Philadelphia [Quenched]

[RedBaron0]

[bigimg]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc121/RedBaron0/newphilly26.jpg[/bigimg]

Whatever drives the creative juices...

Alright here's what's new...

Went back to the multicolor bonus regions. (instead of reddish/whiteish/blueish)
Stronger textures and gradients for both playable and non-playable surface.
Font changed (although I was kinda partial to monotype corsica )
Drop shadow somewhat stronger around the Liberty Bell
icons added near the legend for the minor bonuses. (bridges and underdog)
Stronger texture with the rivers and slightly brighter color.

[DiM]

why would the liberty bell attack the bridges?
it's not even connected to them and its location should be near the independence hall.

[natty dread]

The new look is really nice, I like how you're used gradient overlays there. This is starting to shape up. I'll comment more in detail later...

[RedBaron0]

It's just an icon, DiM, it doesn't represent the Liberty Bell's 'true' location. I've been trying and trying to work the bridge connection through New Jersey for a while and nothing I did ever seemed to work out. Toll booths, signs, states, ivy paths...

My thoughts are that the Liberty Bell is a well known Philadelphia icon and attraction that I'm using as a gameplay device.

[DiM]

It's just an icon, DiM, it doesn't represent the Liberty Bell's 'true' location. I've been trying and trying to work the bridge connection through New Jersey for a while and nothing I did ever seemed to work out. Toll booths, signs, states, ivy paths...

My thoughts are that the Liberty Bell is a well known Philadelphia icon and attraction that I'm using as a gameplay device.

and the obvious question is: why?
do you really need the bridges to connect? what would that bring to the gameplay?
all the continents already have enough borders and they don't need any more. in fact 3/4 bridges are placed on terits that are already borders so they're naturally guarded. the only nely created border is port richmond. but the white continent already has 3 borders in 6 terits. it doesn't need a 4th.

[RedBaron0]

It creates a shortcut connection from the northern sections of the map to the southern parts. The bridges are starting as neutrals and well as having a protected step from the killer neutral on the Liberty Bell itself. There is protection with these neutrals for the start of the game building bonuses. The bridges also hold a bonus should you wish to pursue it early with the starting value being only 2.

[Amateil]

looking good!!

[natty dread]

How about adding a slight drop shadow to the land area, and masking it only to the water area? This would separate the land from the water a bit more... Just make it subtle, so it doesn't look unnatural.

[RedBaron0]

[bigimg]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc121/RedBaron0/newphilly30.jpg[/bigimg]

[bigimg]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc121/RedBaron0/newsmallphilly30.jpg[/bigimg]


Added the drop shadow, and got the small map put together

[natty dread]

You misunderstood me... you masked the drop shadow backwards. It was supposed to be visible only on water, not on land... And make the drop shadow for all land area, not just playable land. So the water sort of has an "inner drop shadow".

Also, only make it 1-2 pixels wide, so it'll look good on the rivers too.

[Victor Sullivan]

1 quick fix: "1 territories: 4" should, of course, be "1 territory: 4", though perhaps "region" may be a more Conquer Club term?

I definitely want to say I absolutely love what you've done with the inset - I just wish the main map was more like that. Despite the effects and such, it still looks rather plain. I feel like it could benefit from a sort of "shadow" image like you have in the inset. It certainly needs something, and I don't think textures would necessarily fit the style.

-Sully

[RedBaron0]

[bigimg]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc121/RedBaron0/newphilly32.jpg[/bigimg]
Image size: 830x800
[bigimg]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc121/RedBaron0/newsmallphilly32.jpg[/bigimg]
Image size: 622x600

Alright changed the shadow over to the river, and added some background images for the land surface.

[Victor Sullivan]

It's at least a step in the right direction, to be sure! Not quite sure how I feel about it yet, though. I imagine the graphics gurus will have better feedback

-Sully

[natty dread]

The water looks great now, however the building overlays are sort of distracting... maybe you could blur them a bit to take them out of focus.

[TaCktiX]

My first impression is I'm not impressed. I had to look really hard to see proof that this map wasn't made 4 years ago alongside the original versions of Montreal and Canada. Sounds harsh, but aside from the building overlays (Great Lakes), it's extremely plain and doesn't grab the eye. This is compounded by the near-solid dark green background.

On a semi-related note, a lot of the Central City territory borders aren't clean, particularly Logan's Circle.

[MarshalNey]

Ughhh, I wish I was worth a damn when it comes to graphics advice... this is probably my most-anticipated map in the Foundry right now, and I feel that I can offer little other than encouragement. Don't despair, RB, although I may not be commenting, I'm certainly following along.

The makeover is a lot more readable than the grafitti version, but I guess as everyone else is observing, it is a bit plain. Victor is right that the Central City skyline is the most appealing part of the map (to me anyway).

The thing is, perhaps I can't give specific computer graphics advice, but I think the map is still searching for a thematic style, and I might be able to help in that regard...

Right now, you've got the famous buildings, the Liberty Bell, suspension bridges and the underdog figure. Except for the last, there's a common element there of city architecture, which if you really ran with it might work out well.

However, that last element, the Underdog with upraised arms, intrigues me the most. What if the map themed itself around the people of Philly rather than the monuments and buildings? Helix mentioned an angry New Jerseyian instead of the Liberty Bell, and while that may be a little strange, maybe a gruff New Jersey toll keeper would fit? The 'people' theme doesn't have to be fun-loving, though, it could be serious too- using famous people born in the various bonus areas of the map as a background instead of a building, for instance.

I guess, to me the Underdog bonus is what makes this map really special and unique, and at its heart that idea is about people. I think it could be nice to see the graphics built around that idea.

-- Marshal Ney

[gimil]

I think MarshalNey is right, now need a theme to pull this together. Everytime I look at this map I struggle to see any direction. I actually think you have moved backwards since you overhaul from the graffiti theme. I though that maybe you were struggling with graphics, until I realised you made the Japan map. One of the most beautiful maps I have seem. Seriously how did you go from Japan to this?

I think the best course of action mate is to take a step back think of the theme and direction you want this map to go and try again. If you can produce a piece of art like Japan, you can certainly produce a better attempt at phili than this! Good luck, pal.

[RedBaron0]

I know, its the theme that kills me. I've been struggling to figure out something that really captures Philly. The graffiti was nice, but I really felt it wasn't working in a way that I wanted it to.

You'd figure with such a colorful city like Philly this would be easy to figure out.... but it just hasn't been so far.

[ironsij0287]

Has anyone mentioned this for possible theme inspiration?



It's a piece of art entitled "I Love Philadelphia". The artist's name is William Ressler.

[RjBeals]

how about this as a theme:



just kidding

[DiM]

wtf is that? it's bread with meat inside. that i recognize, but are those macaroni? and what's the gooey orange stuff?

[isaiah40]

wtf is that? it's bread with meat inside. that i recognize, but are those macaroni? and what's the gooey orange stuff?

It's what people from Philadelphia eat. Philly Cheese Steak. And those are onions.

[DiM]

wtf is that? it's bread with meat inside. that i recognize, but are those macaroni? and what's the gooey orange stuff?

It's what people from Philadelphia eat. Philly Cheese Steak. And those are onions.

that looks absolutely horrible and i bet it tastes delicious
i'm hungry.

[chapcrap]

First time I looked at this map. I love the underdog bonus.

[gimil]

RedBaron0 can we expect to see any updates anytime soon?