Proteins 101 <v.24 - new gameplay? *POLL!*> p1, p13

by **sexyflanders** on Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:27 am

I Likey! look forward to playing it.

I bet you won't have to do very many more versions before you are done; it looks pretty good from where I sit.

by **natty dread** on Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:24 am

Thank you for that. Just for that, I'll put out a preview of the small version.

Click image to enlarge.

ps. no, sexyflanders is not my multi...

by **AndyDufresne** on Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:45 am

What if you went with a slightly different thematic route? What if this was in a textbook, and looked a little 2-D/cartoony, like how they are often depicted in such textbooks?

Right now, the current graphics theme is a bunch of color circles---which doesn't quite seem like a theme at all.

--Andy

by **natty dread** on Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:55 am

Well, I could try it I suppose... but this is actually how molecules are often graphically represented. I even rendered the molecule with a molecule drawing software...

Well, I didn't render the hydrogens, but as they have no place in the gameplay I think they would just be distracting.

So maybe I could use a page of a textbook as a background for the molecule... I'll think on it, if I find a way to do it conveniently I'll give it a shot.

by **khazalid** on Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:56 am

looks pretty good to me. i get the lack of theme comments and all but it's unique enough to not really need one. better this than another historical map i say

by **AndyDufresne** on Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:00 pm

khazalid wrote:looks pretty good to me. i get the lack of theme comments and all but it's unique enough to not really need one. better this than another historical map i say

Right, it might be a unique enough idea, I just don't think the current graphics are in any way very visually gripping or calling me to play.

The added idea of a textbook theme (or something else you might find fitting) I think would do amazing things for this idea, and make it a pretty stellar map.

--Andy

by **natty dread** on Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:08 pm

Well, I've just got a new scanner, I'm still learning how to use it, but I'm thinking I could scan a page of some random textbook, then eliminate all the text from it, and use that image as the background...

but I'm not so sure about the textbook thing actually, now that I think of it, black really works best as the background for the molecule, I'm not sure how it would look on a white page.

Can anyone suggest another solution for a theme, one where I could keep a black/dark background for the molecule?

by **khazalid** on Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:27 pm

stick it in a petri dish

by **natty dread** on Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:39 pm

hmm. The round shape of the petri dish could present problems, I'm not sure if I can fit the molecule in that...

by **number five** on Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:01 pm

like it man

by **natty dread** on Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:39 pm

Well, I've been trying to execute the "textbook" approach, but so far I haven't managed to come up with anything worth uploading...

So I'll keep trying, but if I get nothing decent done I'll just have to use the current scheme unless someone gives me a usable idea where I can use a dark background.

In the meanwhile, here's something I did with the current graphics:

Click image to enlarge.

Alternative, FLIPPED view:

Click image to enlarge.

by **natty dread** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:27 am

Here's another alternative version, played around with some things here:

Click image to enlarge.

by **natty dread** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:04 am

I have an idea for a graphical theme.

How about a blackboard? The protein molecule could be pasted on it as is, but all the texts could be written with chalk, also the title and legend...

If anyone could help me, find me a suitable picture of a blackboard I could use... I'll also try to find one but if anyone has one I can use I'd be grateful.

by **natty dread** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:42 am

Ok, I actually found the blackboard... now I just need a chalk font.

Which one of these looks the best?

Click image to enlarge.

Click image to enlarge.

Click image to enlarge.

Here's a sneak preview of what I was thinking about for this theme:

Click image to enlarge.

Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?

by **natty dread** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:51 am

Ok, this is what I have so far:

Click image to enlarge.

Andy, you're the one who wanted a new graphical theme. I'm waiting for you to throw me a bone here!

by **AndyDufresne** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:53 am

I think the blackboard theme could work for you, so good idea there. The individual pieces of the protein don't look like they were drawn by chalk though. If you can transfer the feel you have in the title to the pieces, that would be definitely an interesting visual look.

If you are going to keep with the chalkboard theme, you might want to re-think your color. The gray on black doesn't seem like it would be used in any real classroom.

--Andy

by **natty dread** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:07 pm

AndyDufresne wrote:I think the blackboard theme could work for you, so good idea there.

Thanks!

The individual pieces of the protein don't look like they were drawn by chalk though. If you can transfer the feel you have in the title to the pieces, that would be definitely an interesting visual look.

Did you take a look at the 3 previews in the previous post? The ones with only the protein on the blackboard? One of those 3 looked quite chalky, imo. Maybe I could use that one.

If you are going to keep with the chalkboard theme, you might want to re-think your color. The gray on black doesn't seem like it would be used in any real classroom.

Well, I think here we'll just have to weigh realism against playability. I originally tried a number of colour schemes, and this is the one I came up with that I think works best, for clarity, and easiness on the eyes.

Thanks for your feedback. I'll keep working on the map...

--Andy[/quote]

by **AndyDufresne** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:12 pm

Why not use white circles, lightly shaded like you would use on a Chalkboard? Might be worth a shot to test at least.

--Andy

by **natty dread** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:20 pm

Well there would be the issue of identifying the nitrogens, the amides and the oxygens... I guess they could be drawn with a different colour chalk but... Somehow I have a feeling the map would be too plain looking with that style. I might give it a shot anyway.

by **natty dread** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:29 pm

I might rename the map "Proteins 101"

so it fits the new theme...

by **natty dread** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:25 pm

Ok here's another update. Does the molecule look more chalky now?

Click image to enlarge.

Actually, I think it kinda looks like it was painted on the blackboard... but that's ok.

Andy I'm sorry but I'll have to scrap your idea of using circles for the molecule... this way just looks so much better.

by **soundman** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:23 pm

natty_dread wrote:Ok here's another update. Does the molecule look more chalky now?

Click image to enlarge.

Actually, I think it kinda looks like it was painted on the blackboard... but that's ok.

Andy I'm sorry but I'll have to scrap your idea of using circles for the molecule... this way just looks so much better.

I think you should give it a try. What you got right now just doesn't seem to fit the blackboard...

by **natty dread** on Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:30 pm

I just think it would be too hard for people unfamiliar with the map to tell the continents apart. Or are you suggesting I would do it as circles and keep the colour glow? But that wouldn't look very good, nor would it look real. I would need to stick colour in them somewhere to tell the continents apart, and then we would again have balls instead of circles...

See how problematic the whole idea is? I would much rather just keep it this way.

But if the majority of the people think I should go with the circles, then I'll just have to find a way I guess...