AtomicTorch - Game Launcher (Need your opinion!)

[Lurler]

We are working on making a launcher application for our games. We want to really simplify everything and make it as easy as possible to download and play the game.

So far it looks something like that, but it is still work in progress.


How it works:
1. Get that launcher and put anywhere, such as on your desktop. It is just one executable file, no extra folders, config files, etc., nothing. Maximum simplicity.
2. When you run it for the first time you need enter your login and password (one time only) and it automatically downloads the latest version of the game from our server.
3. Play the game!
It will also check for new versions and you can update your game at any time just by clicking "update" button. It also checks integrity of your installation and can fix it if something (or someone ) messed up the game files.
You can also apt in to download experimental versions (or wait for stable versions only).
And finally you can get a zipped archive of all log files with single click of a button because, frankly, we are tired of asking for logs all the time. Now it is automatic!

Basically it makes EVERYTHING that you had to do by hand automatic.
And it also has auto updater so if we add new features you won't have to redownload the launcher, it will update itself.

And you can also use it to select what mod files you would like for your game to be active. Kind of like a plugin selector for Morrowind/Oblivion/Skyrim.

And it works for all games, and not just VoidExpanse. So when we release a new game you would be able to use single launcher for all games. And you don't have to worry about anything. Just download a single file, and run any of your games.

That pretty much sums it up.

Note: Of course you don't have to use it if you don't want to and you will still be able to just download games from our site.

Now before we release it for testing I would really like to hear your opinion and possibly some ideas that you think we should implement or generally any feedback. We are making it for you and we would like to hear what you think!

[Delcien]

That sounds very good, would be nice not to have to manually locate the logs and upload them to you.
The only other suggestions I could make are:
1) Have it automatically capture screenshots (by detecting ctrl+prnt scrn key-presses in-game) and storing them in a screenshot folder.
2) Have a screenshot tab so you can view your in-game screen captures
3) Have a troubleshooting tab to help with common issues, like mulitplayer problems, etc. and to send a dxdiag dump from our pc's down to you by the click on a button.

That the kinda thing you after?
Also When is this coming out btw?

Delcien

[Lurler]

1) Have it automatically capture screenshots (by detecting ctrl+prnt scrn key-presses in-game) and storing them in a screenshot folder.
2) Have a screenshot tab so you can view your in-game screen captures
3) Have a troubleshooting tab to help with common issues, like mulitplayer problems, etc. and to send a dxdiag dump from our pc's down to you by the click on a button.

Great ideas. We will implement all of that in some way (not exactly as you described, though).

Also When is this coming out btw?

We will have a test version for you to try by the end of the week most likely.

[kyokei]

Get that launcher and put anywhere, such as on your desktop. It is just one executable file, no extra folders, config files, etc., nothing. Maximum simplicity.

I have to comment on this, I do think that people like to also have some sort of installer which then has the option to add a shortcut on the desktop, taskbar and ofcourse the windows dashboard.
Most people also like to have everything get automatically installed in the program files folder.

Other than that the launcher looks quite good as it is.

Some questions:
- when you download the game via the launcher, I take you will have some sort of progress bar which tells you how much time is remaining and how far in % the download is?
- I see you have a tab for news, is it not a better idea to have the news on the frontpage, make smaller buttons at the side or bottom to launch a game and have tabs for the games itself. That way you can go to the tab for VE, and there you can select if you want the stable build, exp build, etc etc.

[daft73]

The idea of a launcher is ok. As long as it is not buggy, Total War series comes to mind, has the ability to launch play with mods..directly from launcher ie

[Lurler]

- when you download the game via the launcher, I take you will have some sort of progress bar which tells you how much time is remaining and how far in % the download is?

Yes, of course. And you can pause and resume downloading at any time.

- I see you have a tab for news, is it not a better idea to have the news on the frontpage, make smaller buttons at the side or bottom to launch a game and have tabs for the games itself. That way you can go to the tab for VE, and there you can select if you want the stable build, exp build, etc etc.

I am not exactly sure what you mean.

[fastwings]

make at also update the game so no need redownload every update:) else good idea:)

[kyokei]

Quote from: kyokei on Yesterday at 09:14:45 am

    - I see you have a tab for news, is it not a better idea to have the news on the frontpage, make smaller buttons at the side or bottom to launch a game and have tabs for the games itself. That way you can go to the tab for VE, and there you can select if you want the stable build, exp build, etc etc.

I am not exactly sure what you mean.

If you look at the screenshot you posted you see at the top a tab "Games" and a tab "News".
In my eyes it would be better if the launcher defaulted to the tab "News". I am assuming in this case that the tab "News" will contain information about future projects, updates and anything else you can think of.
Besides the tab "News" I would then have a tab called "VoidExpanse" which has the information in your screenshot and perhaps news about VE changelogs+major news topics?
Next to the tab "VoidExpanse" you would then have a tab called "Newgame2" etc.

Then I would think where the placement of downloads is at the moment, maybe next to it have some Quicklaunch buttons for each game. That way you don't need to go to the specific game tab and you can just launch your game from there.

I hope this is more clear? I'd draw a picture but my paint skills are horribru.