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Hosted Projects - Standalone => Diaspora => Topic started by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 23, 2009, 09:41:24 am

Title: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 23, 2009, 09:41:24 am
After a short chat in our lair in Mordo... erm, on the irc channel, we decided to open up the developement of the game a bit more for everyone to see. There are a couple of benefits from this:

1) Since the show is now over, there's less for you guys to talk about here on the public forum and thus less interest to come over on regular basis. We want to keep the place alive and posting WIP stuff more often serves to further that goal.

2) More direct feedback from you. While not all ideas can be implemented, we do appreciate the comments and take them into account.

3) Stroking our frail artistic egos  :P

Anyway, the interface. It's one of the biggest remaining obstacles on the way to a truly standalone game from Freespace 2 (we've been running with the standard fs2 interface art so far) and thus of high priority if we want to make a release anytime soon. It's also a huge amount of work, and not very satisfying thanks to being limited to the basic layout of the original fs2 interface. But it has to be done.

Some of you may remember the BtRL interface; that was mostly my work, but I was never quite satisfied with how it ended up looking. So this time around I've decided to try and make the best possible looking interface from the start so I dont have to come back later and redo the work because the thing keeps bugging me. I hope I'll archieve this goal, but knowing me, I might redo it all anyway within a year or two :P

Most of you've already seen the mainhall I did months ago, but here's a reminder:

(http://i38.tinypic.com/350ktb6.png)

And here's the very first test image of the very first new menu, the pilot selection. Early WIP of course, I'm currently playing around with texturing and lightning setup.

(http://i42.tinypic.com/1pfcc4.png)

I snatched the basic idea for the design from some BSG card game image I found online. Yea, how evil and unimaginative of me.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: On_Your_Six on March 23, 2009, 09:49:33 am
Solid beginning, looking forward to the flight deck. :)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 23, 2009, 09:50:59 am
Not gonna happen I'm afraid. Way too much work to model entire interiors. Besides, it would look out of place if we decided to make a campaign on any other ship than a Columbia-class battlestar.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: On_Your_Six on March 23, 2009, 10:01:42 am
Ah, oh, aww.

No harm done though, the reasoning makes sense and it allows time to be invested in other areas, folks won't be playing these games to look at the menu interfaces.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Morwen on March 23, 2009, 12:05:24 pm
I really like how you stuck to the BSG theme in that interface, with the colouring and the ribbings. I thought of the exact same thing before seeing this pic. Subtle details like these make it so awesome :)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: tikey on March 23, 2009, 02:43:59 pm
Wouldn't be better if the background was the same in all the menus (or at least the same colour)? It would give it more coherence between the different interface screens.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: General Battuta on March 23, 2009, 03:03:43 pm
deeeiiiiii

kooooboooooolll

(Actually, I reckon you're getting new music to go with your gorgeous new menu.)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: StarSlayer on March 23, 2009, 03:17:00 pm
I am lobbying hard for "Battlestar Muzaktica" to be the multiplayer lobby/loading music.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Prutus on March 23, 2009, 03:22:53 pm
Looking nice, thou one thing I would like most to see as background, is the red elevator doors from galactica hangardeck. but I see this wont be happening, due those campaings away from galactica.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Deckard on March 23, 2009, 06:12:35 pm
Feedback?.. sure thing:

Your "mainhall" design is great. So I'd suggest to move forward with it. The textures combo you used on it looks very cool so you may properly use it as basis for the whole UI. Maybe the normal state buttons could go with yellow or blue colors due that the diaspora logo captures the end-user's attention a little too much. Other than that, the mix of dark and yellow textures on the blueish background looks somehow Colonial and Cylon at the same time. I do like it !

The new textures you've put on the new Pilot Selection Box look cool as well. The blue content on the buttons a bit too bright, imo.. but as you said is WIP.. so I've said nothing on them.. :P

As you said, the making of the whole UI means A LOT of work so maybe, maybe, R1 could be ready to go with part of the final UI into it.

