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lucius
DarkXL Developer
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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 Posted: Jun 17, 2008 07:09 Post subject: DarkXL Title Screen Graphics |
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There has been alot of controversy about the DarkXL title screen and title graphics. Rather then attempt to produce another attempt myself or with someone behind "closed doors", I'll open it up to the community similar to the icon and logo thread. So here's how it'll work:
People may submit a title screen that fits certain criteria and I'll hold a poll so that the community can vote on the top contenders. The current title will also be in the poll - just in case.
The title will be a composite of the background and title graphics. The image size should support 4:3 and widescreen, so the main graphics should be in the center where the borders can be clipped without losing much. Also any text in the image should be readable if it is shrunk down to 640x480.
The source format should be lossless, I'll do some compression when I split it into textures - certain levels of lossy compression could cause issues at the seams. Therefore submissions should be a lossless true color image, like PNG or TGA.
Anyway the image should be 1536x960, where 1280x960 represents the 4:3 center. You can also submit button graphics if you want. The final graphics will be split into a 1024x1024 and 512x1024 so that lower end cards can display the title screen properly.
As usual any comments or suggestions are welcome. Any can submit entries, also feel free to submit mutliple entries if you have several good ideas. 
Everyone try to submit something by the end of the week so I can include the title screen in the next release.
_________________
DarkXL....http://darkxl.wordpress.com
Last edited by lucius on Jul 10, 2008 20:32; edited 2 times in total |
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lucius
DarkXL Developer
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Jun 17, 2008 07:22 Post subject: Ideas so far |
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Here are some ideas posted so far in the Update 7 thread. Please keep all the title screen discussion here for now...
sheepandshepherd wrote:
Hmmm, Tsophika's idea sounds neat . . .
Otherwise, if we stick with the collage background, there's a few things I don't like that can be changed:
- The buttons seem kinda out of place . . . the greyish boxes don't really fit into the collage background. Maybe remove the boxes and just have text? Idk if that will look any better . . .
- The font in the title and the buttons isn't very Star Wars-ish . . . maybe you should use something less fancy and curvy, something like Arial or Tahoma . . . if you want to do that, the most fitting font is probably Franklin Gothic Heavy. A rough copy-pasted draft of what that would look like:
. . . or you could just use the original Star Wars font . . . either way, it's up to you and everyone else, I'm not too picky about it . . .
klasodeth wrote:
In defense of the title, it was meant to mimic the title seen on a number of Return of the Jedi movie posters, including the font.
Aside from the change in color and the lack of shadowing (useless against a space background), the style is very similar. Admittedly, the title isn't very fancy, but neither was the source. Would something made more along the lines of The Empire Strikes Back be more popular?
The DarkXL name is a bit on the simple side for that kind of composition, but I can emulate the font and see how it would work filling the entire Star Wars border. Also, if there are issues about the size of the title, I can fix that very easily. What would be good?
And in defense of Magic_Al, I'm pretty sure his "lens flares" are actually the twin suns of Tatooine.
I also think Tsophika's idea sounds interesting. It might also lend itself well the inclusion of buttons that appear to be natural parts of the image.
Magic_Al wrote:
And here is the current title screen:
http://www.darkxl.df-21.net/Screenshots/DXL_TitleScr_4_3.jpg
Just don't forget to put together the whole thing. Even if you use the current backround you need to show how the title is composited with the background. Anyway, thanks for the effort everyone - hopefully we can find something that we all think is cool. 
_________________
DarkXL....http://darkxl.wordpress.com |
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Gez
Gamorrean
Joined: 05 May 2008
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| Posted: Jun 17, 2008 13:46 Post subject: |
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Speaking of the current background, is there a clean version of it (without the current title)?
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Magic_Al
Gamorrean
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
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Marley
Gamorrean
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Jun 17, 2008 16:11 Post subject: |
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I think the title screen is great as is.
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*ZaP* |
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lucius
DarkXL Developer
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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lucius
DarkXL Developer
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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Jimmy Chicken
Gamorrean
Joined: 09 Dec 2003
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sheepandshepherd
Trandoshan
Joined: 01 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Jun 17, 2008 21:52 Post subject: |
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The main thing about the current title screen that I would definitely change is the font . . . Magic_Al's new version is the best in my opinion.
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Magic_Al
Gamorrean
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Jun 18, 2008 17:07 Post subject: |
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I dug out my old Random House Star Wars Storybooks that I originally scanned the movie character photos from and I'm working on a close remake of the background image. The new one will be drawn at 1536x960 to reduce upscaling issues, and I'll be able to easily modify it in response to suggestions. It should be up within a day or two.
