Station Quirk Button Placement Issue On Non-Widescreen

Hey guys! It looks like we've got a bit of a visual hiccup happening with the station quirk button when you're not running the game in widescreen. Let's dive into what's going on and how it affects your gameplay.

Issue Summary

So, here's the deal. The station quirk button, which becomes active when certain station traits are triggered, isn't playing nice with non-widescreen resolutions. From some local testing, it's clear that the button's placement gets a little wonky, potentially overlapping with other UI elements or just looking out of place. This can be a real pain, especially when you're trying to quickly access and use that button during intense moments.

The Visual Evidence

To give you a clearer picture, here are a couple of screenshots that highlight the issue:

Non-Widescreen:

As you can see in this image, the button's placement is off when the game is running in a non-widescreen resolution. It might be overlapping with other UI elements, making it harder to click and use effectively. This is definitely not ideal when you need to react quickly to station quirks.

Widescreen:

In contrast, when the game is running in widescreen, the button sits nicely in its designated spot, without any overlap or placement issues. This makes it much easier to access and use, ensuring you can manage those station quirks without any frustrating UI problems.

Why This Matters

The placement of UI elements might seem like a small thing, but it can significantly impact your gameplay experience. When buttons are out of place or overlapping, it can lead to misclicks, delays, and general frustration. In a game where quick reactions and precise actions are often crucial, these UI issues can be a real handicap.

Imagine you're dealing with a sudden station-wide emergency triggered by a quirk. You need to quickly access the quirk button to activate a countermeasure or make a critical decision. But if the button is awkwardly placed and hard to click, you might fumble around, wasting precious seconds that could mean the difference between success and failure. This is why it's essential to address these UI issues and ensure that all elements are properly placed and easily accessible, regardless of the screen resolution.

Reproduction Steps

Want to see this issue for yourself? Here’s how you can reproduce it:

1. Have a Station Trait Active: Make sure you're playing with a station trait that triggers the appearance of the station quirk button.
2. Set Game to Non-Widescreen: Configure your game to run in a non-widescreen resolution. Think of those classic, less-than-HD resolutions.
3. Observe the Button Placement: Check out where the station quirk button appears. You'll likely find it's not quite where it should be, potentially overlapping with other UI elements.

Additional Information

• Client Version: Not specified in the original report.
• Round ID: Not specified in the original report.
• Test Merge Information: Not specified in the original report.

Possible Causes and Solutions

So, what's causing this issue, and how can we fix it? Here are a few potential explanations and solutions:

Resolution Scaling Issues

One of the most likely culprits is how the game scales UI elements across different resolutions. When the game is designed primarily for widescreen, the UI layout might not adapt correctly to non-widescreen resolutions. This can result in elements being misaligned or overlapping.

Solution: The developers could implement a more robust UI scaling system that dynamically adjusts the placement of UI elements based on the screen resolution. This would ensure that the station quirk button and other UI components are always in the correct position, regardless of whether you're playing in widescreen or not.

Hardcoded UI Positions

Another possibility is that the positions of certain UI elements are hardcoded, meaning they are set to specific pixel coordinates that work well in widescreen but not in other resolutions. This is a common issue in older games or games that haven't been fully optimized for different screen sizes.

Solution: The developers should avoid hardcoding UI positions and instead use relative positioning techniques. This involves defining UI element positions as percentages of the screen size or relative to other UI elements. This way, the UI will automatically adjust to different resolutions without any manual tweaking.

Aspect Ratio Problems

Aspect ratio is the ratio of the width to the height of the screen. Widescreen displays typically have an aspect ratio of 16:9, while non-widescreen displays might have an aspect ratio of 4:3 or 5:4. If the game doesn't properly handle different aspect ratios, it can lead to UI elements being stretched, distorted, or misplaced.

Solution: The game needs to be designed to handle different aspect ratios gracefully. This might involve adjusting the UI layout, scaling UI elements differently, or adding black bars to the sides of the screen to maintain the correct aspect ratio. The goal is to ensure that the UI looks good and is functional, regardless of the aspect ratio of the display.

Community Contributions

In the meantime, while the developers work on a proper fix, there might be some community-driven solutions or workarounds that you can try. Keep an eye on the game's forums, Discord server, and other community channels for any mods, scripts, or configuration tweaks that might address the issue.

Why Optimization Matters

UI optimization is crucial for creating a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience. When UI elements are properly placed, scaled, and aligned, it reduces the cognitive load on the player and allows them to focus on the gameplay itself. A well-optimized UI can also improve accessibility for players with disabilities, making the game more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.

By addressing issues like the station quirk button placement, the developers can demonstrate their commitment to quality and ensure that all players have a positive experience, regardless of their screen resolution or hardware setup. It's these small details that often make the biggest difference in the overall quality and appeal of a game.

Let's hope the devs get a look at this soon! Happy gaming, folks!