Circus Maximus [Quenched]

[AndyDufresne]

Well lets see...


---I'd have to say the first crowd is looking the best. But keep experimenting, with color, maybe even texture. Explore all viable options.

---Is there something you can do with the charioteer in the middle area? Perhaps making it look like it was not pasted into said area? Have you explored other grahpic options for that region?

---I'm rather torn on the naming system. I like both yours and Jota's idea. But I will say, for the turns, can you warp the text to fit around the curve, and keeo the feeling of that speeding around the track?


--Andy

[rocksolid]

Good eye on the names in the curves, Andy. I was being lazy and trying to cheat out of warping them.

Here's the fan-favourite first crowd with some anti-carpetesque tweaking.



As for the charioteer in the middle - the legend, not the dude in the foreground who will probably disappear - this was my favourite part of the map! A beautiful image of what I assume is an old marble sculpture, beautifully photographed against a black and brown background that I lovingly extended...I know it's a bit surreal against the sweaty sandiness of the map, but I'd really like to keep it. I have explored other graphic options - there's a really famous piece of Greek pottery with a chariot image on it...



...but I far prefer the sculpture. Maybe if I messed with the dark donut around it...I really don't want to fade it.

[HighBorn]

it looks great... i really like the pottery picture.. i think it would look great...

[rocksolid]

Legend altered...

[AndyDufresne]

Well lets see...

---Just to throw these out there for you to look at (if you hadn't already)../

Charioteer One
Charioteer Two

---I like your experimentation with changing the visuals, keep looking into that, could be something quite unique. Also, have you considered maybe adding a charioteer's helmet for more deco (if needed)?

---Still something I don't like about the middle text, maybe too plain for me, but surely nothing too bad.

---And it feels like some of the outer ring text is faded in dust while others are dark as night.

Edit: ---And I know you've spent some time on the title, but have any other names crossed your mind? Perhaps like 'Hippodrome', to give it more of an authentic, ancient feel?

--Andy

[rocksolid]

Update...

There was incongruity between the names around the ring. Rectified.

Changed the legend again so that the text is not just lying there. Also changed the look of the title. Both are now a polished Italian marble from near Naples...



Those images you suggested, Andy - one was just another photograph of the one I'm using, while the other looks like a souvenir-store plastic knick-knack version of the same thing...

I'm not married to the title "Chariot races", but if it's changed, I would like it to be something along Roman lines. I think the name Hippodrome has Greek origins and not Latin, though I could be wrong. I think the best change would be to "Circus Maximus", the most famous chariot racing ground in Rome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Maximus), but I want people choosing to start a game on the map to know that it's a different kind of game from a regular map, and maybe the present title is best for that.

[spiesr]

The legend is now rather hard to read...

[DublinDoogey]

As for the charioteer in the middle - the legend, not the dude in the foreground who will probably disappear - this was my favourite part of the map!

My favorite middle graphic so far is the one with that particular image. There's something about that specific one that makes it look more authentic than the ones that came after it.

[AndyDufresne]

Well lets see...


---I think some experimentation with shadow and letter depth should be looked into to give the text in both areas (name and legend) to give the text readability. Perhaps have you considered engraving the letters? I must say I like the marble idea the best so far, once it's tweaked.'

---Hehe, and I was going to suggest perhaps the greek alphabet for the naming system, but now that I've realized I've been dealing with the wrong ancient culture, that wouldn't be such a valid suggestion.

---I rather like the other possible title you mentioned. When I read it and hear it my mind flashes to all sorts of chariot races to the death--dust flying, wheels spinning off, blood splashed everywhere. With Chariot Races I think more of a day at the race track, or perhaps a game for kids.


--Andy

[reverend_kyle]

Well lets see...


---I rather like the other possible title you mentioned. When I read it and hear it my mind flashes to all sorts of chariot races to the death--dust flying, wheels spinning off, blood splashed everywhere. With Chariot Races I think more of a day at the race track, or perhaps a game for kids.


--Andy

if he is talking about "circus maximus" i agree.


Also i think the center looks better than ever.

[rocksolid]

Some alterations for commentary...is the legend more readable? Is the title readable?

What about the chariot image? Is this a step backward? It looks a little weird to me, even though I love the original charioteer image.

[qeee1]

Yeah, that looks a little wierd to me too.

The best legend was in this image:

[fluffybunnykins]

I like the first one, too (that quee quoted) ^^^
though I quite like the circvs maximvs idea too

[AndyDufresne]

---I have to throw my vote out for more use of the marble, I think that helps make the map. But the lone image of the charioteer is marble looked raggedy, and the one with the black background seemed more like a window. Keep experimenting.

---Also have you thought about experimenting with alterations and variations in the sand color? Not for say 1 ring being a differen't color than the other, but making it feel realistic, tones and shades of dirt you know.


--Andy

[qeee1]

I'd say use the legend I quoted and make the Circus Maximus background black too, that way the legend won't stand out so much...