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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Santoro on May 14, 2007, 11:37:49 am

Title: **DESIGN PERIOD COMPLETE - 2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Santoro on May 14, 2007, 11:37:49 am: Man, has it been another year?

This thread is for the design discussions and proposals regarding the front (obverse) side of the 2007 BYOAC token.

We are designing .984" (25mm) tokens. Submissions should be in black and white only. White should indicate the lowest point of the token, black the highest. If you want to show half-height details use gray. Different levels of gray are OK. Of interest as you design, the 'lowest' or 'deepest' point on the token will usually be shiny because it doesn't require machining.

So that those of us who are not Photoshop Gurus are given a fair shot , no 'blinged' renderings should be posted. (Bling refers to color, photorealistic renderings.)

Guidelines/Rules
-No R-Rated material
--No trademarked or copyrighted images. (Pacman, etc...) MAME IS OK though, we have approval to use the logo if we like as long as we respect the spirit of MAME - i.e. no references to playing thousands of games, etc.
-~~No Bling - refer to the 2004 thread below to see how blinged line art turns out.~~ Pixelhugger will bling all final entries for us. Thanks!
-Should display "Build Your Own Arcade Controls" (or at least "BYOAC") and the www.arcadecontrols.com URL on the front because BYOAC is the whole point of the tokens.
-If at all possible you should have your art in vector format. (AI for example.) Next best is very high-res raster (Hi-res meaning greater than or equal to 300DPI,) but I discourage it because we have always used vector with superb results. Low-res artwork won't work, you will need to have someone fix it up for you. Vector fonts need to be converted to curves.

If you are submitting what you consider your final proposal, please say so in your post. Otherwise we will assume you are submitting it for group discussion and tweaking.

This is a sample from 2004:
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=36613.0;attach=23952;image)

Here are previous years' threads for reference.
2006 Front (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=52117.0)
2006 Back (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=52118.0)
2005 Front (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=36613.0)
2005 Back (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=36614.0)
2004 combined thread (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=19172.0)

Go for it!
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: pointdablame on May 14, 2007, 03:32:24 pm: wow.. it's that time of year already huh? Awesome.

Maybe I'll actually try to think up an idea this year, but probably not :cheers:
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: sez on May 15, 2007, 07:32:11 pm: Okay, I'll have a go.

This is only a draft version - submitted purely for group discussion and ~~nipple~~ tweaking.

Love Sez.
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Ed_McCarron on May 15, 2007, 07:57:32 pm: OK, don't anyone panic... Serious design.

A first, from me.

Something serious, that is.

EDit: Eh, guess I should read the rules. Tempest is copyrighted, I assume... Oh well. I'll consider it an Illustrator lesson.
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Joystick Jerk on May 15, 2007, 09:33:06 pm: I was thinking maybe make the coin sort of exotic looking, like it was an arcade token from south america or something. Sort of has an incan/aztec feeling to it, with the BYOAC logo carved in stone atop an incan pyramid. This is of course a rough mockup, final quality will be much higher. Just looking to get opinions on the concept and layout right now.

(http://members.shaw.ca/sachops/inca_coin.jpg)
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: RandyT on May 16, 2007, 01:57:58 pm: Ok, here's a submission. Not a final design, so anything goes.

(http://www.groovygamegear.com/Store_Images/byoactoken640.jpg) (http://www.groovygamegear.com/Store_Images/byoactoken800.jpg)

*edit* Bling removed

BTW, why two separate threads for this anyway? Trying to separate the front and back of a token is like trying to arrange your box end wrenches into right and left handed piles. ;D

RandyT
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Pixelhugger on May 16, 2007, 03:08:56 pm: Quote
BTW, why two separate threads for this anyway?

Yeah, it is a pain. Although I think it works better that way.

My understanding in the past was that the "front" should be specifically the BYOAC side, with a strong BYOAC logo or design. The "back" could be more obscure and may not even reference BYOAC.

Without separate voting on each side (and especially throwing MAME into the mix) you could end up with two winning designs which both felt obscure, or non BYOAC related, or this year both MAME themed. The voting gets a bit hotly contested, and people are likely to get upset if one of the two winning designs is nixed for a less popular one because neither feels like a good BYOAC side.

