Author Topic: Project Taborious (Read 5285 times)

Taborious · « **on:** February 09, 2005, 10:31:58 pm »

Hello All,

Well I was hoping to have more done before I laid it out there but I'm in need of some feedback. I am working on the artwork for my CPO and I think it looks ok but I think it needs more color and something more in the background or something. This was going to be more complicated at one point and SNAAKE and DarkMavis offered their help but I decided to go with something I would have the ability of changing later or building on. Well here it is; open for criticism...

http://www.taborious.com/images/CPO.jpg

Taborious

Flinkly · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2005, 10:44:09 pm »

well here comes the critisizm.

first, it all looks a little too symmetrical.

Witchboard · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2005, 12:23:15 am »

I like symmetrical, so that looks good to me.

I do agree that you need to rid youself of those button and joystick labels. You've already got them nicely grouped, you don't need any more explination. If you feel the need to label, label the only buttons you didn't. Your admin buttons.

Taborious · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2005, 09:05:29 am »

Symmetrical, eh I like that a little I do admit I need to do something else to break it up. This is an unfinished product and I have not gotten around to labeling the credit/start buttons. The function buttons are going to be under the monitor not on the CP.
I used the labels because for someone that has not played a game on the cab its easier to just say hit button 6 to fire rather than the bottom button all the way on the right. Also, I have not research front ends yet and I was wondering when you select/highlight a game on the selection screen if you could customize something to show Fire=P1-6 (or just 6) Jump=3, etc... Since there are so many games and the control will be different for each I though this would be nice. I know that it would be a lot of work to do for each game but I would only worry about the most popular or most played. So I guess I should reasearch that before I commit to labels.
MAME background over used...I agree to a certain extent only a MAMEr would know that though not the casaul player. I'm not tied to it so I could change it to something more dramatic like "Project Taborious" or something. I think I definetly need more color but no having an eye for color as you can see it is very plain.

So MAME background = probably will change
Button Labels = Up in the air, still kind of like it but we'll see

Still up for more input or insight into frontend functionality...

clanggedin · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2005, 11:25:57 am »

I thought button 1 is always the bottom left button not the top left button.

Most of the games you play will use buttons 1 and 2. If you wire it how you have it then all of your fighting game controls will be upside down.

Flinkly · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2005, 12:47:31 pm »

ok, ok...i've heard alot of people make comments about this, but most people who come and play wont know the difference between a real arcade game of the specific fighting game and your upsidedown copy. worst case scenario, you and some people might have to relearn controls or remap them for each game your worried about. anyways, i just hate it when people bring this up....but i guess if your really anal about the perfect arcade experience, go ahead and do it...

Taborious · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2005, 01:20:10 pm »

Numbered buttons and wiring. Had not thought about that point. I will think that one over a bit and see if it really matters to me or not, goo dpoint though.

I have not heard much regarding the artwork itself. I still feel like it's missing something but I don't know what something is...

Maybe I'll go generic and just copy mamenotover or motorfish's background. Though I really don't want to do that...

GGKoul · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2005, 01:52:45 pm »

Quote from: clanggedin on February 10, 2005, 11:25:57 am

I thought button 1 is always the bottom left button not the top left button.

Most of the games you play will use buttons 1 and 2.

walls83 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 10, 2005, 03:31:09 pm »

Are the buttons small.. Or is the control panel big.

Taborious · « **Reply #9 on:** February 10, 2005, 05:26:25 pm »

I think I am going to make some adjustments and re-post. I love all the input it definetly helps with the decisions Im on the fence with. Thanks for the input so far...

ras2a · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2005, 12:00:44 pm »

me likes - good work

SirPeale · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2005, 08:26:32 am »

Quote from: GGKoul on February 10, 2005, 01:52:45 pm

But I don't play fighters, so I have mine
456
123

If you don't play fighters, why do you have six buttons?

Taborious · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2005, 11:23:46 am »

I do play fighter games that was a reply from someone else.

I am making some changes and will change the image within a day or two. Damn thing called work always getting in the way...

Also, wanted to get some feedback on the only "original" idea I have for the cab; though Im sure someone might have tried this before just havent seen it yet. The control panel is going to sit back from the monitor giving space between the CP and the monitor bottom. I was going to make the space about 16 inches or so and mount an flat piece of wood giving a clearance of 6 inches or so. then mount the PC parts to that wood and put all the lighted this and thats there and cover it with lexon as well. So basically the PC becomes part of the art. So if you looked above the CP through the lexon you would see the top of the motherboards and all the wires and lights, yada, yada, yada... thought that would be kinda cool...

