At a loss for ideas on Joust project.......advice, tips, tricks, criticism

[mike boss]

I'm working on a Joust project for a customer.
It's a thin build cabinet, and I'm at a loss on how to lay everything out.
I'm also having a hard time deciding on colors for the background.

Any info, help, tips, etc all welcome.

I've included samples. (There are not the finished works, just messing around with ideas/concepts).

Thank you

[yotsuya]

Don't like it at all. Sorry, man, but Joust has an iconic look. And what's the deal with the marquee area?

[mike boss]

Any and all input is welcome. It's not everyone's taste.
The customer is happy with the illustration so I luckily don't have to redo that.


It's just finding a composition that works. A consistent theme and something that works in the background.

[yotsuya]

Why go blue green? Why not incorporate the brown rock and red fire elements from the actual game?

[mike boss]

Color was the request of the customer. It matches his tattoo

[vwalbridge]

I agree with Yots. Don't care for any of it. Joust is just too iconic for me. I see no reason to reinvent it.

So I guess my feedback would be: go in a completely different direction.

[mike boss]

I agree that Joust (not to me however) is indeed a classic.
The illustration above was created with reference material provided by the customer.
The colors pulled from this tattoo.

With that said, illustration aside, any ideas what could work with the design ? Something I could do to work with the slim build ?

[yotsuya]

Naw, I'm out.  Good luck.

[mike boss]

LOL! Thanks .....

[yotsuya]

I will just say instead of turning the title sideways, why don't you write it vertically?

J
O
U
S
T

[mike boss]

Actually at home I do have it saved as :
J
O
U
S
T

I've just been stumped with this and having a block.
Unsure how to proceed.

[Titchgamer]

My 2 cents putting asside the non traditional side of things is you simply have to much of 2 colours.

Blue knight on green bird on green/blue background.

Its never really going to stand out IMO.

Why the hell does he want it to match his tattoo!? Very odd request for a arcade machine tbh.

If you want some constructive criticism with those colours I would put your design stood on something (like the green grass) and then break up the background a bit, maybe a gradiant?
Also maybe add a enemy or 2 flying around?

I would avoid heavy lines and defo avoid the nauseating swirly thing you got going on in that one concept!!

[mike boss]

Appreciate is Titchgamer.

I was thinking grass myself, so I'll try that.

Bird on grass, spell out Joust going :

J
O
U
S
T

Any Williams logos ?
Idea for a gradient ?

[JDFan]

I will just say instead of turning the title sideways, why don't you write it vertically?

J
O
U
S
T

Or remove it completely and leave the name to the Marquee (like the original) Maybe a Williams Logo instead ! 

[mike boss]

What makes it difficult is the negative space.
But the top of the cabinet is soooo narrow, it's hard to get both the bird + knight in that area.

Arghhhh......... this is such a pair.

I'll mess around tonight.

Thanks all

[mike boss]

Revised a little.

[mike boss]

A gradient was added in this version.
I've since added a stroke to the bottom Williams logo (white stroke) , and a slight shadow on the grass.

[Titchgamer]

Thats getting better IMO.
Not sure about the gradiant colour but defo better.

Try shrinking your graphic down a little and moving it left so its a little more central.
Same with the JOUST logo.

I like the stroke on the grass it stands it out a little.

If you have a little space left over maybe add in a enemy?

[mike boss]

Going to make some more tweaks tonight.
Happy to report that the customer is happy with the revisions.

I can almost cross this off the list.

[mike boss]

Changes made.

[Titchgamer]

Yup top one looks pretty good.

[JDFan]

The top one looks pretty good - but maybe change it to cloud cover rather than camo - and maybe try adding one or 2 of the floating land masses with one of the teleport pads and perhaps one of the cracked eggs.

[GSXRMovistar]

I actually like the second one, looks cleaner. Personally I'd also lose the top Williams logo and move the Joust wording a little higher, doesn't fit with the rest of the design and you already have the longer logo bottom left.