WoW Insiderhttp://wow.joystiq.comWoW Insiderhttp://wow.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gifWoW Insiderhttp://wow.joystiq.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/WoW Insider ShowEvery week, the WoW Insider Show brings you news and views from the World of Warcraft and the site that covers it all, WoW Insider. We introduce a panel of rotating guests, including bloggers from WoW Insider and other WoW blogs, and many popular personalities from around the WoW community. From the live listener chat and polls during the show, to the emails direct from listeners (reach us at theshow@wow.com), right on to the "meat" of the show -- in-depth discussion of the most popular news and posts on WoW Insider -- the WoW Insider Show is a terrific source of news and entertainment about what's going on with Blizzard and their World of Warcraft. Listen live every Saturday at 3:30 pm Eastern on our Ustream page (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wow-insider-show) or subscribe to the feed and let us know what you think by reviewing the show right here in iTunes.Reader UI of the Week: Bryce and Elv's UI stand against any foehttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/reader-ui-of-the-week-bryce-and-elvs-ui-stand-against-any-foe/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/reader-ui-of-the-week-bryce-and-elvs-ui-stand-against-any-foe/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/reader-ui-of-the-week-bryce-and-elvs-ui-stand-against-any-foe/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

As many of you already know, my go-to recommendation for pre-fab compilation user interfaces is ElvUI. I love this addon pack because the skinning of the interface keeps the game uniform with easy-to-read fonts and lots of information for both the novice and expert, and it's updated enough that, for my purposes, I've never really worried.

Bryce's user interface starts with an ElvUI foundation and moves toward full-featured completion with a bevy of new addons not included in the pack. Filling out the areas that ElvUI doesn't necessarily cover, Bryce has complemented the addon pack with addons necessary to raid and function, as opposed to addons that skin or change the aesthetics of the user interface.

Here's the part that interested me about the aesthetics issue: None of the addons that Bryce added to his setup changed the way ElvUI actually looks. Sometimes you get to talk about behind-the-scenes addons. Let's have fun with it.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Bryce and Elv's UI stand against any foe

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Bryce and Elv's UI stand against any foe originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguideuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 08 May 2012 14:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Neutral elements and goldfishhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/reader-ui-of-the-week-neutral-elements-and-goldfish/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/reader-ui-of-the-week-neutral-elements-and-goldfish/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/reader-ui-of-the-week-neutral-elements-and-goldfish/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

What do you get when you cross readers with UIs? Reader UI of the Week, of course. Want to show off your own interface creations? Send an email, screenshots, and anything else you'd like to readerui@wowinsider.com, and you might see your submission right here. That's totally awesome.

This week's discussion is all about Alvala and a changing multi-spec setup that eventually had to accomodate the healer lifestyle. With a flair for keeping things neat and tidy, as well as introducing neutral elements that span each class, spec, and role for every character, Alvala has created a UI that works for pretty much anything she can think of with room to grow.

I don't want to spoil the surprise, but at the end of the article today, I talk about how much I like the little WeakAuras goldfish that Alvala has on her UI. It's pretty much one of my favorite things. Must have caught me at a good time, little goldfish.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Neutral elements and goldfish

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Neutral elements and goldfish originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 01 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguideuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 01 May 2012 18:30:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Vhei's Cataclysm 2.0 UI packed up for youhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/reader-ui-of-the-week-vheis-cataclysm-2-0-ui-packed-up-for-you/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/reader-ui-of-the-week-vheis-cataclysm-2-0-ui-packed-up-for-you/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/reader-ui-of-the-week-vheis-cataclysm-2-0-ui-packed-up-for-you/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

When a beautiful user interface hits the site and people ask where to get it, I have the sad news that not everyone makes their user interfaces available online. The process done correctly, mind you, is a relatively complicated one -- there is a lot that goes into it, especially for a first-timer. So while it is not a requirement to make your user interface available when submitting to Reader UI of the Week, it's always a pleasure when one does come down the pike.

Vhei's user inteface creations have always been fun to showcase because of his talent and attention to detail. Lots of user interfaces out there do what his does, as do all of ours for the most part, but the construction of the whole is where I am always impressed with his creations. I've just gotten an email from Vhei letting me know that his last UI, the Cataclysm 2.0 UI, has been released as a package that you can download and try out. He's even got a video on YouTube explaining the process. Let's find out more, shall we?

