An update on Vortex development

[Dark0ne]

It's time for a Vortex development update!

 

Since our last news post back in May we have setup a focus group of around 30 individuals who have been given access to an early build alpha of Vortex using a rudimentary design and UX flow. Tannin has been working with these users, taking on their feedback and patching up bugs that have been found over the past couple of months. At this stage, the core functionality is all done and now it's a matter of rounding off any rough edges and patching up any holes the focus group can find.

 

While Tannin has been working on the overall functionality of the application, our new UX/UI designer, Kit, who officially began her work at the beginning of October has been working on the overall look and feel. Kit's first task has been to work on the design of Vortex, drawing up wireframes and now mock-ups that eventually Tannin will implement into Vortex. The first of these mock-ups were offered to the focus group for consultation and feedback last week while Kit worked on the rest of the screens that Vortex needs.

 

I've been reliably informed that, today, Kit has run out of screens to mock up, so these final screens will be in the hands of the focus group by the end of today. We will give the focus group most of a week to provide their feedback on these mock ups. Following that, Kit will spend a few days implementing any necessary changes based on this feedback before they are handed over to Tannin as "final".

 

From there, Tannin will need to spend some time implementing the new design into the current build of Vortex, which is no small task. The focus group will be provided with these builds as and when they're ready for feedback. After that, it's all touching and shoring things up ready for an official public Alpha release.

 

Tentatively, we're aiming for a January release date for the open Alpha of Vortex. Naturally, that's subject to change as with all development cycles, but we're quietly confident that we will hit that deadline.

 

While I've juggled with the idea of providing you all with mock up screens of Vortex to tide you over until then, I think without you being able to actually experience the user flow and experience the software fully, a lot of the context will be lost, which will ultimately mean any feedback you could provide would be superficial (and potentially, negative, without any context to back it up). As such, I think it would be better for all of us if we waited until it was actually possible for you to use it. Then the feedback you provide will be far more useful, and relevant, to us.

 

Not long now!

[NummusVersari]

Thanks for the update. I agree that giving screenshots too early without being able to use the tool would likely be more detrimental than helpful. Look forward to the upcoming tool.

[FlyLeafx]

really ty guys for the hard work on Vortex can't wait to see it!!! and glad to see Kit working on it!

[Deleted42240165User]

Dark0ne, I figured it would be worth a little ask on the hopes of an answer. Are there any internal talks or plans to implement bashed patch creation into Vortex? For a lot of people, that's the only reason they ever install WryeBash anymore, so I was wondering if that feature would cross over since Vortex is intended to be one easy-to-use hub.

[oblivionss]

I respect Nexus mods staff to make programs for modder and general users.

Because you guys are there, I can get a lot of help with mod operation and sharing.

I hope to see good results in the future. Thank you very much.

[Kevin843]

Like I said before no REAL virtual data=no using Vortex, I dont want my data folder messed up and ability to reorder mods is what makes MO2 the best mod manager. I am disappointed it is highly anticipated it will not have a virtual data like MO2. Hopefully there will still be community builds of MO2 for future Bethesda games. No way I can go back to installing mods to data folder now. I wont even bother using it if it dosent have these "Essential" MO2 features. Edited November 3, 2017 by Kevin843

[Noomistletoe]

In response to post #54930308.

Kevin843 wrote: Like I said before no REAL virtual data=no using Vortex, I dont want my data folder messed up and ability to reorder mods is what makes MO2 the best mod manager. I am disappointed it is highly anticipated it will not have a virtual data like MO2. Hopefully there will still be community builds of MO2 for future Bethesda games. No way I can go back to installing mods to data folder now. I wont even bother using it if it dosent have these "Essential" MO2 features.

I agree, not using a virtual file system is a step-back from what could be a huge improvement to mod managers we've seen so far. I still have high hopes for Vortex and will probably use it either way.

[Pickysaurus]

Just curious, will it follow the same asthenic as the new site?

[Yggdrasil7557]

In response to post #54929913.

StukaXCII wrote: Dark0ne, I figured it would be worth a little ask on the hopes of an answer. Are there any internal talks or plans to implement bashed patch creation into Vortex? For a lot of people, that's the only reason they ever install WryeBash anymore, so I was wondering if that feature would cross over since Vortex is intended to be one easy-to-use hub.

Chances are that bashed patch will never be put into vortex, the bashed patch is being replaced by the smashed patch created with mator smash, this program will be a part of mator's zedit when the full release is out. from what I have seen, Zedit (the replacement for xedit aka tes5edit aka sseedit aka fo4edit) will also include merge plugins standalone and all other tools that mator has released.

[calscks]

is there any interoperability with existing installation information from NMM? or we'll need to start fresh on vortex? that's the only thing i'm concerned about... Edited November 3, 2017 by calscks