Proteins 101 <v.24 - new gameplay? *POLL!*> p1, p13

[sexyflanders]

I Likey! look forward to playing it.

I bet you won't have to do very many more versions before you are done; it looks pretty good from where I sit.

[natty dread]

Thank you for that. Just for that, I'll put out a preview of the small version.

[bigimg]http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/5209/proteinmapv18small.png[/bigimg]

ps. no, sexyflanders is not my multi...

[AndyDufresne]

What if you went with a slightly different thematic route? What if this was in a textbook, and looked a little 2-D/cartoony, like how they are often depicted in such textbooks?

Right now, the current graphics theme is a bunch of color circles---which doesn't quite seem like a theme at all.


--Andy

[natty dread]

Well, I could try it I suppose... but this is actually how molecules are often graphically represented. I even rendered the molecule with a molecule drawing software...

Well, I didn't render the hydrogens, but as they have no place in the gameplay I think they would just be distracting.

So maybe I could use a page of a textbook as a background for the molecule... I'll think on it, if I find a way to do it conveniently I'll give it a shot.

[khazalid]

looks pretty good to me. i get the lack of theme comments and all but it's unique enough to not really need one. better this than another historical map i say

[AndyDufresne]

looks pretty good to me. i get the lack of theme comments and all but it's unique enough to not really need one. better this than another historical map i say

Right, it might be a unique enough idea, I just don't think the current graphics are in any way very visually gripping or calling me to play.

The added idea of a textbook theme (or something else you might find fitting) I think would do amazing things for this idea, and make it a pretty stellar map.


--Andy

[natty dread]

Well, I've just got a new scanner, I'm still learning how to use it, but I'm thinking I could scan a page of some random textbook, then eliminate all the text from it, and use that image as the background...

but I'm not so sure about the textbook thing actually, now that I think of it, black really works best as the background for the molecule, I'm not sure how it would look on a white page.

Can anyone suggest another solution for a theme, one where I could keep a black/dark background for the molecule?

[khazalid]

stick it in a petri dish

[natty dread]

hmm. The round shape of the petri dish could present problems, I'm not sure if I can fit the molecule in that...

[number five]

like it man

[natty dread]

Well, I've been trying to execute the "textbook" approach, but so far I haven't managed to come up with anything worth uploading...

So I'll keep trying, but if I get nothing decent done I'll just have to use the current scheme unless someone gives me a usable idea where I can use a dark background.

In the meanwhile, here's something I did with the current graphics:

[bigimg]http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/5747/proteinmapv18alarge.png[/bigimg]

Alternative, FLIPPED view:

[bigimg]http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6416/proteinmapflipped1.png[/bigimg]

[natty dread]

Here's another alternative version, played around with some things here:

[bigimg]http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9848/proteinmapv18blarge.png[/bigimg]

[natty dread]

I have an idea for a graphical theme.

How about a blackboard? The protein molecule could be pasted on it as is, but all the texts could be written with chalk, also the title and legend...

If anyone could help me, find me a suitable picture of a blackboard I could use... I'll also try to find one but if anyone has one I can use I'd be grateful.

[natty dread]

Ok, I actually found the blackboard... now I just need a chalk font.

Which one of these looks the best?

[bigimg]http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7564/proteinmapbb2.png[/bigimg]

[bigimg]http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/2264/proteinmapbb1.png[/bigimg]

[bigimg]http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6028/proteinmapbb3.png[/bigimg]


Here's a sneak preview of what I was thinking about for this theme:

[bigimg]http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3538/proteinmapbb4.png[/bigimg]

Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?

[natty dread]

Ok, this is what I have so far:

[bigimg]http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2503/proteinmapbb5.png[/bigimg]

Andy, you're the one who wanted a new graphical theme. I'm waiting for you to throw me a bone here!

[AndyDufresne]

I think the blackboard theme could work for you, so good idea there. The individual pieces of the protein don't look like they were drawn by chalk though. If you can transfer the feel you have in the title to the pieces, that would be definitely an interesting visual look.

If you are going to keep with the chalkboard theme, you might want to re-think your color. The gray on black doesn't seem like it would be used in any real classroom.


--Andy

[natty dread]

I think the blackboard theme could work for you, so good idea there.

Thanks!

The individual pieces of the protein don't look like they were drawn by chalk though. If you can transfer the feel you have in the title to the pieces, that would be definitely an interesting visual look.

Did you take a look at the 3 previews in the previous post? The ones with only the protein on the blackboard? One of those 3 looked quite chalky, imo. Maybe I could use that one.

If you are going to keep with the chalkboard theme, you might want to re-think your color. The gray on black doesn't seem like it would be used in any real classroom.

Well, I think here we'll just have to weigh realism against playability. I originally tried a number of colour schemes, and this is the one I came up with that I think works best, for clarity, and easiness on the eyes.

Thanks for your feedback. I'll keep working on the map...


--Andy[/quote]

[AndyDufresne]

Why not use white circles, lightly shaded like you would use on a Chalkboard? Might be worth a shot to test at least.


--Andy

[natty dread]

Well there would be the issue of identifying the nitrogens, the amides and the oxygens... I guess they could be drawn with a different colour chalk but... Somehow I have a feeling the map would be too plain looking with that style. I might give it a shot anyway.

[natty dread]

I might rename the map "Proteins 101"

so it fits the new theme...

[natty dread]

Ok here's another update. Does the molecule look more chalky now?

[bigimg]http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7677/proteinmapbb7.png[/bigimg]

Actually, I think it kinda looks like it was painted on the blackboard... but that's ok.

Andy I'm sorry but I'll have to scrap your idea of using circles for the molecule... this way just looks so much better.

[soundman]

Ok here's another update. Does the molecule look more chalky now?

[bigimg]http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7677/proteinmapbb7.png[/bigimg]

Actually, I think it kinda looks like it was painted on the blackboard... but that's ok.

Andy I'm sorry but I'll have to scrap your idea of using circles for the molecule... this way just looks so much better.

I think you should give it a try. What you got right now just doesn't seem to fit the blackboard...

[natty dread]

I just think it would be too hard for people unfamiliar with the map to tell the continents apart. Or are you suggesting I would do it as circles and keep the colour glow? But that wouldn't look very good, nor would it look real. I would need to stick colour in them somewhere to tell the continents apart, and then we would again have balls instead of circles...

See how problematic the whole idea is? I would much rather just keep it this way.

But if the majority of the people think I should go with the circles, then I'll just have to find a way I guess...

[natty dread]

Ok, I started doing something that very realistically looks like something hand-drawn with chalk, but IMO it just doesn't look very good.

[bigimg]http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/8938/proteinmapc8b.png[/bigimg]

[obliterationX]

The mere image in your signature made me retch.

Give up.