Infernolab: Artwork Critique

[jasonbar]

Howdy-

After finally getting my act together & getting vinyl stickers cut for my special controls a few weeks ago(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=64645.msg920926#msg920926), I was able to make my monitor glass (I call it a "bezel"...) artwork.

I wanted simple instructions that referred to the special button vinyl artwork.

I want the instructions to be idiot-proof.

I added an "Advanced" instructions area for the trickier stuff.



Background:

I wanted to tie this in to my robot-building site & work: http://infernolab.com/

But I didn't want it "too themed", as I plan on never making another cab (yes, this is an end-all-be-all, bite-off-more-than-you-can-chew, a-bajillion-games-in-one cabinet w/ a frankenpanel...), so I wanted it to be more timeless & less faddy.

So, no robots or specifics.


1: Marquee is pic 1 below.

2: Currently have 1 each of these original-version flaming gear stickers on the cabinet sides, but they're a bit small, so I might do something else.  See pic 2.

3: Have yet to set up Johnny 5 (or CP Wizard?), but the control panel info screen will look like pic 3 below w/ labels.

4: And my "loading" screen looks like pic 4 below.


5: Soooo, what I would like is critique on pic 5, the bezel artwork (other critiques welcome too, but I'm OK w/ the other art).  I want to make sure that the text is clear (double entendre) & see if there's anything else I might want framed around my monitor.  The black bars @ top & bottom represent what will be hidden by the retention brackets--the whole sheet of Acrylic will actually be printed w/ the flame background, right up to the top & bottom edges.


Thanks!
-Jason


Thanks!
-Jason

[Necroticart]

the bezel text looks clear and readable as for the flame art it just does not look right to me combined with your other artwork. If you want to keep the flames I would integrate them into your marquee so your design is more coherent

[jasonbar]

Thanks for your feedback, Necroticart.

I see what you mean about tying in the cartoony flame in the marquee & sideart & loading screen with the photo flame on the bezel & control panel viewer screen.

Come to think of it, I'd prefer using non-photo art on my cabinet, as that evokes the older games.  It wasn't until more modern (cruddier) games that they started using photographs on marquees & sideart.  Not as cool IMHO.  (though I'm more OK w/ using photos on-screen than I am on cabinet artwork...)

So, the smart thing to do would be to update my bezel art.  But I'm not so hot w/ Photoshop & such, so I'm semi-limited to using & manipulating existing artwork...An idea for de-firing the bezel would be to incorporate some of the "8-bit pixel" art I made of my robots around the bezel.  Look for all images that start with "mini" in this directory http://infernolab.com/gfx/layout/minithumblegotug-o-war.gif or go to this page & mouse over all links & watch the image on the right udpate http://infernolab.com/projects.html



Anyway, whether or not it's the direction I wish to take, I whipped up some marquee options that might tie in better--any feedback appreciated!

1: plain black bkg
2: added a simple bezel effect--I think it helps a lot vs. the plain black bkg
3: cartoony fire backround (stolen from the flaming gear art--needs a little cleanup, but you get the idea)
4: the fire photo behind the logo
5: an abstract closeup of one of my bots--darkened it & added a lens flare on an acorn nut--this is pretty "me", if you know me in person


Thanks,
-Jason

[thatitalian]

Number 4 is probably the nicest IMHO.

Why not make the bezel similar to the marquee by making a round rectangle similar to the outside of the Infernolab lab text and then fill with the yellow to red gradient?

[jasonbar]

Thanks for the feedback--I'll see if I can whip up the gradient on the bezel--might look a little too plain for my taste, but it would definitely tie in the bezel to the marquee.

Thanks,
-Jason

[thatitalian]

Not if you have the flame around the outside but make it like marquee #4. Then you can have the flames in both!

Remember the rounded rectangle will go around the monitor with some gradient around it (and the monitor will take up the space in the middle) then the flames will be on the outside.

Should look kickass!

[jasonbar]

Gotcha--I see.  I'll give that a whirl & see how it goes.  My only (minor) concern is how the gradient rectangle will look as it passes through the text boxes.

Thanks,
-Jason

[thatitalian]

You could just make the background of the text solid and use the same rounded rectangle surround around them (the intructions)?

Or you could use a solid rounded rectangle around the text with no instruction?

Play around and see what happens.

EDIT: I have done it again!

[jasonbar]

Thanks for the all the feedback.  I've tried some & incorporated some, but I haven't strayed too far from what I posted originally.

1: updated bezel.  Added 1 more line of instructions, did a little clean-up, & I think it's ready.

2: marquee.  Forgot that I had a version w/ a glowing color outline already.  Duh.  That's my favorite choice out of the 6 options I ended up with.

3-9: "Loading Game" screen.  Played around with the text w/ Photoshop for a bit.  Please let me know which looks the keenest.  I can also mess w/ a little bit of transparency on the text to make it blend into the background, or I can add a drop shadow or highlight or something to make it pop.

Thanks,
-Jason

[jasonbar]

Allowed only 8 attachments per post...here's image #9.

[jasonbar]

Howdy-

Finally got my MaLa FE layout cleaned up a bit to match my bezel & "Loading Game" screen.  Learned a bit of Photoshop in the process!

It used to look like this, with a plain black background:
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff97/infernolab/Arcade%20Game/09bezel.jpg


I prettified it a bit (pics attached)...oh, and the "Loading Game" screen that I decided on is attached too.

Pics of my cabinet (with old FE): http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff97/infernolab/Arcade%20Game/?start=all

Next up (in the distaaaaaaaant future...), I'd like to think about side art & maybe a CPO, but the CP's already awful crowded & the stick/ball/button/drink holder colors all already blend together pretty nicely, I think...


Got any feedback?  (semi cross-posted in MaLa forum, but I was posting there to share the actual FE files for MaLa use)


Thanks,
-Jason

[jasonbar]

Thanks to some good feedback I got in the MaLa forum, I re-aligned the 4 boxes on the right.  I also made their colors a little more vibrant & gave them rounded corners while I was at it.

Any feedback welcome.

Thanks,
-Jason