A Call For Graphics Artists - StepMania 4 Default Theme

[AJ 187]

As you may have noticed, SM4 needs a new default theme that isn't System Zero. And while my graphic skills have become better over the years, I still don't fully trust myself to create the graphics for the new default theme.

This is where you could come in.

I am looking for someone to work with in creating the new default theme. This would entail graphics and layout design.

The recommendations, as set by Chris Danford in an email to the stepmania-devs mailing list in January 2007:

Resolution: 640x480 targeted for 4:3, but also works well in widescreen.

L10n (Localization): As few graphics with baked-in text as possible for easier localization.

On rips/re-creations: Don't use rips, and don't use re-creations from other games. Styles inspired by other games are fine though.

Color Scheme: "bright colors", because it's more friendly than a darker palette.

I'm also not so good at picking out Song Options (modifiers), so I'd like to hear everyone's opinion on what options are absolutely necessary.
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I'd like to request the following screens from anyone entering:
* Title Menu
* Select Music
* Gameplay

Select Music and Gameplay are two of the most important screens, IMO, as you see them quite often. You can assume normal mode for Gameplay or you can chuck normal + oni/survival in the same screen if you wish.
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You have until Midnight Central Time (1am Eastern) November 10th (my birthday!) to submit concepts, at which point there will be a week-long vote where you decide what gets made.

[Midiman]

Mockup, based on something AJ thought of before. sorry about the horrible SM logo, but it needed to be there


notice:

Grey Bar + Selector == Item choices. you can basically use ItemSpacingY=0 for this, or a font to make it look right. A Scroller would look best

the rest is just nice

[dt]

That's hot. :) I like the background especially. It'd look pretty great if it was a BG animation with those lines in the bg moving diagonally along their path.

[siricle]

Well i thought id make something since i have plenty of time on my hands :roll:


Almost everything in that pic will move. The stars in the background will scroll, the star ring will spin, the two rays that come out of the top right circle will rotate at different speeds and in a different direction to the star ring, the logo will bob and maybe something might happen with the bottom left stars as well. The colours are based of the current logo, bright like you asked and don't clash like originally thought. Also can you guys tell me the text you use in the logo and direct me to where I might find it, because I don't like the one that's on there.

Tell me what you guys think. I'm ok with working on a skin following that kind of 'environment' Though I will make another one because this one I'm a bit half half on. Maybe something with arrows. :wink:

[Kakurady]

Originally Posted by siricle

Well i thought id make something since i have plenty of time on my hands :roll:


Almost everything in that pick will move. The stars in the background will scroll, the star ring will spin, the two rays that come out of the top right circle will rotate at different speeds and in a different direction to the star ring, the logo will bob and maybe something might happen with the bottom left stars as well. The colours are based of the current logo, bright like you asked and don't clash like originally thought. Also can you guys tell me the text you use in the logo and direct me to where I might find it, because I don't like the one that's on there.

Tell me what you guys think. I'm ok with working on a skin following that kind of 'environment' Though I will make another one because this one I'm a bit half half on. Maybe something with arrows. :wink:

The colors are too much. I think this combination does not work very well... and that it's stars and stripes >_< and using the same color with the logo makes it not able to stand out anymore.

But the animation ideas and fonts are awesome, this has the potential to make it.

Personally I like Midiman's colours, but just changing the Saturation/Brightness of the logo's colors might work well too.

[siricle]

Originally Posted by Kakurady

The colors are too much. I think this combination does not work very well... and that it's stars and stripes >_< and using the same color with the logo makes it not able to stand out anymore.

But the animation ideas and fonts are awesome, this has the potential to make it.

Personally I like Midiman's colours, but just changing the Saturation/Brightness of the logo's colors might work well too.

Agreed. I knew when I was working on it that it would probably end up cluttered but without the actual animation its hard to predict so i just made it anyway :roll:

[Midiman]

Originally Posted by siricle

I kind of dig the stars enviroment, since it gives it a kind if pop-modern feel, but the amount of work it would take to make the background alone work would be kind of excessive.

However, the title menu wouldn't be that hard, and would actually look pretty nice, since SM4 can use individual elements for a scroller.

Keep up the good work, and excuse my assumptions.

[AJ 187]

Originally Posted by siricle

Also can you guys tell me the text you use in the logo and direct me to where I might find it, because I don't like the one that's on there.

The logo PSD is available here:
http://www.stepmania.com/wiki/Spread_StepMania
The font SHOULD be included, if not, it's called Designer Block.

(p.s. I'm reserving my judgment on any design until the voting phase)

Oh, and I guess I forgot to mention that you guys can submit as many designs as you want.

[siricle]

Originally Posted by Midiman

I kind of dig the stars enviroment, since it gives it a kind if pop-modern feel, but the amount of work it would take to make the background alone work would be kind of excessive.

However, the title menu wouldn't be that hard, and would actually look pretty nice, since SM4 can use individual elements for a scroller.

Keep up the good work, and excuse my assumptions.

I was thinking about that and i don't think it would be too hard there is no more than 8 elements and most just rotate or scroll nothing tricky.
and ty AJ

[shakesoda]

I'll try to come up with something later... maybe tomorrow.
(just got off a 6 hour flight)