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Vhei's Cataclysm 2.0 UI packed up for you

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Vhei's Cataclysm 2.0 UI packed up for you originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedfull-ui-conversionguideuiui-configurationui-guideui-packuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidevheiwow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 24 Apr 2012 14:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Vondak knows presentation is everythinghttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/reader-ui-of-the-week-vondak-knows-presentation-is-everything/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/reader-ui-of-the-week-vondak-knows-presentation-is-everything/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/reader-ui-of-the-week-vondak-knows-presentation-is-everything/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

Welcome back to Reader UI of the Week, WoW Insider's showcase of the community's user interfaces. I'm looking for Mists of Pandaria beta UIs. Enough people are in the beta now playing around with monks and their kit, so let's see what people are doing with monk abilities. Whatever it is, I want you to show it off. Let's get a jump on the expansion while we talk about real-world examples from people's beta screenshots.

That's not this week, however. A special treat is lined up for you today. Vondak, a survival hunter from the Nesingwary (US) realm, has decided to let his character speak for themselves about their user interface. In lieu of a reader email and submission this week, we have a reader gallery, as Vondak takes you through the intricate parts of the "high and tight" setup.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Vondak knows presentation is everything

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Vondak knows presentation is everything originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsdefault-blizzard-uifeaturedguidehunter-addonshunter-uiuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidevondakwow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 17 Apr 2012 13:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Puddinpop adds on with a larger screenhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/reader-ui-of-the-week-puddinpop-adds-on-with-a-larger-screen/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/reader-ui-of-the-week-puddinpop-adds-on-with-a-larger-screen/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/reader-ui-of-the-week-puddinpop-adds-on-with-a-larger-screen/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

Adding to UI compilations is a fine art we talk about on occasion here at Reader UI of the Week. Some things are easy to fit into a preexisting setup, whereas others are much more difficult, unable to fit in a premade UI's rigorous framework. Puddinpop, a blood elf paladin from the Saurfang server, has submitted a UI that features many additions to a basic RealUI setup smashed together with some of the design elements of LUI.

On top of the challenge of expanding on work already existing on the screen, Puddinpop takes the challege a step forward with a gigantic monitor. Sometimes it is just as difficult to design a UI around a much larger monitor as it is with a laptop or smaller screen. Many of the same concerns are present, just in a slightly different way. Fonts may be too small versus too large, UI elements might just never be noticed, and you could actually be straining your eyes to read too-small text. Big monitors can be a burden.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Puddinpop adds on with a larger screen

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Puddinpop adds on with a larger screen originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguidepaladinpaladin-uipuddinpopraiding-uiuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 10 Apr 2012 15:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Navigator plots a course to UI satisfactionhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/reader-ui-of-the-week-navigator-plots-a-course-to-ui-satisfacti/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/reader-ui-of-the-week-navigator-plots-a-course-to-ui-satisfacti/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/reader-ui-of-the-week-navigator-plots-a-course-to-ui-satisfacti/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

Navigator of the Exodar not only has one of the coolest name-plus-title combinations I've seen yet (don't be sad, all of you Professor Oaks out there) but a slick UI to match. It's a little crowded, to be sure, but sometimes things are crowded. Sometimes we like a little bit of a lot going on.

Also, I'm going to assume that you're going with the Warhammer 40k-type Navigator in that you've just plotted the course and not actually piloted the ship, because the pilot has a lot of explaining to do. I think that I just strained a nerd muscle.

As for the title today, again I am fooled by my own supposed cleverness at four in the morning when the title of this particular article came to mind. Navigator's UI works for all three specs to accommodate any and every alt, as well as a large enough healing array for competent raid healing. The double chat box is also a great idea that a lot of people don't necessarily take advantage of. Let's see if we can work something out.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Navigator plots a course to UI satisfaction

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Navigator plots a course to UI satisfaction originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonschat-addonchat-windowdual-chat-windowsfeaturedguideminimap-addonnavigatoruiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 03 Apr 2012 15:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Laar goes with a tri-spec setuphttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/reader-ui-of-the-week-laar-goes-with-a-tri-spec-setup/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/reader-ui-of-the-week-laar-goes-with-a-tri-spec-setup/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/reader-ui-of-the-week-laar-goes-with-a-tri-spec-setup/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

Oh boy, do I have a treat for you all this week. Laar is our UI subject this week, and I was immediately impressed with not only Laar's courageousness to tri-spec for a heroic raiding guild but at the ease with which the World of Warcraft user interface turns on a dime. No other MMO UI out there can transform itself so quickly to become something utterly new from spec to spec.

