Suggestions

[quote=TL;DR][b]Suggestion[/b]: Change the color of ancient gene thumbnails to better differentiate them from modern genes.[/quote] [b]Have you ever accidentally purchased an ancient gene instead of a modern gene? [/b] No need to lie if you have - it's [b]super common[/b], unfortunately. The thumbnails are [b]almost exactly alike[/b], aside from the ancient symbol and breed in the corner. You notice that after, then probably feel a bit dumb for mixing them up. But [b]what if you bought a gem gene[/b], using gems you bought yourself? Sadly, that's considered "user error", and the best you can do is sell it on the auction house hoping someone comes by and purchases it instead of directly from the marketplace. [b]But what if we could avoid this situation in the first place?[/b] Take a gander at perhaps the worst offender: [b]Underbelly[/b] [item=Tertiary Gene: Underbelly][item=Tertiary Gene: Underbelly (Gaoler)][item=Tertiary Gene: Underbelly (Banescale)][item=Tertiary Gene: Underbelly (Veilspun)] This actually almost caught me today! I went to purchase a modern underbelly and almost bought a Banescale underbelly. See, when looking for the gene you want, there's a good chance you're looking at the image as a visual indicator. [b]More specifically, the gene inside the image.[/b] It's like looking at a television or even your computer screen - you aren't necessarily aware of anything going on outside the screen[b] unless something grabs your attention[/b], such as movement or sound. In this case, [b]the dragon in the image looks like a Wildclaw[/b], a modern breed, regardless of the gene being for ancients or moderns. Regardless of the suggestion here, this alone should be changed. On top of this, the ancient & breed symbol [b]don't catch your attention[/b] due to their color & tone. If anything, the DNA image is more likely to due to being a vibrant color in contrast to the brown image. [b]But what if we changed the color of Ancient Genes?[/b] Here's Tapir currently: [item=Primary Gene: Tapir][item=Primary Gene: Tapir (Gaoler)][item=Primary Gene: Tapir (Banescale)][item=Primary Gene: Tapir (Veilspun)] Excuse my poor photoshop skills, but here's Tapir with the color of ancient genes changed: [img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/753324313834160198/800830759346765844/ancient_color_change.png[/img] It wouldn't necessarily need to be blue, just any color that is [b]visibly different[/b] from brown. Bonus points if it's a color that's different even to people with different forms of colorblindness! For example, if I set it to [b]true greyscale[/b]*, you can see the tones are different too! As a bonus, it's easier to see the ancient symbol! [img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/753324313834160198/800830756586258442/ancient_color_change_2.png[/img] (*How the eye perceives color, not just a lack of saturation - you can mimic this by either putting a #000000 color layer over an image in Photoshop or turning down the "color deepen" setting on SAI) [b]What do you think?[/b] Do you think it'll aid you next time you purchase genes? Do you have colorblindness or another visual impairment, and what do you think could be changed to make differentiating genes easier? Do you have anything to add, or a counterpoint to consider? [b]Let me know below![/b] I want to consider everyone's voice here - I may even quote your points here! ----- [b]Talking points will be separated by idea to show different thoughts on them.[/b] The formatting of the original posts will be kept as to show their original intent. (The above had some key points bolded to make it easier to read) [center][size=5][b]Separate Tints for Each Ancient[/b][/size][/center] [quote=Laluzi]I personally would go a step further and instead of changing the tint on all ancient genes, give ancient genes separate tints from each other - for instance, have gaoler genes blue, veilspun genes purple, and banescale genes orange. It may be difficult to find enough distinct tints in greyscale as more ancients are released, but a tiny circle with an emoji-sized greyed out dragon head in the corner isn't a great way to distinguish items with different functions.[/quote] [quote=Crowbar]I think the differing tints to separate ancients would run out eventually.[/quote] [quote=ProbablySkeletor]I think one tint colour for all Ancients would probably work, considering it'll get confusing fast as more Ancients are added.[/quote] [center][size=5][b]Colored Breed Thumbnail[/b][/size][/center] [quote=Laluzi]Even adding saturated color to just the ancient dragon head would likely make it more eye-grabbing. I know for a fact that I never register the A on the ancient gene because it's too similar in color/tone to the gene scroll itself; it blends in.[/quote] [center][size=5][b]Breed Models Gene[/b][/size][/center] [quote=Laluzi]I'd also support changing the image so that ancient genes show the gene on that dragon instead of the generic image - that'd be enough visual differentiation in and of itself, and it's friendly to all forms of colorblindness. But I'm very unfond of the way it currently is; it's tricky to navigate and easy to make mistakes.[/quote] [quote=Crowbar]Ancient parallel genes could also be modelled on their own breed. Underbelly is clearly on a wildclaw and it’s confusing to have that be the same for all the ancients.[/quote] [quote=Anchoram]Personally I'd maybe want both an ancient tint (like the blue) AND for each ancient gene to show a thumbnail with a dragon corresponding to the ancient the gene is intended for. So all ancient are blue, but veilspun ub shows a veilspun, banescale ub a banescale and so on.[/quote] [quote=EiraoLaska]Go a step further and have the ancient genes show a different image too. Underbelly shows the Wildclaw for moderns, then each ancient breeds gets its gene showing the specific breed it's for.[/quote] [center][size=5][b]Marketplace Filter[/b][/size][/center] [quote=ProbablySkeletor]I'd prefer a marketplace filter, but more visual differences would be really helpful too! Who knows, a marketplace filter might actually be in the works for whenever the marketplace gets updated.[/quote] [quote=EiraoLaska]I want both. A filter and different color tint.[/quote] [quote=Flirt]I agree the whole marketplace definitely needs a revamp of some sort. A filter would help so much even if the snipers would use that to their advantage. But there isn’t a problem for it in the gem marketplace at all. I thought after being on flight rising a bit they would update the marketplace because it feels more outdated than anything else that has been updated.[/quote]

