Icon Help!

magic101himagic101hi Member Posts: 713
edited November -1 in Working with GS (Mac)
could i get some help for either a new design of my icon or a revised version its pretty plain right now!

image

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Comments

  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    Give us more info. What is this for? An app? Your website? What are you trying to get across with this icon?
  • magic101himagic101hi Member Posts: 713
    it is for my iphone app jBall it is a platformer game that can be played here
    http://gamesalad.com/game/play/41310
  • JamesZeppelinJamesZeppelin Member Posts: 1,927
    I would have never guessed that from the icon.
    A good goal should be for the icon together with the name to represent the game without being to cluttered.

    Look at scitunes combo.

    It just screams adventure with a main character that is a tire.

    One without the other might not work.

    With the j and that name I may never even click on it because I either don't know what it is about or maybe it's a sports texting app?

    I'm not sure but I woulnt find your game even if it is exactly what I'm looking for.
  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    To be honest I would probably never buy this game based on the icon and the game art. But I just played theGS version and it has a lot potential. Unfortunately it is pretty much impossible to show gameplay in the appstore. You could put a link to a youtube video showing the gameplay but most people will not even click on your app unless the icon grabs their attention in under 0.5 seconds (or less) and then it has very polished screenshots. I would recommend grabbing a cool background from a stock image site and work on adding some photoshop patterns or something to the platforms and other objects. The ball itself has a cool look to it but most people will not buy a game with this quality of graphics. It's a shame really because for a game like this the graphics probably will not make it more fun but people are drawn to eye candy.

    Hope this doesn't seem too harsh. I've just learned this from experience (I have had a number of apps NOT sell well!)
  • OrochiOrochi Member Posts: 30
    This is just me:
    1) Remove the gloss effect
    2) Shorten the bottom horizontal line of the J
    3) Put a ball over the left upswoop of the J, as if dotting a short I
    4) Give the ball a highlight
  • butterbeanbutterbean Member Posts: 4,315
    Hey there :)

    I would scrap that icon alltogether, and focus on something colorful, vibrant, and visually appealing, and something that really defines what the game is all about.

    I have an icon for you that I threw together in a few minutes, and you can have it as a "starter" or use it if you like it.

    Post your email and I can send it to you k?

    Here's what it looks like:

    Again, this was put together pretty quickly, but I wanted to give you an idea of what you should do with your icon. Use bright, colorful, vibrant images, one that will catch the eye of a user glancing at new apps, and also gives the user some hint or idea of what the game will be like.

    image
  • magic101himagic101hi Member Posts: 713
    my email is magic101hi at yahoo dot com
  • butterbeanbutterbean Member Posts: 4,315
    email sent! :)
  • OrochiOrochi Member Posts: 30
    Kinda looks like an icon for a Japanese bowling game. ;)
  • butterbeanbutterbean Member Posts: 4,315
    Orochi said:
    Kinda looks like an icon for a Japanese bowling game. ;)

    Good point! :)

    @magic: I would suggest giving the in game graphics a boost too, you need a background, and maybe some platform graphics. There are a lot of royalty free websites you can get free graphics from, and it can make all the difference in your game.

    Yes, people care about appearance in both real life and in the app store, it is no different. :)
  • magic101himagic101hi Member Posts: 713
    could i get some links to these websites

    and mabie a sample background
  • expired_012expired_012 Member Posts: 1,802
    @magic, BB is right. Forget about your icon for now. You're moving way too quickly. Just look at how dull and dark your game is, you need some kind of artwork to make it come to life.

    Sometimes artwork is a big money investment, but in the end it'll be worth it. Or like BB said, there are many royalty free art sites where you can get some decent artwork

    Take a few steps back...When you have your whole concept and art all worked out then you should start worrying about your icon
  • JamesZeppelinJamesZeppelin Member Posts: 1,927
    Scitunes

    Aside from rather the art work is catchy or not the combo has to represent the game.
    Papa wheelie does do that.

    Butterbean in less than 5 min that simple concept is so much better. Nice work.
    One thing that can make things more vibrant (and not to mean any disrespect as your work is great). But it's always good to avoid a background having more contrast that the subject matter. Your icon is great but red and white really distract from the ball. Try the red with orange or the white with a light blue. The ball will become more of a focus. That's also the reason a lot of text can get lost in backgrounds. You see that all over the app store.
  • butterbeanbutterbean Member Posts: 4,315
    @James: Nah I totally agree, that was literally put together in a few minutes :)

    I think the backdrop needs some tweaking, but I just didn't spend the time on it :)

    @Magic: I sent you a backdrop.

    I get a very modern, abstract sort of vibe from your game, so you should use modern, abstract type art as your theme, and focus on getting the art better in your game. The background I sent you represents that style of art.

    The icon can inspire a game, but it should be the cherry on top of your finished product :)

    Good luck!
  • scitunesscitunes Member, Sous Chef Posts: 4,047
    JamesZeppelin said:
    Scitunes

    Aside from rather the art work is catchy or not the combo has to represent the game.
    Papa wheelie does do that.

    I think we are trying to say the same thing but I am not saying it well! I don't mean to suggest that you can just slap some cool graphics on and call it a day. I agree that it is a synthesis of story, character, graphics, gameplay etc. When these all come together and your icon and screenshots give a sense of this people are drawn in and compelled to make a purchase.
  • magic101himagic101hi Member Posts: 713
    edited the icon a bit then strait to making new graphics

    image

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  • AfterBurnettAfterBurnett Member Posts: 3,474
    Sweet! Now it looks like a COLD Japanese bowling game :) Looks good!
  • magic101himagic101hi Member Posts: 713
    teehee
  • butterbeanbutterbean Member Posts: 4,315
    POLYGAMe said:
    Sweet! Now it looks like a COLD Japanese bowling game :) Looks good!

    Ohhh he could release a double feature, hot and cold bowling! Sweet! ;)
  • magic101himagic101hi Member Posts: 713
    yaaaaa new game idea.....

    to bad there is like 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 billion bowling games on the app store!
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