The art of menus

20/12/2007

While working on my upcoming game, Bounce, I have faced difficulties, challenges and problems - Some bit of code I wrote doesn’t work how I wanted it, the new graphics don’t work together, etc. etc. But the hardest thing I have attempted so far has been making a menu.

My menu checklist

  • Simple - This is a big one for me. Menu’s have to be simple and not clogged up with useless stuff.
  • Usable - Of course, obvious. A menu has to be easy to pick up on and use.
  • Classy - There needs to be something extra in the menu, be it transitions, effects or animations. Just something extra.
  • Concise - There’s no need to travel through 100 different stages of the menu to play the game.

The menu for Bounce:

Bounce menu 1

 You can’t tell from the picture, but the background is moving.

Level Selection screen

The level selection screen

Overall the menu design has been a tough and vexing task. If any other Flash developers are reading this, how about leaving me a comment giving me your thoughts on making menus? For me, I hate making them.

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