Going tri-spec is daunting. I don't know if that's the type of dedication my brain can handle these days. College, maybe. Back then, I could multitask. Now I'm an old, sad man. Don't let my shame and sadness get you down. Let's take a look at this awesome UI!

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Laar goes with a tri-spec setup

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Laar goes with a tri-spec setup originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>action-bar-saveradd-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsdruid-uifeaturedguidelaartri-specuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 27 Mar 2012 15:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Mnemonics' versatile shadow priest UIhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/reader-ui-of-the-week-mnemonics-versatile-shadow-priest-ui/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/reader-ui-of-the-week-mnemonics-versatile-shadow-priest-ui/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/reader-ui-of-the-week-mnemonics-versatile-shadow-priest-ui/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

I know a shadow priest or two, and for the most part, they are pretty decent folk. Since there are no shadow priests in my immediate vicinity, I am hoping that for now I am safe from retribution if anything I say in the following article will offend their delicate shadow sensibilities. Don't hurt me, please.

Mnemonic's UI original struck me as cluttered and odd but quickly manifested into order when I took a look at the raid screenshot. Odd, yes, that the raid screenshot was the one to bring clarity and light to an otherwise incomplete assessment. As you'll soon find out I liked Mnemonic's setup and admission that maybe, just maybe, the extreme level of minimalism that many go to with regard to their UIs isn't for everyone.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Mnemonics' versatile shadow priest UI

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Mnemonics' versatile shadow priest UI originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Mathew McCurleyTue, 20 Mar 2012 20:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Saintstryfe's healing UI learns from other worldshttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/reader-ui-of-the-week-saintstryfes-healing-ui-learns-from-othe/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/reader-ui-of-the-week-saintstryfes-healing-ui-learns-from-othe/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/reader-ui-of-the-week-saintstryfes-healing-ui-learns-from-othe/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

World of Warcraft has me spoiled in regards to MMO user interfaces. While I don't like bringing up other games in my columns, it is almost necessary at times when talking about the overarching themes of the genre, something I am passionate about. Take, for instance, the original Bioware stance on DPS meters ("there will be none") and the subsequent reversal of such a plan -- I would have preferred gun-stickage.

Competition drives innovation in our marketplace, and other MMOs have been stepping up their games in recent years in regard to almost every aspect of the MMO experience. Yet WoW's UI is still leaps and bounds more customizable, flexible, and vibrant than a majority of the AAA titles on the shelf. What the heck is going wrong with the MMO industry and the UI? The Old Republic had to patch in basic UI features. RIFT, while capable in and of itself with UI customization, still suffers from constraints. The original EverQuest made you look at a book to regenerate mana faster. I realize it's not the same world as WoW, but it's still a part of the package.

... which brings me to today's interface and topic. Saintstryfe may have not intended this submission to spur the topic that it did, but I don't care. Saintstryfe, you're riding the Reader UI train now, and this train's conductor doesn't slow for no. One. No one. Except myself. I'm the conductor. Other games reveal aspects of World of Warcraft that otherwise would be left unnoticed due to repetition and routine -- a foil, if you will, to the idiosyncracies of World of Wacraft ... and maybe insight into how to fix them.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Saintstryfe's healing UI learns from other worlds

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Saintstryfe's healing UI learns from other worlds originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguidehealerhealer-addonshealer-uisaintstryfeuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidevuhdowow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 13 Mar 2012 12:00:00 ESTSubmit your user interface to Reader UI of the Weekhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/submit-your-user-interface-to-reader-ui-of-the-week/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/submit-your-user-interface-to-reader-ui-of-the-week/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/09/submit-your-user-interface-to-reader-ui-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under: ,

World of Warcraft's user interface is one of the most awesome features of the game. Where else in MMO-land can you find UIs as diverse, creative, and different than those of all of your peers and community pals? Here on WoW Insider, we have a little column where your work gets shown off and discussed amongst our own little community, and we want your submissions.

With Mists of Pandaria on the way and some time to prepare for the coming storm, now is the best time to work out some of the kinks in your user interface. Always wanted to try a new spell timer? Thinking about ditching one DPS meter for another? Do it now, when you're just kind of hanging out. What about all those old-new players who are coming back because of the new Scroll of Resurrection? What types of user interface concerns do they have?

