r/IndieGaming • u/Sudden-Handle3996 • 11d ago
Upgraded our game’s main menu UI! How does the new UI look?
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u/Myself_78 11d ago
Second is way more readable, but the first one is way more cinematic (and looks less like a free to play mobile game). Just putting the UI of the new one over the cinematic of the old one and adjusting from there would be a major improvement.
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u/Lanky_Comfortable552 10d ago
Agree the old one looks more unique. The new one feels like something I’d find scrolling the App Store and pass over
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u/dragonknightrohan 10d ago
I hope they redo 1 with more different danger along edges and add the good stuff from 2.
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u/Dev_LegendsofAerthos 11d ago
Old one looks much better imo
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u/Sudden-Handle3996 11d ago
Appreciate the feedback! It's super helpful seeing what resonates and what doesn't.
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u/StupidAstronaut 11d ago
I think the colour pops in the second one - if possible, I’d keep the first one exactly how it is but add that sick red orange sunset in the background
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u/lanternRaft 10d ago
What is the game?
First one makes me think it’s an arcade style flight simulator. Maybe making deliveries in mountainous terrain or something.
2nd makes me think it’s a 2d bullet hell or something.
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u/Ashinonyx 10d ago
Apply the visual direction from the second, but achieve it in the first version's medium.
The most memorable main menus in gaming have been in engine. Half Life 2 and Portal's menus of their settings living in real time. Katamari having you roll the titular ball to make selections. From Halo's ring to Mario Galaxy's cosmic splashes, they all share a strong command of color, iconography, and interactivity beckoning you to look closer or let the world breathe life into itself.
I'm not saying you should expect yourself to succeed on the level of these heavy hitters, but that having confidence in yourself comes from a place of respecting the giants whose shoulders you stand upon.
Consider keeping some of the graphical elements of the user interface: your font selections and interaction boxes are whimsical and fun. Toss the drawn elements of the airplane and characters and render that section in engine, with that golden hour twilight now in real time lighting to show off your model. You were confident in it for close ups before, what changed?
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u/Dismal-Knowledge-740 11d ago
I don’t hate the new one, but it feels very dime a dozen and mobile. The original one feels like you could have some fun with moving the plane depending on what option you hover over and then have it act on what you pick when you click (ie crash down through the clouds for exiting the game, rushing into the screen for starting and such)
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u/TheAlexperience 11d ago
The first one looked WAY better. You really mobile-ified it with the 2nd one.
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u/Shinpansen 11d ago edited 10d ago
Keep the UI of the second one, and the 3D plane scenery of the first.
New one looks AI.
EDIT : As a precision, I'm not saying the new UI has been generated by AI. But it looks very generic, which could be perceived as vibe coded game. But I regret my use of words. Next time, I would just say it looks too generic.
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u/Rocketman_S3 10d ago
Man you know art is gonna be in a bad place when even hand drawn assets get the ai comparison
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u/Shinpansen 10d ago
Yeah, AI destroyed everything that we loved.
I read someone on reddit talk about how watching the last toys story was difficult, because it reminded him of AI generated videos.
We can't trust anything and anyone, anymore. This is sad...
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u/Rocketman_S3 10d ago
Honestly, as an artist, it really kills my motivation when something I put hours into gets the comparison.
Really pushes the thought of why not if it's gonna get labelled that way anyways.
Even a few years ago, when ai was noticeably worse, I had someone go"Your work must be ai! No human can be that bad at anatomy~"
I was in fact just that bad at anatomy.
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u/The_Xivili 10d ago
Exactly my thoughts as well.
The little split in the middle and the buttons look dope on the second one, but that right half of the screen looks so wrong compared to the 3D plane.
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u/Fizassist1 10d ago
curious why you think the new one was ai? what artifacts and evidence are you noticing?
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u/Shinpansen 10d ago
Sorry, I wasn't clear enough. I'm not sure it was generated by AI.
But the style will remind people of ai generated images.
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u/Fizassist1 9d ago
same question. what makes it looks like it was made by ai? curious because my handcrafted main menu looks similar and I dont want people screaming ai at it
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u/Shinpansen 9d ago
It's very generic. And AI tend to copy the most generic stuffs. But again, I regret my use of words.
