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The New HUD is an Absolutely Terrible and Counter-Intuitive Addition to the Game & Here is Why

fi9KvpCZOp·7/22/2015, 1:47:36 PM·683 votes·28,665 views

Firstly, let me start by saying that League of Legends did NOT NEED a new HUD in way way shape or form whatsoever...

Secondly, there are numerous design flaws and aspects about the new HUD that actually work to achieve the exact opposite goal Riot had intended with this change (improved clarity & readability). There are many small things about the HUD to take into consideration, but I will just go over a few of the most important points individually and then give a brief synopsis as to why I feel the new HUD is inferior to the old one in every way.

1.) Teammate Unit Frames:

This may just be the single most game breaking problem with the new HUD, regardless of all the others. It is important to note how ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL this information. In fact, I would venture to say that your teammate's health bars are thee MOST crucial bits of information on your entire screen. And seeing as how you can not see your teammates directly in your frame at all times, having those health bars well within your vision is extremely pertinent to every action you make with your champion.

Previously, the teammate unit frames were located on the left side of your screen, and actually took up a good percentage of the screen itself, making them impossible to miss. This was an excellent spot for them as they ended up being directly inside the beginning of your peripheral vision (meaning: they weren't at the outer rim of your peripheral vision). These health bars being inside my periph, became some what of a tactical necessity for me throughout my countless games of league, as I would constantly use the changes in my ally's health to determine where I would / should move on the map, how / where I should ping or what objective could / couldn't be obtained (etc...) without having to look away from the battle itself. This had become such second nature to me that I actually had commented to my friends many times in game about just how ingrained that was into my decision making in general. Being able to monitor ally health bars AT ALL TIMES without having to look away from what I was actually doing on my screen became a massive influencing factor of my performance in game to say the least.

Now, the teammate unit frames are located in the bottom right corner of the screen just above the map, and they are about 1/4 the size that they use to be. I have only played a few games with the new HUD, but this made me feel virtually blind to this information. Their position is now verging on the borders of my peripheral vision (1920 x 1080 monitor), and there is currently no way of enhancing their size or moving them. Not to mention, the player portrait health bar is not even a bar anymore. It is a tiny sliver of green pixels which makes it even more difficult to decipher. How was it seen as a good idea to take the MOST VITAL information on your screen and make it literally the SMALLEST piece of graphic art of the entire HUD?

2.) Cooldown Timers:

This, for me, was another one of those "second nature, peripheral vision" kind of things that had become so ingrained into my gameplay that I actually NEVER needed to even look down at my action bar to know when my abilities were coming off cooldown. Now, there is this little blue bubble in the middle of the square button, which is my ability graphic, which also has a number inside the bubble, which also now has more animation. What were you guys thinking with this?

The old cooldown timers were perfectly fine. They covered the ENTIRE space of your ability square, and gave a very definitive opaqueness / shade to your ability which was easily distinguishable even from the outer reaches of your peripheral vision. Now, I find myself actually glancing down at my action bar just to look at the cooldown, because there is too much happening inside the square. I can't even describe to you how disgusting of a feeling that is to be forced unwillingly to look away from the fight just to view your cooldown, when you NEVER, EVER had to do that before.

3.) Positioning / Size:

This is another very crucial aspect of the new HUD that I find to be incredibly counter-intuitive. All the information is crammed so heavily into one space, that it actually achieves the complete opposite goal you were going for by doing that. You guys decided that you would shove all the most useful bits of information into and on top of the map, which seems like a good idea in theory but actually fails miserably in game. When you are in combat if you have to stare and examine the graphics of your HUD to find a bit of information that previously you could have already seen in your peripheral vision, you are losing precious seconds that could be spent staring more intently at enemy actions or teammate actions in game.

The right corner of the screen currently has so much info in it, that you actually need to pick it apart with your eyes and literally ANALYZE it just to read that information into your brain. Any time you clump massive amounts of various bits of information into a small area it actually makes it HARDER for your brain to absorb that information individually, as opposed to having it spread out into perspective locations which your eyes can naturally divert too. Furthermore, scanning across every different corner of the screen periodically, is actually a very healthy movement path for your eyes in a game where your enemies can be coming at you from literally ANY angle. Not sure what was wrong with having DIFFERENT positions for DIFFERENT pieces of information...

I understand that you guys were trying to give more space to the field of vision for gameplay, but the problem with that is.. Some people actually like seeing their tactical information MORE then a few extra centimeters of the map. At the very least, you could give us an option to enhance the size of the information we are looking for individually, or simply allow us to move things around on the HUD. That is really not that difficult of a task to accomplish. PLAYERS created add-ons for WoW that allowed them to do this with the HUD many, many years ago. Why would you not offer more user customization with a new HUD roll-out instead of forcing us all to adhere to an immovable and unchanging one? Or... Just let us create and use HUD add-ons in competitive play, and we will show you how to do it.