At Reader UI of the Week, we love to help you with your UI design woes, discussing ways to change or adjust your UI to get it to look a little bit cleaner, a little bit smoother, or just plain nicer. If you're going to send in a call for help, please be as descriptive as possible.

Submit your user interface to Reader UI of the Week by emailing, coincidentally, readerui@wowinsider.com. Here are some tips to remember and information to include when you are submitting your UI or call for help:
  • Include "Reader UI of the Week" in the subject of your email. If it's not there, your email might not get through.
  • Pictures are good, and the bigger, the better.
  • You don't have to write a novel, but definitely write enough that readers get a sense of why you did what you did. What are your biggest priorities when putting together your UI?
  • Did I mention that pictures are awesome?
  • If you are submitting a user interface that is modified off of an existing UI compilation, tell me what you changed and what was important about those changes. Anyone can go and just pick up a premade compilation.
Again, submit your user interfaces to readerui@wowinsider.com, and show off your work!
Interested in getting the most out of your user interface? Come back once a week for more examples of reader UIs. For more details on individual addons, check out Addon Spotlight, or visit Addons 101 for help getting started.

WoW InsiderSubmit your user interface to Reader UI of the Week originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguidesubmit-your-uiuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyFri, 09 Mar 2012 15:00:00 ESTDoes gender matter when designing your user interface?http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/does-gender-matter-when-designing-your-user-interface-tues/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/does-gender-matter-when-designing-your-user-interface-tues/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/06/does-gender-matter-when-designing-your-user-interface-tues/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

Our interface today comes from lady gamer Rinjichan. I would not be so inclined to point out that Rinjichan is a woman if Rinjichan herself did not make it a subject of conversation. Why, you would ask, would a discussion of gender be relevant to a discussion about user interfaces? Plenty of reasons, actually.

Do genders approach user interfaces differently? Do men and women identify different elements of the UI as important or relevant? Go beyond the stereotypical pink bottom bar and look at the placement of addons, the structure of the buttons, and the overall layout. These are the things that interest me, as well as whether or not a user interface can have gender ascribed to it.

Continue reading Does gender matter when designing your user interface?

WoW InsiderDoes gender matter when designing your user interface? originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsbottom-bar-uifeaturedgendergirly-uiguiderinjichanuiui-configurationui-genderui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 06 Mar 2012 17:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Magistrum's basic setup makes great addon starting placehttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/reader-ui-of-the-week-magistrums-basic-setup-makes-great-addon/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/reader-ui-of-the-week-magistrums-basic-setup-makes-great-addon/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/02/28/reader-ui-of-the-week-magistrums-basic-setup-makes-great-addon/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

One of the most amazing things about World of Warcraft's addons is that you're always learning something new or adapting your interface to the new standards because you can build on top of what's already there. Sometimes you do the opposite -- take all of the information you've learned and processed but strip it all away and start from stratch. It's liberating to re-form your UI with years of potentially new and useful knowledge and expectations when going to build your legacy UI.

Magistrum sent me a screenshot for his mage's new UI. I looked at the picture first as I usually do when picking out a UI for the column and saw a very basic design that didn't jump out at me while being far from offensive. After reading the short email, it dawned on me that I was looking at this UI all wrong. This wasn't a first attempt at cleanliness with a new player, hitting the game for the first time. No, this was years of learning and understanding what makes your own personal UI yours. The little pieces are all in place where you want them.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Magistrum's basic setup makes great addon starting place

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Magistrum's basic setup makes great addon starting place originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsbasic-uiclean-uiguideldbmagemage-uimagistrumuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 28 Feb 2012 14:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Deadpool's multipurpose hunter UIhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/reader-ui-of-the-week-deadpools-multipurpose-hunter-ui/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/reader-ui-of-the-week-deadpools-multipurpose-hunter-ui/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/02/21/reader-ui-of-the-week-deadpools-multipurpose-hunter-ui/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

While I was doing archaeology the other day (Is this seriously all I do anymore? What have I become?), pieces of my UI became apparently ... messy. I didn't like the feeling. Something felt off, weird, crazy, or ready to blow. While many people lauded archaeology addons, I only scoffed. Now, I feel like I might need one or two.