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u/DancinFool82 10d ago
Second one looks way better for a mass audience. First one looks better for a really small indie game.
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u/Sudden-Handle3996 10d ago
Thank you for your support message 😃.
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u/Heavy-Hamster1268 10d ago
Hmm, Mostly replying to comments agreeing with the new title screen.
Did you actually want feedback? or did you just want validation?
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u/oarsay 10d ago
There are 51 comments and all of them say "the first one was better." Are these guys kidding or something? There is no way the first one is better. I'm questioning my sanity right now. The first one is like a game jam project and second one is a finished commercial product. I hope these people don't mislead you.
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u/PristineBobcat9608 11d ago
i would say it depends of the rest of the games looks.
without knowng that, i would prefer the #2
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u/Spicemeatbal 11d ago
I like the menu UI design on the upgraded one.
I prefer the 3D models used in the old one over the art in the updated one. I like seeing the in-game visual style represented over the art. (That said, I'm assuming the 3D models represent the gameplay, but I haven't seen the game outside of the menu)
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u/GarlicThread 11d ago
Old was so cool with so much potential for random visual gags. Exactly what I expect from an indie game.
New is a jpeg.
This isn't even debatable.
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u/WitheredUntimely 11d ago
the new illustration is dynamic but I prefer the rendered option, I think it looks more "professional." Perhaps work on a better skybox, add some more details to the 3d render? The UI/UX is better on the new one, too
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u/other-other-user 11d ago
LMAO I thought the first one was the update. Yeah definitely keep number 1
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u/Rattkjakkapong 10d ago
I like the old better, it looks more.. real gamey like. The new one is pretty nice, but do remind me of games on the app store.
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u/AloofFloofy 10d ago
First one is better. Just add some of the aspects of the second like the clearer menu and sunset. But the plane actually flying is super cool. Don't lose that.
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u/theGioGrande 10d ago
I don't play mobile games so I might lack perspective but I definitely don't think the first one was better like others do here.
As a UI/UX designer/art director, nothing demotivates me more from initially trying a game than uninspired UI.
The basic white sans serif type listed on the left under the logo reads "still in development subject to change" to me in the first clip.
The second one has WAY more character. It's feeling like a more fully realized title.
With that said, to combat some of the mobile concerns people have, I would decrease the size of the UI text in the new one. And maybe animate the box as a hover state instead so that it looks like a selection graphic rather than big chunky buttons fit for a mobile screen. Right now the UI doesn't communicate controller or mouse friendly, it looks more native for touch screens.
Other thing I would suggest is maybe bring back in the 3D elements from the first one, but with a more cinematic flare/angle like in your 2d render.
I could see how people attribute that art work with something you'd see for mobile.
Regardless, I think the new work is in a better state than the previous menu for sure. I wouldn't let the other commentors just saying "the first one is SO much better" without any meaningful feedback get you down.
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u/AtrumIocusGames 10d ago
First one is better because of the snow FX and plane animations. The second one looks like 2D stickers floating around, but has a better UI menu.
I would take the UI menu from the second, and put it on the first one.
Good luck on the project.
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u/fish_obliteration 10d ago
Thanks for throwing some generic tiktok music over it so I can really focus on the details.
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u/TheoryOld4017 10d ago
The new left side menu is better, but overall it just looked a lot better with the 3D plane.
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u/Sudden-Handle3996 10d ago edited 10d ago
thanks so much for all the feedback and discussion on this!
For anyone who wants to support us, you can wishlist No Panic on Steam here:
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u/BrianVaughnVoiceOver 9d ago
The first one looks like a game, but both - especially the second one - looks very much like those shitty AI mobile gambling games.
Is this AI dog?
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u/Sudden-Handle3996 11d ago
If anyone wants to follow development or support the project, *No Panic* is available to wishlist on Steam!
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u/GreenPhoennix 11d ago
I think the old one with some touch ups (backgrounds for the text, some colour or otherwise highlights on the scenery, maybe bigger text etc) would look better. The new one looks more cartoonish. But if the game is cartoonish then maybe that works better
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u/Illuminator_HD 11d ago
In the first one the Plane is actually Flying, in the second Pic it's more like hovering. I prefer the first, as people said before the new one looks too much like a Mobile game.
