Philadelphia: BETA - image/xml updates - 4/17

[shakeycat]

I see it's been mentioned over and over - but the bridges feel really pointless since they don't go anywhere. The bonus isn't worth fighting neutrals for.

If you aren't going to put New Jersey in (and I wish you would, and just call the map "Philidelphia and New Jersey"), then switch the inset with the title/bonus info. The big street sign can stay. It just flows better if the inset is right next to its original territory.

[RedBaron0]

The bridges do go somewhere, New Jersey. The spot for New Jersey is just on the sign. That can be debated as well, the killer neutral can be off the sign and marked as "New Jersey" although to be fair to New Jersey as a whole, I'd probably name it "South Jersey." The sign would likely remain in some for to explain the killer neutral for the South Jersey territory. The bridges are basically a eastern shortcut. The bonus for the bridges give a little extra incentive to attack and defend them.

Moving the inset shouldn't be a problem, more of a graphical thing, but does make sense. It could also open up some room to put the underdog bonus explanation closer to the legend, which makes more sense anyways.

[Victor Sullivan]

Oh, so now it's Vic's suggestion? Hmph.

On a non-emoticon note, I think we're ready to stroll on into Graphics (or strut, if you're feeling confident enough).

[shakeycat]

RedBaron - I didn't see that! I thought everything on the sign was meant as an example. I guess it'd be different with the in-game style numbers. As good as the sign looks, the highway shields may make more sense at the end of the bridges, then we'll know which one corresponds to where. Or if you double up on them, maybe put in a slightly transparent version at the end of the bridge indicating which one on the sign it points to.

[RedBaron0]

I did think the font I was using for the neutral numbers was the right one, it's Tahoma, correct? I think I might have it bolded though... I can put those highway shields by the correct bridges.(I76: Walt Whitman; I676: Ben Franklin; US30:Betsy Ross; PA73: Tacony-Palmyra) Still that's more of a graphical thing.

There still might been some miscommunication to how the bridges/toll is meant to work. Each bridges location, marked with an army circle with a blue ring, assaults to the army circle on the green New Jersey Toll sign, as marked with an army circle with a red ring. This is the killer neutral. That spot in turn assaults ANY and all bridge locations.

On an update note, I've rearranged the title and inset as asked, it's feeling a bit cramped, but might work if I can get some more space. But it may just work exactly the way it was before better. Again more of a graphical debate, all gameplay aspects are the same. Any one else have any issues with gameplay?

[MarshalNey]

I did think the font I was using for the neutral numbers was the right one, it's Tahoma, correct? I think I might have it bolded though... I can put those highway shields by the correct bridges.(I76: Walt Whitman; I676: Ben Franklin; US30:Betsy Ross; PA73: Tacony-Palmyra) Still that's more of a graphical thing.

There still might been some miscommunication to how the bridges/toll is meant to work. Each bridges location, marked with an army circle with a blue ring, assaults to the army circle on the green New Jersey Toll sign, as marked with an army circle with a red ring. This is the killer neutral. That spot in turn assaults ANY and all bridge locations.

On an update note, I've rearranged the title and inset as asked, it's feeling a bit cramped, but might work if I can get some more space. But it may just work exactly the way it was before better. Again more of a graphical debate, all gameplay aspects are the same. Any one else have any issues with gameplay?

Actually, if the bridge/toll attack isn't clear, that's a gameplay clarity issue which I'd prefer was taken care of before moving to graphics. Putting the Highway symbols next to the respective bridges seems preferable, I think.

For the explanation box with the Tolls, I think a couple of things could be changed:
(1) Change the name of the territory from "New Jersey Tolls" to the singular, "New Jersey Toll", or use a singular article, as in "the New Jersey Tolls". I'd recommend the former as it takes up less space. It's always made me a little uneasy that someone might think that there are more than one regions involved the way that it is currently worded.
(2) Put the army circle and number directly under the large title "(the) New Jersey Toll(s)" rather than next to text explaining what can attack it and what it can attack. That way the army circle won't get lost in the explanation, and the explanation will make more sense when the Toll(s) are seen as a separate region to conquer.
(3) Modify the legend to the current neutral value, i.e., "resets to 3 neutral" (not 4)

On a side note, could you just state that the New Jersey Toll is adjacent(connects) to all bridges rather than saying "Bridges assault NJ Toll" and "NJ Toll assaults all Bridges"?

Once the Toll legend is addressed, and barring any other concerns in the meantime, the map will have a well-earned stamp

-- Marshal Ney

[RedBaron0]

Click image to enlarge.

