Help Huggles present himself optimally on Gamejolt

[fernewelten]

Hi folks,

Huggles has moved to Gamejolt, and he's looking for feedback on how he's doing in presenting himself.

Here's his capsule:


Here's his page (click the pic):


What do you think?
What can he do to show himself in the right light?
(And yes: He's already planning on joining the AGS Database shortly.  )

[Babar]

Your thread reminded me of a similar thread from a while back I shared a link in, and then I realised that was from you! You've been struggling with this one for a while, haven't you?

Echoing the advice from the video I shared in that thread, I'd recommend making something specialised specifically for that banner header image. Right now it looks like you took the sprite for Huggles, a caravan and clothesline from the game, and put the title text in the middle. I'd suggest something more...full? Like a whole, contiguous image made for that purpose, even if it doesn't exactly echo or match the art style of the game (as long as you feel it evokes the same FEELING you're trying to communicate).

[fernewelten]

Hi Babar,

You've been struggling with this one for a while, haven't you?

Oh yes, I keep at polishing all my creations! 

Your thread reminded me of a similar thread from a while back I shared a link in …

Hm. The one thread in Critics' Lounge that I'm aware of was the one where I asked for critique of Huggle's Completed Games phase. You weren't in that thread AFAIK.

What thread specifically are you referring to?

The reason that I return to this right now is that next Easter is coming up and so I've extended and polished the game. And then I decided that the next step would be to move it from my private repository to an indie games site. So I'm interested in having a good page there.

making something specialised specifically for that banner header image.

Thanks for the idea!

[Babar]

I am talking about this thread

[Rik_Vargard]

I would also watch out for the title, I can see the letters have been cut tu because of the shadow, see? is it a particular font?
And since he's on a trip, use an image where he's walking?

[fernewelten]

I am talking about this thread

By the bye, your pointer was very interesting and helpful. I went down that specific rabbit hole. I watched the talk, then found out that the author had several free blog articles about the same subject: game pages and capsules with a focus on Steam. So I read all those articles, too. In the end, I used these insights and transferred as much as possible of that to the Gamejolt universe when I polished the presentation for "Thinker".

So, thanks a lot for pointing out this video to me.

[fernewelten]

Echoing the advice from the video I shared in that thread, I'd recommend making something specialised specifically for that banner header image. Right now it looks like you took the sprite for Huggles, a caravan and clothesline from the game, and put the title text in the middle. I'd suggest something more...full? Like a whole, contiguous image made for that purpose

And since he's on a trip, use an image where he's walking?

Good ideas, seeing that the Mooring room features a road that Huggles trudges along. Come to think of it, the header doesn't need to feature the game title at all because GameJolt helpfully adds it to the top of the page.

So, rearranging things a bit to accomodate for the very wide format (4:1), I arrive at:



Better?

[fernewelten]

I would also watch out for the title, I can see the letters have been cut tu because of the shadow, see?

I'm not really sure I understand what you mean? Do you mean the capsule or the header?

is it a particular font?

I haven't really given much thought to the font yet. I simply used the one that I use in-game, namely Nova Oval . Except that I hated “H“ of Huggles, so I typeset that in Nova Round instead.

Looking at a lot of other art, I realize that people like to "hand draw" and layout their titles calligraphically so that they become a logo. I haven't really got that skill yet, so for the first attempt, I let caution prevail and did it simply.

[Rik_Vargard]

I don't know if it's still relevant but I was talking about this (the shadows being cut off)

[Matti]

Better?

Yes, the new image is definitely an improvement!

[lorenzo]

My main issue with the thumbnail is that it's a bit boring, at the moment. And, as Babar says, it feels more like some objects from the game pasted on an image, rather than something created specifically for the thumbnail.

If the theme of the game is the trip, the thumbnail should communicate it at first look, showing the fun of the travel, the places the character visits, etc. -- I haven't played the game, so my comments regarding its plot may be a bit generic or plain wrong .

I also wouldn't have guessed that the game is about Easter if it weren't for the sign at the bottom (I mistook the eggs for a flower at first). Personally, I would just remove the "Easter point & click" writing at the bottom, as I'm sure most people won't even read it. I think most people just give a few seconds to look at a thumbnail, so it must be eye-catching. Instead of the text, I would put something Easter-themed in the image itself.

To better show what I mean, I made this quick sketch:



I've tried to give the idea of a fun trip, added plenty of Easter eggs (that for some obscure reason they carry in a wheelbarrow attached to the caravan ) to make the theme stronger.

[Rik_Vargard]

I've tried to give the idea of a fun trip, added plenty of Easter eggs (that for some obscure reason they carry in a wheelbarrow attached to the caravan ) to make the theme stronger.

This. !

[Xenonymous]

My main issue with the thumbnail is that it's a bit boring, at the moment. And, as Babar says, it feels more like some objects from the game pasted on an image, rather than something created specifically for the thumbnail.

If the theme of the game is the trip, the thumbnail should communicate it at first look, showing the fun of the travel, the places the character visits, etc. -- I haven't played the game, so my comments regarding its plot may be a bit generic or plain wrong .

I also wouldn't have guessed that the game is about Easter if it weren't for the sign at the bottom (I mistook the eggs for a flower at first). Personally, I would just remove the "Easter point & click" writing at the bottom, as I'm sure most people won't even read it. I think most people just give a few seconds to look at a thumbnail, so it must be eye-catching. Instead of the text, I would put something Easter-themed in the image itself.

To better show what I mean, I made this quick sketch:



I've tried to give the idea of a fun trip, added plenty of Easter eggs (that for some obscure reason they carry in a wheelbarrow attached to the caravan ) to make the theme stronger.

Amazing quick sketch work dude.
I'm impressed.