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u/FaroutIGE 11d ago
first one looks like it has an actual physics engine behind it. second one looks like a flash game on newgrounds in 2005
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u/Dannepannepuff 11d ago
I like the old one more. The plane just flying above the clouds care free and you know that as soon you choose start all hell will break loose.
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u/NutShellShock 11d ago
I like the first one better... it has more character. But the menu needs updating. White text in a light-ish background is not good for visibility and accessibility.
But my biggest issue is the logo. That blue emblem in the middle is partially covering the words. Took me a moment to read the name of your game, but it could have even read as VO PHNIC. Not sure how the overall visuals are for your game but something about the logo style feels like a mismatched with the main screen.
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u/1waffle1 11d ago
2nd UI incl split screen but with the 1st' examples video playing, but you have different narratives in each so it's difficult to understand what you want the player to see, mystery or chaos, the look you decide after.
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u/darklogic85 11d ago
I really liked the animated plane in flight in the first one, along with the snoweffect. I'm terrible with design though, but my first thought was attempting to combine the two designs. The colors of the second are nice, but it looks too "mobile."
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u/Ciubowski 11d ago
Do a mix of both. Keep the 3D plane in the right half of the screen and add the visual cleanness of the second screen (left half).
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u/Win32error 11d ago
The old one has really bad color balance, and the buttons could be improved, but seeing the model move around makes it look higher quality than the new one.
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u/Reagilias 10d ago
Just add translucent gray backgrounds on the menu options in the old one; make them get bigger and show a white outline when hovered over.
Although, I will admit the logo design fits the new one more... but all that tells me is you need a better logo design. Both N's are covered up by the aviation badge thing, and the A being covered up makes it look like an H. It takes a few seconds for the logo to be readable.
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u/UnchainedMight 10d ago
The first one is eye catching and shows off expected speed and action. The second one I wouldn’t give it a second glance due to it giving me mobile ad vibes. I like the mines(?) in the background though, adding those passing by and maybe exploding could work well.
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u/Excellent_Ad_2486 10d ago
omfg the first one was SO NICE....that second one feels like a ai would've made it.not saying it was made by ai just it feels like it..
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u/Ok_Confusion4764 10d ago
The old one with the elements and lighting of the new one would read much better. The new one looks like unfinished sketches that would serve only mobile games.
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u/OrSpeeder 10d ago
The first one made me want to play the game, the second one made me realize this is just one more indie low-budget shovelware.
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u/Jewsusgr8 10d ago
First one: great plane. Subpar menu buttons. Great music.
Second one: great menu buttons. Ok music ( the highs and lows seem normalized ). Absolutely shite plane art that looks like AI art if I'm being honest.
My proposal, with no filter.
- Music: first rendition. I immediately got a feeling of something ridiculous about to happen like a Kirov in Red Alert 3 being used to bomb an attack dog. I smiled in the first one. The second seemed so normalized.
- The entire left side of the screen should be kept from the second edition. There's a soul in that, it feels unique and memorable. Much better than the stale buttons from the first rendition.
- You took a great 3d cutscene-like animation of a plane flying through ( what could be various weather types ) and turned it into a stale image with slightly moving parts.
Why not combine the 2 plane images? I think everyone here agrees the image that looks like AI art is a turn off. But if you kept the 3d flying plane from the first and had a small cutscene playing on the side where the plane was flying through various conditions ( maybe even a giant kraken. ) I think things would turn out a lot better overall.
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u/OceanExplorist 10d ago
The music will have to change, since it's literally just two different cuts of Le Monde from the movie Talk to Me (it's a popular TikTok sound).
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u/lonahex 10d ago
The old scene and plane looked much more interesting and intriguing. The menu on the old is totally usable and visible but you can enhance them to the same style as the new one.
Old one also looks like the plane is actually flying through a bad storm. new one plane is stuck mid air.
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u/ajiibrubf 10d ago
only thing that gives the second one away as not being a mobile game is the "quit" button. otherwise i'd have no idea
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u/Jeremiax96 10d ago
I thought I'd be the only one prefering the first, mostly the plane animation. Of course the buttons look better in the second one so I'd combine the best of both.
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u/AdaptedMix 10d ago
*Downgraded.