_________________
----- MagicAl`s DARK FORCES Niche -----
http://wayback.archive.org/web/*/http://homepage.mac.com/anewmanagn/magic_al/
Armed only with a blaster pistol and an intimate knowledge of
Imperial methods, MagicAl prepares to go to lunch.... |
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Jon`C
Ree-Yees
Joined: 16 May 2008
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lucius
DarkXL Developer
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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Magic_Al
Gamorrean
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
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Magic_Al
Gamorrean
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Jun 19, 2008 08:35 Post subject: |
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I added a few characters to the collage and it's now higher resolution.
Title screen mock-up:
Notes: for non-widescreen just crop off the sides. In use, only one button at a time has a glowing border, or whatever the button behavior in Dark Forces is.
Background without title screen elements:
I have everything in separate layers now so changes are easy. If anyone can come up with a sharper Kyle, Mohc, or Mon Mothma (she has to have the same expression of watching the Moldy Crow, though), please post.
_________________
----- MagicAl`s DARK FORCES Niche -----
http://wayback.archive.org/web/*/http://homepage.mac.com/anewmanagn/magic_al/
Armed only with a blaster pistol and an intimate knowledge of
Imperial methods, MagicAl prepares to go to lunch.... |
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Burning Gundam
Kell Dragon
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Jun 19, 2008 15:43 Post subject: |
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I'm a partial to the first one.
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I don't think outside the box... I customize it. |
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Gez
Gamorrean
Joined: 05 May 2008
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| Posted: Jun 19, 2008 17:36 Post subject: |
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The characters should obscure the starfield and planet behind them. As it is now it looks like they have stellar acne. 
Jan and Madine could be a bit larger, if possible.
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lucius
DarkXL Developer
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Jun 19, 2008 18:30 Post subject: |
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Magic_Al wrote:
I added a few characters to the collage and it's now higher resolution.
Title screen mock-up:
Notes: for non-widescreen just crop off the sides. In use, only one button at a time has a glowing border, or whatever the button behavior in Dark Forces is.
Background without title screen elements:
I have everything in separate layers now so changes are easy. If anyone can come up with a sharper Kyle, Mohc, or Mon Mothma (she has to have the same expression of watching the Moldy Crow, though), please post.
If you look at the current title screen, klasodeth removed most of the stars that show through the characters which seems to make things look better.
Also would it be preferred for the buttons to be so big? In the current version they use similar graphics (without the color borders) but are much smaller. It seems that if the buttons are going to be this big, they'd have to be tweaked to look higher resolution rather then pixelated.
On the other hand the title fits in very well. I have to remember to post the tweaked background so you can see what I mean about removing the stars and maybe mockup against that backdrop as well - so we can pick the better looking image
_________________
DarkXL....http://darkxl.wordpress.com |
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Jimmy Chicken
Gamorrean
Joined: 09 Dec 2003
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| Posted: Jun 19, 2008 21:57 Post subject: |
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Holy heck Magic_Al, this new ones even better then your first one!
I've got no critiques for you, it's great! But then again, maybe that's just because I'm not the artsy kind of person and I can't come up with any thing fancy to add. 
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"if you see a wall with the blast marks DF 21 shot into it, I was there" |
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Magic_Al
Gamorrean
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Jun 19, 2008 23:01 Post subject: |
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lucius wrote:
If you look at the current title screen, klasodeth removed most of the stars that show through the characters which seems to make things look better.
Also would it be preferred for the buttons to be so big? In the current version they use similar graphics (without the color borders) but are much smaller. It seems that if the buttons are going to be this big, they'd have to be tweaked to look higher resolution rather then pixelated.
On the other hand the title fits in very well. I have to remember to post the tweaked background so you can see what I mean about removing the stars and maybe mockup against that backdrop as well - so we can pick the better looking image
The idea with the transparent images is that everything that's solid in the image (the ships and astronomical objects) form one camera view and all the transparent images are separate camera views being superimposed over the main view. All those characters aren't really posing together, they're scattered all over the galaxy (the stars). Solidifying the elements that aren't "really" in camera with the planet and ships sort of messes up the concept. But, if people don't like the way it looks I can easily mask out the stars, now that I have all the elements in separate layers.
The button size is arbitrary. I care that they look consistent with the game but I don't care what size. They're the size they are in the mockup only because I needed a consistent pixel size to properly line up the DF font bitmaps and I didn't bother resizing the finished buttons. In actual use I foresee the buttons are not part of the background bitmap but that separate bitmaps for each button state are superimposed in realtime. What I am serious about is a horizontal button arrangement that hugs the bottom of the screen rather than cover up too much of the background.
