Library

[Crush]

As you know i'm currently designing the library interior.
Related Thread: http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewtopic.php?t=977

Here some bookshelfs for the library:

i tried to be creative and use many different books. but the result looks maybe a little bit too colorful and crowded. what do you think?

im also not really statisfied with the top and bottom yet. i think i will add a more artistic border with some relief pattern.

Oh, and what kind of floor tiles would you suggest? Maybe something from this thread:
http://forums.themanaworld.org/viewtopic.php?t=1064
or something different?

[Pajarico]

I can't see the tileset, is too small.

[Ultim]

Yeah, too colorful. Try sticking with one color or at least small variations of the same color. Dark, unsaturated blues, reds, and greens have usually worked well in my experience. Try to focus more on the bookcase than the books.

[Modanung]

I think the contrast is too low.
It seems as if it's all got almost the same value and saturation. It's very flat.
The bookcase is very simple... not decorated at all. I again suggest you make some concept drawings before you start drawing the tiles.

I know, short comment... I'm off to bed.

[Metalcore]

well, a bookcase is a bookcase.
They tend to be rather simple.

[Ultim]

Haha says the man who isn't an artist.
i believe the Artist would sooner say, "Well, a bookcase COULD be very intricate!"

Note the books in this, Crush, it should be very inspiring:



And the intricate styles of the bookcases in these:







If there are any 56Kers out there that got killed by these pictures' load times, tell me and i'll make them links instead

[Metalcore]

true, I'm not an artist, but as a gamer, I'd rather have something simple than something gaudy and unpractical as in the "Midori" screenshot.
I'm not saying it should be as simple as what we have, just not THAT intricate. some simple borders on the top and bottom to alleviate the "flatness" would do.

[Bjørn]

I think it's a good start but as other said, it'll need more contrast (depth) and it's too plain (like modern book cases indeed tend to be). But take for example this aged English oak library bookcase:



Or take examples from old preserved libraries making up today's tourist attractions:

http://www.benbrownfinearts.com/exhibit ... rthumb.htm

[Ultim]

Those are breathtaking. But i think the bookshelves themselves from the libraries are a little plain.

[ElvenProgrammer]

Or again you could take a look here for an example:

http://www.zoggles.co.uk/asp/image.asp? ... &t=gif&a=0

[Ultim]

When i view that game snapshot, i can read the bookcases thoughts:
"Look like the background, don't be seen; fit in with the background, don't be seen; look like the background, don't be seen..."

[Rotonen]

My opinion in short: plain things are always bad.

Crush, your name is ominous, since you kinda got crushed again.. Just don't be mentally crushed as well, we need contributors.

[Ultim]

On Crush's worst day he's still a lot better than most people are on their good days. Therefore i say it's no crushing, just slight application of pressure. His piece would do, but we all love to make Crush perform at his best.

[Pajarico]

Sorry but are we discussing this tile?

Because it is too small and incomplete to have an opinion and I see a lot of post about it.... I've in mind the height of the player set and the books are way too small IMHO, of course some books could be that size but if we are talking about ancient, hand-made spells books they should be larger, probably way larger than the head of the player, current ones looks almost like nowadays pocket editions.
Have you worked on it, Crush?

[Crush]

Have you worked on it, Crush?

no, not in the last weeks. i'm feeling a little bit uninspired lately.