I’d like to draw attention to something that doesn’t affect many, but if changed it wouldn’t affect anyone but would assist those who have issues.
Readability:
I love the stylistic use of the font used. It works great for atmosphere. Mine, and I am sure others issues arise when there is eye sight problems—specifically on a TV sitting further back.
For myself I have a condition called Keratoconus (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratoconus#). My eyes have basically an impossible time keeping focus. This is what my eye sight can be like - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratoconus#/media/File%3AKc_simulation.jpg. Basically, my eyes suck and are only getting worse—although I will be getting surgery later this year to correct it.
All that being said, readability of UI elements in SoT is not ideal. From the ship map, chat wheel, merchants, and more. The thin, stylized and often close kerning of the type makes it nearly impossible to read.
How it makes me feel when - in a crew, solo and a user:
I use the word “feel” because I’ve heard that developers like to hear how a game element makes a player feel.
A crew member - I feel like I hold up my team because I can’t read the text on the screen to the speed with which I want. The chat wheel is nearly impossible for me to read without leaning forward on my couch, and reading the small upper left chat is again hard. Ultimately I feel like a lame duck on the team.
Solo player - While reading isn’t quite as necessary, the map on the ship becomes the biggest obstacle. Was that Shark Bail Isle or Shark Bale Isle, or maybe Snark Ball Isle. I basically need to look for something that looks similar in shape and length.
As a user - it breaks my immersion and speed with which I enjoy playing when I cannot read an element of text. It makes, me, the user feel like we aren’t cut out for the game.
My hope and maybe some suggestions:
I think the font perhaps needs to either be switched to a more readable font, or keep the font and have it kerned, and weighted heavier to the right specifications of readability.
The chat wheel I will use as an example. The font is very small on console compared to the box sizes. It is also not bolded at all. Perhaps either enlarging, kerning it apart and selecting a heavier weight could really help with quickness of readability. A font change to Helvetica or similar sans-serif typeface would easily clean up and increase readability.
I love the game, but I wanted to give some feedback from a person who suffers from vision loss. Thanks to the Rare team for listening!