Hope this helps somehow. Keep up with the good work!! :)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 24, 2009, 01:19:46 am
As you said, the making of the whole UI means A LOT of work so maybe, maybe, R1 could be ready to go with part of the final UI into it.
Unfortunately that's really not an option. First of all we are doing a total conversion, meaning we need to replace as many of the FS2 assets as possible, preferrably all of them. Secondly, wouldn't it be a real mood killer to have this new and shiny interface on some menus and the old FS2 one on others?

This is what we meant by saying the R1 requires the most work. It's the building of the foundations such as the interface that takes time.

Anyway, the newest render I whipped up this morning. Lots of things to do still, but getting there:

(http://i42.tinypic.com/315n37r.png)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Fish on March 24, 2009, 01:53:25 am
Hey, that's a pretty awesome improvement. It seems clear that you've got the right idea of what to aim for!
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Dilmah G on March 24, 2009, 03:59:27 am
Hey, that's a pretty awesome improvement. It seems clear that you've got the right idea of what to aim for!

Yeahh, looks AWESOME
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Sidestep on March 24, 2009, 07:19:46 am
Very impressive and evocative of the show
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Demitri on March 24, 2009, 07:29:29 am
Looking good. If I can can make one suggestion, it might look better with a blue band round it instead of red to make it look more colonial. That might just be personal preference on my part tho.
Nice work nonetheless.  :yes:
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Dilmah G on March 24, 2009, 08:19:24 am
Looking good. If I can can make one suggestion, it might look better with a blue band round it instead of red to make it look more colonial. That might just be personal preference on my part tho.
Nice work nonetheless.  :yes:

Well the red band reminds me of the paint scheme on a Viper, so I don't have any issues with it.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Sidestep on March 24, 2009, 09:56:03 am
Looking good. If I can can make one suggestion, it might look better with a blue band round it instead of red to make it look more colonial. That might just be personal preference on my part tho.
Nice work nonetheless.  :yes:

Well the red band reminds me of the paint scheme on a Viper, so I don't have any issues with it.

I agree, and I always associated Galactica with red, if not for the titles at the beginning of every episode, then all the markings on Galactica herself!
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Deckard on March 24, 2009, 07:58:28 pm
Yep, /me likes the red touches too. Maybe the blueish background could be a bit more bright though. Other than that this WIP looks cool, indeed ;)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Kyle_K_ski on March 24, 2009, 09:44:45 pm
Looks great so far.

And may I say that the team's approach to "opening up the process more now that the show's over" is just brilliantly fantastic?  Thanks for extending a bit of a hand to us.  Let's hope it doesn't get bitten!   ;)

I always thought that it would really hit home if one of the interface screens was a Devotion Wall, such as the one featured throughout Galactica's run.  I'm not sure what they called it during the series, but it was the portion of corridor where photographs of the dearly departed and some of their possessions were posted in remembrance.  Not only would it feel authentic, but it would be a pretty gritty, grim and disturbing reminder of the stakes involved. 

What would make it especially chilling is if photographs were added to it as the game progressed.  Oh yes, I love that idea, don't you?  Hell yeah, you do, how could you not?   ;)

It'd probably be a real mother frakker to figure out, but all things worth doing are that way, are they not?

Let me know what you think of the idea, and whether or not it's doable! 

And don't worry, all I'll charge for my contribution is 15% of the gross profits.  Oh yeah, baby, I'll be rollin' in the dough any day now!  "Worldwide economic crisis?"  What "worldwide economic crisis?"  Me has my thick wallet of Diaspora bucks right here Daddy-O!

 ;)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 25, 2009, 12:44:21 am
I always thought that it would really hit home if one of the interface screens was a Devotion Wall, such as the one featured throughout Galactica's run.  I'm not sure what they called it during the series, but it was the portion of corridor where photographs of the dearly departed and some of their possessions were posted in remembrance.  Not only would it feel authentic, but it would be a pretty gritty, grim and disturbing reminder of the stakes involved. 