I guess the point is that IMO one side should feel like it represents BYOAC and the back supports the hobby in general. If you look at each of the past 3 years that's how it has played out. 2004: BYOAC / Happy P1 guy 2005: BYOAC / Upright cab 2006: BYOAC / Cocktail cab. Each has a distinct logo side and a supporting side, even if the supporting side references BYOAC. Of course, you could argue that having a specific BYOAC side isn't important, but I think that's what the tokens are all about. After all the tokens are meant to represent BYOAC, not to be arcade tokens sold through BYOAC. Obviously it's just my opinion, and it is a pain to have multiple threads. But I think it does help keep a design focus that works in the end. 2 cents :dunno

EDIT: Plus if tokens weren't meant to have heads and tails God wouldn't have made them with two sides. :soapbox: ;)
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Pixelhugger on May 16, 2007, 03:17:51 pm: Here's a slam dunk winner.....

ROM...go vectorize that exploding hex background of yours. Nothing, nothing would look cooler stamped in metal.
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: RandyT on May 16, 2007, 04:02:06 pm: Quote from: Pixelhugger on May 16, 2007, 03:08:56 pm
Without separate voting on each side (and especially throwing MAME into the mix) you could end up with two winning designs which both felt obscure, or non BYOAC related, or this year both MAME themed. The voting gets a bit hotly contested, and people are likely to get upset if one of the two winning designs is nixed for a less popular one because neither feels like a good BYOAC side.

So....why not just pull the the best BYOAC related design for the front and and the best BYOAC related, or not, design for the other side? Might eliminate some cross postings and make things easier to keep track of.

At minimum, state the exact requirements for each side (must be BYOAC related for the "front", etc...)

RandyT
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Pixelhugger on May 16, 2007, 04:07:22 pm: Hmmm. Good point. At least all the desings and discussion could be posted to the same thread.... and the designers could specify how they'd like the design grouped for voting-front back or either.
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: missioncontrol on May 16, 2007, 05:51:09 pm: really it doesn't matter which side it's posted in, if someone thinks it should be on the reverse side from where it's posted all they have to do is nominate it for the other side...
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: missioncontrol on May 16, 2007, 08:01:03 pm: here's what I have so far... trying to decide on a background.... I'm leaving out the slogan and additional text as I'm sure it will come down to a vote for the slogan anyways....
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: NIVO on May 16, 2007, 09:34:16 pm: stickied for your pleasure ;D
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: aumameman on May 17, 2007, 11:25:12 pm: How exciting it is to think that we may have 2007 BYOAC tokens!
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Pixelhugger on May 18, 2007, 04:41:11 pm: If Santoro is interested, I'm willing to bling final entries as long as they can be provided properly. IMO it's important that all the final entries be given identical treatment. If someone else has a better way to bling and is willing to do them, I happily defer. :) :)

For me to do the blinging I'd need the file of the final design setup in black, white and grey as Santoro outlined above. No gradients. No embossing. Just line art and solid greyscale shapes.

The best format for the process is Illustrator. If that's not available, a layered Photoshop file at 2000x2000 pixels will work. If that's not possible a JPEG of the same size (2000 x 2000) can be used but the results may not look very good.

Cross posted in "BACK SIDE" thread.
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: missioncontrol on May 23, 2007, 09:35:16 pm: here's a little more work involved in my creation....
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Kremmit on June 12, 2007, 10:21:06 pm: <cricket chirp>

..
..
..

<cricket chirp>

..
..
..

<cricket chirp>

You guys get the feeling nobody's reading this here in the Artwork forum? I know it's the right forum, but the whole subject moved from Main to here awfully fast. I have to wonder how many people that don't read everything every day totally missed the fact that this is on again. And you know that most folks don't ever look in "Artwork" at all.
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Kremmit on June 13, 2007, 01:55:06 am: Wow, Saint's up late.

:cheers:
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Havok on June 13, 2007, 07:38:34 am: Yup - I had missed it...

:D
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: ARCADE5280 on June 19, 2007, 02:55:20 pm: Here's an idea using the BYOAC as a vector like maze...

(http://www.thedesignloophole.com/BYOAC/token01.jpg)
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Kaytrim on June 19, 2007, 02:57:01 pm: Can't really read that maze. ???
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: ARCADE5280 on June 19, 2007, 03:19:28 pm: Thanks Kaytrim...since i've been looking at it, I see the BYOAC immediately. Is this any better???

