{"author_link":"\/users\/flaterectomy","author_name":"Flaterectomy","author_uid":"flaterectomy","comments":[],"epoch":1545158160,"event":"LD43","format":"md","ldjam_node_id":137555,"likes":11,"metadata":{"p_key":"127212","p_author":"Flaterectomy","p_authorkey":"1003398","p_urlkey":"343333","p_title":"AS OF YET UNNAMED | Graphics Post-Mortem 2\/3","p_cat":"LDJam ","p_event":"LD43","p_time":"1545158160","p_likes":"11","p_comments":"0","p_status":"WAYBACK","us_key":"1003398","us_name":"Flaterectomy","us_username":"flaterectomy","event_start":"1543536000","event_key":"71","event_name":"LD 43"},"node":{"_collation":{"body_sanitizer":"TextUtils::SanitizeHTML via existing importer","event":"LD43","removed_author":false},"_superparent":120415,"_trust":15,"author":3398,"body":" \n![logo.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb55.png)\n\n*This post-mortem deals with the graphics of our entry for LD43, [AS OF YET UNNAMED](https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed). This is a more in-depth follow-up on my [Narrated Pixelart Timelapse](https:\/\/bit.ly\/2EwTAFc) video. There's a lot to say, so I separated it into three parts.*\n\n* Go to [Part 1: The Process](https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed\/as-of-yet-unnamed-graphics-post-mortem-13)\n* Go to [Part 3: Conclusions](https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed\/as-of-yet-unnamed-graphics-post-mortem-33)\n\n# Part 2: Out-Of-Game Graphics\n\n## Cover Image\nThis is the **first impression of the game**. If a player finds your game through the **Games section** of the Ludum Dare website, this is what they see first. As you can see in my [Narrated Pixelart Timelapse](https:\/\/bit.ly\/2EwTAFc) video, I make **two versions** of our cover image: one showing **in-game sprites**, and one with **our entry's logo**. I feel like neither option is a bad decision, which makes it harder to pick one, so I present both versions to @DaanVanYperen and together we decide to go for the version with the game's logo. \n\n![p2_1.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb6a.png)\n\nI also use a screenshot of the Games page and cut out a random cover image as a **template**. The cover image has **two overlays** on that page: the **orange overlay in the top-right** that shows whether it's a Compo or Jam entry, and the slightly transparent **grey overlays at the top and bottom** of the image that show the entry's name and which Ludum Dare it was made for. The orange overlay **stays overlaid**. I do not want to put anything vital in that part of the image. The grey overlays **disappear when you scroll over the image**, so that's less of a no-no area, but I try to keep the **main art within those bounds**. Now these dimensions change depending on how many thumbnails you choose to see per row, but I base this on the **default setting** of four, assuming people stick to that (I have *no* data to back that up).\n\n![p2_2.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb6b.png)\n\n## Wait, Is My [Ludum Dare Game Page](https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed) Part Of Graphics Too?\nThere's definitely an **element of design** involved in **how you present the game** on your entry page. I do not claim to know for certain what works best here, but I find it's **worth the time and effort** to consider how to fill this page out. And the best thing? **You can do this** ***after the deadline.*** \n\n### Logo, Description And A Big Link\nSince we have a **strong landmark graphic** with which to **capture attention**, I put the game logo at the top of the page. Then I add a brief description; a short text that **humorously captures the idea** of the game. Since the logo is pretty big, I use markdown to enlarge this text. I try and keep the description in a similar tone to the game. **Don't promote your game about grief with a one-liner.**\n\nUnderneath this, I add a **big, hard-to-miss link** to our game with the addition that it's a **web client**. The *official* link to the game is all the way at the bottom of the content we add here, so I do not want to make people scroll down past everything if they do not want to. And as people are **more likely to try your game** if they do not have to download it, the **HTML5** tag is pretty vital.\n\n![p2_3.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb6d.png)\n\n### Illustration in Moderation\nAfter that, a single animated gif of the game. Something that shows off the game sufficiently. I used to post multiple screenshots before, but that just makes for more required scrolling again.\n\n![screenshot.gif](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb70.gif)\n\n### Control Yourself\nPossibly the **most important part** of the game page is noting down **the controls**. Going into the game **with some knowledge** of how it is played is **really important**. A large part of the audience will **only play the game for a few minutes**. If they have to spend unnecessary effort learning controls that they could have just read at a glance, they might be more frustrated playing your entry. Our game can be played in two different ways depending on the platform, so I leave a simple instruction for both **mouse controls** and **swiping**.\n\n![p2_4.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb6e.png)\n\n### Credit Where It's Due\nIncluding this time, I have taken part in eight Ludum Dares. @DaanVanYperen has even **more titles** under his belt. This means that **some people may recognize your name**, which might in turn make them **try your new entry**. I add links to social media or other platforms that each individual wants to profile themselves with.\n\n![p2_5.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb6f.png)\n\n### And To Complete The Hub\nWe usually make **timelapse videos** of our process, which I add to the game page so those who play our game and are interested can **quickly access them**. Finally, I do the same for the **blogposts** I have written, treating the game page as a **landing page** for everything we post in regard to our entry. These post-mortems, for example, will also end up in that list.\n\nNext, I'll go over my conclusions in the cleverly titled [Part 3: Conclusions.](https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed\/as-of-yet-unnamed-graphics-post-mortem-33)\n\n![Small Thumbs_footer_postld43.