Jedi Master Matt · « **Reply #13 on:** February 14, 2005, 07:58:26 pm »

Taborious - if you are planning on having console emus running on your machine, you may want to reconsider having the mouse buttons wired up to your other buttons.

Some of the console emus, GensFE for example, don't disable mouse support while running a game and everytime you press a button it will try to use the GUI.

I learned this the hard way and had to rewire a few things.

quadmasta · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2005, 11:01:16 am »

Quote from: Jedi Master Matt on February 14, 2005, 07:58:26 pm

Taborious - if you are planning on having console emus running on your machine, you may want to reconsider having the mouse buttons wired up to your other buttons.

Some of the console emus, GensFE for example, don't disable mouse support while running a game and everytime you press a button it will try to use the GUI.

I learned this the hard way and had to rewire a few things.

that is good knowledge

Taborious · « **Reply #15 on:** February 15, 2005, 12:43:09 pm »

I will have to reconsider the layout then. Had not thought of that, thanks...

Flinkly · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2005, 01:20:21 pm »

i'd have to say nix the idea about having lexan between your cp and monitor so you can see the motherboard. most people want a small arcade machine, aka small footprint, and this would greatly increase the depth. also, you'd have to design a cab to account for this extra room to view the motherboard, which to me, would look ugly do to the deepness. lastly, is it really worth all that work just to view the motherboard? might as well just leave the front of the cab open if you really want to see it, stick the motherboard vertical and just don't have a coindoor and have the lexan on front. but, to each his own (like i said before).

...or you could get some thick lexan and use that instead of wood for your cp, and mount your buttons to that and be able to look through and see all the stuff inside...eh, it just doesn't sound worth the money or time or space. good luck though, love to see how this all turns out.

Taborious · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2005, 08:55:29 am »

I don't think I explained the, being able to see the computer thing very well. I think it will look good without taking away from anything. Time will tell, thanks for the input.

Now for new stuff. I have been playing with the artwork again. Which is all consuming at this point and is preventing me from actually building the cab; I'm sure some of you have been there before. Anyway, I have been playing with the marquee which I have some idea from that which I'm going to try to apply to the CPO to give it some more depth and color. Take a look and tell me which one you like the best, ALL criticisims are welcome and/or suggestions...

http://www.taborious.com

scroll to the bottom, there are several variations...

Taborious · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2005, 08:59:21 am »

Oh, I am still working on the CPO changes, per Quadmasta's post I am seperating the mouse buttons and the 4way play buttons. For the 4way play buttons I'm not sure if there should be 2 or 3??? I can not think of any 4way games that require 3 buttons, anyone else?

Also, if anyone is interested in the way I did the marquee effect I will post that on the site as well this weekend, fairly simple...

walls83 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2005, 09:54:01 am »

I like 7.

Witchboard · « **Reply #20 on:** February 17, 2005, 10:29:38 am »

I like 1. Good contrasting colors, just need something else with the background like the rest of them.

BobbyG66 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 17, 2005, 11:25:57 am »

I like 1, 3 and 8.

#1 is the best, nice complementing colors.
I do not like the all blue.

Taborious · « **Reply #22 on:** February 17, 2005, 01:17:16 pm »

So far 1 and 7 seem to be the favs from here and offline friends. I'll have to see if I can do something to bring them together...

Taborious · « **Reply #23 on:** February 18, 2005, 03:58:21 pm »

I know there are a lot of photoshop gurus out there but if anyone is interested in how I did some of the effects, ask now before I forget what I did...

Witchboard · « **Reply #24 on:** February 18, 2005, 08:50:39 pm »

Just post it up here what you did. It will be good for the n00bs and you can always come back and reference it if you do forget.

Nocturnaloner · « **Reply #25 on:** February 23, 2005, 01:30:44 pm »

Alright, this is really anal, but the 'stepping' or 'faceted' edges that show up on the peaks of the MAME letters really annoy me. I know that is some kind of layer style, either a stroke or an outer glow, but if I were you I would flatten those layers (merge them with an empty layer to keep all the effects intact), and then manually round those edges, and fill in the valleys where the grey outline part does not come all the way down.

Taborious · « **Reply #26 on:** February 23, 2005, 04:42:05 pm »

That part got under my skin as well but I did not know how to fix it. Thanks for the input I'll see what I can do with it. If you know any other photoshop tricks be glad to hear them...

