Heh. I don't think I am communicating clearly enough. Sorry about that. Let me try one last time.
GUIs have evolved over the decades and have, for the most part, fallen into a pattern that tends to work in most cases, especially for more complex programs. Typically, a commonly used function can be discovered at least three ways - 1) via a menu, 2) via a button/icon on a toolbar, and 3) via a keyboard shortcut.
The fastest way to work in any program is via keyboard shortcuts. When I work in 3D or 2D, most of the time I will access a program's core functions via keyboard shortcuts. Therefore, I will hit "B" to change to a brush in Photoshop instead of moving my mouse cursor all the way over to the brush icon on the side toolbar. But keyboard shortcuts are not typically used by new users as they have to learn them and get used to them. So, that leaves finding functions via menus and, of course, the commonly used functions are often right there on a tool panel of some kind.
When it comes to LIGHTS in GameGuru MAX, they are not easily discoverable because they don't readily appear in ANY of these. Well, yes, there are in a panel of sorts, but hidden under Markers, which is hidden under Entities. This makes Lights not easily discoverable to the new user. Longtime GameGuru users should be able to figure it out since this is where lights have always been. But this is supposed to be an "easy game maker" and I am sure TGC wants more and more people to use the software. Therefore, I am suggesting that Lights be moved out of Entities>Markers and be discoverable via the three common ways of finding core functions (as outlined above). Therefore, there should be, in my opinion, the following:
- An icon on the top bar, along with the 19 others, for lights
- Lights discoverable via a menu (and, yes, that includes a right-click menu)
- A keyboard shortcut that allows the end-user to place a light
So, my main suggestion the first time around was really more about MOVING lights from the Marker panel to some place more discoverable, especially for new users. And, now, due to the discussion, it makes sense that lights follow the common GUI pattern I talked about above.
