Update Preview image and add Media folder for badges #1087
Conversation
Removed "FastTrack Edition" tagline. I'm open to the following suggestions: - Replacing the cowboy with a stylized version of sombrero guy - Ideas for a new tagline text in the black bar?
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@sumghai By the way, there will be no new 1.0 release. 1.0.1.9.1 is considered final for that version. The next one will probably be 1.1.2.0 As for the logo, here's my opinion - sombrero is a must for sure. Gotta do something in PS at a later time. |
sumghai
changed the title
Okies, edited PR title accordingly.
I did the current logo as vector art in Inkscape, before exporting to PNG. If you're absolutely certain you want me to replace generic cowboy with sombrero guy in the current style, please let me know - I don't want to commit to doing artwork that will ultimately get rejected.
So basically a storyteller portrait version of sombrero guy (possibly accompanied by a tribal and a space marine)? That might be neat, although I'm wondering if it would look too "busy". Incidentally, how do you feel about the yellow/black/white color scheme with shades of grey as the backdrop? I'm thinking that we could adopt this color scheme for CE's own Steam Workshop description, as well as for illustrated flowcharts/guides on the GitHub wiki. Current CE:FT logo and banners used on Steam Workshop
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@sumghai Yeah, don't start a new logo if there's a lot of work to do for it. We haven't heard from others yet. |
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@zozilin - Admittedly, I based the colors on the minimalist game UI for Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, hence no hazard stripes. It makes for a nice callback to how CE is essentially the Flashpoint/ARMA of combat in RimWorld: OF:DR UI Screencaps
I think there's a distinction to be made between a logo and a preview image:
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Alright, preview image tbd. @N7Huntsman @Alicecomma @zhrocks11 What do you guys think? |
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@zozilin @N7Huntsman @Alicecomma @zhrocks11 - Logo concepts:
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I like both on the bottom row. Can left one's mustache be black? Maybe with white contour where it meets black background. |
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Okie doke, updated with the black moustache on the left, and the sombrero head upscaled by 120%
The crossed flintlock muskets had to be downscaled by 80%, and I'm concerned they might be too small to be recognizable.
The correct way to do Discord icon backgrounds is, indeed, to make them square and let Discord crop the circle - I had originally left the circles in during the first pass because I was trying to make sure the sombrero head didn't get too close to the edge of the circle. Also, here's a "CE Compatible" banner concept made with an alternative logo design, for third-party modders to add to their Steam Workshop descriptions:
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Yeah, bigger moustache variant looks good. If pistols are too small, maybe the discord version should not have them at all? |
I could do a pistol-less version, although then the icon wouldn't really be obviously combat-related - we might end up being called "that mexican hat mod" instead. Alternatively, what about the alternative version at the bottom of my last comment? (Ignore the
I assume the disagreement is taking place within the Discord channel itself? I can put together three "final" icon designs tomorrow night:
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Well, yes, it's people in discord, that's why I am considering a poll. Some of what I see concerns flintlocks not being a part of CE - using a tacticool knife from the original or some other gun, etc. Some don't want it to change. |
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Okay, having spent a bit more time on this. The main criticism is flintlocks, from what I see. Most don't understand how they are related to CE. 'CE Compatible' idea is fine to me.