(http://www.thedesignloophole.com/BYOAC/token02.jpg)
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Santoro on June 19, 2007, 03:21:21 pm: It's a lot like an optical illusion, once I see it, I see it. But it takes a minute to see it.
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Kaytrim on June 19, 2007, 03:22:13 pm: Looking better but the 'BY' is still a little hard to read the 'OAC' is great. The 'B' is the worst of the bunch.
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: patrickl on June 19, 2007, 03:22:53 pm: can't see the B
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Pixelhugger on June 19, 2007, 03:55:49 pm: I really, really like it! I do think it needs something like floating dots or bricks in the halls to give it more of a "game" feel. Otherwise it looks very architectutal.. like a floorplan. But very cool.

Maybe add floating dots leading to ... errr... powerups... like a saw blade, a drill, a try-square. Heh. Or maybe not.
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: ARCADE5280 on June 19, 2007, 04:01:40 pm: Thanks.

Heres a completely different direction...tron like...

(http://www.thedesignloophole.com/BYOAC/token03.jpg)
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: saint on June 19, 2007, 06:50:25 pm: Interesting. Needs more of something to fill the white space. Something like a muted Tron game background?
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Kremmit on June 20, 2007, 12:25:45 am: Hey, I like those. Still need tweaking, but the basic ideas are good.

Maybe a maze that's not as deep would be easier to read?
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: JoyMonkey on June 20, 2007, 03:41:36 pm: I started something, but I'm completely out of ideas this year. I figured it'd be nice if the border of the token could be a little reminiscent of a monitor bezel and came up with this thing that doesn't look anything like a bezel really. :dunno
The center area is up to the eye of the beholder; use your imagination and it can be anything you want kids!
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: missioncontrol on June 20, 2007, 04:39:54 pm: Hey JM I really like that do you have the template and can I use it with my design?
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: unclet on June 20, 2007, 04:46:38 pm: Actually it would be cool if the token was not solid at all.

Assume the whitespace in the token by Arcade5280 or JoyMonkey was simply space which you could stick you finger through. Pretty cool I think.
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Santoro on June 20, 2007, 05:08:30 pm: I'd be cool, but it wouldn't work in most mechs. The weight would be 'wrong.'
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Joystick Jerk on June 20, 2007, 07:57:26 pm: Quote from: saint on June 19, 2007, 06:50:25 pm
Interesting. Needs more of something to fill the white space. Something like a muted Tron game background?

I wouldn't necessarily say that. Yes, the white space is boring on paper (so to speak), but could be very clean and elegant when stamped into metal.
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: missioncontrol on June 21, 2007, 05:04:25 pm: how's this?
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: KevSteele on June 22, 2007, 09:31:45 am: Here's one more for consideration (in whole or just pieces parts ;))

(http://gameroommagazine.com/PDF/BYOAC_2007.gif)
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: GadgetGeek on June 22, 2007, 02:10:33 pm: Kev...How about "To MAME (tm) and Destroy"?
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: saint on June 22, 2007, 02:12:01 pm: I like this one! Is that a copyright concern?
/me goes and looks at the beasties from Space Invaders.

Quote from: KevSteele on June 22, 2007, 09:31:45 am
Here's one more for consideration (in whole or just pieces parts ;))

(http://gameroommagazine.com/PDF/BYOAC_2007.gif)
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: KevSteele on June 22, 2007, 02:39:16 pm: Quote from: saint on June 22, 2007, 02:12:01 pm
I like this one! Is that a copyright concern?
/me goes and looks at the beasties from Space Invaders.

It's not a Space Invader. It's very Space Invader-esque, but original (okay, not by me -- it's artwork from iStockPhoto - I purchased it and a license to use it for both commercial and non-commercial use)

Gadget Geek:

To MAME(tm) and Destroy tends to bring to mind the "MAMEing" of old cabinets, which may not be the best mental image we want to bring across. A longer version of the slogan could be "We Preserve So We Can Destroy", but I like the short version better. ;)

Here's a pic of the invaders I had to choose from in the AI file:
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: KevSteele on June 22, 2007, 03:45:37 pm: A variation of the original, if the invader is judged too close to a "real" invader:

(http://gameroommagazine.com/PDF/BYOAC_2007_2.gif)
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: saint on June 22, 2007, 05:56:00 pm: I like the invader-like icon.
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: bleargh on June 22, 2007, 06:30:23 pm: Quote from: saint on June 22, 2007, 05:56:00 pm
I like the invader-like icon.

