Feedback on CP artwork.

[Bones]

Not quite finished but getting close. Still a few rough areas to touch-up, my initial thoughts are most of the labels are too small but I will do some prints and see how it looks.

All artwork done in Illustrator CS and I will submitting the file for print in .AI format to a local printer who is blowing all the whistles on how good they are.

Measurements are 1200mm x 550mm, or for you yanks about 48

[Bones]

Some close up's.

[Bones]

Trackball graphics.

[Bones]

Converting the pics lost a lot of detail. Hopefully clicking on the file will bring the pics up a little clearer.

* Notice alien ships are the Ducati logo's. Just had to sneak it in somewhere. 

[SnowsDream]

I think they rawk! man, tho' home come the outer 8ways only have 4 buttons apiece? I'm new to all this, so I am gussing there isn't any 4 player games that use more then 4 buttons? either way it looks spiffy, Only improvement i see is add some other details to blend in the pictures so it evens out the flow.

`jay

[Bones]

Another update.

[DrewKaree]

The black looks WAY nicer.  The trackball graphics at first seemed out of place, but after your close-up with 'splanation, much better.  Dunno how much of a pain in the ass this might be, but perhaps move the trackball graphic a touch to the right, round it off (instead of the rectangle) and perhaps try one of those "tore a hole in this, and look what's underneath" kind of things.  Did that make sense?

Also, is orange the color of your t-molding?  If not, I'd play around with some colors for that colored edge.  The orange looks....um.....something about it is saying "I'm not QUITE right".....mebbe try different shading for the orange, or different color altogether, or perhaps a gradient of red/orange/yellow ala flames on a car.

At first, I thought the rectangles surrounding the controls was screaming "I'M A NINTENTO GAMEPAD!", but I REALLY like the newer (read: sweeter) shape/coloring.

Excellent job for a one-handed bandit

[Bones]

Thanks Drew. Some good ideas with the torn hole idea in the CP, but it's beyond my Illustrator ability. 

I am planning on an orange cab, hence the orange CP border. T-molding will be boring black as that is all I could get locally (already purchased).

I spent 8 hours today and ended up deleting everything I had done. I think it's time to decide that this is going to be my final version ,or start completely from scratch again.

Although I enjoyed doing the graphics I really want to get started on construction and I want this done and printed before I begin.

[Lilwolf]

1) The art looks GREAT!

one comment in general.  But it seems like you might have troubles getting a good wack at the trackball without the  8ways  getting in the way.  You might want to buy some crap particle board and test your control panel out first.  4x8 sheets are super cheap (4 - 5 bucks or so) so you can throw it away when your done.

I don't see a specific solution for it other then possibly moving the 4 way over and center the trackball over p1 and p2. 

but this is also only a problem with some games (centipede and such dont' seem to both me since you don't swing as hard on them)

just before you spend a bunch of time on the art and find that you can't comfortably play your favorite games.

[Bones]

Thanks for the tip wolf.

In my office I have a full sized chunk of plywood cut to size. I haven't gone as far as screwing in joysticks and stuff but I have all the templates in place and feel the layout is OK with my "imaginary" testing where I always get high score.....

I was very conscious of the trackball position. I finally chose to put P1 4-way joystick exactly in the middle because many of my favourites are 4-way games and I wanted to be standing in the middle when playing these.

That's the logic behind the setup anyway....

I hope this is the right decision, I haven't used a trackball in 20 years and I hope I don't find myself addicted to TB games once the cab is built and then curse my TB position. If this happens I will consider building a dedicated TB CP.

[CPickler]

I really like the layout.  Do you mind if I borrow the layout?  I won't be doing it exactly, honestly, because I don't understand why the graphic next to trackball or if that is just for the heck of it.

How do you plan on doing all the detail in the image?  Are you going to get a place to print it out like for professional arcade games?  If that is the case where can you get those types of things done, and about what do they cost?

[Bones]

Hey if you like it go for it!

I am pretty "iffy" about the graphics myself. Still working hard on it and trying to make it all work together. I am trying out adding more space invaders dudes at the moment, trying to give the impression of "Under Attack!".

I found a local professional printer who will print it out. He does it on a sticky backed polypropylene which I am considering. Price was around $70.00 Australian so I suppose that's around $100 US.