I support this. There's not much visual differentiation between modern genes or ancients, and it's even worse when trying to tell apart two different ancient genes (and make out what zoomed-out dragon head you're looking at.) Even if you have 20/20 eyesight, it's a problem.

I personally would go a step further and instead of changing the tint on all ancient genes, give ancient genes separate tints from each other - for instance, have gaoler genes blue, veilspun genes purple, and banescale genes orange. It may be difficult to find enough distinct tints in greyscale as more ancients are released, but a tiny circle with an emoji-sized greyed out dragon head in the corner isn't a great way to distinguish items with different functions.

Even adding saturated color to just the ancient dragon head would likely make it more eye-grabbing. I know for a fact that I never register the A on the ancient gene because it's too similar in color/tone to the gene scroll itself; it blends in.

I'd also support changing the image so that ancient genes show the gene on that dragon instead of the generic image - that'd be enough visual differentiation in and of itself, and it's friendly to all forms of colorblindness. But I'm very unfond of the way it currently is; it's tricky to navigate and easy to make mistakes.

Please. I've actually bought Ancient belly once instead of a modern one, took me a long while to sell it. And sold Baldwin modern genes for a price of an ancient counterpart because I didn't realize there was a counterpart when I checked the AH (luckily, someone notified me and I was able to take one of the genes off without losing 200+ gems, but the other has been sold already). The current way of distinguishing them is just not obvious. Additional coloring of the icons would be a great help.

I'll gladly support any attempt at visibly distinguishing the ancient genes from normal ones, as well as letting us exclude one or the other in the AH.

Personally I'd maybe want both an ancient tint (like the blue) AND for each ancient gene to show a thumbnail with a dragon corresponding to the ancient the gene is intended for. So all ancient are blue, but veilspun ub shows a veilspun, banescale ub a banescale and so on.

I'd prefer a marketplace filter, but more visual differences would be really helpful too! Who knows, a marketplace filter might actually be in the works for whenever the marketplace gets updated. I think one tint colour for all Ancients would probably work, considering it'll get confusing fast as more Ancients are added.

[quote name="Corviknight" date="2021-01-18 15:33:38" ] Just let us filter the goddamn marketplace. After two years of ancients, Devs are downright predatory if they didn't implement that - it's malicious. They benefit if we make mistakes, because we have to grind again if we mess up. [/quote] You’re entitled to your opinion but I think it’s really presumptive to assume it’s malicious when simple ignorance makes much more sense—they put the icon of the dragon on the gene, maybe they assume that’s enough

I agree the whole marketplace definitely needs a revamp of some sort. A filter would help so much even if the snipers would use that to their advantage. But there isn’t a problem for it in the gem marketplace at all. I thought after being on flight rising a bit they would update the marketplace because it feels more outdated than anything else that has been updated. They really need to focus on something else than new ancients.