4.) Synopsis / TL;DR:

New HUD doesn't achieve goals Riot set out by making it; Old one was on-point.

Edit: I have come to the realization that Riot only responds to "professionally written" posts, so even though I think my post couldn't be more professionally written, I went ahead and removed the two instances where I said "wtf" and "ffs".... Oh, I also said the F word somewhere else. Sorry, that was TOTALLY unprofessional of me. You can now reply to the largest thread on this board, Riot. Thank you!

452 Comments

Vistha Kai7/22/2015, 2:39:29 PM179 votes

I totally agree.

General visual style aside, having all the information crammed in one corner is bad and you should feel bad. Ally portraits are barely visible, are way out of the way and the way you display health and mana is, simply put, awful.

Please bring them back to the left side and for the love of god put CS and score back on the top right corner.

Syndrarella7/22/2015, 4:18:39 PM83 votes

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Crystolize57/22/2015, 3:09:05 PM65 votes

I agree 100%, this new hud is the worst thing thats happened to league honestly

femmé7/22/2015, 7:05:58 PM55 votes

sadly i feel that riot might take this feedback as "People just haven't gotten used to the new hud" and not even allow you to switch huds even though there are major problems with this hud that were obviously ignored and instead had piles of "cool" animations put on top of these issue just to salt the wound.

Take the stats menu for instance. The old one was big and showed you everything you needed to know about your champion and you could close the window when you were done looking at it. Now that is mixed with the stat bar you would see on the hud but it's so fucking tiny that it's impossible to make out the information that is crammed into this one bar on your screen...why did they need to change this? My only answer is that the more slim and compact it looks, the cooler it is and that was the main goal this hud seemed to want...to look cool.

UPfreely7/22/2015, 6:44:40 PM43 votes

I feel like I need an instruction manual to find everything. :c

Drout7/22/2015, 10:57:51 PM41 votes

I just played my first and final match with the new HUD. It is more frustrating than the toxic players i encounter in bronze. I mean I'm already bad at the game now it feels IMPOSSIBLE to improve. IDK how to ping, look at timers, look at all the champs items/ KDA/ stats at once, or any basic function. It has made me really good at dying due to a lack of information though. Thanks RITO!

I have friends from work that just started playing also and I cant even coach them on basic things because i no longer know what to do either. Thanks RITO!

I wish you guys focused more on things that are actually broken like Sated Devourer! Do you guys even listen to your community? I bet 1% of the community that took your "What can we improve?" poll listed the HUD as an issue! It was perfect just as it was!

Anyway, thanks RITO! I'm off to find a game that doesn't have square wheels!

Galewings7/22/2015, 3:41:31 PM27 votes

The "ult bubble" is a welcome addition, but other than that everything about this new hud is just awful and awkward. It's color just doesn't go with the rest of the game.

I wish there was an option to just go back to the old hud. That one just felt better.

HaxProdigy7/22/2015, 2:47:43 PM26 votes

Yeah It's really bad there's too much damn animations, hopefully riot will give us the option of moving them around or even better by bringing back the old one

Primadonna7/22/2015, 11:58:05 PM25 votes

As a frequent Soraka player, #1 could not be more crucial to me. Please revert.

O Fallen Scholar7/22/2015, 3:42:01 PM24 votes

I like new HUD. If you don't get used to it, it's your own problem.

Banshee7/22/2015, 10:39:02 PM20 votes

This HUD is sooo bad and Riot's reason for is that you're allowed to see more, basically a bigger field of view. But what Riot fail to understand that this game is not a first person or third person restricted camera. If I want to see something I'll just move my camera all the way across the map if I wanted to.

This new HUD offers nothing good. I have to decipher some hieroglyphics to see my ad, ap, mr, atk speed, etc. PLEASE GET RID OF IT.

Infinity Minion7/22/2015, 3:08:14 PM20 votes

Agreed. Just terrible. And why did they remove the Map Ping button? What was the point of that?

ChrisoManiso7/22/2015, 11:45:16 PM18 votes

Can we also talk about the fact that the mana bars are literally just slivers on the screen smaller than an earbud wire and they are almost impossible to see. Also, due to their size, it's extremely difficult to differentiate the amount of mana they have compared to a full bar due to how small their bars are.

Feathermane7/22/2015, 8:09:43 PM18 votes

They had a good HUD, I don't remember a difficult adjustment period when I started playing. The new one is like DOTA 2, where you have to consciously remind yourself where anything is. The scores are basically hidden, cooldown tracking is problematic, champion stats are hard to read. Even the store is confusing. And the change has as much justification as the Cassiopeia rework.