As far as the detail goes, well I have more work to do but it won't get much more detailed than it is. I simply don't have the skill.

[darktemp]

I like this one a lot.  I must say the black looks much better.  If I could make a suggestion, you might want to move the big space monster a bit.  The placement of the 4-way joystick might be a little.. lets just say awkward, if you catch my drift

[DrewKaree]

The placement of the 4-way joystick might be a little.. lets just say awkward, if you catch my drift

HOLY CRAP!   

I totally missed that until you pointed it ou!  Wait a minute, what are you doing checking out space alien's packages?

[Sprucemoose]

LMAO

[Bones]

You know I had picked that up but thought only perverts and female space invaders would notice..... Hey perhaps I was right!!!

Anyway....

Still fooling around with the graphics. Going in circles at the moment. Here are my latest thoughts.

[Crazy Cooter]

Brick texture (to make it look like the invadies are breaking through a wall) and an outer bevel on the button/trackball surrounds.  Would need something around the "Launch Control" buttons...

[Bones]

Hey Cooter, I am loving those bevels!! I am gunna mess around with this idea for sure. The brick wall is beyond me though.

But... Late breaking news.

one comment in general. But it seems like you might have troubles getting a good whack at the trackball without the 8ways getting in the way. You might want to buy some crap particle board and test your control panel out first. 4x8 sheets are super cheap (4 - 5 bucks or so) so you can throw it away when your done.

Wolf, you were spot-on about the trackball.


Today I got my piece of scrap plywood which had all the templates sticky-taped onto it and I started drilling holes and installing some joysticks to properly test in 3 dimensions. The trackball position really sucked donkeys balls, you were so right.

[DrewKaree]

A LENS FLARE!  OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH 


And you went back to the joystick weenie!

[CPickler]

What program are you designing the CP in?

[DrewKaree]

All artwork done in Illustrator CS

[Bones]

A LENS FLARE!

[Grasshopper]

I really like the invaders and the lens flare, although I would perhaps make the flare a bit bigger as there is too much of the background that is plain black.

The main problem though is the mixture of different styles. In particular the missile command graphics look like they belong on a different panel. The 6 player positions should all be in the same style IMHO.

I'd also get rid of the blue background surrounding the main 4 player positions. I think a border around the player positions might possibly work but I'd use either a transparent, or a very subtle background colour. Take a look at ras2a's CPO to see what I mean.

[Bones]

Grasshopper, much of what you said has also been bothering me (except the "lens flare" size thingy).

Undergoing some major changes.
Stay tuned to this exciting program.

[CPickler]

I saw it at first as an energy ball, and not a lens flare.  Actually that's a lie....  I first saw it as a dimensenal passage the aliens were coming from.

I also am wierd I guess, cause I like the background around the individual controlers, but of course that's just me.

[tommy]

I like it, except for the blue outline of the main controles.

[Bones]

During the last week I have torn it appart and put back together over & over & over...

Have tried all the suggestions here but never got the result I was really hoping for. I think I have decided to run with most of what is on the following image. I still need to sort out a couple of labels and not entirely pleased with the trackball, but I think I am just about done.



 

[tommy]

Looks much better. 

[M3talhead]

.... and not entirely pleased with the trackball, but I think I am just about done.

I think what makes it look odd is the fact that everything else on the CP is smooth and fluid, but the trackball outline has hard angles.

[Bones]

.... and not entirely pleased with the trackball, but I think I am just about done.

I think what makes it look odd is the fact that everything else on the CP is smooth and fluid, but the trackball outline has hard angles.

Good point. I will work on this some more.

[Bones]

I am now at a point where I am probably as happy as I am going to get with the foreground graphics.

It still feels a little plain though. I don't want to overdo it but something is missing. Maybe a background starfield or something else subtle.....?

[Bones]

Added stars and space dust. Think I might be done.

[walls83]

Looks good I like that much better.  Great job

[CPickler]

Very nice

[Bones]

This artwork has now been printed.

I have officially announced my project so I will lock this thread and if you have any questions or comments about the artwork or printing, here is the place to post them

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,35285.0.html

Thanks to everyone who gave their time and feedback along the way.

[Bones]

Lock!