First.
Players are complaining about the cumbersome nature of eating food. That is because they need to use the Inventory Screen to do it. The Inventory Bar is hard to get used to. I have the use of many hardware enhancements, so I have written macros for EAT FOOD, DRINK WATER, and USE BANDAGE. They are simply "PRESS <inventory slot>, WAIT 2 secs, PRESS F (Perform Primary Function from ACTION LIST (scroll wheel menu)).
This means that all I have to do is have my beans open and in the slot. Then I press one button and eat. I can still see everything, look around and be aware of my environment. This is what the people want. Then they can eat and drink peacefully.
I have done the same thing with BANDAGES so that when I am bleeding, I press one button and I am fixing myself.
I strongly believe that there should be default "PERFORM ACTION" slots on the Inventory Bar so that this happens always, for everyone in those slots. Perhaps they remain open so that people can use them for whatever they like, but I have considered this carefully. I believe that there should be DESIGNATED "FOOD" and "WATER" slots. I also believe in a "BANDAGE/RAG" slot.
Second.
This brings up the fact that there are so many different food and drink items in the world. There is also the two different First Aid items. How to decide what to put there. Possible solutions:
- Leave it as is. Player has to select what item goes there at all times. Once it is empty (no more beans in inventory) then the slot is empty and must be re-set.
- Have the game automate what goes in that slot. The game could do this one of two ways. Either use up the smallest (lowest yeild) items first, or use the largest (highest yeild) items first.
For example, Bandages. The rags and the bandages do the same job, but the rags are the worst of the two selections. The computer will either select the RAGS or the BANDAGES from inventory first, depending on the default (low or high yeild auto-preference). In terms of DRINK selection, it would default either to SODA for Low Yield DRINK or CANTEEN for High Yield DRINK. Food is more complicated, as each item yields a different amount of water and food. This will likely cause this option to be null.
- Allow the player to create a priority list to use the slot. This would likely be the most functional, but require the most coding, forethought, and testing. It may even result in a new thought completely, regarding use of the inventory bar.