Marquee Opinions Wanted (Final Design Ordered And Received)

[versapak]

I am finally going to be getting around to finishing my cabinet soon, and still have yet to think up an official name for it. It will be all black with blue t-molding (yes, very original, I know) , but anyway...

Opinions on this design welcome:



High res look at it: http://ldgonzales.home.comcast.net/pac-marquee.jpg


I originally had just the Xbox logo, and a matrix falling characters background, where the characters were popular video game icons from the way way back machine.

After having had that on the drawing board for about a year now , I have decided I don't like it anymore. I like basic, and since I have no name, I figured nothing says arcade machine like PacMan.

[TurboC--]

This is an X-box cabinet then?

I would go a little higher-end on the graphics.  But then I'm a perfectionist. 

[AceTKK]

I like the colors, and I think it's a pretty cool design.  You might want to add a bevel to the edges of the characters to bring them off the background a bit.  Also, some kind of texture/pattern on the background would look good too.

-Ace-

[dema]

I like the colors, but it seems like polar opposites that Pac man is integrated with Xbox. I'd stay with the color scheme but I'd alter the images you're going with.

That's just me though.

[versapak]

I like the colors, but it seems like polar opposites that Pac man is integrated with Xbox. I'd stay with the color scheme but I'd alter the images you're going with.

That's just me though.

How do you mean polar opposites?

I guess in a way that is sort of what I was going for.

It is indeed an Xbox in the cab, but it is running MAME. Pac-Man is an all time favorite, and pretty much THE symbol of classic arcade gaming.

I figured the Xbox symbol pretty much symbolized all the new stuff that the cab will play, and Pac-Man was a great symbol of the classics. I appreciate the suggestion on the subject, but that aspect, with the 2 integrated, will most likely remain intact.

As for graphic quality...

I will be definitely be spending more time on them, as this was mostly just a concept pic, but suggestions on how to improve their quality are always welcomed.

[Bones]

I read & understand your reasons for your choice of colour, but how about you make the dots and Xbox logo the Xbox green colour?

It might help tie the two themes together a bit more.

[dema]

I like the colors, but it seems like polar opposites that Pac man is integrated with Xbox. I'd stay with the color scheme but I'd alter the images you're going with.

That's just me though.

How do you mean polar opposites?

I guess in a way that is sort of what I was going for.

It is indeed an Xbox in the cab, but it is running MAME. Pac-Man is an all time favorite, and pretty much THE symbol of classic arcade gaming.

I figured the Xbox symbol pretty much symbolized all the new stuff that the cab will play, and Pac-Man was a great symbol of the classics. I appreciate the suggestion on the subject, but that aspect, with the 2 integrated, will most likely remain intact.

As for graphic quality...

I will be definitely be spending more time on them, as this was mostly just a concept pic, but suggestions on how to improve their quality are always welcomed.

By polar opposites I meant that when I think of Xbox the last name that comes to mind is Pac Man. But if you're trying to highlight the range of the games in your cabinet then I could see what you're going for. I look forward to seeing the completed image. I really like your choice of color scheme.

[versapak]

I read & understand your reasons for your choice of colour, but how about you make the dots and Xbox logo the Xbox green colour?

It might help tie the two themes together a bit more.

I originally was going with green for the Xbox logo, but ended up changing it to blue, when the decision to go all black with blue t-molding came about for my cab.

I even swapped the internals of MadCatz lightguns (PS2 guns are blue & Xbox are green, but they sit in the same housing), so it is definitely an off color of Xbox, but then it has also been shaped a lil different, since growing to about 6 feet tall, anyway. Not to mention... Pac-Man was never known to be so blue.


Yeah, Pac-Man is deinfitely not what you think of when you think Xbox, but then none of the classic arcade games really are, and I wanted em represented.

I originally tried turning the Xbox logo into Pac-Man, but it was really tough to get it looking nice with that big X in it, so then I thought that the logo would make a great power pellet, and thus you have the current design.

[TurboC--]

Yes I do like the color scheme.  Just thought the Pac & ghost needed to be closer to the real deal.

[versapak]

Just thought the Pac & ghost needed to be closer to the real deal.

heheh

Given your current situation, I would have expected nothing less.

[TurboC--]

Has Chris signed off on your artwork licensing? 

[versapak]

I changed it up a little, because I thought up a name. I figured... Versapak is my nick just about everywhere online. It is my Xbox Live gamertag, and my Xbox based arcade machine is versatile in what it will play, so... there it is.

I tried Versa-Pac, but it seemed a little too cheesey.



High Res View: http://ldgonzales.home.comcast.net/pac-marquee-c.jpg


I also toned down the Xbox bit of the marquee, leaving it only as a single power pellet (though the smaller pellets are still the logo minus the X).

[versapak]

No opinions on that last design?

OK

No biggie...

I went ahead and kept working without the input of my peers.






Anyway...

I think I am approaching my final, if not already there.


High Res: http://ldgonzales.home.comcast.net/pac-marquee-d.jpg
Really Really High Res: http://ldgonzales.home.comcast.net/pac-marquee-huge.jpg (You've been warned)


I posted the full resolution version, so that you could see the screen caps that are now inside the small pellets.

Other changes that were made were, a glow put on the border, I beveled the text, and placed a gradient overlay on it.

The ideas you guys gave on the beveling, and even toning down the Xbox aspect really did help the over all design.

[Bones]

I like the detail in the dots but I don't think it will display as anything recognisable on the marquee. 

[versapak]

I like the detail in the dots but I don't think it will display as anything recognisable on the marquee.

Generally speaking I didn't want them to stand out too much, and wanted them to be a second look sort of detail, so incredible detail is not really required.

Keep in mind that each one of those "little" dots is actually 3/4 of an inch. Not large, but still plenty big enough to see some detail, and I'm hoping enough to distinguish what each screen shot is.

I will be running a test print on just an inkjet on plain paper. If it turns out ok on that, then I assume it would be just fine on a professionally printed product.

If it does not turn out, then it is simply a matter of deleting the layer the reside on.

[versapak]

Well...

I made a sample pic of just the pellets with the screen caps, and had my wife print that out at high quality on an inkjet on regular paper.

I haven't seen the print yet, but she says that the pics are visable and distinguishable. The one I was most concerned about was the 1942 pic, and she was able to make that out with her bad eyes, so I think I am good to go.


I do have a question though...

What is the best place to order a print from, and what kind of detail should I expect from them, compared to a home inkjet print?

[TurboC--]

You didn't make the pac and ghost authentic, for shame! 

[BarontheFirst]

Not saying it doesn't look good but you need more contrast! Plus the only white on it is from the ghost monster for some reason it doesn't look right to me. That is just my opinion.

[Bones]

I haven't seen the print yet, but she says that the pics are visable and distinguishable. The one I was most concerned about was the 1942 pic, and she was able to make that out with her bad eyes, so I think I am good to go.

I would stick a bright light behind the dots and see if you can still make out the detail. If it just looks like a random coloured blob, I think that would look pretty crappy.

I do think they look great however on your high res image when I zoom right up to them.....

[versapak]

I put a light behind the print out on regular paper and it looked decent.


I will probably pay the money to get this one printed, and if it doesn't work out, then I will just suffer the loss, and get one printed without the shots in the dots.

[versapak]

Well...


I ordered the print from http://mamemarquees.com, and received it today...

It looks absolutely incredible. The little screenshots in the pac-dots are not only distinguishable, but they are crystal clear, and look darn near as perfect as they do when viewing em on the PC monitor.