A weak point - Page 4

Mr DeCastellac · 2012-06-20, 02:28 AM

Originally Posted by windlord

And for anyone who cares I plan on joining VS. To me its about the gameplay.

You are a wise man, indeed.

We welcome you with open arms.

Hail Vanu.
Technology Equals Might.

Pella · 2012-06-20, 02:32 AM

Well lets see what the OP can produce with his graphic designer/Artist of 20 years under his belt.

And we will be the judge.

Good luck.

Captain1nsaneo · 2012-06-20, 02:50 AM

I'm kind of disappointed with how Wind's being treated here. Is he wrong about the logos? Yes. But it's mainly for political rather than artistic reasons. There's no need to nipping at him even if he did give out the freebie with the "20 years" addition.

Personally, they're all radically different from each other in color and shape thus being able to easily identify them at range. Being able to separate targets out quickly is really what you want in these symbols. Beyond that anything is really window dressing. I don't fully understand what you're after in not being able to add details to them. I might just not understand but I don't see any impediment in adding more detail inside the lines that already exist. If you've seen the Warhammer40k Chaos symbols you've probably seen them as both simple lines and as detailed artworks with contorted faces and rough texture. I don't see why you couldn't do something similar with the current symbols if you wanted to make fancier versions (e.g. adding circuits to the teal bits in the VS logo). But for simple promotion the symbols should be as clean as possible that way new players don't get confused by seeing a simpler version in game.

Once thing that this has brought to mind is that the symbols do lack one thing ever so much:
Names.
Right now it's just NC Logo, VS Logo, and TR Logo. They need some proper monikers.

windlord · 2012-06-20, 02:56 AM

Yeah I'm a bit dissapointed too.

I approached the topic with open arms and honesty, fully admitting that I'm not definitely right but asserting my opinion.

Guys, I don't know about you but I don't simply have the time. Maybe later. And too many times as an artist have either people taken my work for granted or outright stolen it. Or worse.

Everyone's entitled to an opinion and I thought the distraction from waiting for Beta might be a little more appreciated. I keep hearing how this is a great community I look forward to seeing it.

Pella · 2012-06-20, 02:56 AM

Originally Posted by Captain1nsaneo

I'm kind of disappointed with how Wind's being treated here. Is he wrong about the logos? Yes. But it's mainly for political rather than artistic reasons. There's no need to nipping at him even if he did give out the freebie with the "20 years" addition.

Personally, they're all radically different from each other in color and shape thus being able to easily identify them at range. Being able to separate targets out quickly is really what you want in these symbols. Beyond that anything is really window dressing. I don't fully understand what you're after in not being able to add details to them. I might just not understand but I don't see any impediment in adding more detail inside the lines that already exist. If you've seen the Warhammer40k Chaos symbols you've probably seen them as both simple lines and as detailed artworks with contorted faces and rough texture. I don't see why you couldn't do something similar with the current symbols if you wanted to make fancier versions (e.g. adding circuits to the teal bits in the VS logo). But for simple promotion the symbols should be as clean as possible that way new players don't get confused by seeing a simpler version in game.

Once thing that this has brought to mind is that the symbols do lack one thing ever so much:
Names.
Right now it's just NC Logo, VS Logo, and TR Logo. They need some proper monikers.

Yes. But op failed to understand that these had to be implemented in a game in 2003. On 1000s of objects and moving tanks and such.

So they have to look somewhat simple otherwise they would just be a a small blob. The same principle would apply to PS2.

Nemises · 2012-06-20, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by Graywolves

I love the TR symbol, I've even considered having it tattooed on my person.

You have a Person?...sweet!

windlord · 2012-06-20, 03:00 AM

@Pella.

No I didn't fail to understand that. It's stated in my first post.

Captain1nsaneo · 2012-06-20, 03:00 AM

Originally Posted by Graywolves

I love the TR symbol, I've even considered having it tattooed on my person.

Not mine.

PsychoXR-20 · 2012-06-20, 04:43 AM

Logos, symbols, icons, whatever you want to all them, are visual representations of an idea or a concept.

By definition they almost need to be simple, discernible and easily recognizable.

The NC is geometrically a fairly simple shape, it's a circle, with an eagles head and some gear teeth, nothing that a simple stencil couldn't accomplish. But add in the different color layers, and the gradients, then imagine having to paint that only every single object the NC owned from a soldiers armor to a Vanguard's hull, a Reaver's chassis and Gauss Rifles, and it would be a nightmare.

At it's core these symbols should be very simple, the more complex they get (not just for real life technical issues with textures) the harder they are to distinguish at a distance or at a glance.

You say this is something you would expect from a first year art student, I think it shows a good understanding of what makes a good symbol that the original artist(s) was able to hold back and keep it simple and real.

I SandRock · 2012-06-20, 04:47 AM

Vanu one is sci-fi jesus nailed to the cross with a halo on his ass, how awesome do you want it?

HenchAnt · 2012-06-20, 05:29 AM

Personally, without being a designer, I think that the OP gets it somewhat wrong.

His observation that the NC logo is two-colored and way more detailed is correct, as well as the notion that it differs in this respect from the other two faction logos. While this level of detail might be more advanced from a design point of view, it's also the reason why the NC logo is too busy and fails most as a symbol.

It's not about design, it's about heraldry in a way. The NC logo is nothing that's easily imprinted somewhere, since it doesn't lean itself to a single color scheme. It's nothing people can spraypaint as a grafiti to mark their loyalty.

Just look at Star Wars or Star Trek to get some great faction logo design. Simple is better.

And I actually really like what they did with the TR and VS.

To me, the TR logo has something of a rocket. This "unite behind a comon goal to get humanity forward" aspect. It really works.

To me, the VS logo looks like a crystalized interpretation of Rolls Royce' Spirit of Ecstasy. Very fitting for an ideology that wants to advance humanity through technology.

But, to me, the NC logo in itself is ... uninspired. Some random, disfiguring, interpretation of eagle and star. While it does its job, and over time has gathered enough has tradition and emotion to actually represent the faction, I still consider it the weakest design. It still looks like something an overzealous design student came up with to show off his skill, and not like something that's supposed to represent and unite thousands of people. (But then again: According to Planetside2 lore, it was created by a company's marketing department. So in a way, it's very fitting.

)

Though, what irks me most about the faction logos and Planetside 2: NC got a round logo but use angular designs. And the TR have the most angular logo, yet use rounded designs.
Yes, it's "historically grown" this way, and it wouldn´t make much sense to change it. But still...

Toppopia · 2012-06-20, 06:36 AM

I like how the TR looks, and as people have mentioned, the NC does look the most detailed, and VS looks simple which is effective, but i think the TR logo looks amazing.

RSphil · 2012-06-20, 07:54 AM

logos look good to me. dont think i have ever seen a flashy logo for any force. look at the worlds forces logos. all simple. imo planetside 2 logos are good.

Grapes · 2012-06-20, 08:10 AM

I think the NC logo is great, the TR is OK, while the Vanu one is very bland... It's a tiny Y with a little circle around it. Could've at least made it a little thicker and more detailed

Sabot · 2012-06-20, 08:12 AM

No country or company in the world has a complex flag/logo with lots of textures, layers, colors or effects... they are made simple with 2-3 colors for easy recognition.. look at Microsofts logo, or Apples or McDonalds or Nike... sooo incredibly simple logos. The USA probably have one of the most complex flags in the world... most are just a one colored background with some doodles or a cross in another color ontop of that.

Point is... they're made to be recognized, not flashy. And the PS logos are just grand.