How about
The poll - I will make it clear that it is a (discord) logo change and an addition of a CE label. A side to side comparison of old and new versions. People will be able to vote yay/nay or request changes. Ultimately, what do you want from a logo change? It's a bit awkward, juggling conversation here and there. How do you feel about a poll? |
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Also - I haven't asked yet, but what about Luizi, who makes gun retextures? He might be able to make an AK silhouette or something |
Aha! I just realized that the weapon in the original picture is a scoped knife, not a scoped flintlock. My mistake. I'm going to narrow down the proposed options to:
Let me get back to you by tomorrow night with the options, since (as you and @N7Huntsman know) I currently live in a region with certain restrictions on what websites I can access, and my usual means of bypassing that is a bit wonky tonight.* *This is, incidentally, why I am usually unable to go on Discord, besides my reluctance to wade back into the CE channel especially. |
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Apologies for the delay, @zozilin - had internet troubles last night. Discord Channel Icon options for pollSombrero Guy Sombrero Guy with pair of AK-47s Sombrero Guy with pair of Tacticool Knives To help explain my overall vision for the branding update, I've put together a small concept art / branding guideline thingy. You may wish to share this on Discord as well. CE Branding Update Overview
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I will track and add suggestions for logo change made in discord to this post as they come. Feel free to use them or not. There also might be some in poll results comment section. |
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@sumghai turns out that platform for polling was not the best choice. |
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@zozilin - Ooh, the AK-47 plus Tacticool knife combo looks interesting! That's definitely a contender. At the time of writing, the StrawPoll results look fairly close, with the Changers leading by 8%. When is the cutoff date for this first poll? Also, if the decision is made to change, I presume you would start a second poll for people to choose from the four options?
Finally, if the Discord logo gets changed, should we start looking for an artist to draw the storyteller portrait of Sombrero Guy for the Preview image? |
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I'm disappointed that Sombrero Guy is included, but the icons don't look too bad otherwise. |
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@sumghai The poll will be open for a week.
As you can see, I simplified it to yes/no choice to have a clear result. If the new logo wins, we'll start taking in suggestions for the logo. Overall, seeing as it's a very close thing, I'd like to have it as a more community based project if there are more ideas to come. Options for the second poll tbd.
Yes. So far I've asked a few people, but they declined for one reason or another. We can look into it after poll closure. |
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@sumghai Poll closed, with 55% votes for a new logo. |
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@zozilin - I see. So aside from my four options + proposed branding guidelines, who else has offered up alternative logo/branding designs? |
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@sumghai Well, maybe a variant with alternative background color - yellow or similar. Also the cone of the hat to be less angular. I think that's all. |
More icon variantsI did my best to blunt the cone of the Sombrero, and I think that's as far as I can go: Updated Branding Guideline ProposalIn my opinion, the black logos look better when used with the "CE Compatible" badges |
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@sumghai , The poll is up.
I agree, that one can be made black regardless of the final result |
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@sumghai The poll can be considered closed. |
Discord Channel Icon source file (512 x 512 px)
I'd like to keep this PR open a bit longer, since the Preview Image update affects both the GitHub and Steam releases. |
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@N7Huntsman - Looping you in on the current conversation, since you're maintaining the Steam Workshop release of CE. As per the preceding comments, I'm proposing a rebranding of Combat Extended to modernize and "freshen up" the preview image, Steam Workshop banners, Discord channel icon etc. CE Branding Update guidelines
The color scheme and typography were heavily inspired by the minimalist game UI for Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, which makes for a nice callback to how CE is essentially the Flashpoint/ARMA (i.e. realistic MilSim) of combat in RimWorld: OF:DR UI Screencaps
For now, let's focus on the preview image, which will be updated for both the GitHub and Steam Workshop releases.
1) What subtitle should go under the "Combat Extended" title banner?
2) How would we include Sombrero Guy in the preview image mid-ground layer?
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@N7Huntsman - still waiting to hear from you regarding this. |
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@sumghai Sorry about the belated reply--this got lost in the mix of other Github email notifications. I like the idea. Only thing I'm not sure about is the use of the gold, since it wasn't in the original CE color scheme and didn't end up in the new Discord logo/badge that was selected by the poll. Perhaps have a single, black banner with white text ("Combat Extended") on the bottom, Sombrero Guy, and then the gradient background? Makes it super quick and easy to edit/adapt. Or, if we think that's too plain, just swap the gold for a different color? I'd also like to see the new Discord logo on there somewhere. Since we want to take advantage of it as a sort of quick and easy "branding" badge, it should probably be on the main preview somewhere. Regardless, once it's been decided, please send me a copy of the badge, banner, and the gradient background, and I can put together a preview for CE Guns and CE Melee. |
I'll sketch some possible poses for Sombrero guy, and also look for an artist willing to do a vanilla storyteller version of him for the main preview image.
