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For now it is unknown if Blizzard will ban your account if you apply this mod. Use at your own discretion. |
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/A6pGfQ2.png)
Download: Updated on Mar 29. 2014 DSC Lite 20140329.zip
Usage: You need .NET Framework 4.5 to run the application.
Extract, run, set SC2 path and install (the button then becomes uninstall, you can completely remove the effect with that) Change settings and apply.
When you have older version installed, please first uninstall.
Features: UI style option You can choose using the default game interface, or the new 1v1 interface. - Removed all model backgrounds and borders - Minimap is bigger (350 x 350) instead of 291 x 289 - Ping, Terrain and Team color buttons are hidden. (You can still access the button via hotkey) - Army button (F2) and Warp gate button(W) are hidden (You can still use hotkey) - Idle worker button (F1) is only shown when there is actually idle worker. - Info panel is shown at bottom right corner. - When multiple units are selected, their current progresses (production, research) are displayed on unit buttons. - Removed portrait, you can click on unit's wire frame icon to center camera. - Command panel is above Info panel and has smaller size (57 x 57 instead of 76 x 76 for each button) - Common ability buttons are hidden to reduce command panel size (new!) - Resource and supply numbers are bigger (21 instead of 16) - Alert / Error messages in the middle (new!) - Command prompt in the middle (new!) - Chat messages to the left side (new!)
Research progress When this option is enabled, the player's current research progresses are displayed.
Options for default UI user: Main UI Default / Narrow: when using narrow, the game interface forces 4 : 3 instead of 16 : 9. Note it only affects interfaces, not the 3D world. Good for big monitor users!
Minimap Zoom: you can make minimap larger.
Resource Panel You can set the resource numbers larger, and / or place them in the middle instead of the corner.
Alert Panel You can set the alert panel showing messages in the middle.
Coming features: - customizable in-game event alerts (4 levels: off / text / text + sound / text + sound + minimap)
Any suggestion? Please tell me here!
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I have been waiting for this for forever. However, shouldn't this be considered a hack by blizzard and therefore get you banned? Also could you make a version where t he minimap is still in the buttom left with normal size and you only have the middle part that shows you what you have selected? The buttom right thingy is pretty useless if you know your hotkeys.
EDIT: Just played around with it for a bit and I am loving it. Pretty handy to have less of the screen covered up by the UI. I hope that if this gets enough traction, similiar to gameheart, blizzard will end up giving us an ingame option for different UIs.
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Well, i consider it like a cheat.
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I think the minimap should stay in the left corner and the rest of the bottom ui in the right, because i use the center of my screen more than the edges, they are like dead space now. All the action happens in the middle of the screen anyway and you dont want it clumped up with the ui.
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On March 17 2014 18:15 Lorch wrote: I have been waiting for this for forever. However, shouldn't this be considered a hack by blizzard and therefore get you banned? Also could you make a version where t he minimap is still in the buttom left with normal size and you only have the middle part that shows you what you have selected? The buttom right thingy is pretty useless if you know your hotkeys.
I'm going to create a 1v1 optimum interface and give that as an option. (similar to the layout of 1v1 obs interface) I don't think blizzard would ban player for that - as long as the tool doesn't modify program memory.
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Thanks man! Really appreciate this kind of work. Can't wait for the next version.
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Isin't modifying game files consireder as a cheat. Looks nice, but is illegal and gives unfair andvantage with things like biger minimap. Great work, but it all may be flushed down the toilet by blizz
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On March 17 2014 18:37 EnPo wrote: Isin't modifying game files consireder as a cheat. Looks nice, but is illegal and gives unfair andvantage with things like biger minimap. Great work, but it all may be flushed down the toilet by blizz A 24" monitor shows a bigger minimap than 17", no ?
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well its modifies the game so in blizzard terms you can get permbanned for it so sry cant use before blizzard says its ok and i doubt it
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Looks like a nice workaround
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Russian Federation52 Posts
bigger minimap is nice, the rest is useless imo
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I don't know if it is legal to use this kind of program, however it is great idea. Today's SC2 UI is terrible and not practicall at all. First example: resource information is in upper right corner, minimap is in left lower corner, thus to effectively monitor all resources and vision you need to jump around whole screen, it is tiresome and really bad. I hope Blizzard will make available some options to customize UI.