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb69.png)","comments":0,"created":"2018-12-17T16:50:02Z","files":[],"files-timestamp":0,"id":137555,"love":11,"love-timestamp":"2019-01-08T07:06:39Z","meta":[],"modified":"2019-01-08T07:06:39Z","name":"AS OF YET UNNAMED | Graphics Post-Mortem 2\/3","node-timestamp":"2018-12-19T15:58:22Z","parent":121127,"parents":[1,5,9,120415,121127],"path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed\/as-of-yet-unnamed-graphics-post-mortem-23","published":"2018-12-18T18:36:00Z","scope":"public","slug":"as-of-yet-unnamed-graphics-post-mortem-23","subsubtype":"","subtype":"","type":"post","version":414612},"node_metadata":{"n_key":"137555","n_urlkey":"343333","n_parent":"121127","n_path":"\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed\/as-of-yet-unnamed-graphics-post-mortem-23","n_slug":"as-of-yet-unnamed-graphics-post-","n_type":"post","n_subtype":"","n_subsubtype":"","n_author":"3398","n_created":"1545065402","n_modified":"1546931199","n_version":"414612","n_status":"WAYBACK"},"source_url":"https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed\/as-of-yet-unnamed-graphics-post-mortem-23","text":" \n![logo.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb55.png)\n\n*This post-mortem deals with the graphics of our entry for LD43, [AS OF YET UNNAMED](https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed). This is a more in-depth follow-up on my [Narrated Pixelart Timelapse](https:\/\/bit.ly\/2EwTAFc) video. There's a lot to say, so I separated it into three parts.*\n\n* Go to [Part 1: The Process](https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed\/as-of-yet-unnamed-graphics-post-mortem-13)\n* Go to [Part 3: Conclusions](https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed\/as-of-yet-unnamed-graphics-post-mortem-33)\n\n# Part 2: Out-Of-Game Graphics\n\n## Cover Image\nThis is the **first impression of the game**. If a player finds your game through the **Games section** of the Ludum Dare website, this is what they see first. As you can see in my [Narrated Pixelart Timelapse](https:\/\/bit.ly\/2EwTAFc) video, I make **two versions** of our cover image: one showing **in-game sprites**, and one with **our entry's logo**. I feel like neither option is a bad decision, which makes it harder to pick one, so I present both versions to @DaanVanYperen and together we decide to go for the version with the game's logo. \n\n![p2_1.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb6a.png)\n\nI also use a screenshot of the Games page and cut out a random cover image as a **template**. The cover image has **two overlays** on that page: the **orange overlay in the top-right** that shows whether it's a Compo or Jam entry, and the slightly transparent **grey overlays at the top and bottom** of the image that show the entry's name and which Ludum Dare it was made for. The orange overlay **stays overlaid**. I do not want to put anything vital in that part of the image. The grey overlays **disappear when you scroll over the image**, so that's less of a no-no area, but I try to keep the **main art within those bounds**. Now these dimensions change depending on how many thumbnails you choose to see per row, but I base this on the **default setting** of four, assuming people stick to that (I have *no* data to back that up).\n\n![p2_2.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb6b.png)\n\n## Wait, Is My [Ludum Dare Game Page](https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed) Part Of Graphics Too?\nThere's definitely an **element of design** involved in **how you present the game** on your entry page. I do not claim to know for certain what works best here, but I find it's **worth the time and effort** to consider how to fill this page out. And the best thing? **You can do this** ***after the deadline.*** \n\n### Logo, Description And A Big Link\nSince we have a **strong landmark graphic** with which to **capture attention**, I put the game logo at the top of the page. Then I add a brief description; a short text that **humorously captures the idea** of the game. Since the logo is pretty big, I use markdown to enlarge this text. I try and keep the description in a similar tone to the game. **Don't promote your game about grief with a one-liner.**\n\nUnderneath this, I add a **big, hard-to-miss link** to our game with the addition that it's a **web client**. The *official* link to the game is all the way at the bottom of the content we add here, so I do not want to make people scroll down past everything if they do not want to. And as people are **more likely to try your game** if they do not have to download it, the **HTML5** tag is pretty vital.\n\n![p2_3.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb6d.png)\n\n### Illustration in Moderation\nAfter that, a single animated gif of the game. Something that shows off the game sufficiently. I used to post multiple screenshots before, but that just makes for more required scrolling again.\n\n![screenshot.gif](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb70.gif)\n\n### Control Yourself\nPossibly the **most important part** of the game page is noting down **the controls**. Going into the game **with some knowledge** of how it is played is **really important**. A large part of the audience will **only play the game for a few minutes**. If they have to spend unnecessary effort learning controls that they could have just read at a glance, they might be more frustrated playing your entry. Our game can be played in two different ways depending on the platform, so I leave a simple instruction for both **mouse controls** and **swiping**.\n\n![p2_4.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb6e.png)\n\n### Credit Where It's Due\nIncluding this time, I have taken part in eight Ludum Dares. @DaanVanYperen has even **more titles** under his belt. This means that **some people may recognize your name**, which might in turn make them **try your new entry**. I add links to social media or other platforms that each individual wants to profile themselves with.\n\n![p2_5.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb6f.png)\n\n### And To Complete The Hub\nWe usually make **timelapse videos** of our process, which I add to the game page so those who play our game and are interested can **quickly access them**. Finally, I do the same for the **blogposts** I have written, treating the game page as a **landing page** for everything we post in regard to our entry. These post-mortems, for example, will also end up in that list.\n\nNext, I'll go over my conclusions in the cleverly titled [Part 3: Conclusions.](https:\/\/ldjam.com\/events\/ludum-dare\/43\/as-of-yet-unnamed\/as-of-yet-unnamed-graphics-post-mortem-33)\n\n![Small Thumbs_footer_postld43.png](\/\/\/raw\/64d\/z\/1fb69.png)","title":"AS OF YET UNNAMED | Graphics Post-Mortem 2\/3","wayback_source":[]}