This week's reader submission is from Deadpool, a worgen hunter with a knack for stylish looks and stylish UIs. His setup is simple and has a decent amount of empty space and buffer room, which puts me in a happy place. I like relaxed UIs. More isn't always better, especially in a game like WoW where the most complex the task usually has a super-simple answer.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Deadpool's multipurpose hunter UI

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Deadpool's multipurpose hunter UI originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsdeadpoolfeaturedguidehunter-uineat-and-cleanuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: How to build a preliminary monk UIhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/reader-ui-of-the-week-how-to-build-a-preliminary-monk-ui/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/reader-ui-of-the-week-how-to-build-a-preliminary-monk-ui/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/02/14/reader-ui-of-the-week-how-to-build-a-preliminary-monk-ui/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

An odd email was sent to me by a reader expressing his concern over some of the new additions to the user interface coming with Mists of Pandaria and, more specifically, with the monk class. This got me thinking -- we need to start getting ready for the next expansion, and we need to do it now. Klaxons are sounding and alarm bells are ringing! Monks and pandas are coming!

So how do we go about talking about designing a preliminary UI for the monk? First, we have to look at what is being added to the interface through the new class. Second, we have to use our current vocabulary to discuss what could potentially be applied to monk-specific UI elements.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: How to build a preliminary monk UI

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: How to build a preliminary monk UI originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguideJoystiqSci/TechTwitteruiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 14 Feb 2012 13:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Get personal with Absinth's redesign for raidinghttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/reader-ui-of-the-week-get-personal-with-absinths-redesign-for/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/reader-ui-of-the-week-get-personal-with-absinths-redesign-for/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/reader-ui-of-the-week-get-personal-with-absinths-redesign-for/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

The raiding game comes upon us faster than ever these days, as the leveling portion of the game shrinks just as much as it expands with each subsequent expansion. While raiding should be a focus for design teams, because you need constant current end game content, the path to raiding is still a long and arduous one. And when the mighty finally ascend the stairs of destiny and plant their flag at the top of the world, then you realize your interface just isn't going to cut it anymore.

"But it's been fine like this for 85 levels!" you exclaim. Yes, yes, I agree. It's a weird phenomenon in video gaming, where as you progress through a journey learning skills, gaining allies, and collecting equipment, the fundamentals of your play experience radically shift. It's less of a problem these days with the Dungeon Journal, random Raid Finder and Dungeon Finder tools, and a general understanding of what raiding is among the video gaming populace.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Get personal with Absinth's redesign for raiding

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Get personal with Absinth's redesign for raiding originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguideuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 07 Feb 2012 16:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Healing with Stormstronghttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/reader-ui-of-the-week-healing-with-stormstrong/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/reader-ui-of-the-week-healing-with-stormstrong/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/reader-ui-of-the-week-healing-with-stormstrong/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

As interface concerns continue to move from function to form, player user interfaces continue to move toward simplicity and pared-down constructs. You wouldn't think that players would want interfaces with fewer graphics and a separation from oddities by fixing interface problems themselves, what with the fixed user interfaces of so many games these days. I will never stop championing the UI as one of the prime factors that made WoW the juggernaut it is today.
To celebrate the freedom that we all share in this addon world, we hold up our community's creations to the sky and ask the community to appraise them. Is this worthy, UI lords atop Lua Mountain, from where all addons come? The Addon Kingdom.
This week's UI comes from resto shaman Stormstrong (love the name) who, like many of my readers, praises minimalism and wants to get his healing job done with as little in the way as possible. Good man, I'd say. Also, has anyone noticed the trend of fewer healing buttons lately? What changed? How are people healing with seemingly fewer buttons these days? Man, I really haven't played my paladin healer in a while ...

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Healing with Stormstrong

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Healing with Stormstrong originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guideMathew McCurleyTue, 31 Jan 2012 16:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Interview with Vhei and a Reader UI updatehttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/reader-ui-of-the-week-interview-with-vhei-and-a-reader-ui-updat/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/reader-ui-of-the-week-interview-with-vhei-and-a-reader-ui-updat/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/reader-ui-of-the-week-interview-with-vhei-and-a-reader-ui-updat/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

Oh, Reader UI of the Week readers, we have a treat for you today. I've wanted to do more interviews on the column for awhile now, and Vhei was a perfect candidate to start this whole thing off with. If you haven't seen Vhei's UI, it's been featured on the column twice, both beautiful revisions of great setups with amazing art and slick settings.

