Custom Sideart Project - Opinions please...

[slapaham]

Okay, I'm making some sideart for my cab - I didn't want it to be a specific game as i don't think that is right for an arcade cab that literally can play thousands of different games of different types. I also didn't really want MAME written all over it either - even though the cab is using MAME I like it to have the feeling of a genuine cab, i.e. MAME is hidden/not mentioned. The likelihood is once I've got this side finished, I will do a contrasting other side, i.e. more modern, different types of games, to show the range of capability on my cab... Credit goes out to the Arcade art website for the images as thats where nearly all the images came from. I'm a busy student so don't really have time to perfect or work on my designs or look for alternative artwork repositories at the moment and this example is simply a work in progress (god, I haven't even thought about the typography yet! IT'S TOTALLY SHOCKING! But typefaces and fonts are my next port of call! Also, need to think of something a bit more original for the wording!) Just wanted to get some opinion...





Once I've done it, I'll be happy to share it with anyone whose interested... please bare in mind (as I've said before - this is a work in progress)

[Ginsu Victim]

It's a bit.....busy.

[slapaham]

Haha, yeah... perhaps I should tone it down a bit... I want to get that feeling of excess across, as in my mind that is what a MAME cabinet represents - more than games than you could ever play!

[Ginsu Victim]

Mega Man X is really out of place in there. Not what I think of when I see "Arcade Classics". Also, the center is a bit dull compared to the chaos. Not that it needs to be as busy as the rest, but it does need to look less plain. I'd make the words bigger and perhaps use some sort of effect on them.

[tommyinajar]

I agree that there is maybe too much going on, I might loose or shrink a few characters. How about a shooting star (in the star) effect on the words ?

[slapaham]

Totally agree with the Megaman comment, as I'd thought that myself. As I said in the original post, the type hasn't even really been started - just been put in to think about layout. Thanks for the comments guys, when I get a bit more time I will start tweaking it about!

[rol]

You may want to cut a few characters / adjust sizing so it's not so drastic, then space them out a little differently so you really get the feeling they are busting out of the side. Right now it's just a little busy for my liking, but to each their own.

I'd also consider toning down the colours, or using only characters that the colours don't clash...it could help to give you a colour theme either way and won't distract from the layout.

Just some suggestions...hope it helps.

--Tom

[ivwshane]

I like it except for the logo, it's way too plain compared to everything else.


I agree as well that mega man is a little out of place.

[walls83]

pac man needs to be yellow.

[wildbill]

I think your on the right trac with being busy and that there's so many games that its almost impossible to play them all.
Tone the size down on the characters and its good, and pac man does need to be yellow. And ad a little flare to the star.

[slapaham]

Must admit, I'd forgotten about this - I bodged it together in about 5 minutes! I know I could design something a lot nicer and tasteful than this! I've come to the conclusion that once I have graduated I will spend some serious time designing a full piece of sideart for my cab (so watch this space)! Should be able to do a far better job as I am studying Graphic Design! As mentioned in the original post this was just a rough mock up - that certainly wouldn't be the typography I'd go for!

I disagree with those that said it being busy was bad - perhaps this is a little too busy but I feel arcade machine artwork should be bright, brash and colourful - as that is generally what they are in the arcades! They need to be, to get noticed amongst all those rival cabs!

As I mentioned before, I want to do something generic (in the sense it doesn't revolve around one particular game!) as MAME cabs are there to play lots of games and not just one - it wouldn't seem right or authentic to me!

Well, come the summer, I will have something very different and much more exciting than this - thanks for the feedback guys.