Hm, which to use?

[JimmyD]

Got two possible ways of going for the main menu of the game I'm doing, "Blue Sun". The first is a much simpler, less cluttered one with a white backdrop and a logo...



And the second is a much more detailed one, with the protagonist silhouetted in front of a nebula - more cluttered, but much more detail.



While I think the first one (or something similar to it, with improvement) would better convey a sense of isolation and small-ness, the second one seems, to me, nicer and more "spacey". Which do you reckon would go with a sci-fi situation, and can you think of any ways to improve either?

Cheers!

[Minimi]

I would go with the second one and here is some advice to improvement:

just a quick edit:

[JimmyShelter]

The 2nd one is definitely more 'gamey'.

[Sparky]

The second one screams traditional videogame art. It's fun and over-the-top. Not knowing anything about your game I'm not sure if that's a feel you want or not.

Personally I'd prefer something in the vein of background 1. I don't really know enough about graphic design to help you with specifics, though.

[Oddysseus]

I prefer the second.  I think the lone figure gets across a feeling of isolation very well.  I don't get any emotional response from the first design.  It's very clean and 'indie' feeling, but the second one has all sorts of mystery, and looks more professional overall.

[Dualnames]

The second one definetely...

[OneDollar]

Depends completely on your game, how it will play, how it will feel and especially what the rest of the artwork looks like.

The main thing I notice about version 1 is the white, which just feels like you're missing a background. Maybe you could try adding some kind of shading, gradient or texture in there, keeping the simple look but with a bit more interest for the eye. Alternatively make the logo more complicated and interesting, for example look at Final Fantasy-type title screens.

The thing that sticks out on Version 2 is the large black area behind the menu options. Maybe I just have a thing for large blocks of colour, but it seems to make either itself, or the picture appear tacked on. I think it needs to be made part of the picture, either by making it into a pillar or something in the foreground, or getting rid of the black area and continuing the background behind the menu options (but keep the protagonist where (he?) is - the composition is pretty well balanced)

I have to say I'd pick the second one over the first - it seems more professional, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try developing the first version a bit more if it fits the game better. I hope I don't come across as too harsh, I actually really like both versions.