I chose gold as the Main Heading color mainly because it seemed to pop more visually, besides the reference to OF:RR. Compare the CE:FT Steam Workshop page with one of my other mods (RimNGE) that uses black heading bars, which doesn't stand out as well:
I thought about using the tannish-brown from the original Shinzy artwork, but again it didn't contrast well with the background.
Good idea! I'll play around with logo placement this weekend, since it's not just for Discord.
The artwork is currently in Inkscape SVG format, but I can convert them into a Photoshop PSD (with the background and banner on separate layers) if you wish. For the CE Guns and CE Melee companion mods, do you think they should also have alternative artwork of vanilla storyteller Sombrero Guy examining a gun or a knife (possibly the fabled Tacticool knife) respectively? Or would that be too much work for everyone? |
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As an aside @N7Huntsman @zozilin, here's a demo of what the CE Compatible badge looks like live on my Defensive Machine Gun Turret Pack mod Steam Workshop page:
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That should be fine. My primary program is Paint.net cuz it's free and easy, but I believe there's a plugin that allows me to use .psd files.
Honestly probably not worth the effort. I was just planning to lay out images of the weapons against the gradient background along and have the CE banner along the bottom and the badge in a corner somewhere.
Looks good, my existing comment about gold in the color theme not withstanding. You might also make a "Official" badge to complement the "Compatible" one you have there for marking official addons like Guns and Melee. A standalone of just the badge without the accompanying banner and text would also be useful. I'm essentially planning to package these image files |
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Regarding alternate colors to the gold, how's it look with the dull yellow from the current CE preview (#AF9D2D)? |
Good call.
i.e. the Discord Icon image in circular form
Excellent idea! This means when modders embed the badges in their Steam Workshop descriptions, Ludeon Forum threads etc., they will always automatically get the most up-to-date version of the badges.
Against a simulated Steam Workshop background, the dull yellow definitely has poorer contrast compared to the gold:
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Frankly, I'd be perfectly happy with just white text on black for the banners (Disregard the slightly different font, I just couldn't figure out quite which one you used). In regards to contrast on the workshop background, the eye is naturally going to fall onto the sombrero man logo on the badge first anyway. The black is a good visual divider without conflicting with the light colored text that'll be beneath it--for the few people that actually take the time to read the description, anyway. |
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@zozilin - OskarPotocki's current going rate for vanilla storyteller portraits is USD 10~20 / hour, with each portrait taking on average 10 hours to complete. In order words, we're looking at ~200 bucks. So Plan B would be to just slap the Sombrero Man icon above the title in the Preview Image, and call it a day (for now). @N7Huntsman - Since we can't afford the Sombrero Man portrait at this time, layered source graphics files aren't necessary. Here are the PNGs of the current media assets: Preview Images (CE Core, CE Guns, CE Melee)
Big Logo / Icon
Badges (Official Content and Compatibility)
As for the Steam Workshop description subheadings, could you please provide a list of the ones you need? |
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Headers for Features, Compatibility, Resources, and Acknowledgements will probably be sufficient for the time being. If you can send me/tell me the font pack you use for it, I should be able to make any more I need. |
First set of headers
I would suggest that we include these headers in the Media folder as well, rather than having them lost in the ether in someone's Imgur private album or something. As described in the Branding Proposal, the font used is:
I'll include the Inkscape SVG source files in the media folder, so anyone with Inkscape can hit the deck running with the correct presets. (Inkscape is 100% free) (Unfortunately, no PSD or other format source files) |
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@N7Huntsman - Please review the contents of the Media folder. |
sumghai
changed the title
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Thanks. I've created previews for CE Guns and Melee. |
Removed "FastTrack Edition" tagline.
I'm open to the following suggestions: