Arthur, I wouldlike to react about your blog comment (sorry about the length of the message):
Arthur (STK Blog) {l Wrote}:IMO, the current GUI is distracting. Constant funny messages that you probably won't have time to read, "woobly" rank display on the left (which really doesn't work too well - it doesn't focus on you, and if you fall below say 8th or 9th place you won't even see yourself there - especially bad in multiplayer), and a speedometer that's of no real use are for me the definition of bloat. Top that with a map that's too small to be of any good use, and you get the current race GUI.
MessagesAs you say, they are fun. You also say STK is not a rally game, I'd add nor a F1 game. This is a fun kart game and they do add something to the STK racing experience : thanks to them, you know when someone has been hit by someone else, which informs about the race, and contributes to maintain all race long the funny atmosphere. I wish sometimes that bubble-gums were "messaged" as well so I can know when the ones I've let on the tracks are efficients... Besides, even if one doesn't have the time to read them, I don't think they are so distracting since they stay discrete.
Rank displayArthur (STK Blog) {l Wrote}:The rank display is substituted for a much more usable map in minimal race GUI, where icons are large enough to show where other players are, and not just which position they are on. And you have your own rank as text anyway. Really, it's so much better as there's not as much duplication of info, and the map is actually useful now.
It is, I admit, a little wobbly in actual GUI. But there is not much needed for it to be almost perfect I think. Really fun, with cool icons and funny animations ! The fact you don't see yourself if your rank is too low does not upset me : this is part of the game. Winners are on the podium, losers not, and when I lose I don't really care about my rank

. If someone cares, it is shown anyway on the top left corner. From what I've seen of the minGUI's minimap rank display, it does not seem handy
at all. You have to concentrate to know who is better ranked than who, and with more than 5 players near each other it is such a mess I don't even want to look at it.
SpeedometerArthur (STK Blog) {l Wrote}:Speedometer is of no real use, I said. A bold statement. I also thought no speedometer would be a hindrance. But really, if you are at normal top speed, and want to use nitro effectively, you just use it in small bursts as before. No use for the visual confirmation that your speed is increasing. And if you are under normal top speed, you should notice anyway and use some nitro to obtain higher speed. STK is not a rally game where you must measure the speed and lower the speed for a sharp corner. With the current physics, you aim to get highest speed possible all the time, so you don't need to know how many tux feet per second you are making.
Sincerely, who wants to play a race game without a speedometer ?

And I do not agree with you concerning its usefulness : thanks to it I was able to know some gameplay subtleties : when nitro is useless, how does my speed reacts precisely to anchors, parachutes, nitro, speed boosts, ... without it, speed management would not be accurate, I think it is as needed as the nitro gauge !
Arthur (STK Blog) {l Wrote}:There's a chance minimal race GUI will be optional in 0.7.1, so hopefully more people will "see the light" after trying it (for more than half a track; it takes some time getting used to but afterwards you'll never look back).

All of this to argue the fact I don't think minGUI must be the default GUI. As an optional GUI, I don't see any problem (put aside the facts that the dev team could use their time to do something more useful).
IMHO, of course

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