Castle Paradox

phyrfox · Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 7:27 pm Post subject: Unoffical art contest

I was writing some code today, and I was thinking to myself, "Self, wouldn't it be really cool to have a backdrop logo for your new engine?" So I tried drawing some stuff. And what I came up with was not impressive. So, then I thought, "Say, I wonder if anyone else would like to try their hand at making a logo?"

So, it comes to this: I'm setting up this contest. Following is the premise and the rules.

-- Objective --
Create a 320x240 (or 320x200) image that can be used as the default backdrop for my particular version of the OHR engine. Optionally, you may include GUI interfaces as well, for example, a OHR-compatible font.

-- Rules --
- The backdrop should be appropriate for its purpose, depicting some logo or image that represents OHR as a whole.
- The image must conform to standard OHR palette conventions (256 colors, using any palette set), so the best solution would be a GIF or 8-bit PNG file.
- The image should make a good backdrop, not distracting from the menu system or overpowering the words on the screen.
- The colors for the GUI elements must also be nestled into this palette also, since the objective is to use already existing (or soon to exist code) that can be used in the game engine under any circumstance.
- The images should be posted here for voting.
- Contest is closed when a majority vote of users interested in voting for this contest, which must be nominated and seconded. The time limit shall be no less than 2 weeks.
- Voting may be done by any registered user. They should mention as many choices as there are entries, from first to last (using the seemingly popular "Top Entries" voting style).
- Images may not be modified after the vote to close the contest is passed.
- You may re-cast your vote up until the contest's voting deadline, which will occur three days after the majority votes to have the contest closed.
- Artists obviously must vote an entire vote, or not at all. They may not "just" vote for one, or only for their own.
- By entering, you agree to allow the image to be used as a backdrop for the OHR engine for the duration that backdrops are used in the engine (which may well be the entire life of the engine). You retain exclusive ownership (you still own the image, and may or may not re-distribute it as you wish, with the exception that it will be embedded into the engine for an indefinite period of time). It is expressly forbidden for anyone else to modify, distribute, or claim ownership of the image without your express consent.
- In the event of a tie for any place, a tie-breaker vote will be posted. At that time, there will be a 24 hour vote deadline; the entry that receives the most votes wins. In the event of a tie-breaker tie, the last vote entered before the deadline will be discarded to force an odd number of votes.

-- Prizes --
Top Prize (1): The image that wins will have that be the default backdrop for the engine. Your name (real, alias, or both) will appear in the credits.

Second Prize (0 to 7): The image scoring a second place may be included as an optional background (that is, can be selected from the menu system). The owner of second place artwork may choose to not have their artwork embedded. If they do, they follow the same rules as first place, with a mentioning further down the credits screen. Art work that is withdrawn in this fashion hands over it's 2nd place slot to the next highest scorer.

Other Prizes (unspecified prizes awarded): Anyone else may contribute their images to the program, abiding by the same rules. Your names and/or aliases will be listed under the "Special Thanks" section of credits. You may also contribute an image without even participating in this contest; you will receive the "other prize" status.

-------------------------
May the best artist win!

~= phyrfox =~

Squall · Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 8:32 pm Post subject:

Dont forget about the official OHR logo!

What? I'm not promoting it just because I made it. Honest!

Anyway, yeah. That's a cool idea. Just one question; where does this image appear? Is it in the background of all the menus? Is it a title screen of sorts? I kind of need to know this when setting up the layout of it all. Raspberry!

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phyrfox · Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 8:48 pm Post subject:

In answer to that, yes, it's literally a background image on which the main menu (where you can load, edit, or configure games and the engine) will be displayed. This image will appear the moment the game is loaded (as it fades in, anyway), and the menu will be overlaid onto this image. So anyone who runs the engine (at least for the first time) will see this image as the main "wallpaper" for the engine.

So... the top prize will have a noticeable result; anyone that runs an officially sanctioned version of my engine (with no modifications) will see the logo at least once.