Done and done, MarshalNey.

You can probably see what I mean by how everything has gotten pretty cramped in the bottom corner with the switch of the title and the inset. I dunno going back to the top corner for the inset might be the way to go, or see what extra space I can get, I don't think I'd need that much over the standard limits for each version to keep this arrangement. Either way though.

EDIT: You know.... I just realized that I've got a fair amount of space under the normal space constraints.

[carlpgoodrich]

Ya, the inset and NJ toll is very crowded. You can also try just croping the map at the top and left a bit, and then give yourself some more space in the right and bottom. Also, "tolls revert" should be "toll reverts".

[MarshalNey]

Done and done, MarshalNey.

You can probably see what I mean by how everything has gotten pretty cramped in the bottom corner with the switch of the title and the inset. I dunno going back to the top corner for the inset might be the way to go, or see what extra space I can get, I don't think I'd need that much over the standard limits for each version to keep this arrangement. Either way though.

EDIT: You know.... I just realized that I've got a fair amount of space under the normal space constraints.

The inset is crowded in there, and where it is distracts from the NJ Toll; right now the two compete for attention. Also carl is right, minor change from "New Jersey Tolls revert..." to "New Jersey Toll reverts..."

The main issues have all been addressed, however. Gameplay = stamp!



Congratulations RedBaron0 for some Classic action with a unique twist. Go Philly

-- Marshal Ney

[isaiah40]

The main issues have all been addressed, however. Gameplay = stamp!



Congratulations RedBaron0 for some Classic action with a unique twist. Go Philly

-- Marshal Ney

Congrats RdeBaron0

[shakeycat]

Congrats on the stamp!

Maybe you can grab some extra pixels by moving the overall map up and left a little? The green and red territories could be a little closer to the edge if need be.

[RedBaron0]

I actually have a ton of room, I really thought I was closer to 800x800 but I've got many pixels to fiddle with in both directions within the normal standards.I'm getting some things uncluttered so we should look much better with the next update.

[RedBaron0]

Click image to enlarge.

My space issues should be more clearly resolved, and within the standard space restrictions. I therefore shouldn't need any extra space for sure.

Anything and everything is open kids, fire away! I can change the sign for the "New Jersey Tolls" it may or may not fit as a road sign on this map, I'd say may putting a small state of New Jersey outline and still call it a Toll, or call it a "Down the Shore Vacation" and jump off from there.

The title block has a number of Philly icons resting in the background all recognizable (I hope!) even if they've been masked and splattered back onto the map. I really like the look of it. However it doesn't have to remain locked to the title itself. They can be broken up moved around, or limited to just 1 or 2 of the icons. The one in particular, the statue of Rocky on top of the Art Museum steps, is iconic, and probably one of the THE first things anyone thinks of when they hear "Philadelphia." It does carry with it a possible issue of copyright, since it is attached to a major motion picture franchise.... I in no way am mentioning the film in any part, this is a statue, a work of art given freely to the City of Philadelphia whose spirit it represents.

Of course there is the simple fixes and nitpicks to work though, colors, vischecks, army colors blending, etc, etc things that will have to be checked and rechecked.

Look it over, scrutinize and suggest, I'm all ears.

[natty dread]

Ok, here comes the suggestions!

IMO, the splatter effect on the title images doesn't work too well. It seems a bit too pixely. I suggest trying something a bit more smooth. If you remove the splatter effect, then feather the edges of the images with a sufficiently wide radius, and set it on low opacity... that could work, giving a similar effect, but less pixelated. Another thing that might work is applying a layer mask with a clouds effect... experiment with it, I'm sure you'll come up with something nice.

The title text itself could use some emboss or drop shadow, to pop it out of the picture a bit. The same with the New Jersey sign.

Speaking of pixelated, the interstate signs also suffer from this condition... do something to them?

I also suggest giving the whole map a very slight gradient overlay, to give it a more "natural" feel.

You could use some contrast between the water and the land area. Maybe make the water a bit darker? The rivers seem to blend in with the land somewhat, especially near the blue-ish bonus areas.

Also, as I've said before (a reminder is always good ) you should make the shape of Center City match the inset.

Lastly, I'm not quite sure about the texture... it's nice, but seems a bit too uniform and artificial. The gradient overlay might help with it though.

Keep up the good work.

[isaiah40]

I'd have to agree with natty on the icons being a little too much. If you reduced the noise on them (I gather that's what you did to them), and then reduced the opacity of them they might work.