RainbowIcee7/23/2015, 12:42:16 AM14 votes

My personal problem with the New Hud is that it has too much information cramped up together it's distracting to my eyes to focus on the specific thing i wanted and makes me waste time trying to focus. It was far more comfortable when things were spreading out through the space on the screen where i directed my vision quickly to the thing i specifically wanted to look at.

TheRoadstar7/23/2015, 7:17:01 AM12 votes

I have to agree with the OP. I wouldn't have put it so bluntly, but he's absolutely correct. With the new interface, it's much harder to find the information that you need to find in a split second. Some of it is a matter of getting used to it, but mostly it's just poorly designed. I had no problem whatsoever with the old interface and have no idea what it was changed.

I Chode I7/23/2015, 12:10:00 AM11 votes

Only thing worse then the HUD is the new announcer.... omg i wanna shoot him

Ex Infernalis7/23/2015, 1:23:27 PM11 votes

Here's what I think could be an improvement for the portrait issue. I mocked it up on a few minutes, so no points for quality.

https://www.evernote.com/l/AOUTzPGHjw9L5LUNNayyJ5vqEM1oqCNiKdoB/image.png

JimmyNtheKudos7/22/2015, 9:34:57 PM10 votes

I think they could have improved the one we have now, instead of building a completely new one. I hope they listen to feedback and return the old HUD as an option. If I have to continue using the new HUD, that may be the last bit to push me to stop playing.

Yfrappefort7/23/2015, 3:50:42 AM10 votes

I hate this new HUD :

  1. Champions portraits are way too small and piled in a corner
  2. CS and game time are in opposite location
  3. Pings icon removed from the mini-map (like really?)
  4. Too much overall noise and unneeded animation effect

Please allow us to switch to old HUD...I can't play like this.

Bleu Gypsy7/23/2015, 7:18:46 AM10 votes

the new HUD is crap was this even in the test server to see if the players even wanted it. the HUD is crap why try to fix something that was not broke let me know when the old HUD comes back or a option to use it and not this crap new one till then I quit

ZDiG7/23/2015, 7:28:28 AM10 votes

I COMPLETELY agree with the original post. The new HUD is VERY difficult to read, there is some information that is completely missing (unless you go looking for it DURING A GAME), the icons are HUGE and takes up MORE space on my screen (and my interface HUD scale is set to 0), and does the EXACT opposite of what the new HUD was intended to do! It is so confusing and frustrating to use! Please Riot... give us the option to keep the old HUD, or at the very least, give us the ability to customize it (hopefully including fixing the sizing options for the HUD, as it currently does not reduce the size much at all, even at 0) I really appreciate the work that you all put into this game. However, I also believe in the old saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

d3sToyer7/23/2015, 12:46:36 PM10 votes

After reading other complains and "positive" comments i came to the conclusion that new HUD was made only for people with small screen/laptops because old HUD was big for them. For people like me with big screens (1920x1080) it's soo small that we spend half of game searching information than focus on game. I am person who like when UI is small but this time had to make it bigger to start see something.. In overall graphic design it look fine for me, well that flashy animations are kinda annoying but you can get used to them.

My general Issues with new HUD:

  1. Bad font. It merge with whole UI what causes misinformation and spending a lot of time searching it. I heard that PBE is testing new fonts but come on, this should be done before you putted this on official servers..
  2. Statistic window (TAB) is bad, very bad. I can't barely see what summoner spells and stats enemy have, not to mention spending time to search that enemy.
  3. Enemy portraits are in bad position. I understand that they wanted everything in one place soo player don't have to look around whole screen to see information, but putting dead enemy portraits next to ally is BAD idea.
  4. Small ally portraits. Not big issue but still annoying.

My idea to change that issues:

  1. New, more readable font.
  2. Make it more readable, add some frames to separate things like items and statistics and make it more bigger (bigger summoner spells).
  3. Put them in other place, maybe middle upper corner like other games have.
  4. Just make it bigger.

Other issues: -Item panel on the right. THIS IS NOT DOTA! Just enable to change position to the left. -Game timer should be back on it's old position, not in the corner. -Hero stats should be visible WHOLE TIME with function to hide it, NOT VICE VERSA. -Mini-map is bad. No reasons, just bad. -K/D/A/CS merge with mini-map, just add frame to separate it and will be k.

Overall, new HUD look fine with small portion of "meh" but still it need some changes that should be done BEFORE PUTTING THIS ON OFFICIAL SERVERS. Also people who says "just get used to it", please, you act like would not have anything against even if they give you stick with shit on it.

