User interface

[G-Force]

In two of the recently posted screenshots we see a piece of the interface controls. But what is what?

http://users.pandora.be/gforce2/cotn/controls2.jpg

As far as I can guess:
1) ??
2) ??
3) Opens contruction menu for housing
4) Opens contruction menu for buildings for housing
5) Opens contruction menu for monuments
6) Tilt camera
7) Redirect camera
8) ??
9) ??
10) ??
11) ??
12) Level of employement
13) Equipment available ( stones and ??? )
14) ??
15) ??
16) ??
17) Mini map
18) Button for showing of hiding interface

So, who can fill in the questionmarks???

I apologize if some of the numbers arn't that clear. It goes something from the top to the center, then all the way right, down, then from left to right the bottum row and then the mini map

G-Force

[Lannes]

Well, you may be righ that the black areas compose a construction menu. If so, then for 1 and 2 I suggest infrastructure:

1: road
2: plaza/intersection ?

If you can build stuff, you may be able to tear stuff down. I think this is the most likely meaning of

6: demolition

Then there may be the function

7: clear ground

9: pause/continue

Now to the minimap. As I said before, the position direction and tilt of the camera are depicted on the map using the quadrangle (blue in this one). I'm not sure these are controlls though. If they are shown here, they should come form a set of 3. However on of the articles mentions a strategic mode. Could it be that

8: city building mode

10: strategic mode?

Otherwise they may merely be overlays with the 8 showing terrain features and 10 showing some administrative features.

As for the panel on the right, I won't even begin to guess.........

Lannes

[Nefermenu]

No. 18 probably toggles the minimap and 8, 9 and 10.

Nos. 6 and 7 probably have something to do with building things, and demolishing them. Or undo?

No. 12... maybe how many people vs. housing? If they are just the same, you must build more houses before you can add people?

[EmperorJay]

First of all, if we can't guess it, the button might as well be changed right away it has to be intuitive right? OTOH, maybe we need to play the game first to understand it better. :-)

My guesses:
1 - Infrastructure
2 - What used to be the shovel
3 - Small buildings or housing
4 - Large buildings or buildings in general (if 3 is housing)
5 - Monuments
6 - Camera
7 - Redirect camera
8 - Something with day and night? Walk through city?
9 - Other kind of mini-map (showing other things)
10 - Empire map
11 - Happiness of the people (or level of satisfaction)
12 - Something with population or workforce
13 - Treasury or Monument supplies
14 - No day and night
15 - Walk through city
16 - Religion
17 - Minimap
18 - Decoration :)

Just guessed of course, don't pin me down on it :)

[Nefermenu]

No. 18... well I was thinking that since many screenshots show the same beetle, but sort of closed, maybe it has been opened here. You can hide it and just look at your city and enjoy the view, but when you want to continue "playing", you can open the user interface. Just guessing ;)

And if we don't get these right now, it doesn't mean there's something wrong with the design. The buttons probably make a lot of sense once we start playing. Maybe they are easy to remember then (what button does what).

[Lannes]

9 - Other kind of mini-map (showing other things)
18 - Decoration

I'm pretty convinced 9 is a pause/resume button. In this screen it's red showing a sitting bird with a ">" symbol, which is used for play/resume in many media players. In screen 9, it's green and shows a flying bird with a "||" symbol commonly used for "pause"

I also am quite sure 18 is a maximize/minimize toggle for the control panel.

Lannes

[G-Force]

We could use a develloppers answer :)

I'm sure it'll become clear when we get the game. If there was a screen shot of the minimized interface of Pharaoh, we'd be guessing too if we hadn't played the game.

G-Force