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Mega Man 8-bit Deathmatch => Bugs/Suggestions => MM8BDM Discussion => Graphic Alterations/Submissions => Topic started by: __Sidle on March 14, 2023, 01:29:46 PM

Title: [New Sprites Suggestion] Rotund Item Icons
Post by: __Sidle on March 14, 2023, 01:29:46 PM

I've wanted to suggest some new visuals to potentially help newer players remember and recognize their kit easier: making the icons for weapon/item tokens distinct from each other.

(https://i.imgur.com/7iOKETB.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/Umdhnvq.png)

All of the items that were previously in a normal box are rotund, similar to the Beat letters of MM5. Most of the original art can be cropped into this new form with little hassle, but not all.

(click to show/hide)

All of the ones that are simply a color, a black line, and white text didn't fit, and needed an overhaul.

Tango Roll is his bouncing ball mode.
Rush has his forms (Coil and Jet crops are loosely based on the MM7 icons, but I didn't use those because seeing his back and tail is more appealing and cute). Marine was made to look similar to Jet, as they function nearly identically.
Treble Sentry and Eddie Bomber are low-res art similar to what was done with the Sakugarne weapon.

The 1UP upgrade heads were also too snug to look ok in that space, and thus could use some changes.

Proto shows his shield and buster in the middle of charging.
Bass depicts his rapid fire spread.
Duo is his detached arm from chapter 8.

I believe that having items and weps in different "containers," in addition to the more varied artwork ends up making them much more identifiable at a glance than they are currently.

Test it out in-game at your own leisure!
https://allfearthesentinel.com/zandronum/download.php?file=rotund.item.icons_rev01.pk3 (https://allfearthesentinel.com/zandronum/download.php?file=rotund.item.icons_rev01.pk3)

Title: Re: [New Sprites Suggestion] Rotund Item Icons
Post by: Trillster on March 15, 2023, 11:09:55 PM

While I definitely agree that items should have some sort of indicator that visually distinguishes them from normal weapons, I don't like the one proposed here. The circles look a bit awkward at such a low resolution, many icons had to be retrofitted to make them work with some still looking a bit rough around the edges, and I also generally don't think the circles make sense with the rest of the UI's rectangular design.

Campaign already has a half-solution for this, as all infinite use items have a gold border. To throw my hat into the ring, I would personally just want to continue that and simply recolor the border of items to something different from the weapon icons. Below, I recolored all the borders to the peach that the HP bar uses, since that's where these items end up appearing in the UI once you've picked them up.

(https://i.imgur.com/ycA7ccz.png)