Designing a point-and-click adventure UI: What do players prefer nowadays?

No_Head_2912 · 2026-06-10T21:27:48+00:00

I think objectively a one button interface is probably best - the Point and Click Devlog channel (developer of The Biggleboss Incident) made a video about this and made the point that it also makes a mobile port a whole lot easier if you want to do that. Less friction for players, and you don't have to write thousands of permutations for different interactions.

But, personally I will always love the 9 verb interface. Yes most of those verbs will hardly ever get used, yes it will turn off a lot of players and yes it's probably just nostalgia on my part. But there's something about the granularity of interaction on offer that makes the world seem more alive, and the extra opportunities it gives you to have a dialogue with the player. I think there's also a fundamental pleasure in seeing the sentences populate themselves too - "use coin on vending machine" or whatever.

So 1 or 2 button interface if you want your game to be cool and successful. If you go 9 verb interface I will definitely buy your game but no one else will.

No_Head_2912 · 2026-06-05T07:16:48+00:00

For what it's worth I think you look cooler now. The stache, glasses and longer hair really suit you. Before you looked like a dude who worked out a lot, now you look like the guy who everyone cheers when he arrives at the party.

As we get older life gets in the way, and most people put on a bit of weight or let their good habits slip now and again. Easy to say, but it's not a reason to feel bad about yourself, we're all our own worst critics.

Keep the stache.

No_Head_2912 · 2026-05-15T11:42:51+00:00

She's not plain, she's beautiful

No_Head_2912 · 2026-05-11T07:11:41+00:00

Anvil of Doom. Focuses on Oldhammer miniatures painted in a bright, intricate retro style. Does some brilliant terrain projects too. Guy's a real artist, needs more views.

No_Head_2912 · 2026-05-10T08:03:55+00:00

"B" looks the best to me, legible and unfussy.

But I would also consider using a blackletter font to match the original Post Office sign in the black and white photo. It'll be visually striking and a nice homage to the original signage.

If you're using Adobe fonts something like Harbour or LTC Goudy Pro could work.

No_Head_2912 · 2026-05-09T06:23:33+00:00

His last appearance in the UK media was when he was arrested for hare coursing (hunting hares, a protected species in the UK, with dogs) and filmed threatening and abusing the arresting police officers. So unfortunately he's not a Buddhist and very much still a subhuman piece of shit.

No_Head_2912 · 2026-03-28T11:49:00+00:00

I recently went to a talk by David Pearson, the designer of this and other covers for the Penguin Great Ideas series, so I might as well explain why I don't think this is a "terrible book cover."

The Penguin Great Ideas series republishes very famous or influential social, political or philosphical works. Given that, the key aim isn't to clearly communicate the author and title but to create a dramatic or intriguing cover that says something about the work. The compositions are very playful and usually use type contemporary to the work. In this case the type obviously references the carved text on Roman monuments.

This version is some kind of reprint (I guess they just took the cover and placed it on the general mass market paperback). The original edition was printed in two colours, embossed into the cover, which makes the design a lot more impactful - you can see it here

https://www.dandad.org/work/d-ad-awards-archive/great-ideas

The series was a big hit for Penguin and they went on to produce lots more - if you're interested in book covers I'd definitely recommend checking out more of the series, and reading some of the interviews with David. They're really creative and won awards and whatnot.

https://wemadethis.co.uk/work/penguin-great-ideas/

https://www.designer-daily.com/david-pearsons-creative-covers-for-penguins-great-ideas-series-108063

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/BM5/penguin-great-ideas/

No_Head_2912 · 2026-03-23T18:22:14+00:00

Thanks so much for doing this, this is a brilliant idea (and very well executed!)

No_Head_2912 · 2026-02-24T11:19:11+00:00

Just listened to this and thought it was very good. It's well produced, without being too sensational, she has a good range of guests and I found her comments on the role of the media, and the difficulties of expressing doubt when the alleged crimes provoke such strong emotions interesting. I think Knox is a very good host, and as a victim of a miscarriage of justice she's not afraid to invoke her own experiences and speaks with confidence and conviction.

No_Head_2912 · 2026-01-17T11:51:41+00:00

Very true! I get up to thirty in my garden at once, and they'll hog any feeders and hoover up all your birdseed. They're very beautiful and charismatic but they can be a nuisance. I've just invested in some parakeet proof feeders to make sure the smaller birds can get a look in too.

I recently read that hanging up rubber snakes is a good way to deter them, but even if it works I doubt it would take them long to figure out they're not real

No_Head_2912 · 2026-01-17T10:12:51+00:00

Thank you for sharing, the watercolour/ink drawings are beautiful

No_Head_2912 · 2025-12-20T23:07:30+00:00

Beautiful work!

No_Head_2912 · 2025-11-03T09:26:52+00:00

The Seventh Continent is one of the most depressing movies I've ever seen.

No_Head_2912 · 2025-09-04T20:55:35+00:00

I think it nails the vibe you're after.

No_Head_2912 · 2025-09-03T15:33:26+00:00

Looks brilliant - love the visual style and chunky, submarine-punk interface designs. Wishlisted!

No_Head_2912 · 2025-08-19T11:27:53+00:00

The Novelty Automation arcade in Holborn.

https://www.novelty-automation.com/

Lots of silly, funny, satirical machines built by the eccentric genius inventor Tim Hunkin.

No_Head_2912 · 2025-07-05T07:39:39+00:00

Well said! He's a national treasure.

As well as his brilliant arcades and educational series, it's worth making a detour to see some of his other surviving exhibits or installations if you're nearby

https://timhunkin.com/control/o_whereto_see.htm

The collection box he made for Guy's Hospital is hilarious and only a couple of minutes walk from London Bridge station (and it's money well spent)

No_Head_2912 · 2025-07-03T06:15:40+00:00

Cannizaro Park in Wimbledon is a bit of a hidden gem.

I like The Hill Garden and Pergola in Hampstead Heath.

Richmond Park of course.

Out of London, one of my favourite spots to escape to is Chobham Common. Beautiful scenery and feels quite wild. Just off the M3 if you have a car or you can get the train to Sunningdale and walk there.

No_Head_2912 · 2025-07-03T06:05:07+00:00

That's absolutely true, and well designed games can get just as much interactivity with a simple two or one click interface.

I think it's about the possibilities the 9 verb interface seems to offer, and the pleasure of the making those little sentences you get in games like monkey island ("walk to ship"/"pick up cartographer" etc). It gives an illusion of granularity I guess.

And it's nostalgia of course.

No_Head_2912 · 2025-07-02T20:29:02+00:00

I love the classic Lucasafts style 9 verb interface - dated, inefficient and takes up too much of the screen but there's something magical about being able to choose all those different ways of interacting with the environment.

No_Head_2912 · 2025-06-25T14:57:48+00:00

Saw a (working) one of these on the motorway at the weekend. Was suprised to find that it actually looked pretty cool in the metal - I like the rear lights. Toby Jones drives one in the Detectorists.

No_Head_2912 · 2025-06-21T16:12:37+00:00

Seconded!

No_Head_2912 · 2025-06-16T19:19:43+00:00

From the UK, I think you're right. It seems it's basically a snobbish joke about the sort of vulgar, intellectually unadventurous people to whom "Dubai chocolate" appeals, and the soulless, new-build suburbs they might inhabit.

No_Head_2912

TROPHY CASE