Feedback for Riot and players on new Riot Client/Launcher
I have been given the "privilege" of having the new launcher client that's currently on PBE on my live game. Support told me some players on some servers have the new client as a test I guess. Some people have it and some don't. If you don't know what it is, it's the new while client that looks like this. I've contacted support twice about it and have on both occasions been referred to the boards, as apparently Rioters will read this. I will give some brief feedback, there is a feature in the conclusion that I believe should be added.
Design:
-
Design looks alright even though it is completely unrelated to League of Legends and I'm totally over flat design (so yesterday). I'm not too sure why the design is so different from even the LoL client, but I guess Riot is preparing for other games (and LoL's entire art direction has pretty much been departing from its original theme anyway).
-
The design makes use of huge artworks, big color blocks and massive font for this huge "PLAY >" button. Kind of overloaded and cheesy - seems to just be following the mainstream design trends for popular kids games that are all hype-y, like a big sugar rush. I personally wish Riot would revisit a style reminiscent of the classic fantasy RPG vibes they had going on around season 2-4 with the rich blues and magical vibe, but that's just my opinion. That being said it's not ugly or anything, just nothing special. It seems very cold and a bit uncomfortable, just like the current LoL client - I kinda just want to get out of there ASAP.
Function
-
From a functionality standpoint it works fine. You open it, login, then press play to launch League of Legends. I think it will update your game and you might be able to chat with friends in the future. I guess you'd be able to launch any future Riot games from there.
-
From a LoL player's perspective, I think it's a bit unnecessary just to play LoL:
It takes me twice the number of actions just to get into the client: Normally you'd click the desktop shortcut for LoL, wait for it to launch and then sign in. But with this new client, you click the shortcut, wait for the Riot Client to launch, sign in, press launch LoL, wait for LoL to launch and then sign in AGAIN. It effectively takes twice as long to login, with two sign-ins to the same account. There is an option to remember your login, which auto logs you in to both the Riot Client and LoL, but it's definitely a hassle for shared PC users and those that don't like having their accounts auto login. I mean, when you click the shortcut for a Steam game it doesn't take you to your library, it just launches the game, right? I don't know why I now have to sign in twice to the same account when I'm launching LoL from it's desktop shortcut. Even when LoL used to have the old patcher kernel it was still quicker to get into the game, because you didn't have to sign in to launch the game.
Conclusion
-
Works fine.
-
Looks okay, I guess it would appeal to the masses of youths, but nothing special and not very comfortable - I don't feel like I could spend a long time using it.
-
I'm not saying it should be scrapped or anything, it obviously will serve a purpose, however I really feel like there should be an option added to bypass it, or to auto launch LoL game. OR, it should be an optional download. Frankly it just a waste of time for people who are just going to be playing LoL, especially when you're not keeping your account remembered. Logging in twice and having to launch a program just to launch the LoL program is just unnecessary.
-
Another option would be not having a login be necessary to launch games, and then having the login as an option to access settings or friends lists for all the games or what not through the Riot Client before launching a particular game.
I had it installed, but right now I deleted the files for it and I'm just closing the Riot Client's installer when it comes up and then clicking on the LoL shortcut again, which on the second press will launch straight to the LoL client as usual. Even this process is faster than than going through the Riot Client.
So all in all it's alright but for me (and I'm sure most LoL player's uses) just seems like a speed bump on a highway to get into the game.
Posting this because Riot Support reps directed me to posting my feedback here. I hope a Rioter will read it, it would be nice to get a response from one.
