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Author Topic: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]  (Read 3608 times)

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javeryh

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I posted this in the main forum but I think that's the wrong place for something like this so here goes:

OK, I'm really actually truly coming into the home stretch with respect to my cabinet and I need some help with my Mala layout and tying it all together.  If someone agrees to help and I like the design you come up with I'll gladly send some money via PayPal ($20? - whatever is fair).  The initial layout designed by superbigjay (HUGE thanks!!!) is attached for people to tinker with and here's a pic of how it looks at the moment:



Here are the things I want to change/refine:

1.  Font Choice: I want to change the font from "Arial" to something that blends in with the theme a little more.  I think I like "Boingo" (http://www.dafont.com/font.php?file=boingo).  I wanted to use the same font that was used for my marquee ("Blackcurrant" http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/device/blackcurrant/black-alternates/) just for consistency but I don't think it's free to download...  plus, I kind of like the look of "Boingo".
 
2.  Font Layout:  Right now the way things are set up some of the lettering gets chopped off at the top and bottom of each game name (like "j" and "g" get the part that hangs down cut off).  I'm not sure what's wrong here but is there is a way to increase the field for each game name or something?
 
3.  Background:  I want to add some of the colored flowers from the marquee to the pink background - you can make them subtle/transparent or whatever looks nice but doesn't draw your eye right towards them.  Just place a few of them randomly with different colored centers and different sizes (exactly like my marquee). Alternatively, maybe you could make the "Bella's Arcade" flower logo transparent, blow it up and use it as the entire background - I just don't know what we would do with the resulting dead space where the logo currently resides though.  The original files of the marquee and the logo are available HERE and HERE.
 
4.  Overall Layout of Information:  Here is a crude sketch to show what information I want placed in each box on the layout.  Also, if it's possible you can remove the "X game out of Y number of games in the list" stat that is underneath the logo right now (you will see what I mean when you load the current layout).


 
5.  Instruction Card:  I'd like some sort of instruction card to go in the bottom field of the layout but I will have to leave it in more capable hands to make it look nice.  The information I want displayed is in the attachment but feel free to deviate if you think something else looks better.  Also, I'm not 100% sold that the 4th instruction "Insert Coin(s)" is necessary.  Again - whatever you think looks good.  The idea is to just give people an idea how to operate the machine.

6.  History/Controls:  I would like to be able to display the "History" and/or "Controls" windows with the push of a button but I have no idea how or if it is even possible.  Right now if I hit "Ctrl" (which isn't even mapped to a button on my CP yet) the "History" window pops up but it has an ugly green border and kind of looks out of place if you know what I mean.

Whew!  I think that's it. 
 
Thanks a lot!!!   :cheers:

waveryder

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2008, 10:14:00 am »
Had a quick play with your original and I hope this helps. Wasnt entirely sure what you meant by arrows. Do you just mean directions? Does the start button have a girl on it? Doesnt look like a standard button. Do you have the original or at least a clearer one to work from?
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javeryh

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2008, 12:22:11 pm »
THANK YOU!!

That is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for.   The only thing I'd change is the Instruction Card..

- I did mean to use actual arrows instead of the words "left" and "right" and also now that I see it I'm not sure the black font looks right.  Is there a way to shade the lettering in a similar manner to the word "Bella" in the logo?  I really don't have any idea what goes into making this stuff...

- The "select game" button is a black circle with a pink female icon on it.  Here's the actual button:



- Also, I'm not sure what I'm talking about but maybe center the lettering or lay it out so it's easier to read or something?  I just want it to all tie together.

- Finally, if it isn't too much trouble, I'd like to see what everything looks like with (1) removing the logo, (2) putting the marquee centered across the entire top, and (3) moving the box for the game list name down and shrinking the field for the list of games to match the two fields for the "Company, Year" and the screenshot - basically so it looks symmetrical.  Something doesn't sit right with the way I initially laid it out - the logo looks out of place...

This is HUGE - it is the only thing I have left to do on the cabinet.  :cheers:
« Last Edit: February 06, 2008, 12:26:26 pm by javeryh »

waveryder

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2008, 12:26:18 pm »
Leave it with me and i'll see what I can do, If anyone else wants to have a crack feel free!!

OT: Used a holesaw to make some white plastic dust washers after I posted on your thread, worked fine just had to keep the speed low on the drill and dremel out the center to 10mm with the dremel.
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javeryh

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2008, 12:28:30 pm »
Thanks!!!  I just modified my previous post (I'm thinking of a slightly different layout as described in the last paragraph).  You have such a good eye for this stuff so whatever you come up with I'm sure will be fantastic.

Thanks again!!!