Props to original poster.
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You might wanna give an option to uninstall I guess for those who are scared of Blizzard but still wanna give it a try.
Nevermind just saw that uninstalling is indeed an option, nice!
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Would be nice to have 'light UI' where you would just get rid of UI decorations, portrait and maybe make smaller command chart. Everything would be at the same place. Maybe timer and F1, F2 put above minimap, they are little at sideways at your preview.
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On March 17 2014 18:53 Embir wrote: I don't know if it is legal to use this kind of program, however it is great idea. Today's SC2 UI is terrible and not practicall at all. First example: resource information is in upper right corner, minimap is in left lower corner, thus to effectively monitor all resources and vision you need to jump around whole screen, it is tiresome and really bad. I hope Blizzard will make available some options to customize UI.
Props to original poster.
Wow, this just blew my mind. All herp derp this game is too easy whining aside, why the fuck isn't resources placed in the center middle?!
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I played a game with ressources being top middle and, besides looking top right a couple times, it was way way easier to keep track of supply/resources.
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I'm also going to implement this: customizable in-game event alerts (4 levels: off / text / text + sound / text + sound + minimap)
I personally would like to have the 'unit complete' message a little bit more obvious. :/
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On March 17 2014 19:25 growlizing wrote:Show nested quote +On March 17 2014 18:53 Embir wrote: I don't know if it is legal to use this kind of program, however it is great idea. Today's SC2 UI is terrible and not practicall at all. First example: resource information is in upper right corner, minimap is in left lower corner, thus to effectively monitor all resources and vision you need to jump around whole screen, it is tiresome and really bad. I hope Blizzard will make available some options to customize UI.
Props to original poster. Wow, this just blew my mind. All herp derp this game is too easy whining aside, why the fuck isn't resources placed in the center middle?!
You clearly know nothing about games design, don't you?
Game shouldn't be difficult because of unfriendly UI, game should be difficult because of gameplay. If game designers would think like you there would be no auto mining in SC2, there would be limited control groups, there would be no customizable hotkeys. Hell, we could even go further and remove control groups at all, then I guess it would be perfect game for you. Too bad no one would like to play game like this.
In LoL there is fully customizable interface, I can choose to place my map on left or right side, I can make icons bigger or smaller. I dont understand why it shouldnt be in SC2. At the moment resource management is pretty tiresome because informations are spreaded all over monitor.
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On March 17 2014 18:39 TheWisp wrote:Show nested quote +On March 17 2014 18:37 EnPo wrote: Isin't modifying game files consireder as a cheat. Looks nice, but is illegal and gives unfair andvantage with things like biger minimap. Great work, but it all may be flushed down the toilet by blizz A 24" monitor shows a bigger minimap than 17", no ?
No. It still occupies the same percentage of the screen. This is cheating.
The idea with spreading UI elements out is that your information is scattered around, and you need some semblance of awareness and eye movement to collect it all. It punishes players who get hardcore tunnel-vision very nicely the way it works. Cramming all the information into the centre of the screen makes the UI look like shit, and removes the aspect of the game where your eyes need to move from one spot (the centre of the screen). I feel like it is cheating. Big time.
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On March 18 2014 01:15 Embir wrote:Show nested quote +On March 17 2014 19:25 growlizing wrote:On March 17 2014 18:53 Embir wrote: I don't know if it is legal to use this kind of program, however it is great idea. Today's SC2 UI is terrible and not practicall at all. First example: resource information is in upper right corner, minimap is in left lower corner, thus to effectively monitor all resources and vision you need to jump around whole screen, it is tiresome and really bad. I hope Blizzard will make available some options to customize UI.
