•• Final Frontier •• Artwork log

[X-fact0r]

Hi folks,

With my current build at a very slow pace due to real life matters, parts arriving and additional planing, I began putting my artork ideas on paper (actually PS).
The main colours of the cab will be orange and black and as want to have a fluid theme going all around the cab.

Build thread here: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,129364

I started by the marquee which I thought would be the easiest part, how wrong I was...
After several attempts of themes, names for the project, scrapped concepts, etc. I settled with a space theme (after some inspiration on very good projects hosted here, namely EchoBase, The Spike, Pixel Assault, and the great Mission Control to name a few).

MARQUEE:

* First attempt to get a full product, the name was still not feeling right...


* Version 1 - Final name, first attempt
Ahhh the classic gridlines towards a city full of foes with big guns, lots of action...
Since the beginning I wanted to include a translated title in Japanese, besides looking cool it's a good tribute to those great software houses that developed most of the cool games we still play


* Version 2 - Added some firethingy in the background and changed jap title position.


* Version 3 - Fire removed, logo added (two F's with some wings)


* Version 4 - New logo


* Version 5 - Slanted the letters a little and changed the logo material.


* Version 6 - Moved the logo in between the words and the jap letters also.


* Version 7 - After all these changes I found something that I'm happy with.
Added some reflex to the city shapes, redone the gridlines to give them more perspective and settled with the positions of all the elements.



To be honest I'm not a great artist or PS power user  and I would love to have your honest criticism, comments and ideas.
I am currently working on the control panel and MaLa interface, I will post updates as soon as I have something worthy to show.

Thank you.

[Kyle W]

I think that you have got some pretty cool options here.  I think that the second final frontier feels like Tekken alittle.  I like that.  As far as marquess go I think that the deep space feels more "spacey".  I have included some links to take a look at so you can make some planets and stars for your marquee.  If you are going to use a lens flare in your marquee then I feel like it would be good to modify the stock one that comes straight out of PS.  You can do a hue saturation on it or a curves adjustment layer and change the look of it, or if you really decided that the planets are the way to go I could provide you with some different lens flares.  If you need your text 3d'd then you can try blender, its free and has a pretty nice renderer now. 

http://gallery.artofgregmartin.com/tuts_arts/making_a_planet.html

http://gallery.artofgregmartin.com/tuts_arts/making_a_star_field.html

[X-fact0r]

Thanks for your comments and for the resource links.
I'm not into planets at this point, the only thing I'm not happy is with that logo behind the title. I think it distracts a bit and not adding a great deal to the overall image...

[jabbathehut]

Out of curiosity, is the Deep Space/Final Frontier related to Star Trek by chance? Or is that just coincidence, if you are trying for a trek theme, or even just a space theme in general you may want to include a starship of some kind. Which I think would add to your overall theme. Of course, this is on the assumption I'm on the right track.

Your concepts look good so far though, definitely has that authentic 'arcade' feel. Keep up the good work.

[X-fact0r]

Based on Kyle's comments I have redone the 3D in photoshop, added a more realistic starfield and redone the colours and the logo.
I guess this is as final as it gets




@jabbathehut,
Humm.. not StarTrek related and yes a spaceship is planed somewhere in the theme, as a reference the name idea came from <here>
Atm I'm working on the control panel which is based on a spacecraft hud but it's still a little raw.

Thanks for you comments.

[Kyle W]

Very Cool!  Looks like a real arcade marquee. 

[Dekieon]

Interesting. I also thought it was Star Trek related when I heard the name.

Of all the choices, I like Version 7 the best.

[yotsuya]

I like version 4 myself.

[mgb]

I like version 2

[X-fact0r]

LoL you are giving me a hard time
I may try version 8 with the fire from v2 just to see how it looks.

Thanks for all your opinions!