Nocturnaloner · « **Reply #27 on:** February 23, 2005, 05:03:56 pm »

Do you understand what I'm saying aobut merging the layers? Again, I don't know exactly what you did, but if those edges are coming from a layer style, the thing to do is make a new empty layer, link it to the letters layer (or a duplicate of it) and 'merge linked'. If there are multiple layers there to achieve the effect, link and merge them all. This in effect 'rasterizes' the layer style. Then, zoom in to the nth degree, and carefully fill in the faceted edges with the clone stamp tool.

Taborious · « **Reply #28 on:** February 23, 2005, 10:38:41 pm »

Actually those are just a blending option, inner glow, etc... so how would that work?

Nocturnaloner · « **Reply #29 on:** February 24, 2005, 03:40:11 am »

How did you create the outline itself? Not the texture, but the line that runs around the letters?

Taborious · « **Reply #30 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:31:16 am »

Taborious · « **Reply #31 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:38:35 am »

Noc,

I have a MAME image layer(white letters), copy it and merge that with a black background. Polarized coords, rotated 90C, applied wind a couple of times from both sides. then rotate back 90CC and polarize back the other way. This gives me the outstrike lines. I then invert the color on the original MAME layer so the text is now black. Make the blending options to the original MAME image layer. So I have 2 layers the MAME image and the merged MAME image with black background. I hue/sat on the outstrike lines to give me the blue glow and apply my blending options to the original MAME text...

The problems with the blending have bugged me as well but I did not know how to resolve them. Plus I can NOT make up my mind as to what I want to put in the background of the CPO, driving me crazy...

Taborious · « **Reply #32 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:42:47 am »

As I re-read my post I forgot to mention that you have to turn off the original MAME text before polarizing and rotating, etc... Just turn it back on after you have the outstrike lines and it sits right in the middle of things. After all that is done I also created a false light by creating an oval layer between the text layer and background layer. made an oval and guassin blur to 255, this gives the text a lighter color in the middle...

Nocturnaloner · « **Reply #33 on:** February 24, 2005, 09:30:38 am »

Okay, not talking about the the letters, but just the grey outline around them- I think there is a better/easier way to achieve the same appearance without the weird edges. I don't know what version of pshop you have, but layer styles have been around since at least v6. Starting with the MAME letters shape, I would use the Stroke style, merge it with another layer, then blend it (probably hard or soft light) with a layer of rendered clouds. I promise, it will look just like what you have, but the edges will look better. If you feel comfortable sending me your PSD file to play with, PM me.

Taborious · « **Reply #34 on:** February 24, 2005, 10:56:40 am »

Noc,

I'm sorry, I'm an idiot. The description of the effect that I was giving was for an updated version of the CPO and not the one that is on my site. Here is the updated CPO and I have an ftp site with the psd I will pm you with the url and login info...

Nocturnaloner · « **Reply #35 on:** February 24, 2005, 03:21:59 pm »

Aha!

Much better now!

Taborious · « **Reply #36 on:** February 24, 2005, 03:59:38 pm »

Still need something in the background. Not sure what to put there that would look right. Trying to stay away froma space seem though. Any suggestions? I was thinking about a collage of arcade characters to fill the background but I can't find enough images out there. Been to localaracde.com but they just don't have enough to do the whole things. Any ideas where I can find an archive?

Nocturnaloner · « **Reply #37 on:** February 24, 2005, 04:03:29 pm »

I think it's looking very good. The only thing I might suggest is to try to bring your colors together a little bit. You've got the minty fresh gel of the letters, you've got the purple-blue happening in your flare, and you've got a more greyish blue in your control outlines, and aother bright blue-green around your 'multi arcade...' words. I'd try to keep that down to just a couple of shades of blue, might make the overall composition work better. The other thing I would try is to bring some of the layer style that you have on the 'multi arcade' words forward to the control areas, maybe make the P1 and P2 more like that. Right now, you've got a big contrast of all hard-line vector looking stuff against a softer background, so a couple of those gradient elements in the foreground might tie it together some.

Taborious · « **Reply #38 on:** February 24, 2005, 04:36:34 pm »

Ah, excellent point on bring the colors to the controls design I think that would work well. I'll have to see if I can spruce it up tonight after I see your touchup job...I have a horrible eye for color and just got lucky with what I have so far. I'm really lacking a theme for the CPO so I don't have many ideas to build off of it's just a CP with a MAME letters across it right now...


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