ESC Key and Text Entry Behavior

Please make it standardized

from Elemental Forums

This is a carryover from GalCiv2, and I can't believe they're still doing this.

The text entry has got slightly better but it's still not standard.  Text entry should work just like it works in Windows, which considering Stardock does lots of development for Windows and undoubtably has some MS certified developers, they SHOULD know how to impliment standardized text entry.  The normal text edit keys should all function normally.  Why they go with some archaic custom system is beyond me.  When I press SHIFT+HOME it should select all text for instant overwrite/delete.  That kind of thing.

The bigger problem is ESC key behavior.  99.9% of windows programs and games use the same behavior.  That is, when you hit escape, it closes the current window OR at the very least, it closes all open windows.  Then, if there are no open windows, it opens the config/menu/whatever screen.

Why, WHY, is it that in GalCiv2 and Elemental hitting ESC always pops open the menu/config screen no matter how many windows you have open?  Does anybody really want to see that screen when they're looking at some subwindow, like the research screen or something?  I would think not.

When you've played games for 20+ years and been using Windows since it came out, your brain is completely trained to use the ESC key to back out of open windows.  Why...is Stardock, a company that develops tons of stuff for windows, doing ESC behavior so whackily different?

Dig thru GalCiv2 forums - this is something that has come up several times in the past.

 

5,292 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

Speaking of the Esc key, pressing it a second time should really dismiss the menu.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

I would love it if the ESC key closed open windows. Another weird thing is that the keypresses don't act as toggles. Say if opening Inventory was 'I' (I'm not sure that it is), you'd assume that you hit I once to open it, then you can hit I again to close it. What actually happens is every time you hit I (or hold it down) it keeps opening the same window over and over, making you close every single one afterwards.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Agree with OP.  I am so much in the habit of using ESC to close windows that I inadvertently bring up the main menu every five minutes in Elemental.  I wouldn't mind if ESC brought up the main menu once all other windows are closed, but first I'd have ESC close one currently-open open window.

I also want working keyboard shortcuts for movement, but that's another issue.  :)

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Arrow keys should work fine for movement, what problems are you having?