What would make it especially chilling is if photographs were added to it as the game progressed.  Oh yes, I love that idea, don't you?  Hell yeah, you do, how could you not?   ;)
The devotion wall has the same problem that any other location specific to Galactica has: It's specific to Galactica. The interface needs to be generic enough so we and fans alike can make campaigns that dont necessarily take place on Galactica.

Anyway, almost there.

(http://i39.tinypic.com/33uelvd.png)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Dilmah G on March 25, 2009, 04:11:36 am
Woah, that looks awesome! :)

Would it make it more realistic if Pilot Selection were changed to Pilot Roster? Like they would probably have on a Battlestar or any ship carrying spacecraft really.

Just a suggestion though, and I could think of plenty of reasons why it wouldn't fit, but it just occurred to me as a "Spur-of-the-moment" thing.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 25, 2009, 06:31:11 am
You're right, Pilot Roster sounds better. I'll change it when I get the chance.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Dilmah G on March 25, 2009, 06:38:41 am
You're right, Pilot Roster sounds better. I'll change it when I get the chance.
:)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: castor on March 25, 2009, 02:27:24 pm
I was never the biggest fan of the interface art in the "other" mod, but so far this looks great, well polished!
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 28, 2009, 02:13:54 pm
Here's the release candidate for the thing... last call for any major suggestions and such, since the rest of the the interface is more or less going to look pretty much the same and I wont be changing anything big later on.

(http://i43.tinypic.com/2im2qnd.png)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: shiv on March 28, 2009, 02:17:36 pm
Melikes ;7 :yes:
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Hellstryker on March 28, 2009, 03:10:01 pm
Not liking the brown tiling in the background... Good otherwise though.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Locutus of Borg on March 28, 2009, 03:44:58 pm
Didn't they use a white board for the pilot list?
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: karajorma on March 28, 2009, 04:52:04 pm
Wouldn't work very well with the computerised font the pilot list uses though. If we had about a dozen more coders to play around with the interface then having it as the whiteboard might be nice.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Locutus of Borg on March 28, 2009, 06:41:25 pm
Just examinen the angles

xD

Question: Will we see interior battles like we did in 'the other mod', I really enjoyed blowing up toasters inside an asteroid.

The Silent Threat Reborn team also did an interior battle, involving flying inside a space station and destroying a bomber trying to destroy the core of said station.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Dilmah G on March 28, 2009, 06:42:15 pm
:) Looks Good
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Fish on March 28, 2009, 07:02:52 pm
The texturing and lighting looks great :D But are the button icons standard FS2?

The icons representing single- and multi-player, and the copy/delete icons, and even the up/down icons all look quite stock (and unrelated to BSG). I guess you can't use Viper silhouettes, but hmm...
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: IceFire on March 28, 2009, 07:29:34 pm
Looks fantastic!  Very true to the show and also very usable.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Zacam on March 29, 2009, 01:39:26 am
What sort of highlight mouse over effects will be displayed under this interface?
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Dilmah G on March 29, 2009, 01:49:26 am
What sort of highlight mouse over effects will be displayed under this interface?

The buttons lighting up I suppose
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Blue Lion on March 29, 2009, 01:54:59 am
For some reason the background makes me think I'm looking down at a bathroom scale from the future.

Better than anything I could do though.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 29, 2009, 02:03:47 am
Not like the brown tiling in the background... Good otherwise though.
It's supposed to be a slightly rusty/copperish plating. As I dislike using pure grey in anything, it stays :P

Question: Will we see interior battles like we did in 'the other mod', I really enjoyed blowing up toasters inside an asteroid.
Not in R1. We liked being able to fly inside the asteroid too thought, so maybe in the future.

The texturing and lighting looks great :D But are the button icons standard FS2?

The icons representing single- and multi-player, and the copy/delete icons, and even the up/down icons all look quite stock (and unrelated to BSG). I guess you can't use Viper silhouettes, but hmm...
I'm keeping some of the stock FS2 icons that are generic enough (how do you make an arrow look BSGish anyway?) and replacing others with new ones. The create/clone/delete buttons are actually BSG rank pip silhouettes.

What sort of highlight mouse over effects will be displayed under this interface?
Button lights up on highlight, and is pressed down when you click it.

For some reason the background makes me think I'm looking down at a bathroom scale from the future.
All the textures are from cgtextures.com and are actually real photos. I just tweak them a lot and create separate color-, diffuse-, shine-, reflection- and normalmaps for rendering purposes.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Blue Lion on March 29, 2009, 02:09:12 am

All the textures are from cgtextures.com and are actually real photos. I just tweak them a lot and create separate color-, diffuse-, shine-, reflection- and normalmaps for rendering purposes.

I didn't really say it looked fake or anything. It just... looks like floor tile. *shrugs*
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Narvi on March 29, 2009, 02:14:34 am
I'm keeping some of the stock FS2 icons that are generic enough (how do you make an arrow look BSGish anyway?) and replacing others with new ones. The create/clone/delete buttons are actually BSG rank pip silhouettes.

Cut off all the corners.  :drevil:
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Fish on March 29, 2009, 02:50:23 am
The texturing and lighting looks great :D But are the button icons standard FS2?

The icons representing single- and multi-player, and the copy/delete icons, and even the up/down icons all look quite stock (and unrelated to BSG). I guess you can't use Viper silhouettes, but hmm...
I'm keeping some of the stock FS2 icons that are generic enough (how do you make an arrow look BSGish anyway?) and replacing others with new ones. The create/clone/delete buttons are actually BSG rank pip silhouettes.

Ah, nice touch. I just had a thought that you could use Dradis-like icons for the single/multi buttons? The shape is identical regardless of the type of fightercraft, but it distinguishes between a single ship and a wing.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 29, 2009, 03:32:27 am
I didn't really say it looked fake or anything. It just... looks like floor tile. *shrugs*
Yea, I just wanted to point out that the background is actually some copper plated wall instead of floor tiles, even if it looks like that :D

Ah, nice touch. I just had a thought that you could use Dradis-like icons for the single/multi buttons? The shape is identical regardless of the type of fightercraft, but it distinguishes between a single ship and a wing.
The Viper dradis icon is a rather complex shape to be used on the buttons. The details get so small it might be a bit hard to actually see what the icon is supposed to represent.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Ace on March 29, 2009, 04:03:04 pm
It wouldn't hurt to see what it looks like, and it might actually work rather well.

Also, as to the comment about cutting the corners on the FS2 arrows, that might actually work ;)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on March 29, 2009, 11:38:37 pm
Fine, I'll do it, but it takes a day or two since I'm busy at work and rendering this thing take a while :P
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Hellstryker on March 30, 2009, 03:21:20 am
I didn't say you had to use pure gray, it's just that it seems too.. perfect. There are are plenty of free texture sites out there, you might try looking around a bit.

Edit: Hey, how about this: http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/Tyrkeyz/?action=view&current=metal_design_8240015.jpg
With some tweaks I think it could be just what you're looking for. Gives off a nice BSG Vibe too.
Edit 2: My take on it: http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/Tyrkeyz/?action=view&current=metal_design_8240015-1.png
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Dilmah G on March 30, 2009, 03:44:31 am
I didn't say you had to use pure gray, it's just that it seems too.. perfect. There are are plenty of free texture sites out there, you might try looking around a bit.

Edit: Hey, how about this: http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/Tyrkeyz/?action=view&current=metal_design_8240015.jpg
With some tweaks I think it could be just what you're looking for. Gives off a nice BSG Vibe too.
Edit 2: My take on it: http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/Tyrkeyz/?action=view&current=metal_design_8240015-1.png

Hmm, I like C-Fodders better but thats my opinion

just has a "Battlestar" look to it, by that I mean the interior, like I'm on the flight deck, looking at some screen scouring it for my name
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Sidestep on March 30, 2009, 05:01:46 am
I agree, Cannonfodder's looks much better IMHO. Looks like a wall on a Battlestar, rather than a section of pottery.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Angreifer on March 30, 2009, 11:42:47 am
I didn't say you had to use pure gray, it's just that it seems too.. perfect. There are are plenty of free texture sites out there, you might try looking around a bit.

Edit: Hey, how about this: http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/Tyrkeyz/?action=view&current=metal_design_8240015.jpg
With some tweaks I think it could be just what you're looking for. Gives off a nice BSG Vibe too.
Edit 2: My take on it: http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/Tyrkeyz/?action=view&current=metal_design_8240015-1.png

That texture has swastikas in it, lol.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Locutus of Borg on March 30, 2009, 01:58:44 pm
I didn't say you had to use pure gray, it's just that it seems too.. perfect. There are are plenty of free texture sites out there, you might try looking around a bit.

Edit: Hey, how about this: http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/Tyrkeyz/?action=view&current=metal_design_8240015.jpg
With some tweaks I think it could be just what you're looking for. Gives off a nice BSG Vibe too.
Edit 2: My take on it: http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/Tyrkeyz/?action=view&current=metal_design_8240015-1.png

That texture has swastikas in it, lol.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Hellstryker on March 30, 2009, 07:56:59 pm
I didn't say you had to use pure gray, it's just that it seems too.. perfect. There are are plenty of free texture sites out there, you might try looking around a bit.

Edit: Hey, how about this: http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/Tyrkeyz/?action=view&current=metal_design_8240015.jpg
With some tweaks I think it could be just what you're looking for. Gives off a nice BSG Vibe too.
Edit 2: My take on it: http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/Tyrkeyz/?action=view&current=metal_design_8240015-1.png

That texture has swastikas in it, lol.

Hitler stole the Swastika.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Locutus of Borg on March 30, 2009, 11:49:24 pm
Still, it puts across a bad idea
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: StarSlayer on March 31, 2009, 12:59:31 am
Now that we have merrily driven down th' express lane to Godwin's Law, you may return to th' task at hand which be th' Interface Art.  It not be discussin' Nazis.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Meleardil on March 31, 2009, 07:06:58 am
Everyone falling to the common brainwash will be considered to have zero significant mental activity, and all opinions and rants will be automatically redirected to /dev/null. Those who are incapable of thinking on their own, please spare us of their parrot activity.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 04, 2009, 07:58:52 am
Ugh, I've lost all perspective on if the changes I make to the image are an improvement or not. I'm gonna call it 98% done, and wont be making any major adjustements to this menu any longer. I've spent enough of time with it as is.

(http://i42.tinypic.com/68d7c0.png)

Comments are still welcome, but I think it's time to move on.

Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: newman on April 04, 2009, 08:13:02 am
(http://i42.tinypic.com/ogwimo.gif)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Deckard on April 04, 2009, 08:25:47 am
Hey, very cool!..  and I do like the lighning a lot.

Also, you guys might consider as background that familiar and well known Galactica's mechanical litany.

Once more; keep up the good work! ;)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: castor on April 04, 2009, 09:47:48 am
"dirt" on the buttons could use a slight blur IMO, but its pretty anyways :yes:
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Sidestep on April 04, 2009, 12:32:13 pm
Very nice  :yes:
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Ace on April 04, 2009, 12:40:09 pm
The dirt does not need a blur. However, all of the dirt layers in the GUI should be reduced by at least 30% or so in transparency.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 04, 2009, 01:36:10 pm
No. Trust me, I spent a lot of time trying to do just that and it just ended up looking more like concrete than metal. The dirt and grime are what makes the whole thing interesting to look at.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: torc on April 04, 2009, 01:59:50 pm
great job man!...  :yes:
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Snail on April 04, 2009, 02:44:50 pm
Nice.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Zacam on April 04, 2009, 10:16:40 pm
K, I was more specifically asking what the mouse over effects would look like, not what kind there would be.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Deckard on April 11, 2009, 07:50:11 am
Just one more thingie on that button to the left:  You might improve it a little by reducing the dirty texx a bit or by putting some more of grey into it. Not enough visible IMO.

Other than that, and for the lack of a better word.. perfect ! :)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 13, 2009, 03:25:07 am
Working ingame. I had to add another text field thingy thanks to original FS2 interface being weird, but that's no biggie.

(http://i40.tinypic.com/wrddp2.png)

So... what should I do next? :)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 13, 2009, 04:07:17 am
While I was at it... splash screen.

(http://i40.tinypic.com/2vxltur.png)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Black Wolf on April 13, 2009, 06:38:08 am
Options screen :nod:. You're going to have to do it eventually, and all those little buttons and lights might be reuseable later.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 13, 2009, 06:44:54 am
I think I'm gonna leave options last, it was a total nightmare the last time  :P
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Ace on April 13, 2009, 02:01:36 pm
Do you have a render of the pilot select screen background alone? I might take a shot at making a splash screen, though yours works.

As for a suggestion for the next screen:
Barracks/Pilot options?

Also, since these are all being modeled, maybe Slayer should do some concepts for medals?

My suggestion would be using them like achievements: Having two medals per release. One being a "I beat this campaign with this pilot" the other being when you complete all bonus objectives.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Dilmah G on April 13, 2009, 10:55:36 pm
Did anyone else find PLEASE WAIT being written on the "Pilot Roster" the slightest bit weird/contradictory?

Would "UPLOADING ROSTER" or some variation make a bit more sense?
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 13, 2009, 11:21:51 pm
The text is easy enough so change, so maybe yea.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: A2597 on April 14, 2009, 05:37:47 pm
first off, that looks absolutely amazing. Great work, and I love it. The lighting, textures, etc are excellent.

Now, my views of it as a graphic artist. :D

My one and only concern with it is the screen for the "Single" and "multi" buttons. They compleatly blend in with their surroundings.

Now, this may be a moot point with it in action, the text under it, mouseovers, etc. I can't really tell all those from a static image.  But without the text, it needs contrast. Not much, maybe just 5 to 10% darker than the surroundings.

Again, great work man!
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Angreifer on April 14, 2009, 10:57:44 pm
first off, that looks absolutely amazing. Great work, and I love it. The lighting, textures, etc are excellent.

Now, my views of it as a graphic artist. :D

My one and only concern with it is the screen for the "Single" and "multi" buttons. They compleatly blend in with their surroundings.

Now, this may be a moot point with it in action, the text under it, mouseovers, etc. I can't really tell all those from a static image.  But without the text, it needs contrast. Not much, maybe just 5 to 10% darker than the surroundings.

Again, great work man!


The single/multi buttons look fine to me. I think maybe you mean the "New Player" and "Clone Player" buttons, the ones on the bottom left? That's my opinion, anyways.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 14, 2009, 11:11:12 pm
I was worried about button visibility too, but to be honest the problem is pretty much nonexistant ingame. The text labels near the buttons identify them nicely and the highlight effect finishes the job.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: FraktuRe on April 15, 2009, 04:00:11 am
I'd have thought the cloning option would only be available on the basestar pilot roster ;)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 17, 2009, 12:55:34 pm
And this my friends is why I hate the rigid FS2 interface. It wastes space on ridiculous things (that massive upper screen is reserved for the list of campaigns you can play), forces me to use it's button positioning down to pixel and thus utterly destroys any attempt I make at creating a visually coherrent and appealing interface.

(http://i42.tinypic.com/1675jt0.png)

Yea yea, there are a few things still amiss with this one, like the metal poking through the campaign description field and too bright reflections on the screens. I'll get those fixed when I can bother.

Can you tell I'm a bit pissed?
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: TESLA on April 17, 2009, 01:14:43 pm

Yea yea, there are a few things still amiss with this one, like the metal poking through the campaign description field and too bright reflections on the screens. I'll get those fixed when I can bother.

Can you tell I'm a bit pissed?


me thinks you need to go out for a few beers!  :yes:
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 17, 2009, 01:15:17 pm
Likewise.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: TESLA on April 17, 2009, 01:19:23 pm
Likewise.


two hours............party, party, party..................hangover
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Ace on April 17, 2009, 01:33:40 pm
And this my friends is why I hate the rigid FS2 interface. It wastes space on ridiculous things (that massive upper screen is reserved for the list of campaigns you can play), forces me to use it's button positioning down to pixel and thus utterly destroys any attempt I make at creating a visually coherrent and appealing interface.

(http://i42.tinypic.com/1675jt0.png)

Yea yea, there are a few things still amiss with this one, like the metal poking through the campaign description field and too bright reflections on the screens. I'll get those fixed when I can bother.

Can you tell I'm a bit pissed?

I like the overall layout, but I think that the grill texture should be used sparingly. Have some more regular metal over the grill sections so the grills pop in to add some more detail in areas but aren't overwhelming?
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 17, 2009, 01:39:39 pm
Yea, I was thinking of breaking it up with some misc detailing. I'll have to think about it.

And Ace man, drop by irc more often. Easier to discuss these things there  :)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: MR_T3D on April 17, 2009, 03:40:11 pm
what if you could make the campains bigger in their text?
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Dilmah G on April 17, 2009, 09:38:22 pm
It looks fine IMO
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Ace on April 17, 2009, 11:24:06 pm
Yea, I was thinking of breaking it up with some misc detailing. I'll have to think about it.

And Ace man, drop by irc more often. Easier to discuss these things there  :)

270 pages of editing over the last couple of days, not fun :/
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on April 18, 2009, 12:17:44 am
what if you could make the campains bigger in their text?
The ingame text? Can't edit that in any way.

Incidentally, when I complained about the interface karajorma decided to take a look at the code. He soon backed away making warding signs  :P
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: StarSlayer on April 18, 2009, 12:23:19 am
Yes he was making devotions to the Lord Rahl for mercy and protection.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Ace on April 18, 2009, 01:57:30 am
Let alone the horrible sacrifices made to Yogg-Saron.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: karajorma on April 18, 2009, 02:46:17 am
Incidentally, when I complained about the interface karajorma decided to take a look at the code. He soon backed away making warding signs  :P

That's cause the parsing code for that particular table is awful. I'll have to take a look at ways to stick it into a different table.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Spidey- on April 19, 2009, 12:29:42 pm
looks awesome!

Well for the nitpicks, if you want:
- The lighting might be a little severe or maybe its the positioning, but the way it makes the scroll buttons contrast each other is a bit off-putting and maybe draws unwanted attention
- The glossy shinespots on the metal corners around the "campaign" text at the bottom makes it look plastic
- you missed a couple pixels on the right of the description box :D

again, just my nitpicks, totally looks pro
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Aardwolf on April 26, 2009, 11:50:14 am
I suggest making a cursor, the FS2 one is... FS2's.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on June 04, 2009, 10:39:11 am
What do you know, it only took a few tracks of M.I.A and a hurting back that kept me home to get things rolling again.

(http://i39.tinypic.com/29ppu00.png)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: General Battuta on June 04, 2009, 10:50:57 am
Looks ideal!
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Ace on June 04, 2009, 02:07:41 pm
The lighting on the side buttons could use a little tweaking to be more consistent, and the select button could be made a little taller (with the icon portion of it centered) so that the blank space between the text and button matches closer with the space between the 'restart campaign' text and button.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on June 04, 2009, 10:50:14 pm
The lighting on the side buttons could use a little tweaking to be more consistent, and the select button could be made a little taller (with the icon portion of it centered) so that the blank space between the text and button matches closer with the space between the 'restart campaign' text and button.

The lightning differences come from HDR reflections and while I agree that they dont quite match, rotating the background that gives the reflections would only create similar problems elsewhere. I just dont want to spend ages tweaking things to perfection, as much as that goes against my base instincts.

As for the select button, here we come to the fun joys of being restricted by the original FS2 interface. I can only move the highlighting part of the button a few pixels to any given direction, so that has to stay in place. Stretching the entire button vertically while leaving the highlighting area intact on the other hand would mean pushing the button frame thingy out of the image. That looks really dumb on the scroll buttons on the side as it is, and I'd like to avoid it if possible.

For the record, I think that whoever was responsible for the interface text placement was really sloppy. The texts are inconsistently placed and never where you'd expected them to be.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Dilmah G on June 05, 2009, 04:23:25 am
Damn, that's some awesome shimbizzle right there :D
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Deckard on June 05, 2009, 02:46:30 pm
I like it :D
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: MR_T3D on June 05, 2009, 03:37:51 pm
excelllent, except 'campaigns' ought to be caps locked
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: General Battuta on June 05, 2009, 03:41:29 pm
excelllent, except 'campaigns' ought to be caps locked

Y'know, I concur. Awfully difficult, or easy change?
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on June 05, 2009, 10:13:37 pm
Changing the text is actually easy, but I prefer it without caps.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Dilmah G on June 06, 2009, 10:13:29 am
So do I, it looks more "friendly" IMO.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: MetalDestroyer on June 06, 2009, 11:50:53 am
There was a time where you can make an in-game menu with LUA. Is it still the case ? I think, with LUA, it will allow you more freedom.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on June 06, 2009, 01:52:23 pm
We have propably some of the best lua scripters of the community on our team and even with their help the advantages are limited to say the least.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Aardwolf on June 07, 2009, 08:04:40 pm
Cursors ...
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on June 07, 2009, 10:57:24 pm
The damn mouse cursor is not that easy to make you know  :P
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: StarSlayer on June 08, 2009, 12:07:45 am
Curses!
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Aardwolf on October 23, 2009, 02:20:56 pm
:bump:

Cursors?
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Deckard on October 24, 2009, 08:58:33 am
Who cares... put into it some Flintstone based cursor if you want :D  The interface rocks and keep more screen shots coming, please !!.

Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Locutus of Borg on October 24, 2009, 10:50:07 am
As long as you don't design vipers so that you have to move your legs to get them to move :)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Mongoose on October 24, 2009, 12:23:02 pm
"Cylons! Meet the Cylons! They're the modern cyborg family!"
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Aardwolf on October 24, 2009, 03:24:18 pm
"Cylons! Meet the Cylons! They're the modern cyborg family!"

To the tune of the Flintstones themesong, of course.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Narvi on October 24, 2009, 04:33:46 pm
"Cylons! Meet the Cylons! They're the modern cyborg family!"

To the tune of the Flintstones themesong, of course.

...utilizing your voice to sing it, of course.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Mongoose on October 24, 2009, 04:50:19 pm
It's like stabbing a joke in the gut and sitting there watching it bleed out, isn't it? :p
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Aardwolf on October 24, 2009, 05:59:44 pm
DIE DIE DIE!!!!!

Take that, potentially humorous joke!
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Deckard on October 25, 2009, 04:41:03 pm
8)

Soooo... Lt.Cannonfodder; any new picture of it there at your end ? :)
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Lt.Cannonfodder on October 27, 2009, 07:29:22 am
I wish. Pretty much all of my time goes to earning a living these days.
Title: Re: Interface art
Post by: Deckard on October 27, 2009, 03:11:36 pm
Hey, no problem. These are tight times, indeed.. hope all gets better within the next months.