I recently found the option to turn off the hud in quake 4 and prefer to play the game this way. So my question to all of you out there is do you play your fps' with a hud or not?
Poll: Huds or no Huds
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Well I play CoD4 MP in harcore a lot and I like the lack of the hud in that.
I'm not sure about other games though.
I'm not sure about other games though.
Alternatively, I play CoD4 MP too and love the HUD. So helpful for picking people off at distance, without a scope 
I can't get by with no HUD for the games I play, though like a minimal HUD. The Halo 3 HUD is the minimum information I need in order to play effectively, and because it's scattered to the four corners of my TV as well as being transparent, it doesn't impede me in any way to have it there.
I was watching someone play Call of Duty 4 recently and it struck me just how pretty that game was in Hardcore mode, Search and Destroy, when devoid of a HUD.
Granted, the game has top notch visuals as it is, but when there isn't a map, a directional indicator and various equipment, weapon displays and a crosshair, the game seems almost like something else altogether, almost cinematic. The only information displayed are the things of utmost importance being either the bombsites you must guard (or diffuse if it comes to that) or the location of the bomb and bombsites you must attack (or guard after being planted).
Everything else is moot, and I think that helps bring the game into focus. Those are your priorities.
I play on Hardcore mode exclusively, but this is something that didn't really strike me, I guess because as the one playing it my attention was always elsewhere (like not getting shot). Not having a HUD makes you pay much more attention to your surroundings, since it isn't obvious where your allies are, how many rounds you have left in your weapon, how many (if any) grenades you have. You have to keep track of all of that, and that makes the experience more engrossing, at least to me.
On the other hand, in a game like Crysis, I don't mind (and really need) the HUD. I need to keep track of my suit's energy and my health to know what mode to keep the suit in, when to change modes (health is low, switch suit from strength to armor, that kind of thing) and what condition my vehicles are in. The Battlefield series I have a similar need.
I actually used to play Desert Combat with my map always up and maximized, with transparency set to around 80% so when flying the entire map was overlayed on my screen so I could both fly and watch for points of interest. Knowing immediately what flag is in jeopardy, knowing where players spotted enemies, and looking at where a teammate disappears from the map and watching the kill announcements in the corner to determine what was there and if I could combat it. This is the polar opposite of how I play Call of Duty. So I guess it just depends on the game.
Granted, the game has top notch visuals as it is, but when there isn't a map, a directional indicator and various equipment, weapon displays and a crosshair, the game seems almost like something else altogether, almost cinematic. The only information displayed are the things of utmost importance being either the bombsites you must guard (or diffuse if it comes to that) or the location of the bomb and bombsites you must attack (or guard after being planted).
Everything else is moot, and I think that helps bring the game into focus. Those are your priorities.
I play on Hardcore mode exclusively, but this is something that didn't really strike me, I guess because as the one playing it my attention was always elsewhere (like not getting shot). Not having a HUD makes you pay much more attention to your surroundings, since it isn't obvious where your allies are, how many rounds you have left in your weapon, how many (if any) grenades you have. You have to keep track of all of that, and that makes the experience more engrossing, at least to me.
On the other hand, in a game like Crysis, I don't mind (and really need) the HUD. I need to keep track of my suit's energy and my health to know what mode to keep the suit in, when to change modes (health is low, switch suit from strength to armor, that kind of thing) and what condition my vehicles are in. The Battlefield series I have a similar need.
I actually used to play Desert Combat with my map always up and maximized, with transparency set to around 80% so when flying the entire map was overlayed on my screen so I could both fly and watch for points of interest. Knowing immediately what flag is in jeopardy, knowing where players spotted enemies, and looking at where a teammate disappears from the map and watching the kill announcements in the corner to determine what was there and if I could combat it. This is the polar opposite of how I play Call of Duty. So I guess it just depends on the game.
I tend to turn off the HUD in AC all together and find it quite the cinematic experience.
And Jeffers, I too played the King Kong game despite how ridiculous the title sounds. (Peter Jacksons King Kong: The Offical Game Of The Movie) I found the lack of HUD there somewhat fun, kinda exciting. But who gave a rats crap about it when you had to concentrate so hard to see something in that dark, dark world. That lightning was awful. Just awful.
And Jeffers, I too played the King Kong game despite how ridiculous the title sounds. (Peter Jacksons King Kong: The Offical Game Of The Movie) I found the lack of HUD there somewhat fun, kinda exciting. But who gave a rats crap about it when you had to concentrate so hard to see something in that dark, dark world. That lightning was awful. Just awful.
This might sound wierd but I think my aim in fps' actually gets better if I just turn off te crosshairs....At least it seems to in HL2.
I think in same screen multi-player games, it reduces screen looking.
Some games though shouldn't have it, due to the lack of surprise when you find yourself face to face with a zombie after turning around at the end of a dark corridor. I haven't played Doom 3 yet, but I hope it doesn't have an HUD.
Some games though shouldn't have it, due to the lack of surprise when you find yourself face to face with a zombie after turning around at the end of a dark corridor. I haven't played Doom 3 yet, but I hope it doesn't have an HUD.
I like when they make an effort to explain your HUD in game, like in halo or Ghost Recon. If I cant figure out a logical reason for why I'm being shown bullet by bullet how much ammo I'm getting rid of, it will bug me. Not to the extent that game is ruined, not even close, but I will mention it if I'm nitpicking.
I agree that the Halo 3 HUD is really effective and efficient. It only shows what you need to know. My favorite feature is that they took out the space where it shows what your secondary weapon is, all that was, was useless information taking up space. I personally appreciate the HUD on all games especially Republic Commando, though most games could do with a few less pieces and to make them more transparent.Kermi said:
i need some hud, but i like the minimalist approach. i need a map, it can in the start menu but better if it isnt. but i do like to see my ammo. nothing sucks more then going into a firefight and finding out you have to reload or even worse you are out of ammo and run back to base to get some more
I like to have my HUD, its much easier to keep track of the situation with.
Although on shooters with regenerating health its less important.
Although on shooters with regenerating health its less important.