Props to original poster. Wow, this just blew my mind. All herp derp this game is too easy whining aside, why the fuck isn't resources placed in the center middle?! You clearly know nothing about games design, don't you? Game shouldn't be difficult because of unfriendly UI, game should be difficult because of gameplay. If game designers would think like you there would be no auto mining in SC2, there would be limited control groups, there would be no customizable hotkeys. Hell, we could even go further and remove control groups at all, then I guess it would be perfect game for you. Too bad no one would like to play game like this. In LoL there is fully customizable interface, I can choose to place my map on left or right side, I can make icons bigger or smaller. I dont understand why it shouldnt be in SC2. At the moment resource management is pretty tiresome because informations are spreaded all over monitor.
SC2 isn't LoL.
Sc2 is also the sequel to a game widely regarded as the greatest RTS of all time. The interface in SC2 is the way it is because you're not supposed to get all your information from the middle of the screen, just like in the original. SC2 players have come to terms with M.B.S, auto-surround, "improved pathing", smart-casting, but the UI is sacrosanct. Eye movement and peripheral vision are important skills in this game, along with hand-speed, accuracy, and good decision-making. Take those things away and we're left with a shit clone of a far superior game. Reminds me of something...
Dismissing someone's comment, saying they know nothing about game design proves how ignorant you are, and that you actually know nothing about why Starcraft is the way it is.
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Why is the current interface bad? Personally I think that your changes make it seem very cluttered in the center while the current interface is nicely spread across the screen. I just want to know why you made the changes you did because I see no problems with the current interface.
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This is a cheat and people using it should be banned. It's a very slippery slope to allow UI mods in a game like SC2.
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I'd love this sorta thing without anything rearranged.
Supreme commander went from being claustrophobic when they had an sc2 styled UI to lovely and breathable when they let you switch to a minimal ui.
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On March 18 2014 01:56 XanaNA wrote: Why is the current interface bad? Personally I think that your changes make it seem very cluttered in the center while the current interface is nicely spread across the screen. I just want to know why you made the changes you did because I see no problems with the current interface. Then you are probably using a small monitor. I have a 27" WQHD monitor on which I feel the interface components are too big (except for minimap) and spread. Of course, technically, I could play the game in windowed mode. But why would using different monitors be considered as fair, while customizing UI is considered cheating ? Technically, I also could use ipad to show a corner of my screen content and glue it to my monitor.
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China6329 Posts
I don't actually recommend using this for obvious reasons.
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Then you are probably using a small monitor. I have a 27" WQHD monitor on which I feel the interface components are too big (except for minimap) and spread. Of course, technically, I could play the game in windowed mode. But why would using different monitors be considered as fair, while customizing UI is considered cheating ? Technically, I also could use ipad to show a corner of my screen content and glue it to my monitor.
I play on a 27" iMac. I guess the interface can seem too large but I've gotten used to it. I guess if it's bothering you, you can change it but I don't know if you're allowed to...
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id imagine its illegal but the attempt is good as blizzard might look at it and implement more customization in the future as long as it doesnt hinder one player over the other.
you could always have a magnifying glass mounted to the corner of your monitor ala black dot when using scout in cs ^_^
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United Kingdom1381 Posts
As much I want a minimal UI to play SC2, from past experience Blizzard will shut this down pretty quickly.
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I just want the chat on the left and the alerts in the middle like in bw...
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should add a warning in the OP.
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On March 18 2014 02:07 TheWisp wrote:Show nested quote +On March 18 2014 01:56 XanaNA wrote: Why is the current interface bad? Personally I think that your changes make it seem very cluttered in the center while the current interface is nicely spread across the screen. I just want to know why you made the changes you did because I see no problems with the current interface. Then you are probably using a small monitor. I have a 27" WQHD monitor on which I feel the interface components are too big (except for minimap) and spread. Of course, technically, I could play the game in windowed mode. But why would using different monitors be considered as fair, while customizing UI is considered cheating ? Technically, I also could use ipad to show a corner of my screen content and glue it to my monitor.
You should try sitting further back from your monitor. Simple fix that doesn't violate EULA. It's also bad for your eyes to be sitting uncomfortably close.
Customizing the UI isn't cheating in WoW, but this isn't WoW. It's a game of economy and real-time information. One on the top-right, the other on the bottom left. You need to learn how to balance available "eye-time" between the areas of the screen where your information is. Everyone has to do it; it's Starcraft.