Ameyuki7/23/2015, 6:39:48 AM9 votes

As an experienced league player, i think the new upgrading skill thing that pops up stands out too much and is too flashy, it feels like every time I level up, the blue skill arrow that pops up surprises me and it feels like i'm getting ganked. Also, the game screen is uneven, most of the things are now clumped up toward the middle and the right of the screen, there is an awkward space on the bottom left corner where the items use to be, and the chatbox won't fit there either, so it is just floating awkwardly above an empty space in the middle left side of the screen. Also, I personally would prefer the CS and the game score to stay on the top right of the screen, it is really awkwardly hidden in the middle of the screen above the map and it feels like it doesnt fit there. Also, i think the scoreboard is a bit too simple, the mute button kind of disappeared and it looks too bland and crowded :(. Also, now that our team members are in tiny icons on the corner of the map, it is hard to look at how much health they have and little tricks like using the portraits to click on when using shen's ult are lost. We lose alot of awareness of the map,i think it makes the graphics feel a bit too childish/simple and plasticky/fake? (I don't know how to describe the feeling but i hope you guys understand what i mean) instead of the more complex game this actually is.

Agent Gil7/23/2015, 7:08:49 AM9 votes

I completely agree with OP. This post was very well written and completely pointed out in great detail the problem with the new HUD.

The HUD in LoL is part of the foundations of the game. Learning the HUD and using it to its full potential is an acquired skill that eventually becomes second nature as you improve. It's so ingrained in your mind, that when the positioning of things change, it really throws you off.

And that's exactly how I felt. I was blind, and extremely angry.

I honestly, don't feel like playing League anymore until we go back to the old HUD or have an option to change the positioning of it.

Call this an over-reaction, but I've been playing League for over two years now, and this is the first time I've felt like I was learning the game all over again. (And it isn't a good feeling)

I felt crippled and I know my skill level has drastically dropped. GG Riot, Great job destroying everything I've been working for in one patch.

xshadouux7/23/2015, 12:37:22 PM9 votes

no offense but this new hud is totally bs... just as some1 behind said "windows 7 to windows 8 experience, that's why i stayed at 7".. i wont be playing this sht

SodoMyKing7/23/2015, 3:48:06 AM9 votes

This HUD is the worst thing to happen to League of Legends, I am disappointed that Riot thought this was actually a good idea. Currently up-voting every post that has to do with how horrible this HUD is in hopes that Riot will give us the old HUD back.

Knight SoIaire 7/22/2015, 9:28:46 PM9 votes

i agree with your points

but i cant say that the old hud was simply better ... this one sacrifices something for something

and the problem that i find here the most crippling is that im not used to this yet ... i feel that when i will get used to this ill get more info and much easier than currently

the problem is that i need to switch from one to second

C9 Reloaded7/22/2015, 6:57:20 PM8 votes

To be honest, I would've preferred to wait until customization was available, otherwise they've rushed it to get it in live servers.

Hagglert7/23/2015, 11:21:00 AM7 votes

When I read this I felt like I wasn't alone with the feelings of the new HUD-update. I TOTALLY agree!!!

I played a game as Nautilus jungler, Tank. It was like coming to a new game, trying to learn everything from the beginning. The style is way too complicated and stylish; the old one could never get any better. It took me a lot of time to find everything, the position of your teammates etc.

They added a lot of "cool" animations and stuff but it's painful for your eyes, when you just want a normal LoL match with the normal HUD.

Thank you for posting all the stuff needed!

(I hope Riot sees this thread and changes the HUD, instead of letting players stop playing League of Legends)

clownmaeda7/23/2015, 1:36:36 PM7 votes

im not even playing league of legends anymore, with the new map and now the HUD. feels like im playing a different MOBA. pls rito fixitem 3070

KSRetrospect7/23/2015, 3:04:16 AM6 votes

The biggest issue i have with this HUD is the cooldown diamond w.e the hell it is, and my stats.

I don't even know what they are and i'll lose lane trying to figure it out mid game...

NOT TO MENTION THIS ANNOUNCER.. I HATE THIS ANNOUNCER. RIOT WHY? DON'T CHANGE WHAT ISN'T BROKEN. YOU'RE NOT MICROSOFT.

Zed Banter7/23/2015, 5:09:31 PM5 votes

If it ain't broke don't fix it. I have never heard a bad thing about the old HUD...there's many reasons for that.

Boomer Blitz7/23/2015, 3:41:58 AM5 votes

Agreed with everyone stated here it's terrible and everything feels too crammed.

Can we get an option to use the old HUD please?

O Fallen Scholar7/23/2015, 8:34:44 AM2 votes

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