_________________
----- MagicAl`s DARK FORCES Niche -----
http://wayback.archive.org/web/*/http://homepage.mac.com/anewmanagn/magic_al/
Armed only with a blaster pistol and an intimate knowledge of
Imperial methods, MagicAl prepares to go to lunch.... |
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lucius
DarkXL Developer
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Jun 19, 2008 23:58 Post subject: |
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Magic_Al wrote:
lucius wrote:
If you look at the current title screen, klasodeth removed most of the stars that show through the characters which seems to make things look better.
Also would it be preferred for the buttons to be so big? In the current version they use similar graphics (without the color borders) but are much smaller. It seems that if the buttons are going to be this big, they'd have to be tweaked to look higher resolution rather then pixelated.
On the other hand the title fits in very well. I have to remember to post the tweaked background so you can see what I mean about removing the stars and maybe mockup against that backdrop as well - so we can pick the better looking image
The idea with the transparent images is that everything that's solid in the image (the ships and astronomical objects) form one camera view and all the transparent images are separate camera views being superimposed over the main view. All those characters aren't really posing together, they're scattered all over the galaxy (the stars). Solidifying the elements that aren't "really" in camera with the planet and ships sort of messes up the concept. But, if people don't like the way it looks I can easily mask out the stars, now that I have all the elements in separate layers.
The button size is arbitrary. I care that they look consistent with the game but I don't care what size. They're the size they are in the mockup only because I needed a consistent pixel size to properly line up the DF font bitmaps and I didn't bother resizing the finished buttons. In actual use I foresee the buttons are not part of the background bitmap but that separate bitmaps for each button state are superimposed in realtime. What I am serious about is a horizontal button arrangement that hugs the bottom of the screen rather than cover up too much of the background.
If we want to have these buttons, then simply making appropriately sized images, each with 2 frames: unselected (red) and selected (green) is fine. Then the game will composite them on top - like all the other buttons in DF. I have no problem with the style - right out of DF - or the placement, just the size.
As for the background stars showing through the characters, I personally prefer it without them showing through too much but I'll defer to the general consensus on this one.
So, everyone, should the stars show through the faces? Or should the faces block the stars - like the current title screen?
Also, would everyone like me to go with Magic_Al's new screen? It looks good to me except for the "stars" issue and buttons being too big for their resolution. Does anyone else have any mockups they'd like to present?
Thanks for all the work Magic_Al, atleast there's one graphic design / artist type on this board. Any other artists or designers are more then welcome to contribute however.
_________________
DarkXL....http://darkxl.wordpress.com |
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Tsophika
Gamorrean
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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| Posted: Jun 20, 2008 03:52 Post subject: |
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I would prefer the stars to not be seem as much.
Madine I think needs to go. He's not a big enough player to fit. At the very least he may look better to the right of the center stormtrooper. Jan also needs to move. The center of the comp is too clutered; if the Ark Hammer is the focus, I think it should be directly in front of the light flare.
Here is an alternate image of the Crow that may look better to you: http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/513/jkoldbsg0.gif
And finally - the DARK XL might look better silver, matching the STAR WARS text.
I think overall this is an improvement! Apologies if I come across as to critical... good job!
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Magic_Al
Gamorrean
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Jun 20, 2008 07:38 Post subject: |
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New versions!
The biggest change nobody asked for: Kyle now has the top of his head, thanks to a hair transplant from a mid-career Harrison Ford. There are various other changes based on suggestions from the forum. I don't anticipate doing much more. I don't want to stray much farther from my original 1996 composition because I'm sentimental like that.
The only part I'm unhappy about is Mon Mothma, she's just too low-res, but I like her expression and I can't find this particular shot anywhere but the Random House Return of the Jedi storybook which is only this sharp.
lucius: I've now turned against the see-thru stars and eliminated them.
Tsophika: the two-tone gradients in the logo are copied from the prequel movie logos and I think the darker gradient happens to balance the earth tones at the bottom of the background image. You're right that the comp is cluttered, but it is what it is. I disagree about Madine being too minor. Madine is integral to multiple plot points in the game. If I included Moff Rebus, that would be going overboard.