The proportions and positions of the objects on the screen are not a mistake; they're an integral part of the game. Changing the UI is cheating. If you don't understand why, that's pretty much your own problem. A large monitor is actually a disadvantage. If you voluntarily go out and give yourself a disadvantage that's nobody's fault but your own. You can't expect to be allowed to change the playing field to suit your needs. You can have different equipment from your opponent, different skill level, a different body and mind, but what's crucial to this game are that the mechanical and interface constraints of the game itself are shared by all players. If you have difficulty with them, practice.
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On March 18 2014 03:52 dUTtrOACh wrote:Show nested quote +On March 18 2014 02:07 TheWisp wrote:On March 18 2014 01:56 XanaNA wrote: Why is the current interface bad? Personally I think that your changes make it seem very cluttered in the center while the current interface is nicely spread across the screen. I just want to know why you made the changes you did because I see no problems with the current interface. Then you are probably using a small monitor. I have a 27" WQHD monitor on which I feel the interface components are too big (except for minimap) and spread. Of course, technically, I could play the game in windowed mode. But why would using different monitors be considered as fair, while customizing UI is considered cheating ? Technically, I also could use ipad to show a corner of my screen content and glue it to my monitor. You should try sitting further back from your monitor. Simple fix that doesn't violate EULA. It's also bad for your eyes to be sitting uncomfortably close. Customizing the UI isn't cheating in WoW, but this isn't WoW. It's a game of economy and real-time information. One on the top-right, the other on the bottom left. You need to learn how to balance available "eye-time" between the areas of the screen where your information is. Everyone has to do it; it's Starcraft. The proportions and positions of the objects on the screen are not a mistake; they're an integral part of the game. Changing the UI is cheating. If you don't understand why, that's pretty much your own problem. A large monitor is actually a disadvantage. If you voluntarily go out and give yourself a disadvantage that's nobody's fault but your own. You can't expect to be allowed to change the playing field to suit your needs. You can have different equipment from your opponent, different skill level, a different body and mind, but what's crucial to this game are that the mechanical and interface constraints of the game itself are shared by all players. If you have difficulty with them, practice.
As a game programmer, I can tell you have definitely thought too much about game designing. I'm not going to argue with you (as my english is soo poor XD) but don't exaggerate the meaning of game. I had played warcraft 3 as semi pro gamer for several years but I wouldn't conclude "warcraft 3 does not support wide screen on purpose, because everyone has to do it, it's warcraft."
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I know it's hard to accept, that somebody could do things you have spent days and nights training. It just feels unfair. That 's also one of reasons why sc1 ppl hated wc3 and why wc3 hated sc2. But game is just a game, it's how we developers and designers earn our salary.
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The reason such customization is not allowed is that it can give one player an advantage where another does not have it. The intention is for everyone to be on a level playing field. It is for this reason that WoW allows Mod's in casual arena, but not in tournament settings (at least it was this way when I played a long time ago). Sc2 does not make the stipulation for non-competitive play because it is to easy for a small mod to lead to straight up cheats.
This is ultimately a risk that you need to be willing to take, it is a nice idea, however it would be against the ToS of Sc2 which you sign. Use it at a risk, I won't for the same reason I generally didn't use mods for arena, I like to play it the same way the competitive people do.
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On March 18 2014 01:37 dUTtrOACh wrote:Show nested quote +On March 18 2014 01:15 Embir wrote:On March 17 2014 19:25 growlizing wrote:On March 17 2014 18:53 Embir wrote: I don't know if it is legal to use this kind of program, however it is great idea. Today's SC2 UI is terrible and not practicall at all. First example: resource information is in upper right corner, minimap is in left lower corner, thus to effectively monitor all resources and vision you need to jump around whole screen, it is tiresome and really bad. I hope Blizzard will make available some options to customize UI.
