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[Seasonal · human approval required] Arcade: better design & features #236

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opened 2026-09-25 13:03:46 -04:00 by jared · 0 comments
jared commented 2026-09-25 13:03:46 -04:00
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Arcade seasonal theme: better design and features

Human approval required. AI may research, design, prototype and implement changes for this theme, but it may not approve or close this issue. Only a human (Jared) closes it, after reviewing the rendered result. Work happens on a branch (seasonal/arcade) and reaches lotus only when a human merges it.

Active: Sep 12 (auto), or any time via Settings → General → Seasonal Theme
Code: src/app/components/seasonal/themes/Arcade.tsx + Arcade.css.ts; schedule in seasonSchedule.ts

What it does today

Retro synthwave CRT: neon perspective grid scrolling to a horizon sun, pixel sparkles, CRT scanlines, edge chromatic aberration and a glowing "INSERT COIN".

Baseline: what it actually looks like (rendered 2026-09-25, not inferred from the code)

Left to right: desktop mid-animation (5 s in), desktop with reduced motion, phone (Pixel 7). Light theme, a real room with messages.

Arcade baseline

What the render shows:

  • The perspective grid lines and scanlines run through all text — sidebar, members list, timeline and composer. It is the busiest theme and the worst for legibility.
  • On a phone the "INSERT COIN" text overlaps the composer/send area.
  • In light theme it looks washed out; the synthwave feel needs a dark base.
  • The seasonal floating button (bottom-right) overlaps the composer's send button on a phone.
  • Only the light theme was rendered for this baseline; dark (and the other colour themes) must be checked too.

Ideas to explore (not decisions)

  • Confine the grid/horizon to the bottom band or behind the timeline gutter; no lines through text.
  • Drop full-screen scanlines or limit them to the edges.
  • Consider forcing a dark palette while active, or a separate dark/light treatment.
  • Optional arcade touches: pixel font on the room title, a Konami-code easter egg.

Hard requirements for any design

  • Text stays readable: nothing opaque or high-contrast over message text, names, the composer, headers or controls. Check WCAG AA contrast of text over the effect.
  • Reduced motion: a static version that still looks good (reduced prop).
  • Performance: transform/opacity animation only; no measurable jank while scrolling or typing; nothing runs when the theme is off.
  • No pointer interference: the overlay never blocks clicks or taps.

Required process: render and look, don't trust the code

Every iteration must be rendered in a real browser and looked at before it's proposed. Code review alone is not enough.

  • Screenshots of: desktop and phone, light and dark theme, reduced motion, and 2–3 frames of the animation (or a short recording), in a room with real messages.
  • Before/after images posted on this issue for each iteration, with a short note on what changed and why.
  • Checked against the hard requirements above, on the rendered images.

Approval (human only)

  • A human has reviewed the rendered design and approves it.
  • A human has merged seasonal/arcade.
  • A human closes this issue.
## Arcade seasonal theme: better design and features > **Human approval required.** AI may research, design, prototype and implement changes for this theme, but it **may not approve or close this issue**. Only a human (Jared) closes it, after reviewing the rendered result. Work happens on a branch (`seasonal/arcade`) and reaches `lotus` only when a human merges it. **Active:** Sep 12 (auto), or any time via Settings → General → Seasonal Theme **Code:** `src/app/components/seasonal/themes/Arcade.tsx` + `Arcade.css.ts`; schedule in `seasonSchedule.ts` ### What it does today Retro synthwave CRT: neon perspective grid scrolling to a horizon sun, pixel sparkles, CRT scanlines, edge chromatic aberration and a glowing "INSERT COIN". ### Baseline: what it actually looks like (rendered 2026-09-25, not inferred from the code) Left to right: desktop mid-animation (5 s in), desktop with reduced motion, phone (Pixel 7). Light theme, a real room with messages. ![Arcade baseline](https://code.lotusguild.org/attachments/8e2d8e5f-5d53-48d7-bd49-381205543739) What the render shows: - The perspective grid lines and scanlines **run through all text** — sidebar, members list, timeline and composer. It is the busiest theme and the worst for legibility. - On a phone the "INSERT COIN" text overlaps the composer/send area. - In light theme it looks washed out; the synthwave feel needs a dark base. - The seasonal floating button (bottom-right) overlaps the composer's send button on a phone. - Only the **light** theme was rendered for this baseline; dark (and the other colour themes) must be checked too. ### Ideas to explore (not decisions) - Confine the grid/horizon to the bottom band or behind the timeline gutter; no lines through text. - Drop full-screen scanlines or limit them to the edges. - Consider forcing a dark palette while active, or a separate dark/light treatment. - Optional arcade touches: pixel font on the room title, a Konami-code easter egg. ### Hard requirements for any design - **Text stays readable**: nothing opaque or high-contrast over message text, names, the composer, headers or controls. Check WCAG AA contrast of text *over* the effect. - **Reduced motion**: a static version that still looks good (`reduced` prop). - **Performance**: transform/opacity animation only; no measurable jank while scrolling or typing; nothing runs when the theme is off. - **No pointer interference**: the overlay never blocks clicks or taps. ### Required process: render and look, don't trust the code Every iteration must be **rendered in a real browser and looked at** before it's proposed. Code review alone is not enough. - [ ] Screenshots of: desktop and phone, light and dark theme, reduced motion, and 2–3 frames of the animation (or a short recording), in a room with real messages. - [ ] Before/after images posted on this issue for each iteration, with a short note on what changed and why. - [ ] Checked against the hard requirements above, on the rendered images. ### Approval (human only) - [ ] A human has reviewed the rendered design and approves it. - [ ] A human has merged `seasonal/arcade`. - [ ] A human closes this issue.
arcade-baseline.png
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jared added the enhancementuxarea: appearanceneeds-human-review labels 2026-09-25 13:03:46 -04:00
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Reference: LotusGuild/cinny#236