Not only do we have a fun interview with Vhei, but we have a UI update from reader Shamonkey, whose UI was profiled here at the end of 2011. Shamonkey was looking for some help setting up his WoW UI on a 13-inch laptop. Let's see what suggestions that he took from the commenters and the article itself to see how a UI can transform with just a few simple changes.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Interview with Vhei and a Reader UI update

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Interview with Vhei and a Reader UI update originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguideinterviewreader-ui-interviewshamonkeyshamonkey-uiuiui-configurationui-guideui-revisionui-updateuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidevheivhei-interviewwow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 24 Jan 2012 15:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Kaikuri's fork formationhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/reader-ui-of-the-week-kaikuris-fork-formation/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/reader-ui-of-the-week-kaikuris-fork-formation/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/reader-ui-of-the-week-kaikuris-fork-formation/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

Welcome, friends, to another edition of Reader UI of the Week, WoW Insider's showcase of your crazy, cool, or just plain useful user interfaces for WoW. This week's tank UI was sent in by Kaikuri and features minimal interface artwork, a clear workspace, and a lot of words to say about it all. But first, we have the matter of the new year to attend to.

With Mists of Pandaria most likely coming out some time this year, we're all going to be on auto-pilot for a little while. This is the best time to set some of your precious moments away to work on your UI and tinker around with things. Your raid group might be on hiatus or your buddies just want to take a couple weeks off, but you're still jonesing? This year is going to be gangbusters for Reader UI of the Week, as we keep the hype train going while we wait to roll out our awesome new interfaces when Mists hit.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Kaikuri's fork formation

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Kaikuri's fork formation originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguidekaikuri-uildbldb-addonslib-data-brokerlibdatabrokertank-uititan-paneltitanpaneluiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: 2011 user interface reviewhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/reader-ui-of-the-week-2011-user-interface-review/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/reader-ui-of-the-week-2011-user-interface-review/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/reader-ui-of-the-week-2011-user-interface-review/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

For me, 2011 was a great year in terms of getting to know you guys and writing about your user interfaces. People sent in a variety of different types of UI, great tips, tricks, and cool new tweaks to a game that's pushing eight years old. As WoW grows the UI community that has sprouted up around it has grown as well, showing the drive to create and be a part of the whole WoW phenomenon is still very much alive. Mists of Pandaria will only serve to fuel more fire.

I wanted to thank you all for your submissions last year, as well as issue a preemptive thank-you for all the great UIs that you have sent in over the year. Now, as we are knee-deep in Cataclysm's final patch, we all have time enough to hang out, sit back, and watch The Destroyed explode into sparkles while we tinker with our UIs getting ready for panda time. Here's a little taste of last year's highlights and my thoughts about 52 Reader UI of the Weeks.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: 2011 user interface review

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: 2011 user interface review originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>20122012-predictions2012-wrap-upadd-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguideuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 10 Jan 2012 15:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Ring in the new year with something basichttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/reader-ui-of-the-week-ring-in-the-new-year-with-something-basic/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/reader-ui-of-the-week-ring-in-the-new-year-with-something-basic/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/reader-ui-of-the-week-ring-in-the-new-year-with-something-basic/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

We're going to start the new year off with a simple setup from Emandiputs from the Stormscale realm. Emandiputs is a self-described long-time WoW Insider fan -- and since this is the first Reader UI of the Week of 2012 and my 100th Reader UI of the Week column, I figured I would give the floor to a veteran of the site. So thank you in advance for the submission and the screenshots, Emandiputs.

And thank you all for coming along with me on this journey. I didn't really know how long I would be writing for WoW Insider when I joined on. One hundred Reader UI of the Week columns as well as a host of other content later has really hit me today as a substantial thing. Thank you all for reading and letting me get to do this awesome thing. I appreciate it more than you could ever know.

Let's get down to business, then. What we've got here is Emandiput's crack at another user interface after a new computer purchase and a trip back to the world of Azeroth. I cannot tell you how much I recommend trying to come up with a whole new UI on a new system. You'll feel fresh and clean and have that happy feeling when everything fits the way you want it to. An old UI from an old computer can sometimes leave behind a weird taste in your mouth. Something just isn't right, you know? It happens for me, at least.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Ring in the new year with something basic

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Ring in the new year with something basic originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsbottom-bar-uidamage-metersemandiputfeaturedguidembfuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 03 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST