Author Topic: Tell me honestly.... (Read 5624 times) Tweet Share

FrankT · « **on:** 13 Jun 2012, 16:44 »

Is this styled dashboard truly suitable for a game of my calibre? Especially considering it's loosely based on the one from The Wizard of Oz.

The dashboard pulls out to reveal most of the standard icons.

The shadow on the centre-right is a placemark for the inventory item. (Perhaps I ought to have retained the save/load icons....)

Anian · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Jun 2012, 19:08 »

What does "game of my calibre" mean?
Wizard of Oz is really a wiiiiiiiide area of media, stories and atmospheres, so you'll either have to provide some other examples or give a bit more detail.

But to me the icons at least don't look like they are from a WoO universe, not that they don't belong there, but if I just looked at them I wouldn't say "that's a Wizard of Oz game".

Babar · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 Jun 2012, 19:17 »

Aren't the icons simply Sam 'n Max ones that have been recoloured to look like (caucasian) human skin?

FrankT · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Jun 2012, 20:11 »

Quote from: Babar on 13 Jun 2012, 19:17

Aren't the icons simply Sam 'n Max ones that have been recoloured to look like (caucasian) human skin?

I redrew them.

I'm terribly sorry, I'm going to have to do them all again, aren't I?

Ghost · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Jun 2012, 21:18 »

They make good icons, easily readable and established, but they are really very close to the original S&M sprites. When I hear Wizard of Oz I think whimsical magical pun-laden stuff, maybe the icons can reflect that? (No idea how your interpretation of WoO will be).
For example, crystal ball instead of an eye, a leather pouch instead of the cardboard box... But I like the idea to pull down a set of icons- gives you more screen eastate.

FrankT · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Jun 2012, 22:00 »

Ah sorry, perhaps I haven't made myself quite clear: the dashboard shape derives somewhat from Jersey Jack's newest pinball machine dashboard. The game itself is an interpretation of Sam & Max. Ah... yes.

Anian · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 Jun 2012, 00:50 »

You should probably decide on the color palette and the actual look and style of the game (backgrounds, characters etc.), then it'll be eaiser to style the GUI.

Ghost · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Jun 2012, 00:58 »

Quote from: Anian on 14 Jun 2012, 00:50

You should probably decide on the color palette and the actual look and style of the game (backgrounds, characters etc.), then it'll be eaiser to style the GUI.

+1. Your screenshot combines a highly stylised background with a realistically rendered GUI frame and crisp cartoon icons. That's three styles, and the GUI frame is the odd man out- nothing wrong with the shape, but it would look better to draw all elements of the game in one style.

FrankT · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 Jun 2012, 09:38 »

That's true! I'd better get rid of the gradients, then. Maybe give it a different colour.

Frito Master · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 Jun 2012, 09:40 »

Yeah remove gradiant and you can shade it or solid color. Also you should AA the edges.

CaptainD · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 Jun 2012, 12:15 »

Given the game it's for, perhaps you should try to make it look like the hood of a Desoto?

FrankT · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 Jun 2012, 13:41 »

Quote from: CaptainD on 14 Jun 2012, 12:15

Given the game it's for, perhaps you should try to make it look like the hood of a Desoto?

Cracking idea! ...how?

Quote from: Frito Master on 14 Jun 2012, 09:40

Also you should AA the edges.

AGS allows that?

Frito Master · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 Jun 2012, 13:47 »

Not quite

http://gas13.ru/v3/tutorials/handmade_antialiasing.php

Your U.I. is cutout but round so aa will give it a nicer curved look.

CaptainD · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 Jun 2012, 13:55 »

Quote from: FrankT on 14 Jun 2012, 13:41

Quote from: CaptainD on 14 Jun 2012, 12:15
Given the game it's for, perhaps you should try to make it look like the hood of a Desoto?
Cracking idea! ...how?

Would using these as a reference help?

Monsieur OUXX · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 Jun 2012, 16:19 »

Quote from: Ghost on 13 Jun 2012, 21:18

S&M sprite

That sprite below looks very S&M to me :

FrankT · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 Jun 2012, 22:54 »

Quote from: Frito Master on 14 Jun 2012, 13:47

Not quite

http://gas13.ru/v3/tutorials/handmade_antialiasing.php

Your U.I. is cutout but round so aa will give it a nicer curved look.

But will AGS show anti-aliasing correctly?

Quote from: CaptainD on 14 Jun 2012, 13:55

Would using these as a reference help?

I think so! As a matter of fact... that might mean I can add a bit extra onto it....

Ghost · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 Jun 2012, 23:44 »

Quote from: Monsieur OUXX on 14 Jun 2012, 16:19

That sprite below looks very S&M to me :

Brr, Leprechaun. Thanks for rekindling childhood fears, sir!

Frank: AA filters are overrated when it comes to pixel art. If you want to use a blur filter you will need to use 32bit colour and an alpha channel, and alpha rendering on GUIs is buggy.
With a small palette, maybe four hues of blueish gray, you can soften edges enough to make them look convincingly smooth.

edit:
Super-crude mockup, based on your original frame shape:

FrankT · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 Jun 2012, 13:16 »

Good idea! If I can implement that somehow with my new design.....

FrankT · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Jun 2012, 18:37 »

Well I gave the whole icon bar an overhaul, but I dunno.... I mean it's not that much an improvement, is it?

CaptainD · « **Reply #19 on:** 18 Jun 2012, 18:45 »

Well personally I like it, it's an attractive and clear layout, you win in terms or aesthetics and functionality.

My only real concern is the choice of colours - I think the main icons don't look right / stand out enough. If you're going for a light grey background they need to be darker, stronger colours (to me).

Incidentally I love the savegame icon, very stylish!