Unusual request, but could I ask for some feedback on some crappy cover art ? For a martial arts game based in modern Hong Kong.
I was talking with @dozendietcokesaday and talking about art for their game Below the Skyline. Anyway, the game will possibly be submitted soon, and will need some art. I have made a few samples, using free resources and my trash alchemy skills. Opinions?
If anyone can make something better, feel free to post here as well. Nobody ever accused me of being a great artist.
I chose A and B. Those look the most interesting to my eyes.
Reasons:
A looks like a perfect mixed between real life and animation. Plus I love the shot. I could make an argument for the C splash screen too. It looks artsy for a lack of a better word.
For the title. I can see the background clearly without the title blocking it.
I liked splash screen C better, it’s more aesthetically pleasing. I didn’t like any of the title screens to be honest, but A is the best of the 3. More importantly, none of them tells me much about the game (except for the boxing gloves on the title screen).
Some questions:
What’s the primary tone and genre of the game? (comedy, drama, management, romance, slice of life, etc)
If it was a movie, can you think of a specific frame that could convey the premise?
Good points. I initially picked the Hong Kong Skyline for the art because that’s what I did for an earlier set (for fun) while back… but can’t remember why.
It’s about underground boxing rings… with a heavy focus on training different moves and deploying them in matches, although come to think of it, I’m not sure how that would look like.
Maybe I should pose this to @dozendietcokesaday . What sort of frame do you think would convey the premise of your game best?
Edit:
We can easily cut and make the art assets to HG’s required image sizes once a final design is decided on.
Ooh thank you very much @ChanceOfFire ! I really like the art style in the “Splash C” screen, because it gives more of a “down to earth” feeling. Most of the game takes place “below the skyline” so to speak. Like, it’s at ground level, very grounded, focuses on the minutia of mundane life, and so on. So I like the Splash C most because it’s the most mundane.
Hmm, that is probably the best word for the vibe I like. Mundane. Recognisably Hong Kong, but mundane.
The hanging gloves unfortunately bear a resemblance to a certain piece of anatomy.
All three splash screens are photos with filters applied: is this the look you’re going for or are you trying for a hand-drawn look?
Title A works the best although it’s funny that the title Below the Skyline is above the skyline. I also think it’s way too big. Might look better as one line with smaller text rather than so huge you have to wrap to the next line to fit the whole phrase.
I didn’t see it before, but now splash screen A and B seem very… phallic. And title art A combines “the best of both worlds” so to speak.
I didn’t see it before though, so maybe it’s not that bad.
I don’t know if that would fit the theme at all, I haven’t read the demo, but I could also see something darker for a game like this? (Kind of in this direction: https://unsplash.com/photos/man-walking-on-street-4uqqrQYdxQw) Feel free to ignore it obviously.
Interesting, that’s more of a cyberpunk or noir vibe to me. I feel like that’s not a perfect fit for this game because it’s more of a mundane experience. For example, the most representative example is two people sitting at a cheap restaurant to wait for claypot rice to cook and then eat it.
I don’t know what the style is called in the Splash C image, but I really like it! Do you think it could work with the Title B image? (Or is Title B already in this style? I don’t really know…)
That makes sense. The description gave me the wrong impression maybe. Not about it being cyberpunk/noir. But gritty underground fight club at night. I guess that there’s no money involved should have tipped me off. I’m really curious how it’ll turn out.
I didn’t make the filter for splashscreen C. That said, the creator who uploaded the picture has a few pieces. They have quite a number of interesting backgrounds in that style on their page. You can browse their page and take your pick, and credit them if that is what you end up going with.
(Hint: Use the “Urban” search term on the creator page to filter the stuff you need.)
I love this vertical one! The colors really look nice and evocative, it’s wonderful. The title one, at first I didn’t like it as much because the SKYLINE word is overlapping with the darkened signboard. But then after looking at it more, it’s neat that SKYLINE is highlighted, kind of. I don’t know. Both of these are cool!
I have emailed the art files to @dozendietcokesaday . This thread has served its purpose. Could a @moderators please help me lock this thread? Thank you. Discussion can continue on the related WIP thread going forward.
But now that you mention it… ahh, stop corrupting my mind…
