Critique my artwork please?

[Santoro]

Need opinions.. I am working on my 3rd cab and am struggling with the artwork. I have attached a Photoshop mockup; the 'feel' I am going for is generic late 70's or early 80's game.

Does the Marquee 'go' with the control panel art? Is the control panel too busy? Is the text in the marquee too big? etc.. Honest feedback appreciated.

I am not looking to wholesale change the theme, but am looking for advice on how to improve the continuity, tie in with the cabinet, de-clutter, etc.

[Nephasth]

Well you nailed the "feel" you were going for with the marquee... The CPO, not so much. I'd say lose images and incorporate those thick 70s lines in the CPO somehow.

[Santoro]

I keep getting the same feedback, as much as I like them I guess I need to drop the planet/sprites.   I'll try to move in that direction.

Reworked the marquee a little, I am happier now.

[knohbody]

I like the marquee. Gives it that 70s vibe. I feel the text needs to be bigger though. Marquees were used to id the game from across the room. Feels weird that the text is so small.

I agree that the cp doesn't flow real well with the marquee. It needs something incorporated from the marquee to bring it together.

[jimmy2x2x]

couple of cabs that have a similar rainbow theme

[Santoro]

I dunno, while this 'goes,' it bores me a little.

[Crazy Cooter]

Flip the marquee upside down once.  Right now it draws your eye upward and out instead of down and towards the panel.  Then try splitting the text (and making it bigger) to both sides of the vertical lines and place the ship towards the bottom and centered so it looks like it is riding the center line.  I'd also look at resizing the ship so the wings spread to the midpoint of the orange and blue lines.  I'd stroke a black line before dropping white around each color/text/ship too.

[Well Fed Games]

I gotta say, I like Cooter's feedback.

[knohbody]

Yeah, that control panel does look a bit boring, but it does go. You might look at Weecade for some inspiration.
http://www.koenigs.dk/mame/WeeCade_controlpanel.pdf
I think that has that retro feel you're looking for.
I also agree with Cooter about flipping the marquee around. Play around with it and find what you like.

[tsaylor]

Yeah, Cooter's version gives it the more readable name, highlights the 8-bit ship, and for bonus points it looks more like an Atari logo.  It also has the feel of a ship that is moving away and is about to turn upwards and accelerate.  Nice mods!

I agree that the control panel needs something.  Maybe add a bit of the Missile Command CPO flavor?

[Santoro]

Flip the marquee upside down once.  Right now it draws your eye upward and out instead of down and towards the panel.  Then try splitting the text (and making it bigger) to both sides of the vertical lines and place the ship towards the bottom and centered so it looks like it is riding the center line.  I'd also look at resizing the ship so the wings spread to the midpoint of the orange and blue lines.  I'd stroke a black line before dropping white around each color/text/ship too.

Wow.. that's an amazing difference.  I think I will do exactly that.  I am going on vacation so I will probably not get to it for a week or so.  With the added emphasis on the ship in the marquee, I also now have a reason to tastefully work a Galaga element or two back into the CP - minus the planet.

Very nice, thanks!
 

[Le Chuck]

I'm all about cooter's marquee.  Great comment and great use of the current art.   

I really like the "plain" CPO.  I think that if you have plans to do some lit buttons and joys that will really let the controls pop. Otherwise maybe just a really small rainbow halo around the holes but it fits in with the era. 

[Santoro]

OK got some time to mess around with this.  I definitely like cooter's idea about flipping the marquee, but couldn't find a way to do the ship as he suggested in a way that the perspective looked good.  I also made some improvements to the CP.

[Drnick]

Swap the Green and Blue and its perfect 

Sorry but I have a thing for Roy G Biv   

[BobA]

Swap the Green and Blue and its perfect 

Sorry but I have a thing for Roy G Biv   

Someone remembers their resistor color codes

[Santoro]

And Rainbows