this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2024
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Deadlock
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I'm for it, what alternative are we using? Bot/mid/top works for 3 lane games because names of lanes on maps is more convoluted than a symbol, like color or shape. For example, in any game ever that uses names (even like Paladins where it has the name at the top visible of where in the map you are) I am completely useless if you tell me Broken Ridge and expect me to know which of the 5 areas of the map that could be.
I feel that is why color is so relied on, since it's a clear (note: contrasting) visual indicator. I like the idea of using symbols though, but there would have to be a lot of good design choices to have each shape be visually distinct with a simple name without using color identifiers. I'm almost certain that's the main reason colors are so prevalent, because they are fairly distinct and generally are monosyllabic making them easy call outs. But you're definitely right that they aren't ubiquitous, and so it would be cool to have good alternatives.
It sucks that color is such an unbeatably simple and convenient signifier for those capable of seeing it. The best alternatives I could come up with would be symbol based: triangle, square, circle for example. Or better yet for the theme, suits of cards: clover, spades, hearts, diamonds.
Still, they would take up more real estate on the minimap than colored lane lines, which is a real concern in a MOBA.
I was thinking shapes as well, but then it comes down to design again - how a simple inflection of color nearby could suddenly attribute spade to blue then we're back to square one.
It's an interesting thing to develop for. I think you're onto something with theme, each of the 5 lanes for Deadlock could couple to a lore-related word. Something like, Siege, Blitz, Moor, Caldera, Fortitress (fortified fortress?). Each of the words have a distinct symbol present on the lane.
For future developers that seems like something relatively feasible. It's a little more design work than just tossing a color on a line and calling it a day, but it seems like it could work well. It seems like it solves the core issue of color-only referencing and it can enhance the game by giving it some additional lore. It also should function effectively the same as color would, since the association is the location of the lane (1 through 5) to the symbol (previously color).
The one caveat left is the line itself, however I think for the case of Deadlock it's actually pretty simple, it just risks being very visually busy. Each Diamond at the minimap could just have the symbol instead.
I think each lane will have its own visual identity once the game is closer to release so you'll always know where you are without having to check the minimap, but that still doesn't necessarily solve the need for color coding.
Each lane actually already has a name starting with the same letter as it's colour: York (Yellow), Greenwich (Green), Broadway (Blue) and Park (Purple). It's just that nobody uses them. Maybe with stronger visual theming people will, and the issue will be alleviated.
I don't think the solution to help color inhibited people should be to remove all colours, it should be to see if there are ways to help them navigate too.
That's awesome, I didn't know that bit! I was coming from a colorless perspective for this engagement simply for the idea that if color is present, that it might become the predominant name.
But as you mentioned, having them share the same letter actually resolves that issue completely