Do you want "old" version back? (as an option)

[Woodruff]

Hi everybody,

I have nothing against constructive feedback. But I am one of this players who prefer ergonomy than aesthetics (both is even better of course )
And, despite all the positive efforts made by the BGA staff to take player wishes in account, I would rather play the "old" version because it is so more compact and readible. On my 18" laptop, I usually set my navigator at 80% zoom to view the entire play zone when playing 4, whereas with the old version it handles up to 5 players easily.

Don't get it wrong and please don't be hateful: BGA made an big amount of work to release that new version and lots of players can enjoy it. Keep in mind that the staff has a lot of work to do elsewhere to keep the website running and improve it.
But in my personal point of view that new version is not enough to meet the "old" play experiment, at least until now. Thus, I would like to have that available as an option, which should be doable if the original code was kept. This option could ultimately be suppressed if improvements in the inteface finally reach the same quality of ergonomics.

If such an option would be set, keep in mind you could not play with the newer variants within it (for example, Black Powder).

[Tisaac]

which should be easy to do for the developers.

How do you know that ?

[Woodruff]

Hi Tisaac,

If the previous code has been kept, using the option value, I surmise that the tests on that value can be made and the code reintroduced on relevant places in the .js file: setup function, notification handlers and state entering/leaving functions. Maybe some HTML code in the template file must be transfered in the setup if the HTML layout between the two version are different.

But it's only a "should", and I can be wrong of course. It can takes more time if the code is more complex sure, I must admit I have not seen what the source code looks like (is it accessible? I can't find the project on BGA Studio; I don't think games developed by the BGA staff is accessible).

[Tisaac]

Hi Tisaac,

If the previous code has been kept, using the option value, I surmise that the tests on that value can be made and the code reintroduced on relevant places in the .js file: setup function, notification handlers and state entering/leaving functions. Maybe some HTML code in the template file must be transfered in the setup if the HTML layout between the two version are different.

But it's only a "should", and I can be wrong of course. It can takes more time if the code is more complex sure, I must admit I have not seen what the source code looks like (is it accessible? I can't find the project on BGA Studio; I don't think games developed by the BGA staff is accessible).

Well, that quite a lot of changes to have both at the same time then. And of course it's assuming the db model has not changed in between (which is probably true). I think the code is not available because Hanabi was developped before the studio even exists.
So not impossible, but definitively not "easy".

[Woodruff]

OK, you're right.
I edit my original post, I don't want to appear deciving here, that is not the point

[Woodruff]

Some friends of mine say that the game is lot more compact on mobile than it was before. That's a good thing.
But on PC it still takes a lot of space.

[littlejames]

The new version looks more glamorous but serves no practical use. There has been a mass exodus of players after the new version is used. Definitely should go back to the old version.

[failedatquittingBGA3]

This basically already exists. Set your options to stacked hands and fast hints, and the only difference is the card look.

https://ibb.co/pzx0NZQ

[Woodruff]

You're right and I know that option, but still, even if the shape of the layout, it takes lots much space than the previous version, at least on computer screen...
That is my main complain :/

[Lara8818]

I've posted about this on other threads, but this is how the Carcassonne update was handled and IMO it works really well. The new art/look is a 'skin' that each player can opt for if it suits their own aesthetics, playstyle, or device, but everyone can still play smoothly at the same table together regardless of the version they choose.

I agree that this wouldn't work if playing with Black Powder or Flamboyants - that would require extra work on the part of the devs and artists to create extra elements matching the old look for those versions.

As failedatquittingBGA3 said, now that stacked and fast hints have been added to the new version, it doesn't really bother me as much as it did at first; the look is less streamlined, resizing is less efficient, and there are some things like number visibility on the purple multi background that work less well, but all in all I still enjoy playing the game here. However, having access to the old version would make it more enjoyable still, and possibly more to the point, perhaps the palpable drop in the number of other players around at any given time would reverse.