Okay, I've downloaded the new Voyager Blue GUI (v 3.0), and I feel like someone has to give a review. Since all three of the main GUIs are about the same, I have decided that, rather than three separate reviews, one on each page, I will post a single review here.
My review will touch upon three points: Aesthetics (how it looks and "feels"), Usability (How easy it is to use), and Canonicity (How it fits in with accepted Cannon).
Aesthetics:
The design of this iteration of the LCARS GUI looks good. The overall design tends towards simple shapes, making it one of the more modest of the designs out there. There are no real problems with the UI that I can think of that directly connect with the looks of it, and have no connection to the other two categories.
Out of three points in this category, I shall give it 3/3.
Usability:
The overall information structure is highly usable to a point. The sad thing is, esp. with the Voyager Blue GUI, is that the "Darker" texture used to show your selection is somtimes hard to notice if you're not looking for it. This could be rectified by changing the selection hue. Also, the sidebar doesn't allow you to scroll down to see all of the text in the shop or the "Show Block Information" Panel, but this is a problem I have with the StarMade interface itself. Overall, it's highly usable and I wouldn't mind recommending the Starfleet LCARS system to any user.
Again, I give this category 3/3.
Canonicity:
This is where I have to give some tough love to you. I'm sorry but the GUI still has some issues where it relates to the Canonicity aspects. I know that at least one other person (Shout out to
NeonSturm) has posted pictures on this, and I will refer to his pictures as part of my review.
First off, canonically the LCARS system does not use rounded selection tabs except for when they are arranged vertically in a free-standing position (Meaning not connected to other system interfaces, as seen in the second picture posted by
NeonSturm). It seems that this has been done so that you can have those separated bars from the last GUI update, which was kinda just...ridiculous...from a usability standpoint, esp. since they were technically in the wrong location (the bars separate entry selections, as seen in both pictures). Furthermore, the GUI shows little other connections to the LCARS interface, namely lacking the curving bars on the sides that the LCARS system is famous for having. Granted, this is only a StarMade GUI, but it would be interesting if the sidebars could be used as Power Bar indicators or at least link some sections of the interface together. Overall, not very canon, and as such it lacks in this area.
I have to give you some hard luck, and I'm forced to give you 1/3.
Final thoughts/Final score:
While I love this GUI practically to death, the Interface is sort of non-canon and that irks me. Granted, it's not enough to cause me to stop using it, but it's something that could be fixed with a little planning and a small amount of extra work.
Because of this, I'm giving you an extra point for putting up a valiant effort, for being kind, and for working so damn hard on this GUI. 1/1
This makes the total overall score 8/10 total. Granted, this GUI has it's flaws, but overall it's usable and looks a lot cooler than the standard StarMade UI, and I can still heartily recommend any one of these three to someone else to use.
This concludes my review.