Hacking Team Cyclops planning massive updates for the CycloDS Evolution

[miketh2005]

Read all about it here.

Or read it here, on GBATemp!

Its about time we got directly involved in this discussion Yes, we are planning a complete GUI overhaul in the near future (after the in-game text reader is complete) and we want to take input from you, our customers, in order to ensure that we can deliver an excellent GUI. The most important thing for us is that when the new GUI is complete, it must be fully compatible with all the current skins that have been created - there is such a vast library of truly great skins now that doing anything to make them incompatible would be a huge mistake.

So what we propose is a flexible GUI system which can take any current skin and apply that to the new GUI engine. In cases where any of the "old style" skins are used the appearance would be similar to what we have currently, with a few subtle changes such as the look of dialog boxes and various GUI widgets such as buttons, check boxes etc. GUI widgets will be skinnable, but in cases where they are not provided by the skin we can simply use the built-in widget bitmaps and apply the skin colours to them.

When creating a skin for the new GUI system, you will have a lot more power at your fingertips - almost everything will be configurable. When a certain option/setting is omitted from the skin XML file, the default for that option will be used. For example, you will be able to specify if you want the firmware version information to be displayed and if so, the co-ordinates for it to be placed. If this information is left out of the skin XML file, the default configuration will be used - the version be displayed at the bottom left of the screen. This means that you can make your skins as complicated or as simple as you want, and should suit both the amateur skin creator as well as the power user.

One thing we still haven't decided on is how to handle per-game settings, file operations etc. What we need is a way for you to select a file and then be able to perform file operations on it as well as bringing up a per-game settings dialog box where you can manage cheat codes, RTS files, .sav files etc. There are several possibilities - context menus, a "start menu", tabs, sliding with the stylus (iPhone style) etc. We've got bars at both the top and bottom of the bottom LCD which might as well be put to good use - we could possibly have some buttons or tabs there. We would really appreciate your feedback regarding this so we can make a decision and then proceed.

Something else we've also considered is a system where you can specify favourites. This is a bit tricky because it needs to be somewhat separated from the skinning system. The user must be able to choose the favourites and then they will be stored in a separate configuration file, but the skin is what will need to specify how the favourites are displayed. We would also appreciate feedback regarding how this could work.

There are various enhancements/additions which we will definitely be adding, including:
Fully configurable main screen - can specify which buttons to add, where they will be placed and what each button will do
File operations (delete, copy, move, hide, unhide etc)
Per game settings screen for configuring cheat codes, RTS files, .sav files etc
Properly working, draggable scroll bar
Option of using the top screen for something useful such as displaying ROM information, a calendar etc
Different backgrounds for the main screen and the file list
We've seen a lot of requests for animated GIF support, and we are considering this but can't promise anything right now. We need to look deeper into the file specifications before we can comment further because supporting these files could possibly cause some issues.

Well - there you have it, TeamCyclops' official standing on the subject of the GUI re-design. Let us know what you think!

 

[tinymonkeyt]

tinyt is excited. a customizable GUI?
ah- maze - ing. their GUI is already one of the best ones..

 

[IOwnAndPwnU]

Whoa! CycloDS looks good right now.

 

[DeMoN]

07-04-2008, 09:32 AM

Phail.

And still no mention of an in-game cheat menu.

 

[miketh2005]

even though it was a month ago, they DID say AFTER THE IN-GAME TXT READER IS PERFECTED, and that will be very soon if not already. They are expecting to be working on this GUI in the next couple of weeks.

 

[ojsinnerz.]

It's most likely to already be in construction right now.

I really do wish I got a Cyclo over SCDS1 now. The supercard team doesn't do anything about its GUI....

 

[Dylan]

i love knowing i chose the right flashcard

 

[jmr]

I really do wish I got a Cyclo over SCDS1 now.

ive been using scdsone's for 18 months & the other day i got an evo cause im just sick of all the scdsone's little faults & i can say the evo is a fantastic cart much MUCH better than the scdsone
so i say still get an evo theres nothing wrong with having two flash carts

 

[ojsinnerz.]

I really do wish I got a Cyclo over SCDS1 now.

ive been using scdsone's for 18 months & the other day i got an evo cause im just sick of all the scdsone's little faults & i can say the evo is a fantastic cart much MUCH better than the scdsone
so i say still get an evo theres nothing wrong with having two flash carts

I'd get one, but since I'm already satisfied with what I already have, and need the money to buy a used psp, I can't get one.

 

[Diffusion]

Can't wait.

The only thing that bugs me about the GUI is the scroll bar.

 

[PanzerWF]

I'm a cheapskate at heart so I doubt I'll ever get a Cyclo.

Nevertheless, sounds like Cyclo is stepping up and trying to dominate the competition. And hopefully, it will cause other flash carts to think about it and step up too.

Good ol' competition.

 

[Rayder]

Sounds like I picked the right flashcart to upgrade from the R4 to. Good stuff is coming....

 

[Noitora]

Too bad I bought A scds1

 

[touchmyichi]

looks awesome, they always treat you guys great! I can't help but wonder how long it will take for EDGE to copy it though

.

 

[Joey R.]

Sounds like I picked the right flashcart to upgrade from the R4 to. Good stuff is coming....

Exactly my thoughts. I'm really glad I've invested €40 to get a CycloDS Evolution. It's a beast of a cart, and its future looks the brightest

 

[Sir-Fritz]

You do realise that this is 1 and a half month old news...

 

[Xeijin]

i love knowing i chose the right flashcard

Fanboys generally do.

 

[Frederica Bernkastel]

This will be awesome as soon as I get a review sample!
YAY FOR DECENT FLASHCARDS!

 

[Doggy124]

Sounds like I picked the right flashcart to upgrade from the R4 to. Good stuff is coming....

Me too!

so, will this present be the 1.6?

 

[IOwnAndPwnU]

I'm a cheapskate at heart so I doubt I'll ever get a Cyclo.

Nevertheless, sounds like Cyclo is stepping up and trying to dominate the competition. And hopefully, it will cause other flash carts to think about it and step up too.

Good ol' competition.

I hope that's true for the other carts.