Create the NS2 minimap icons

Flayra · January 2011

<div class="IPBDescription">...and get them in the game!</div>We thought we'd try letting the NS community create the icons for use on the minimap in NS2. We imagine the most straightforward way of doing it would be loading the model into the model viewer, orienting the model so z is facing to the right, taking a screenshot, then scaling that image down, making it greyscale and then touching it up. We have lots of other work to do and thought, heck, our community has tons of skills, maybe they could do this for us?!

If you do this, please send your work to charlie@unknownworlds.com and I'll include it in the game! Maybe we even get your name in-game in one of the maps... :)

neilm86 · January 2011

sweet

McGlaspie · January 2011

Big props to UWE on making this kind of move! Very cool. I hope the community takes it as a compliment!

Heh, I suspect <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=112218" target="_blank">xVisions</a> is going to be all over this. ;)

CoolCookieCooks · January 2011

Sounds like something fun to do while at work :)

scorpydude · January 2011

What an amazing opportunity for the community. Thanks UWE :)

PsiWarp · January 2011

Oh that minimap looks so sexy...

I always found NS1's minimap icons to be hard to identify due to the grayness, maybe this time around we'll see colored icons with clear outlines :)

TheLord · January 2011

Great idea! :)

How long will this 'contest' run?

Kouji_San · January 2011

Ima gonnah go comical on this... Sure they wont be officially accepted (unless Charlie is given a lot of beer), but I'll probably use them as a mod or something...

chibipower up up and away, wait chibi's can fly right?

Thaldarin · January 2011

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kouji_San @ Jan 21 2011, 01:45 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1825823"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Ima gonnah go comical on this...</div>

If you could make an RT a bottle of OJ. I'd give you a hug and would use that custom pack <3

Runteh · January 2011

I think you are better off creating custom icons that are simple but readable.

I'll have a go tomorrow.

Kouji_San · January 2011

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thaldarin @ Jan 21 2011, 01:53 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1825828"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>If you could make an RT a bottle of OJ. I'd give you a hug and would use that custom pack <3</div>
Hehe, you know that would be funny as well. But for this "comical" approach I meant the comic characters I made for the Kharaa classes and buildings... Just tried it out a bit to get the down to 32x32, it seems to work. But I think I need to recreate them somewhat to be more obvious at this icon size and I still have to create a lot more as well

How to make TSA buildings into comics is a helluva task I guess :P

[edit]
So who's gonnah make the obligatory custom Starcraft pack? and of course a more serious and usable approach for UWE as well...

Camron · January 2011

What are we supposed to do about missing models though? I know those objects aren't in the game yet so there's no need for icons, but what about when they are introduced?

Plasma · January 2011

I don't think you necessarily need to scale down models and use those; perhaps brand new artwork/icons to represent each thing in less detail would be appropriate and clearer for a mini map.

Koruyo · January 2011

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Plasma @ Jan 21 2011, 04:49 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1825846"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think you necessarily need to scale down models and use those; perhaps brand new artwork/icons to represent each thing in less detail would be appropriate and clearer for a mini map.</div>

In fact thats what they want if you look at the example images. They only suggested a way to save a little time, and get a rough object to start with...
Only scaled down versions wont make the race.

IronHorse · January 2011

pleeaaaseee dont just use abbreviations or symbols. it will create the same issue with the current (soon to be former) plasma / carbon coloration recognition issue. just as confusing. The letters CC and RT might be obvious especially with corresponding colors, but other things may no be as obvious and may require more complexity and "obvious readability" just for the sake of gameplay. just as commander mode UI accessibility / instant recognition etc

just my 2 cents, i actually am not that great at designing icons :)

luns · January 2011

i'm not sure if that minimap is the final version but those locations name aren't centered correctly, and one of them is written off the map. I hope the names can be better be fitted into the zones they suppose to represent.

Bandanna · January 2011

I have and want not talents of the industry, but somehow this is a really appealing to me.

swalk · January 2011

In my opinion you should make the vents red, just like in ns1, so you can tell the difference from a vent and a open(marine accessable area). Just a thought :)

Koruyo · January 2011

Hmm is it bad if the sentry i painted looks like a lazergun-chicken something? ^^ (or a jet?)

<a href="http://img8.imageshack.us/i/unbenannt4wn.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6892/unbenannt4wn.th.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /></a>

I think i will skip this event and leave it to the pros :/ 32x32 pixels pwns me.

Zek · January 2011

Maybe the sentry should have a very small cone of fire drawn on it just to show the direction at a glance?

aeroripper · January 2011

Those minimap outlines look sexah

xVisions · January 2011

I'll take a crack at it tomorrow as ive had a few too many tonight....

