't explain why my friends played with the HUD from hell though.

You have to download and enable those addons so they probably choose to?

• #96

The best HUD is no HUD but they've only gotten better over time. More clean, takes up less room and doesn't distract the player from what matters.

• #97

My OLED thanks these developers

This.
I do kind of like the tacky style of old school HUDs, but not nearly enough to want them there all the time. It's frustrating when games don't have good options for minimizing this stuff.

• #98

I like sleek menus if they fit the aesthetic of the game. Assassin's Creed takes place in a VR helmet so it makes sense it's pretty "clean", I actually love that aspect.

Same goes for Breath of the Wild, where it all just "works" within the aesthetics established by the Sheikah technology throughout the game.

And Final Fantasy VII Remake's UI looks like something you'd find on a Shinra terminal

I prefer all of those to whatever Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has going on (sharp edges because blades I guess?), and having a giant sword as a health bar is just silly because what does that even represent? I haven't played it but I'm pretty sure Kratos's blood isn't inside his sword. Modern God of War's UI looks like runes, which suits the world and has thematic relevance given runes are often depicted in media as granting powers.

And for what it's worth I'm fine with a "tacky" UI. I love Kingdom Hearts customizing the combat menu in every world, and the bubbly-but-clean general aesthetic matches the weird fantastical sci-fi bent of the series.

• #99

You have to download and enable those addons so they probably choose to?

Bruh

And for what it's worth I'm fine with a "tacky" UI. I love Kingdom Hearts customizing the combat menu in every world, and the bubbly-but-clean general aesthetic matches the weird fantastical sci-fi bent of the series.

The HUD in KH3, despite having more party members than ever in some worlds still manages to feel relatively minimal and sleeker than the HUD in older games. Feels noticeably less tacky as a result.

• #100

My thing with a lot of modern HUDs is that you can do a minimalist design while still having some form of personality to it, but they just go for the most plain, clean, flat look they possibly can.
I'm a big fan of the dynamic HUD stuff, but that's been kinda common place for way before the minimalist trend. I feel like Crash was the first game I played with that. I'm not a fan of being stubborn and struggling with no HUD for 'immersion', when it just leads me to spend more times fiddling in menus to find the info I need.

Due to it being the internet, if you don't like a comically minimalist HUD, it's always a case of "lol do you want WoW HUDs on every game?" with no concept of middle ground.

marshallwherfes.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.resetera.com/threads/kotaku-video-game-huds-used-to-be-cool.255978/page-2