I also had a sudden flash of brilliance, too. The image may also be animated, either as it fades in, or as a loop. Again, that may make it too distracting, so it should be considered very heavily against it, but it might make sense if it can be made in a way that would not be overly distracting.

~= phyrfox =~

Edit: Also, as a side note, there may be multiple entries per artist; remember, though, that you're voting on an image, not an artist, so you may only be hurting your own votes. Also, each artist may only have one prize awarded, so you can't have, say 3 2nd prizes. The "other" prizes though are not limited that way.

rpgspotKahn · Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:32 am Post subject:

This sounds really great and dandy... but could you please be slighty more specific on what exactly you are looking for...

*Your engine name
*Any specific slogans or company picture we need to include
*The exact size... I thought this was for windows... surely it shouldent be limited to 320X200.

There are just a few, if you could please answer them for me.
I'd be sure to try my hand at making a background engine logo for you.

Thanks.
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2nd Edition out now!

phyrfox · Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 8:02 am Post subject:

rpgspotKahn · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 4:24 am Post subject:

Cool. Thanks Phyrfox.

I'll get to work as soon as possible.
Give me a few days. Or if you are lucky I might make it in a day...

Cheers.
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2nd Edition out now!

rpgspotKahn · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:41 am Post subject:

Ok. Here is my entry.

Tell me what you think, and perhaps where I could improve... or if it just is perfect.

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Setu_Firestorm · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 12:34 pm Post subject:

/me puts some sticky stuff on the topic

/me then goes and washes his hands before he eats anything
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rpgspotKahn · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:51 am Post subject:

Im looking to enter more screens for the engine in the next few days.

Im still waiting for C&C on my first entry. It shall help 'oh so dearly' with making more, staying away from past mistakes and correcting graphical errors.

Phsyfox... What art thou thinking? Good? Bad? Average? or just plain hobo fodder?
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2nd Edition out now!

Sephyroth · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:58 am Post subject:

It looks like someone pissed on the top left corner. And then, you know, the piss turned into millions of tiny lasers that pierced through a poorly drawn shield and sword (I don't really know how they're supposed to represent the OHR as a whole. The whole thing represents the COMMUNITY fairly well though)

Which is to say, I don't like it all that much.
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phyrfox · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:50 pm Post subject:

rpgspotKhan:

I think the yellow should just be white or something; it's not "fluid" with the other colors in the picture. I like the "idea" of it though, the graphics are quite sound (although, I'd have to try it out in 320x240 and see what it looks like all blown up). The quality is a bit "low" however, regarding the details on the sword and shield; they look, well, not "professional." Not exactly bad, but I want people to see this and at least have an impression that the engine is worth using. So... that is... on it's way to greatness, just not there yet.

Another thing to keep in consideration, I'm trying to make it a backdrop (underlay) to the menu; this image looks more like I'd have to use DrawTextBox() to place a semi-transparent text box over it to use the menu. Not necessarily bad, but I think it could be better. I'd like to not have to include a window for the text... But that image would look well with a text-box overlapping the image. Not as in, "cover it up, it looks bad", but as in, the colors just clash with the text, I'd think, no matter what color was used.

~= phyrfox =~

rpgspotKahn · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:29 pm Post subject:

Ok. Got it. A new one shall be made soon. Thanks for the comments.
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The Wobbler · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 2221

Joe Man · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 10:04 pm Post subject:

24 bit bitmap, 320x240. Nice and simple.

I tried to make the OHR logo colored, but Photoshop is really nasty about indexed colors (though I think the gradient worked well).

Any changes you'd like? notify me.
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"Everyone has 200,000 bad drawings in them, the sooner you get them out the better."
~Charles Martin Jones

Last edited by Joe Man on Fri Dec 13, 1957 1:21 am; edited 2,892 time in total

Squall · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 10:21 pm Post subject:

Just a heads up, you can download the OHR pallette on hamsterrepublic.com, select indexed colors in photoshop and choose load. Then you can load up the OHR pallette and edit with that.

I'm working on one.
_________________
You got film in my video game!
You got video game in my film!