First CP Overlay - Please Comment

[mikej]

This is my first attempt at a CP Overlay.  I would like to eventually build a full cabinet, but since space and budget are big issues, I'm settling for a desktop controller for now.  To save space, I'm going for a 1 player (15" x 11").  I mostly like the classics (pacman, donkey kong, etc.) so I'm going with a dedicated 4-way controller (ms pacman/galaga from Happs) with only 3 buttons.  The crosses, of course, mark where the buttons and joystick will be.  It's a pretty simple graphic, but I'm not an artist so I didn't want to get too fancy and have it come out bad.  Please let me know what you think.

Some specific questions I have are:

How is my button spacing?
Do I have too much room below the buttons/joy?  I wanted to leave enough for a wrist rest.
How's the font size?
Are the arrows too big?
What might I add to the open spaces to jazz it up a little

I realize some of these are personal preference, but I would like some input from those that have done this before.

Thanks,
Mike

[mikej]

I changed things a little bit, but I'm still looking for comments.

Changed font on button labels
Moved all buttons up and trimmed an inch off the bottom
Changed joystick arrows to match font
Added border to jazz things up

Thanks,
Mike

[Silverwind]

I like the border and the font...

what font is it?

[kspiff]

It's a simple design.. could use some jazzing up (maybe some gothic or demonic game art to match the goth font and border, like Ghosts 'n Goblins), but you already said you don't want to.. maybe -- since you seem set on labeling the buttons -- put a thinner but matching border around the buttons (and labels, on the function keys).. move the design down a bit within the borders.. and ditch the labels on the player buttons (makes me think of an Ozzy Osbourne album cover ).. maybe even ditch the 1/2 Up labels if your buttons have markings for this..

Other than that, the font and borders go well with the plain, dark background.. but I dunno.. it looks more like a stick for playing Mortal Kombat than Pac-Man..

EDIT: BTW, after reading this it seems like a sort of hash assessment.. I mean if you like it, -- obviously -- just ignore me..

[jets]

I like it but why do you have a 2P button on a 1P controller?

[Lilwolf]

I was about to ask that...

but I guess you have 2 player games that each use one controller..

[Silverwind]

I was about to ask that...

but I guess you have 2 player games that each use one controller..

Such as pac man, where you can play two players but it's ala hot seat where they switch inbetween deaths/rounds/etc

[jets]

*smack*

[Silverwind]

*smack*

doh bart

@B^)    <--- hey look it's the king, elivs!

[CitznFish]

looks cool. reminds me of my leg...

[brandon]

I dig it.  I'm actually more into the simplistic look and minimalism* (is that a word?)  not that putting artwork from games and comics isnt cool because I've seen some really awesome ones.  Then again I've seen some really tacky ones that were just too busy...  I think your design is fine, especially if its only gonna be a stand alone control and not an entire cab.  The only suggestion I have is if you could make the background some type of vortex/ whirlpool effect with the center being dark like a never ending blackhole type thing.. but I dunno.. it looks fine the way it is..

[kspiff]

I had that thought, too.. some kind of extra between the background layer and the bordering layer of some kind of aurora or vortex/black hole effect..

[mikej]

I like the border and the font...

what font is it?

The border and 3 button icons were created using a font I found at http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/4948/

The font for the other button labels and the arrows comes from http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/285916

[mikej]

...
it looks more like a stick for playing Mortal Kombat than Pac-Man..

I agree.  Check out my first idea (I actually got the idea from one of the samples on this site at http://www.geocities.com/jarr_d/cpos.htm)

I really like this idea, but putting it all together was beyond my photoshop abilities and patience    I was going to use the maze for the background and maybe put a pacman moving left, right, up, down around the joysticks and use ghosts around each button (with the button being in the center of the ghost.  I think it would be really cool, but pretty time consuming.

I'm a fan of Lord of the Rings, so I was kind of going for that feel with the black and red overlay.  I would have chosen different colors, but my use of the ms. pacman joystick dictates that I must use a color that ties in with red.  I wanted to use a purple/gray/black color scheme, but I thought the red joystick ball would look too out of place.

I tried the vortex look, but I didn't think it looked right, I used the spherize and twirl filters in PS to get the look (not sure that is the best way to do it).  I finally decided on a slight twirl (that's what you see in the image I posted above).  I also moved everything within the borders down slightly for better balance.

Thanks to everyone for the comments.

[Brax]

I changed things a little bit, but I'm still looking for comments.

Changed font on button labels
Moved all buttons up and trimmed an inch off the bottom
Changed joystick arrows to match font
Added border to jazz things up

Thanks,
Mike

It's very cool. Less is more. Seems to be well thought out and personal to you. Good job. I think if I saw one more panel with every fighting character that exists crammed on it I was going to be sick!   hehe