Oh, good to know about the hole saw - I'm going to try that this weekend and this cab will be FINISHED!!!  I'm also planning on trying out the video camera to show it in action...   :cheers:

waveryder

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2008, 01:29:43 pm »
Ok based on your last paragraph. I have had to adjust a bit of your marquee to make it fit with the rest of the layout. Just a quick outline let me know if this is what you had in mind and i'll clean it up.
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javeryh

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2008, 01:46:07 pm »
Awesome!  What do you think?  Is there a way to maybe move the marquee lettering a bit higher and closer to the top of the screen and then maybe shorten the instruction card part (if necessary) to stretch out the columns a little more?  It looks really really good but maybe the two columns are a bit squashed?  I don't know... any personal preferences?  Do you like this layout or the one with the logo better?

Either way I'm psyched!

waveryder

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2008, 02:46:49 am »
Personally I like the new one better. Your choice though javeryh. Let me know and ill produce a final graphic for you this afternoon (UK Time). Once you've ok'd it i'll put it into Mala for you.

Idea: How about instead of the direction arrows you suggested. Using a images of your balltop sticks to show the directions? ie stick moved Left, right etc. The font is going to be a real issue as that "Boingo" font is really hard to read on the instruction card and gameslist. Perhaps something a little more simple and ledgible?
Let me know
Waveryder
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waveryder

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #8 on: February 07, 2008, 04:06:08 am »
Heres an example with your revisions and showing my idea for the directions...font is still an issue.....
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javeryh

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #9 on: February 07, 2008, 09:53:51 am »
It looks great!  I think I like the new layout a little better too.

As for the font, I guess I don't really care as long as it's legible and looks slightly customized (not Arial or Times New Roman or any other standard Word fonts).  Actually, I really like the Bubblegum Betty font from your signature - plus, it's already pink - would that work?  I'll poke around and see if I can find a free one out there that I like but I'd be thrilled with the BGB font...

Finally, I'm not 100% sold on the joystick pictures (but I like the idea).  Maybe if you do a mock up using the BGB font with arrows and another with the joysticks I can just make the call.

THANKS!!!   :cheers:

waveryder

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2008, 01:31:22 pm »
Will hit this over the weekend if thats alright Javeryh as I have a major overhaul of Betty's electrics to test and more Artwork requests than I can count. Hope this is ok.
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javeryh

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2008, 03:17:18 pm »
Will hit this over the weekend if thats alright Javeryh as I have a major overhaul of Betty's electrics to test and more Artwork requests than I can count. Hope this is ok.

No worries.  A few more days won't kill me!

Thanks again!   :cheers:

waveryder

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #12 on: February 08, 2008, 02:07:43 pm »
Took a break from the soldering to get this one done. Ive used the BGB font you asked for and layed out what you wanted with the arrows and the "girly" start button. Ive also included the wallpaper and the bootlogo. DONT USE THE BOOTLOGO. This one is just to show its the wrong colour depth and will just error. I'll send you all the work in the "Bella Package" im setting up when its done.
Let Me Know
Waveryder


Edit: Wow this is turning into one PINK thread!! :laugh:
« Last Edit: February 08, 2008, 02:09:17 pm by waveryder »
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javeryh

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #13 on: February 08, 2008, 02:19:52 pm »
WOW!!!

It looks great!!!  I have one small comment for the instruction card - can you:

- remove the words "instruction card"
- center each of the three remaining lines and
- maybe increase the font size to compensate for the line of deleted text?

I can't believe how awesome this is - you've got some real skills!!!

Thank you!!!   :cheers:

Oh yeah - pink rules!

waveryder

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #14 on: February 08, 2008, 02:36:16 pm »
No problem

I will make your changes and clean it up and have the layout done for you tomorrow. Would do it now but I'm up to my ears in LEDs and 27k resistors! :dizzy:
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javeryh

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #15 on: February 08, 2008, 02:44:16 pm »
No problem

I will make your changes and clean it up and have the layout done for you tomorrow. Would do it now but I'm up to my ears in LEDs and 27k resistors! :dizzy:

Sweet!  Heh, after the rotating monitor I'm putting in the new cabinet I'm working on, crazy LEDs and lit buttons are next on my list of things to learn that I never thought I'd be learning in a million years.

waveryder

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #16 on: February 09, 2008, 06:02:53 am »
Ok its done. Ive included the BGB Font with the layout you need to install the font in windows. The wallpaper is included put it wherever you like and set windows to use it. The bootlogo needs to be copied over to C:\windows and the comps  settings edited appropriatlysee ritalins post or wiki for instructions. Copy the new bella layout to your Mala directory and away you go. Ive zipped the whole lot up and have PM'd you the finished work. Enjoy
Waveryder
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Franco B

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Re: Please HELP me with my MaLa Layout (PICS) [I can pay for your trouble!!]
« Reply #17 on: February 10, 2008, 09:39:30 am »
Nice one waveryder, thats what the community is all about  :applaud:  :cheers: