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[neverwill]

I also obviously posted this in the Xport forum, but I know people here are used to me and might want to contribute some input, praise or criticism.
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Hello all, Xport has commisioned my services to create the default skin for the next version of PCSXbox and I've been quietly working away at it from time to time over the last few weeks or so. After several revisions this is where I am currently at now.

I would like the communities opinions and impressions of this skin as it is or possibly what people would like to see changed etc.

Here is what is included--

I feel personally that the playstation was a more mature based console and I've tried to reflect that in this skin. I don't want it to be kiddy at all. I want it to look sleek and professional. In the beggining I had each of the characters in the BG in full color, but found it to be more powerful to put them in grayscale and only show certain parts of them in color for more impact.

There is a sprite of crash spinning across the screen on the main menu and on the game select screen there is a sprite of laura croft swinging from a vine (which I made) inbetween the game select and the screen shot. There is also a sprite of crash bandicoot catching his breath (from spinning across in the first screen) on the left hand side just at the bottom of the rombrowser sitting on top of the grey bar.

The logo to the left of the PCSXBOX logo is animated as well. Each of the shapes comes out of the speaker looking graphic as it pounds and then flies back in and repeats (moves in and then out). (Custom made by myself.

The sprite for selecting menu items is an xbox A button that morphs into a playstation X button (which I also made.)

Here's a look. (Note the black border is only there for proper sizing on a T.V screen and does not show up on the T.V).

Main menu-- (raziel from the legacy of kain games is the one with the glowing eyes, shows up much lighter on a t.v. Also, Spyro's eyes are purple but it doesn't show very well here.)
(IMG:http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9398/mainfv4.png)

Game Select--
(IMG:http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9265/romselecths5.png)

Loading Screen--
(IMG:http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/509/loadinggz4.png)

This is one frame of the laura swinging sprite--
(IMG:http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/7663/11yz4.png)

Currently I am using a Metal Gear Solid 2 remix in the background (which I don't really plan on keeping). I was thinking of using something from Castlevania Symphony of the Night as I just got ahold of that soundtrack but I'm not sure.

The skin is pretty much done except for sound FX and music.

Please leave feedback and let me know what you all think. Good, bad, ugly?  (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

-neverwill

[Philo]

Uh.......Wow

I know that might not be much help, but let me try to regain my composure and catch my breath.

[Consoleman!]

Sleek theme, neverwill.

The font you used looks terrific also, which is one of the reasons why I feel you went a tad overboard with the shading.  25-40% of the text has ended up cut off.

I prefer how the bottom text is shaded while being mostly visible.

[crewde]

QUOTE(Consoleman! @ Aug 23 2006, 08:20 AM)

Sleek theme, neverwill.

The font you used looks terrific also, which is one of the reasons why I feel you went a tad overboard with the shading.  25-40% of the text has ended up cut off.

I prefer how the bottom text is shaded while being mostly visible.

You must keep in mind that the actual theme on a TV is going to look a lot lighter, and therefore the shading is probably pretty accurate.

Anyways, great theme Neverwill. Only gripe I have is how you only show random colors of the characters. I would like to see the final product before I can make an accurate judgement, but at the moment it looks a bit strange to me. Maybe you could do two other versions of the skin: one in all greyscale and one in full color. Might appeal to the masses more with a little variety...

[warmaster_670]

looks pretty cool, love the left side

[Consoleman!]

QUOTE(crewde @ Aug 23 2006, 04:14 AM)

You must keep in mind that the actual theme on a TV is going to look a lot lighter, and therefore the shading is probably pretty accurate.

I've made multiple skins myself, so I'm not just throwing around assumptions just to nitpick.

I *really* do like the skin, but the TV isn't going to bring out the portions of the text that aren't visible in the first place.

This post has been edited by Consoleman!: Aug 23 2006, 01:44 PM

[neverwill]

QUOTE(Consoleman! @ Aug 23 2006, 01:12 PM)

I've made multiple skins myself, so I'm not just throwing around assumptions just to nitpick.

I *really* do like the skin, but the TV isn't going to bring out the portions of the text that aren't visible in the first place.

I see what you're saying, I'll take a look at it.

Thanks everyone for the input, it's very appreciated. After all, it's the community that will be using this so it's good to get everyone's opinion.

[neverwill]

Here's an update of the main menu, let me know what you think.

I added some characters+made it not quite so dark.

mainmenu--
(IMG:http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/1554/maintg8.png)

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also posted in the xport forum
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[neverwill]

Here's what it would look like in full color with a side by side comparison of the grayscale with color highlights (I was kinda thinking Sin City, for anyone who's seen the movie).

These images are 640x480 and you can test them out , keep in mind none of the menu items will be in the right place though  (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (you can use them in any xport emulator)

Here we are:
Grayscale----
(IMG:http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9421/maintg8of3.png)
Color----
(IMG:http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/8646/mainmenuzj0.png)

Better, worse, too busy, not busy enough (I'm asking in general for both versions, too busy?)?

What is everyones thoughts on full color vs what I did before?

EDIT---------
Here's a concept image of a third option. It could be any of the characters in the front row or I could change the perspective, this is just to put out another idea.
(IMG:http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/742/option3me7.png)

This post has been edited by neverwill: Aug 24 2006, 02:54 AM

[Dracsid]

I like the Greyscale with a little bit of color, it dose look very Pro.

I dont realy know what to say apart from keep it up A++++ dont stop.

Would love to see when finished.

Mod On

Drac

[Chron Johnson]

Something I believe strongly in is screenshot preview areas that are as large as possible.  This makes adding CD case art much more enjoyable and rewarding after installing and setting up your game within the emulator.

[Thraxen]

I'm having a hard time deciding.  On one hand, as Dracsid mentioned, the grayscale with a splash of color does have a more professional look.  But on the other hand I'm drawn to the full color version.  Though if there is any chance of menu items overlapping the images then the grayscale would be better.

This post has been edited by Thraxen: Aug 24 2006, 04:48 AM

[warmaster_670]

snake needs to be touched up when hes coloured, when he has colour  you can really see the white edge along his crotch.

between his gun and his side is a piece of white that was never removed aswell

This post has been edited by warmaster_670: Aug 24 2006, 04:57 AM

[neverwill]

QUOTE(warmaster_670 @ Aug 24 2006, 04:27 AM)

snake needs to be touched up when hes coloured, when he has colour  you can really see the white edge along his crotch.

between his gun and his side is a piece of white that was never removed aswell

I'm aware, I had to re-do that image quickly so people could see what it would look like in color. (I deleted the original from the psd because I didn't think I'd need it haha.)

I'm going to work on having the color fade to gray and then back (and repeat) using a new feature in Xports skinning engine. I guess I can do this with one image (as a sprite) in full 640x480 and I should be o.k (as far as using up memory), and I think it will look really cool. I might have time to mess with this tomorrow hopefully.

On a side note, what do people think would look cooler:
1. The gray image fading to the full color image or
2. Adding animations to some of the characters (like raziels eye's glowing and nemesis's teeth chomping).

I'd like to do both, but I don't know if it's possible.

This post has been edited by neverwill: Aug 24 2006, 06:28 AM

[warmaster_670]

QUOTE(neverwill @ Aug 24 2006, 12:56 AM)

I'm aware, I had to re-do that image quickly so people could see what it would look like in color. (I deleted the original from the psd because I didn't think I'd need it haha.)

I'm going to work on having the color fade to gray and then back (and repeat) using a new feature in Xports skinning engine. I guess I can do this with one image (as a sprite) in full 640x480 and I should be o.k (as far as using up memory), and I think it will look really cool. I might have time to mess with this tomorrow hopefully.

On a side note, what do people think would look cooler:
1. The gray image fading to the full color image or
2. Adding animations to some of the characters (like raziels eye's glowing and nemesis's teeth chomping).

I'd like to do both, but I don't know if it's possible.

hmm, the animations could look nice, though the fading would be cool too.

you could always make both