Price · January 2011

I know its not with the rules, but its an example, i would like for the powernodes.
I create only the last one...
<img src="http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/3181/31360379.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><img src="http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/9894/98194770.png" border="0" class="linked-image" /><img src="http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/2846/32563207.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />
<img src="http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6861/testyp.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Lord Schnitzel · January 2011

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ironhorse @ Jan 21 2011, 06:44 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1825857"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>pleeaaaseee dont just use abbreviations or symbols.</div>

Please DO use symbols!
The more clear the shape of an Icon on the minimap is, the faster it is to recognise. Learn from great RTS games like Supreme Commander, that uses clearly distinctive shapes to show the "class" of a unit (building, land, air, marine, specials) and a simple symbol inside the shape to show the "sub-class" (light, assault, anti-air, torpedo, etc.). Of course it is coherent (so the Flak-cruiser, the rocket-turret and the interceptor would all use the same "anti-air" symbol inside their respective shapes). The system was easy to learn and most importantly the icons were very easy to regognize wich is a must-have in a game with hundrets of units on the screen in big battles.

The icons in Supreme Commander however did not show the current direction of the units (and that wasn't really necessary). For NS2 my suggestion would be to use non-rotating icons for every unit and add a Line (like in air traffic control) or cone to represent the current direction.

Shaded, complex outlines that rotate are harder to regognize and tend to clutter. My sugestion is to go for a tactical "flat style symbolic" look.

Kouji_San · January 2011

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zek @ Jan 21 2011, 06:57 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1825874"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Maybe the sentry should have a very small cone of fire drawn on it just to show the direction at a glance?</div>
Good idea, but 32x32 is soo small. Maybe they can add it as an extra overlay for sentries? Not a large cone of fire mind you just somewhat bigger then 32x32

Runteh · January 2011

@Cory/Flayra/Max/Charlie/Brian/Murphy what font do you use?

Supernorn · January 2011

Here's what I have so far. Scaling down is not really viable at 32x32, you have to do it all by hand.

<img src="http://blackmage.org/supernorn/minimap.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Tech Point, Res node, Door, Door (locked), Door (welded), Grenade.
Marine, Heavy, Jetpack Marine, MAC, Marine commander, Generic dead marine

smokeybeef · January 2011

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Supernorn @ Jan 21 2011, 11:44 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1825944"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Here's what I have so far. Scaling down is not really viable at 32x32, you have to do it all by hand.

<img src="http://blackmage.org/supernorn/minimap.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Tech Point, Res node, Door, Door (locked), Door (welded), Grenade.
Marine, Heavy, Jetpack Marine, MAC, Marine commander, Generic dead marine</div>

Nice work, especially for how quick you pumped them out. I like the style used. The doors are particularly clear.

My only criticism is the marine symbols might not be different enough and the dead marine is a bit obscure.

...and maybe the MAC symbol should be a side view. But then that goes against the top-down view of the other units I suppose.

Squeal_Like_A_Pig · January 2011

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Supernorn @ Jan 21 2011, 04:44 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1825944"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Here's what I have so far. Scaling down is not really viable at 32x32, you have to do it all by hand.

<img src="http://blackmage.org/supernorn/minimap.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Tech Point, Res node, Door, Door (locked), Door (welded), Grenade.
Marine, Heavy, Jetpack Marine, MAC, Marine commander, Generic dead marine</div>
Those are looking really nice, Supernorn, and seem to be the right style and pretty clear. Marine commander and dead marine I don't think are working as well as the others, though.

--cory

Slickk- · January 2011

Looking great but i have an alternative suggestion for doors.

For the Doors it would surely show top down would be looking like:

=| {X} |=

You could replace the {X} with:

Locked padlock (Like you have already for an locked door)
An unlocked door could just have a ==== (That appears and disappears as the door opens (to allow people to see where there is movement)
For a welded door you could use ==== but have a thick/bolded line above and below it to show that is is welded shut.

Sorry i had to use ASCII to demonstrate, would take me many hours off using MS Paint 95 otherwise ;)

Triggerman · January 2011

Going the screenshot route myself, took a while just to index it all and keep backups and whatnot, ugh.
Not sure it's worth continuing however considering Supernorn is doing it pixel-art style though.

Well nonetheless here's what I have so far without any retouches on the images themselves yet (need to add all I can first for that):
<img src="http://www.andrige.com/ns2/NS2MinimapIcons_sample.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Create the NS2 minimap icons

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