Props to original poster. Wow, this just blew my mind. All herp derp this game is too easy whining aside, why the fuck isn't resources placed in the center middle?! You clearly know nothing about games design, don't you? Game shouldn't be difficult because of unfriendly UI, game should be difficult because of gameplay. If game designers would think like you there would be no auto mining in SC2, there would be limited control groups, there would be no customizable hotkeys. Hell, we could even go further and remove control groups at all, then I guess it would be perfect game for you. Too bad no one would like to play game like this. In LoL there is fully customizable interface, I can choose to place my map on left or right side, I can make icons bigger or smaller. I dont understand why it shouldnt be in SC2. At the moment resource management is pretty tiresome because informations are spreaded all over monitor. SC2 isn't LoL. Sc2 is also the sequel to a game widely regarded as the greatest RTS of all time. The interface in SC2 is the way it is because you're not supposed to get all your information from the middle of the screen, just like in the original. SC2 players have come to terms with M.B.S, auto-surround, "improved pathing", smart-casting, but the UI is sacrosanct. Eye movement and peripheral vision are important skills in this game, along with hand-speed, accuracy, and good decision-making. Take those things away and we're left with a shit clone of a far superior game. Reminds me of something... Dismissing someone's comment, saying they know nothing about game design proves how ignorant you are, and that you actually know nothing about why Starcraft is the way it is.
For you some things are sacrosanct, for me they are indicators of bad game design.
Brood War WAS greatest RTS of all time, but no more. SC2 is much better, especially thanks to much better UI. And as I stated before game should be difficult because of gameplay, not because of shitty UI. SC2 developers by making unlimited groups and auto mining sent clear signal that they think very similiar and it seems like a good decision. SC2 already trampled BW in terms of worldwide popularity as e-sport - partially thanks to much more friendly UI. Because one thing is inevitable - game cannot be popular as an e-sport without active players; they are main spectators. If Blizzard would stayed with shitty BW UI and unit pathing SC2 would be massive fail.
Going by your logic we can make game even more demanding skill wise: lets make control groups unavailable so that u have to manage each unit individually, lets make resource indicators very small and constantly blinking around screen so that u have to show much greater eye movement and peripheral vision, but I doubt anyone would like to play game like this, all the more watch.
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One thing I suggest is having the location of your Rescource Tab right about your Minimap or Right Above your Control groups.... That's something I have wanted from Day 1 I know that makes thigns ezier but if you think about it if they wanted things to be harder they wouldn't have an army button give you the number of workers mining for a CC or customizing options for your hotkeys... so I see no problem with something like this....
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![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/wR0WHTk.png)
coming feature "upgrade notification"
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Update:
UI style option (new!) You can choose using the default game interface, or the new 1v1 interface. - Removed all model backgrounds and borders - Minimap is bigger (350 x 350) instead of 291 x 289 - Game clock is moved to upper left corner - Ping, Terrain and Team color buttons are hidden. (You can still access the button via hotkey) - Army button (F2) is hidden (You can still use F2) - Idle worker button (F1) is only shown when there is actually idle worker. - Info panel is shown at bottom right corner. - Removed portrait, you can click on unit's wire frame icon to center camera. - Command panel is above Info panel and has smaller size (57 x 57 instead of 76 x 76 for each button) - Resource and supply numbers are bigger (21 instead of 16)
Research progress (new!) When this option is enabled, the player's current research progresses are displayed.
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This is really unfair. Research progress, really? Way to make the game easier.
Hopefully Blizzard give a negative stance on this (no need for anyone to get banned though).
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On March 24 2014 01:55 TheWisp wrote: Update:
UI style option (new!) You can choose using the default game interface, or the new 1v1 interface. - Removed all model backgrounds and borders - Minimap is bigger (350 x 350) instead of 291 x 289 - Game clock is moved to upper left corner - Ping, Terrain and Team color buttons are hidden. (You can still access the button via hotkey) - Army button (F2) is hidden (You can still use F2) - Idle worker button (F1) is only shown when there is actually idle worker. - Info panel is shown at bottom right corner. - Removed portrait, you can click on unit's wire frame icon to center camera. - Command panel is above Info panel and has smaller size (57 x 57 instead of 76 x 76 for each button) - Resource and supply numbers are bigger (21 instead of 16)
Research progress (new!) When this option is enabled, the player's current research progresses are displayed.
