Have a read though this one
[link] as well...
What I've done here is devised a concept draft for a new site layout to (maybe? hopefully!) coincide with the as-of-yet unconfirmed Picture wars > Pixel Wars name change over.
I've got someone lined up to help work on the CSS and HTML so work can begin once we can all agree (or should I say Chao's agreement) on a final draft, a design dossier for the special the someone and transparent layers are completed.
Below I'll give a rundown of what each component represents, its function and my general reasoning for its art direction. Now, I know this isn't a site- its a forum- but here me out. An integrated blog, wiki, archive and forum are on the agenda here so surly we can think up a way of getting a proper site off the ground for our beloved P\W? Have a gander and tell me what you think.
THIRD DRAFT:
Design direction rundown:
Not much of a change really. Less ambitious. Fuck the blog (for now) and the archive. 'About' and 'Guide' will be displayed within [CONTENT]. Could the background be incorporated into the forum? Who knows.
That dark blue, the [CONTENT] midground if you will, may extent or retract depending on the length of content with the ground acting as the footer.
Trifon made the point of 'WHAT WAR-' being grammatically incorrect. Changed to 'WHICH WAR-'.
Mr.F has made the addition of the pixelated ' \ '. The finishing touch, I feel.
About:
http://www.pixelwars.net
Guide:
http://www.pixelwars.net/guide
Forum:
http://www.pixelwars.net/forum
Wiki:
http://picturewars.wikia.com/wiki/Picture_Wars_Wiki
(
http://pw.wikia.com/wiki/Picture_Warpedia - Didnt even know this one existed! Nice little history lessons for you all)
SECOND DRAFT:
Design direction rundown:
As you can see, a great improvement on first draft. Still has minimal elements but this time with actual background! Delicious, isn't it? I ripped the background from a map The use of Courier works much better then NTR as it has a 'pixel' look to it.
FIRST DRAFT:
I know, I know it looks super fucking minimal and as if we're some kind of newspaper site but as a first draft, hear me out...
Design direction rundown:
This would essentially be the 'Home/Splash' screen for the site. Clean, crisp white. Classic Times New Roman. Why white? Why Times? This is to replicate a new page on paint, on notepad or just a blank piece of paper and with it all the infinite possibilities that come from having the freedom to create absolutely anything that pops to mind.
All maps, all armies, all stories have started with a blank page... so that's my inspiration for the white. The NewTeeRom? I just think it looks classy. Looks a lot more eye-pleasing then font 40 Fixedsys.
Box 1. could display the content for News, About and Guide as wiki, forum and archive would either load another page or link somewhere else.... Although integrating them below would be fucking radical.
2 and 3? Recent forum posts and recent wiki entries respectively? ... Maybe.
The red text is part of the actual layout.
But, after great deliberation, we can all agree that it's
shit.
_
Sprites:
The two sprites under the heading could come from a pre-approved list of sprites the community have made and change every time you visit the page/its refreshed. When clicked, it could take you to there respective wiki page. They add just the right amount of flair without over powering the minimal design and it gives first time viewers an idea of what the scale of P\W is but most of all, a taste of our art.
'Brand':
I though "WHICH WAR WILL YOU DRAW?"
(formerly 'WHAT') was pretty sick for a tag-line. Of-course P\W isn't all about killing shit and nuking planets but hey- it fits.
"A game of narrative, conflict and
small resolution." is very fitting for what we do here. Conflict > Resolution. Makes sense. Then I noticed we work in a small resolution in regards to pixels and our sprites so I added the
small.
News:
Imagine a blog being set up to keep people informed about P\W and the pixel art community in general. Not to mention other low-fi games. It would be pretty nifty if it was also about notifying people of exceptional matches that have recently finished. Maybe sheet/lore reviews as well?
It crossed my mind that interviews with pixel artists/writers would be really snazzy. Talking about the inspiration behind their work, what drives them, good practices they've picked up, tips n' tricks, their up coming work, what they would like to see in the future in regards to P\W... stuff like that.
About:
http://www.pixelwars.net may lead to this. The 'home' page if you will.
A brief history of P\W and a short description of what P\W actually is. (Probably just a rip from the guide) Quotes from the community of what P\W means to them? (Maybe short bios on people who run the site? I dunno about that...)
Guide:
HOW TO BOMB THE U.S GOVERMENT- A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Forum:
Self explanatory. Would it link back to here? Maybe a fresh start for the forum? Which leads onto...
Wiki:
We've got a wiki if you didn't know.
Archive:
If Chao (Or is it Choco who runs the server?) decided to turn over a new leaf with the forum then we could just stash this place in the archive. If not, then maybe a 'HALL OF FAME' for the greatest ever matches in P\W history.
Your thoughts? CnC? Suggestions? Anything of value to add at all?
Credit where its due:
Hope you don't mind me snatching them.
Left\right,
Jafhar's 'Aquatic Cray Cray'(?)
Synthetic's (Jager's) 'Avonii'
and
Hobbsey's 'Coniferous trees'
Big thanks to you guys, wouldn't look nearly as mesmerizing (and moistening) without you.