7 Awesome Ideas for TAB Features
The Overwolf TAB Challenge is still open for submissions, and the stakes are high! Winners of the challenge will not only earn a cash prize of up to $5,000 for first place, but also a flight and a 4-day acceleration workshop in our Headquarters in Tel Aviv.
In many PC games, players use special hotkeys to bring up informational UI and scoreboards during the match, usually by using the TAB key. When we think about Tab features, we want to create value that ‘rides along’ with the existing in-game scoreboard and makes it even more useful for players.
While we already have some very promising concepts being worked on, we’re always on the hunt for more quality widgets. Towards that end, we put together a selection of TAB concepts you can pick up and develop from the ground up or use as inspiration for your own features.
Note that these concepts are very rough sketches, not full app descriptions. You can use these as a reference but focus on finding the best value for your game’s Tab features.
1. Add a Ward Counter (MOBA)
When playing League of Legends or Dota 2, players usually open the scoreboard to get an idea of their relative performance in terms of CS, current items, K/D/A ratios and other key scoreboard stats.
Adding in a ward counter tracking vision performance compared to your previous matches makes it that much easier to monitor and improve one’s vision game.
2. Dynamic Item Builds (MOBA)
A major part of doing well in LoL or Dota is figuring out the right item build to bolster one’s advantages and counter the enemy’s strengths. A way to support it could be to display item build recommendations on the fly when gamers press TAB to watch their scoreboard.
This app will use available pro builds to suggest the next item you should get based on the items you already have and your chosen champion.
3. Recoil Pattern Reminder (Shooters)
When fighting for their lives in Counter Strike: Global Offensive or Rainbow Six, players have to master each available weapon to reach the top. Beyond understanding effective range, clip size and accuracy, each gun has their own recoil patterns.
By adding a visual indication of the currently equipped weapon’s spray patterns, we can improve learning curves for competitive players and help them aim better.
4. Live CS Meter (MOBA)
One of the most important metrics shown in LoL and Dota’s scoreboards is the number of minions killed by each player. However understanding one’s relative performance is even more useful — that way you know whether you’re ahead and can take or avoid risks accordingly.
A way to leverage that would be to add a live CS meter which compares the player’s performance to their previous matches with the same champion, as well as compared to the average performance for their rank and champion.
5. Individual Weapon Statistics (Shooters)
Understanding one’s strengths in First Person Shooters is not just about learning the map or practicing movement, but also seeing which weapons naturally mesh with each player’s style.
Using weapon statistics, players will be able to quickly learn which weapons are the best for them, figure out what they need to work on to improve, and get useful stats to compare with friends.
6. Ability Usage Tracker (MOBA)
The quest to improving in LoL or Dota is an endless one, and every bit of data can help debrief and understand how to take the next step in getting better.
Adding an ability usage tracker as a Tab feature can help players understand whether they overuse or underuse specific abilities. Comparing the current match’s usage to previous ones and to average performances in one’s skill group makes it easier to understand and improve one’s playing style.
7. Hit Distribution Body Map (Shooters)
A key aspect of First Person Shooters is positioning and cover — finding where you can safely shoot your enemies from without getting hurt yourself.
An app providing a map of where bullets hit you can help improve that skill. See plenty of bodyshots? Crouch behind cover more!
Ball’s in Your Court
These concepts are all rough sketches, not final app concepts, and they are yet undeveloped. You can pick concepts from this article and start working on an app that includes them as features right away, or if you have your own idea after seeing this post, we’d love to hear about it!
To join the TAB challenge, visit the challenge’s homepage