I'll second that; the invader is definitely cool.

Also helps that it'd match the startup screen I'm planning on using... ;)
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Havok on June 28, 2007, 11:17:08 am: What do you guys use to do the mockup? I am not a graphics guy by any stretch, but I would like to give it a go...
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: dstone on June 28, 2007, 04:31:41 pm: Thought I might try my hand at this....

Continuing the Invaders style and utilizing JM's coin 'bezel'
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: patrickl on June 28, 2007, 04:34:10 pm: I like the third one
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: missioncontrol on June 28, 2007, 05:01:28 pm: Quote from: Havok on June 28, 2007, 11:17:08 am
What do you guys use to do the mockup? I am not a graphics guy by any stretch, but I would like to give it a go...

I used photoshop this year, last year I used Fireworks and the year before that I used paint....

but my designs suck every year....
Title: Re: **2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Santoro on July 05, 2007, 12:13:42 pm: OK, let's put an end date on this. Please submit your final entries by end of day, Sunday July 8. Pixel, will you be able to 'bling' all the entries after that?
Title: Re: **TIME IS RUNNING OUT - 2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: dstone on July 08, 2007, 03:14:48 pm: Alrighty, here is my final for the front. I don't have Adobe Illustrator, but I do have AutoCAD and can provide a DWG file if requested (no text, though) (I've heard it can directly import into Illustrator).

Edit: It helps when I actually read the instructions for image dimensions...
Title: Re: **TIME IS RUNNING OUT - 2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: missioncontrol on July 09, 2007, 01:07:26 pm: my final:

(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=66658.0;attach=78011;image)

I'll get it to pixel later today for blinging
Title: Re: **TIME IS RUNNING OUT - 2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: bossyman15 on July 26, 2007, 09:58:07 pm: what's up with "to preserve and destroy"?
Title: Re: **TIME IS RUNNING OUT - 2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: KevSteele on July 27, 2007, 06:55:03 am: Quote from: bossyman15 on July 26, 2007, 09:58:07 pm
what's up with "to preserve and destroy"?

We preserve the invader, so that we may destroy him. ;D
Title: Re: **TIME IS RUNNING OUT - 2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Xiaou2 on August 09, 2007, 04:06:08 am: Ive not yet gotten skilled with vector programs.. But heres a rough
sketch.. A bit unfinished too. Thoughts & opinions?
Title: Re: **TIME IS RUNNING OUT - 2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: missioncontrol on August 09, 2007, 07:18:53 am: wow, very impressive..... every year it seems like the best designs come through at the very last minute.....

although I would lose the 25 and change it to 1 token or something since Santoro does have customers outside the US borders....

it does need a little cleaning up, but once finished, it could be a very great design....
Title: Re: **TIME IS RUNNING OUT - 2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Santoro on August 09, 2007, 08:56:02 am: Please send any final entries to Pixelhugger for blinging. This will ensure you get apples-to-apples presentation in the upcoming voting threads.
Title: Re: **TIME IS RUNNING OUT - 2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Xiaou2 on August 09, 2007, 10:11:43 pm: Thanks Missioncontrol :)

I think Ill wait till next time to try. Mr.c's coin looks really nice, and
I think Im too late to try to rework my design this late into the
show. Seems I always catch the design thread too late.
Title: Re: **TIME IS RUNNING OUT - 2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: missioncontrol on August 10, 2007, 01:47:52 pm: cool...

do not get rid of that design, at least now you have a year to finalize your design for tokens 2008.....
Title: Re: **TIME IS RUNNING OUT - 2007 BYOAC Token FRONT SIDE Design Thread**
Post by: Santoro on August 14, 2007, 05:32:02 pm: Just to confirm - the design sumission period is formally closed as of last Friday. I will try to post polls with what I have tonight or tomorrow. If you haven't sent your design to Pixelhugger for blinging, I will use what you posted as the picture of your design. (you should send it to him for blinging!)