[Theme Changes] Attention Theme Makers: Upcoming Game Collections in ES

UDb23

@pjft "controller" and Text icons for Carbon finalized (download here).

"Controllers" now all line art as requested (no fills); added one alternative "controller" for "custom collections.
Added new "custom collection" and "Favorites" texts.
0_1500216824503_fav txt.PNG

0_1500216834368_coll txt.JPG
(size should fit properly when in ES)

Can you test them and give me your feedback ?
Thanks.

mediamogul

@udb23

One thought off hand is that 'Custom Collections' is really close to the AdvanceMAME artwork currently in Carbon as seen below.

alt text

What about something that would evoke the notion of custom creation? There are probably more than a few solutions there, but one example would be an architect drafting font like the one below.

alt text

pjft

@udb23 thanks. I'll test them during the week, as I am unable to do so today. Thank you!

A thought on the naming of custom collections: that's actually mostly the internal name for it. It can end up being called that in the theme of you'd like it, but I don't object it having a more user-friendly name like "my collections", "game collections" or something.

Maybe I should stop naming things as that's clearly not my forte :p

Thank you!

UDb23

@mediamogul @pjft mmm...
ok let me think how I can get it right for both your comments...

btw: I referred to "Guardians of the galaxy" for font and colors for "collections".
Maybe different colors (metal like) could be enough and "My collections" as text ?

mediamogul

@udb23

Maybe different colors (metal like) could be enough and "My collections" as text ?

I think a change in colors would help to delineate the two logos nicely and metal seems like a great choice. As for naming conventions, it might be more cohesive to use 'Collections' rather than 'My Collections', due to the convention already existing for 'Favorites' rather than 'My Favorites'.

pjft

@mediamogul said in [Theme Changes] Attention Theme Makers: Upcoming Game Collections in ES:

@udb23

Maybe different colors (metal like) could be enough and "My collections" as text ?

I think a change in colors would help to delineate the two logos nicely and metal seems like a great choice. As for naming conventions, it might be more cohesive to use 'Collections' rather than 'My Collections', due to the convention already existing for 'Favorites' rather than 'My Favorites'.

Agreed. Ultimately, the naming I provided was more of guidance or direction than any mandatory decision.

In fact, as there aren't many themes yet with these features, we're kind of setting the standard for the future so make of it what you feel best!

mediamogul

@pjft

You were right about the logo sizes. The previous images I shared were mock-ups, but once they were actually added to the theme, they needed to be a good bit smaller. Also, I could have sworn that the front-most logo used to enlarge. Either that's been changed recently, or I'm a victim of the Mandella Effect.

alt text

TMNTturtlguy

@mediamogul you are correct, the center logo used to get larger.

mediamogul

@tmntturtlguy

Just out of curiosity, why was that changed?

TMNTturtlguy

@mediamogul I have no idea, lots of little things like this started happening with the carousel and and z index changes started rolling out. I don't think it was intentional.

mediamogul

@tmntturtlguy

Can't make an omelette...

jdrassa

By default, the center logo still gets larger. It is larger in all of the screens above. However, it is themable now as part of the carousel changes. Off hand I know that the nes mini theme doesn't change the size of the selected system.

mediamogul

@jdrassa

However, it is themable now

Ah, nice. That's definitely as it should be.

It is larger in all of the screens above.

They appear larger, but in motion there's no size change in focused logos. Could it be that the increased size was just never added back to the Carbon theme?

jdrassa

The carousel change did result in some tweaks to the default scaling. Previously, the height/width of the logo were scaled at different proportions (1.5x for width and 1.05x for height) . As part of the carousel change, this was changed so that they were scaling at the same rate (1.5x). This lead to complaints that some logos were too big. After discussion, the decision was made to set the default to 1.2x, which may explain why they may not seem quite as large as they did in the past.

Details about it can be found here:
https://github.com/RetroPie/EmulationStation/issues/126

jdrassa

@mediamogul said in [[Theme Changes] Attention Theme Makers:

They appear larger, but in motion there's no size change in focused logos. Could it be that the increased size was just never added back to the Carbon theme?

Hopefully my previous comment should clear things up for you. The logos are larger, but not quite as large as they had been previously.

Additionally you mention "in motion". Currently, the way the logos are handled, ES switches between 2 different logos (normal and large) so the logo just kind of suddenly becomes larger. One change that I have been working on is to actually have this transition animate properly so that the logos will appear to grow and shrink.

mediamogul

@jdrassa

the decision was made to set the default to 1.2x
so the logo just kind of suddenly becomes larger.

OK, I see. It's just been made a bit more subtle. looking at it closely now and knowing when the change occurs, I can see a size increase.

lilbud

@jdrassa Weren't you the one who brought up the idea of the carousel having an origin function? Like the selected logo standing out much more than the non-selected ones.

jdrassa

@lilbud There were some requests for something along those lines. What I settled on trying to implement were some alignment options for the logos relative to the carousel.

cyperghost

@mediamogul said in [Theme Changes] Attention Theme Makers: Upcoming Game Collections in ES:

I have the day off and woke up with a little inspiration. I designed these for myself as a stopgap, but in the interest of sharing ideas, I thought I'd also post them here for feedback.

I would exchange the Favorites folder icon with an icon more like that. Or show a cup with a sash (#1) around. This icon was included into the IO theme! . The labeling is really cool.
.

The COLLECTIONS .... WOW not more to say! Great idea
Also the LAST PLAYED icon and labeling is a good move - Thank you!

Personally I don't like the "A1l Games" labeling ... it looks restless and messed up. But all the other suggestions +1
I think it's a cool theme and it is worth to be the default one :)
Of course that's only my liking! Don't take this personally.

mediamogul

@cyperghost

All great feedback, thank you. My original idea for 'All Games' was to do a ransom note style as I did, but using the various fonts from the more notable game systems. I lost interest in that direction when I realized the classic Nintendo logo couldn't really be used. Of course these are only meant to be quickly implemented stopgaps for myself until @UDb23 finishes his own stellar work, but you raise some good points and I might continue to develop them further if the mood strikes again.

Of course that's only my liking! Don't take this personally.

Certainly not. I've been in commercial design for too long to take any criticism personally. These days, as an art director, the first bit of advice I give our new designers is to get some thick skin and get it quick. Everyone's work can always be improved and in most cases, no one can see exactly where without the input of a group of like-minded people who share a common interest in the outcome.