I would say the research progress thing is actually cheating. but thats just my opinion. I like the idea of a minimal UI though. hopefully someday blizz will add an option like that.
Also Norton does NOT like this program at all. It keeps telling me it's a virus and a danger to my system =/
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On March 24 2014 02:34 JacobShock wrote:Show nested quote +On March 24 2014 01:55 TheWisp wrote: Update:
UI style option (new!) You can choose using the default game interface, or the new 1v1 interface. - Removed all model backgrounds and borders - Minimap is bigger (350 x 350) instead of 291 x 289 - Game clock is moved to upper left corner - Ping, Terrain and Team color buttons are hidden. (You can still access the button via hotkey) - Army button (F2) is hidden (You can still use F2) - Idle worker button (F1) is only shown when there is actually idle worker. - Info panel is shown at bottom right corner. - Removed portrait, you can click on unit's wire frame icon to center camera. - Command panel is above Info panel and has smaller size (57 x 57 instead of 76 x 76 for each button) - Resource and supply numbers are bigger (21 instead of 16)
Research progress (new!) When this option is enabled, the player's current research progresses are displayed. I would say the research progress thing is actually cheating. but thats just my opinion. I like the idea of a minimal UI though. hopefully someday blizz will add an option like that. Also Norton does NOT like this program at all. It keeps telling me it's a virus and a danger to my system =/ it uses a modified d3d9.dll to override loading table. That behavior, usually, could be a sign of virus and is therefore reported as dangerous.
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I also agree that research progress is very close to cheating so I'd remove that. I'd really hate to see Blizzard remove whatever makes this possible in the first place simply because it allows you to track research progress. This is questionable enough as it is so I'd hate to give them a somewhat valid reason to shut it down.
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Would it be possible to modify this program to show you what your opponent is building? (or show you their minimap... maybe even see their camera position on your minimap?)
If possible I don't see how the method used to create this should be condoned.
Overall... I'd love a custom UI (especially having used them as a caster) however I don't see how this can't be considered a 3rd party app that provides a competitive advantage.
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I don't like the timer in top left, but other than that it looks really good.
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updated.
game timer is attached to minimap now.
- Common ability buttons are hidden to reduce command panel size - Alert / Error messages in the middle - Command prompt in the middle (select target message) - Chat messages to the left side
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Added map visibility, bigger minimap, research progress bar. Someone humor me with an attempt at an argument that this mod doesn't provide benefits not available to a player not using it.
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China6329 Posts
Those new features are definitely out of the line. Do not use this. It's definitely violating EULA and could get your account banned.
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On March 29 2014 08:45 Doodsmack wrote: Added map visibility, bigger minimap, research progress bar. Someone humor me with an attempt at an argument that this mod doesn't provide benefits not available to a player not using it. Because when you play in tournaments you can't use it and you will be out of your comfort zone.
Wow, didn't see the latest developments, now it's 100% cheating.
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On March 29 2014 09:00 ZAiNs wrote:Show nested quote +On March 29 2014 08:45 Doodsmack wrote: Added map visibility, bigger minimap, research progress bar. Someone humor me with an attempt at an argument that this mod doesn't provide benefits not available to a player not using it. Because when you play in tournaments you can't use it and you will be out of your comfort zone. Wow, didn't see the latest developments, now it's 100% cheating.
We're talking about ladder too though right?
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I'm pretty sure this is/will enable cheating.
* You are making more of the screen visible which removes a bunch of little things that other players take advantage of in game. (I.E. Building spine crawlers on opponents creep on the part that would normally be covered by the UI.)
* This modification only applies to one player. It doesn't apply to every player in game. Anyone who uses this would be at an advantage.
* The new features you released are no doubt cheating. Staying on top of upgrades is part of the game, getting something to tell you that an upgrade has finished upgrading (outside of what is currently available.) is an advantage that only applies, again to one player.
As a fellow programmer, I appreciate your effort in trying to make the game more enjoyable, (I've always wanted to have more screen real estate to micro larger engagements.) but this should be coming from Blizzard, not you, that way it can be applied to everyone equally.
This thread should be locked/deleted.
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United States33371 Posts
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