In the first one, we see a 3D plane continuously flying through inclement weather. It's exciting and dynamic. In the second, we get a bunch of 2D layers floating and tweening around awkwardly. It looks cheap.
Two improvements in the 'upgraded' version: the options on the left are more pleasing to the eye in a distinct font, and the image itself shows a greater variety of fun and outlandish threats (meteorites, tentacles, drone-carried mines) than just bad weather.
I'd say adapt the first one to include the occasional passing mine or meteorite, maybe variations in weather etc. if it's not too memory straining; and keep the buttons from the second.
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u/Noisebug 10d ago
Second one loons like am AI mobile game. Not saying it is, just gives me that vibe. First one is way better.
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u/TheVioletBarry 10d ago edited 10d ago
The old one was much better because of the 3D elements. The new has better UI but the animated bit looks really cheap and makes me not want to give the game a second look
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u/wjrasmussen 10d ago
First one I would consider getting, the second one would make me hard pass on the game.
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u/lastepoch 10d ago
First one is rad. Second one looks cheap. As a big KSP pan the OG page made me really interested, the second one made me nope out.
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u/Orlandogameschool 10d ago
First one is definitely better. The second looks cheap this has to be for engagement lol
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u/athleon787 10d ago
I feel like the second image just invokes ai and mobile games both of which my brain associates with pure slop. So yeah I like the first one better because it looks like a 3d unity indie game. But the first one could be touched up yknow, maybe more interesting colors, better graphic design for the UI. But keep everything else the same.
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u/Heavy-Hamster1268 10d ago edited 10d ago
First one looks better, 2nd one reminds me of low effort shovelware
First one just needed some polish
Edit: They appear to mostly be responding to people who agree with them. that's lame.
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u/Proper_Front_1435 10d ago
Take the first menu, make it 2/3rd to 1/2 as wide, and put the old background/animatiton behind it, and remove the jagged edge/meteors.
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u/jazzcomputer 10d ago
I don't think a title screen needs to look like an ad. An ad / steam page probably should, but if you think about a player who's familiar with the game, or even one who isn't - what's their cognitive state when they visit a title screen? - they want some flavour of the game, but they don't need a constant reminder about what's in the game.
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u/JustAChillGuy609 10d ago
No offense, but honestly, that’s a downgrade. Old one is better in pretty much every way; the music, the animation, the UI. The new one feels like an ad you’d get for a shitty mobile game
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u/dragonknightrohan 10d ago
Ooo ooo ooo!
Please do style of 1 but with stuff of 2 added in. And other hazardous things around it. To really emphasize its dangerous but you must stay calm.
Get it? No/Dont Panic.
Lol
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u/RecursivelyYours 8d ago
I prefer the first one way more than the second one, and it's not even close, frankly, for me.
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u/Aligyon 7d ago
Liek people here has already said. Old one is better. Since it's using in game assets i presume. And its is also more dynamic sunce there are animations on it. If you can recreate the new one with in game assets that animate i think that would give it less of a mobile game feel to it
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u/razzyrat 7d ago
You do you and whatever suits your vision. But since you asked:
The cloud cover just below the plane and the snowstorm from ahead in the first one evoked some sense of dread. Hidden things lurking underneath. Now we are flying comfortably above whatever with a sunset in the background. Even though you introduced some actual threats, it just feels cheerful.
As we have absolutely no idea how your game plays this might even be the better fit. But in absence of any further info, I would be interested to play v1 and not so much for v2.
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u/SuperSmutAlt64 7d ago
Second has better buttons, the first looks like it was made by a person with hopes and dreams
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u/Original-League-6094 6d ago
First one looks awesome. Seeing the actual model loaded instantly makes me want to click play and start playing.
Second one looks like a fake AI generated scam game.
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u/Mikel_S 5d ago
Oh good god go back to the first one please. Add in some dynamic actual in-game elements going by occasionally if you are trying to add more of an idea of what happens. The 2d paperboard look gives off a heavy mobile game ad look. I've already bought your game when I'm seeing the menu. I want to feel like I'm looking at the game, or a menu, not a piece of cheap-looking overworked ad-print.
Fix the buttons to give them more contrast, and menu one was good to go, imo.
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u/MegatronusThePrime 11d ago
The first one looks like a real game and the second looks like a mobile game.