_________________
----- MagicAl`s DARK FORCES Niche -----
http://wayback.archive.org/web/*/http://homepage.mac.com/anewmanagn/magic_al/
Armed only with a blaster pistol and an intimate knowledge of
Imperial methods, MagicAl prepares to go to lunch.... |
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lucius
DarkXL Developer
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Jun 20, 2008 07:58 Post subject: |
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Big improvement, Magic_Al. The buttons seem like a decent size now and the faces look better without the see through stars. So what does everyone else think? Would you prefer this version over the current version? Anyone else have any entries?
Magic_Al, can you give me the following: The full image with title composited in, the buttons graphics (both on and off - red/green), and finally the title by itself. If what you've posted is the final versions, just post the links - I just want to make sure I'm using the latest/best versions.
There is still some time for others to submit entries but if no one does in the next couple of days then I'll use this one. If someone else posts a nice entry then I'll hold a poll.
Just want to say again - thanks Magic_Al for all your work on this.
_________________
DarkXL....http://darkxl.wordpress.com |
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Weregoose
Gamorrean
Joined: 05 May 2008
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| Posted: Jun 20, 2008 09:20 Post subject: |
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*r2xj1 is easily easily easily my new favorite. I don't think anyone would have any more complaints.
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Geoffrey S
Gamorrean
Joined: 29 Jan 2005
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| Posted: Jun 20, 2008 11:11 Post subject: |
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Love the latest version, including the logo. Only thing I'm against is the characters at the bottom, around the planet. They do end up making things look a little cluttered, particularly Jabba and the Reeyee, and the photo-realistic style doesn't quite fit with the DF artstyle. Also not so keen on the way the Crow fits into the scene, but that is a classic element of the game and wouldn't know what else to do with it.
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Magic_Al
Gamorrean
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Jun 20, 2008 15:25 Post subject: |
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lucius wrote:
Magic_Al, can you give me the following: The full image with title composited in, the buttons graphics (both on and off - red/green), and finally the title by itself. If what you've posted is the final versions, just post the links - I just want to make sure I'm using the latest/best versions.
I'll PM links to the uncompressed artwork this weekend. I'll get buttons made too. My plan is to copy the button bitmaps from the game, then if you handle them the same way in rendering, everything will look consistent.
I can also give you versions of the background with various elements removed. Then, if you want, you could use dissolves to create some simple transitions for entering or leaving the screen, sort of like DVD menus. I'm thinking of a progression of one-second dissolves like, planet in empty space, then the central characters in the sky, then the enemies in front of the planet. The logo would be constant and the buttons could either be constant or fade in last. When the player presses launch, all the characters and the logo fade out and we have just the planet in space for a second before entering the game. Or something like that.
_________________
----- MagicAl`s DARK FORCES Niche -----
http://wayback.archive.org/web/*/http://homepage.mac.com/anewmanagn/magic_al/
Armed only with a blaster pistol and an intimate knowledge of
Imperial methods, MagicAl prepares to go to lunch.... |
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Gez
Gamorrean
Joined: 05 May 2008
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lucius
DarkXL Developer
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Jun 20, 2008 17:31 Post subject: |
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Magic_Al wrote:
lucius wrote:
Magic_Al, can you give me the following: The full image with title composited in, the buttons graphics (both on and off - red/green), and finally the title by itself. If what you've posted is the final versions, just post the links - I just want to make sure I'm using the latest/best versions.
I'll PM links to the uncompressed artwork this weekend. I'll get buttons made too. My plan is to copy the button bitmaps from the game, then if you handle them the same way in rendering, everything will look consistent.
I can also give you versions of the background with various elements removed. Then, if you want, you could use dissolves to create some simple transitions for entering or leaving the screen, sort of like DVD menus. I'm thinking of a progression of one-second dissolves like, planet in empty space, then the central characters in the sky, then the enemies in front of the planet. The logo would be constant and the buttons could either be constant or fade in last. When the player presses launch, all the characters and the logo fade out and we have just the planet in space for a second before entering the game. Or something like that.
That sounds like a pretty good idea. I'll start integrating this stuff into the build once I recieve it.
_________________
DarkXL....http://darkxl.wordpress.com |
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Magic_Al
Gamorrean
Joined: 22 Mar 2005
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klasodeth
Trandoshan
Joined: 03 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Jun 20, 2008 20:21 Post subject: |
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My one complaint about the latest version is the Dark Trooper depicted. For whatever reason it comes off looking like a large-eyed alien or some sort of ethereal spirit. Having the Arc Hammer in the center of the screen seems to be more appropriate than an image of the Dark Trooper. Perhaps the Dark Trooper should be moved away from the center and given a more definite form so we can see its outline.
Otherwise, the current version is an amazing improvement over your original version.
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