Guide The PotC Build Mod: A History in Interfaces

[Pieter Boelen]

We thought it might be fun to show a side-by-side comparison of the original game interfaces with various stages of the Build Modifications.
So have a look at the following posts to see how far we have come! And see what you can look forward to in Build 14 Beta 3!

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Main Menu

Stock Game

Build 11: Title changed to "Sea Dogs II" because that is what it was supposed to be in the first place.

Build 12: Completely new interface graphics. Note that the "Pirates of the Caribbean" title has returned.

Build 13: First time there is a choice between Blue and Brown Interfaces.

Build 14: Further improved versions of both interfaces. Note also the new brown button graphics.



Options Menu

Stock Game: Only choice between Arcade and Realistic Sailing Mode.

Build 11: Difficulty Level setting added.

Build 13: Additional options under "Sailing Mode" for different on-screen displays and menu added to change the Interface Settings.

Build 14 Beta 1: Sailing Mode menu renamed, slight changes to Interface Settings and new Advanced Options menu added.

Build 14 Beta 3: Realism Modes completely redone and Interface Settings clarified. Advanced Options renamed to Game Preferences and cleaned up.



Overview Interfaces

Stock Game: Special interface to select different in-game interfaces.

Build 11: Plenty custom interfaces added for new gameplay options.

Note that as per Build 13, these two overviews are no longer in use as we now have tabs to switch between them instead.
Refer to the screenshots in the next couple of posts.

However, there is the addition of a modpack feature overview interface instead:

Build 13: About Build interface added.

Build 14 Beta 1: About Build text updated to be more useful.

Build 14 Beta 3: Replaced with "Tips & Tricks" that should hopefully prove even more worthwhile than the previous editions.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Character Customization

Stock Game: Well.... Uhm.... nothing.

Build 11: Limited model selection allowed through dialog. Also Tailor Shops added into the game for further customization during play.

Build 13: Choose Character allows limited selection of character and ship models, as well as starting nation.

Build 14 Beta 1: Select Storyline replaced the previous interface. No more character and ship modification possible, but you do get different main quests to choose from.

Build 14 Beta 3: Select Storyline completely redone to look more professional and allow FULL customization of your character.
Note also the higher quality portrait files and actual in-game screenshots of the ships. United States available as starting nation if applicable.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Dialog

Stock Game: Fancy interface with HUGE text.

Build 11: Text sized down.

Build 13: Different Fonts used.

Build 14 Beta 1: Simpler interface added for Brown Interface.

Build 14 Beta 3: Above interface redone to look far cleaner and more professional.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Character

Stock Game: Simple interface allowing skill and ability selection.

Build 11: Same as before, but ability to have a different character model. Note also that "Land Owned" has been included.

Build 13: Brown version of this interface added, along with brown Choose Outfit one that was originally introduced in Build 11.

Build 14 Beta 3: Cleaned up character title display and all sorts of changes made over the years to the other interfaces.
Note also the addition of the "Auto Skill System".



Ship

Stock Game

Build 11: Various interfaces added for additional gameplay purposes and customization.

Build 12: National modifiers added to ships and Select Sails updated with categories.

Build 13: Brown versions added for all interfaces, some with movie stills from Cutthroat Island.

Build 14 Beta 1: Select Sails further updated. Note that these particular sails have since been redone to look far better.

Build 14 Beta 3: Note again the Ship Interface Screenshots at work and the nation crests in use instead of the cartoony flags.
Many changes made to the appearance of the interfaces to look cleaner and more professional.



Cargo Hold

Stock Game

Build 14 Beta 3: This is probably the least modified interface of them all. In addition to the Brown Style, the only new feature is the appearance of trade quests and the addition of a couple of new goods types.



Passengers

Stock Game

Build 13: Prisoners taken while boarding will appear here too.

Build 14 Beta 3: Possibility to modify characters' officer types as the three "active" officers are now only used to define the "shore party".



Quest Book

Stock Game

Build 13: Note also the addition of the "Stormy Start" option that is shown here. That goes a long way to giving the game a more interesting and varied start.

Build 14 Beta 3: All nation crests are now shown, including your own custom personal and pirate flag and the United States if they exist based on the Time Period.



Trade Book

Stock Game

Build 13: Brown version with animated background. Prices update only when you visit a store.

Build 14 Beta 3: Renamed to "Colonies" with a "Manage" button added in preparation of Capture Colonies to be finished.



Ship's Log

Build 14 Beta 3: These interfaces show stats on your playing, as well as random events occurring in the game world.
New feature as per Build 14.



Nation Relations

Stock game: Very simplistic and shows only relations to player, not between nations.

Build 11: Completely redone to show relations between nations as well.

Build 13: Brown version added as well as the ability to fly your Personal Flag.

Build 14 Beta 1: Period-correct crests used instead of flags.

Build 14 Beta 3: Second complete overhaul to provide an instant overview. Also allows customization of your Pirate and Personal Flag.



Inventory and Maps

Stock Game

Build 13: Many items added, including the Special Weapons Assembly Kit. Also a separate Map interface added to show where all the islands are.
Note that the worldmap is changed substantially from the original game.

Build 14 Beta 1: Tabs added for improved overview. Additional, simplified map interface added.
Note that all islands and towns now have their real Caribbean names and no longer any fantasy ones from the original game.

Build 14 Beta 3: Many different items available, including various buyable maps.

Note also the completely redone and accurate Worldmap, including new interface and additional information by right-clicking.
Interface now also shows the destination of various types of random quests.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Store and Item Transactions

Stock Game

Build 13: "Auto Trade" button added to reduce time spent in the interface screens that can be better used elsewhere.

Build 14 Beta 3: Tabs added for item group similar to the Inventory screen. Many new types of items added.



Crew Hire

Stock Game

Build 14 Beta 3: Never really changed, just updated for the Brown Interface and slightly cleaned up.



Shipyard

Stock Game

Build 13: As per usual, these were "browned up". Note the added ship types, the "Class Too High" note and the National Design.

Build 14 Beta 1: Two totally new interfaces added for Ship Upgrades and Ship Appearance.
Cannons interface updated to allow purchase and selling of separate cannons. Tabs added to switch between the various options.

Build 14 Beta 3: Various updates made, most notably the Ship Interface Screenshots.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Well, that's it gentlepeople! It'd always be nice to hear some feedback on any of the above.
What changes do you like the most, for example?

 

[Armada]

This is quite a fascinating comparison; I'm surprised you had the time to do such a thing.

Four things stood out to me:
1) The Build 13 Archipelago Map interface looks much nicer than the B14 Beta 3 version, to me. Not just the map itself, but the background compliments it better.
The Beta 3 interface looks a little 'washed out' in comparison.
2) Similarly to the above, I kind of prefer the Build 13 Quest Book interface. That looks a bit easier on the eyes. It would be pretty cool if we could return to that background texture and somehow arrange the text into two columns (or have a menu on the left and text on the right), even though that might be difficult to achieve.
3) ENB really ruins the interfaces! The glow effects make everything far too bright. Now I remember why I haven't used ENB for a long time.
4) Widescreen woes. Once we've released Beta 3, I really think we should focus on making a widescreen-friendly interface option.
On that note, I'd also be interested to run a poll to see who still uses an old 4:3 ratio monitor...

Generally speaking, though, it's clear from these screenshots that the Beta 3 interfaces really do look fantastic.
The improvements we've made over the years are incredible.

 

[Hylie Pistof]

There certainly have been a lot of changes over the years. Maybe it's time to look at the blue interface again.

 

[Bava]

Blue interface? Did I ever play a unmodded PotC? Can´t remember...;P
And yeah, the build 13 map was a really nice, I´m with Armada on that one.
The rest of the beta 3 pics are a vast improvement over previous builts, though.

Thanks for the comparison, Pieter!

 

[Pieter Boelen]

1) The Build 13 Archipelago Map interface looks much nicer than the B14 Beta 3 version, to me. Not just the map itself, but the background compliments it better.

That chart wasn't accurate for navigation, though. Perhaps Jaco can arrange something that would work?

2) Similarly to the above, I kind of prefer the Build 13 Quest Book interface. That looks a bit easier on the eyes. It would be pretty cool if we could return to that background texture and somehow arrange the text into two columns (or have a menu on the left and text on the right), even though that might be difficult to achieve.

Two columns? OUCH! DIFFICULT!!!
I do like the new one. VOC logo!
It is perhaps a bit too yellow though....

 

[Ryu]

This is beautiful - not only are you guys modders - but artists to create something as high caliber from a simple game. Keep up the hard work guys it's very appreciated!

 

[Pieter Boelen]

This is quite a fascinating comparison; I'm surprised you had the time to do such a thing.

I had been thinking of doing it for quite some time. May be able to use some of it for the Beta 3 release article at some point.
And at least it can hopefully build some anticipation for that release.
Not to mention that usually interface updates don't really show very well because you don't see what it used to be.

3) ENB really ruins the interfaces! The glow effects make everything far too bright. Now I remember why I haven't used ENB for a long time.

Hmm, I don't mind it. Yesterday I was experimenting with having it on and off and I do prefer it on myself.
Did you know that Shift+F12 toggles it on/off when you've got it installed? Allows you to instantly see the difference.

4) Widescreen woes. Once we've released Beta 3, I really think we should focus on making a widescreen-friendly interface option.
On that note, I'd also be interested to run a poll to see who still uses an old 4:3 ratio monitor...

As long as I don't have to do it.
Would that be for the blue or the brown interface? Or both? That'd be quite a lot of double work if both.

We should indeed figure out what aspect ratio people use at some point. If most people use widescreen, we could just go with that as Build Default and be done with it.
Would at least save us the (BIG!) trouble of adding some sort of toggle.

 

[Jason]

We have come a long way baby! I lie the wide screen.

 

[Talisman]

I think you have missed the Ship Berthing screens from the shipyard section.

P.S. Ship Berthing does not appear to be working in the latest Beta 3 test

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Ship Berthing is under the "Ship" section above, not Shipyard. There are two screenshots there, but I didn't actually test it.

 

[Bartolomeu o Portugues]

I still prefer the Build 12 Main Menu with the gold coins

 

[Pieter Boelen]

I agree that one was pretty darn good. The new ones are rather simple.

 

[Ovro]

I'm going to attempt a total interface overhaul.

Going to attempt some slicker, more stylish, transparent black boxes.
With an overall much neater font.
Sorry.. Can't stand.. The font. LOL.

 

[Triglav]

Fantastic comparison pics! Excellent progress. I'm well impressed.