tiles by default

[buzzkill]

False dichotomy. The proper way to handle this and other similar problems is to guide the user through setting up the interface the first time they run the game. Let the user make an informed decision instead of making it for them and then forcing them to seek out the appropriate menu option(s) to change it back if they don't like your default.

This... why not this?

[fizzix]

This... why not this?

Because no one has coded it up. That's the entire reason, and it's the main reason lots of no-brainer ideas haven't been implemented.

[dos350]

not trolling...

tbh i think half the patch notes is trolling , sadly i am not correct

[SaSa]

Having just seen Shockbolt's tiles, I'd have them on by default, the first time
you run the game.

I'm thinking that having an eye-pleasing user interface is a big factor in getting new players to come back for a second time. We have tons of young adults (let alone younger people) these days who've never used any kind of a text shell, so the whole concept of having a game run in ASCII (a word they also wouldn't even know) could seem bizarre.

In general, I think Angband could be a lot more popular, given an eye-pleasing interface (although never mainstream of course, being as hard and unforgiving as it is).

Old players will know that they'll find ASCII in the menu.