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EVE-Online RP Discussion and Resources => Player Driven Content => Topic started by: Ken on 22 Sep 2010, 03:48

Title: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 22 Sep 2010, 03:48

(http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/8757/iconocracy512x512.png)

EVE: Iconocracy

Iconocracy began as a project to create larger, sharper versions of the NPC corporation and faction icons seen in EVE Online (see: this thread here (http://backstage.eve-inspiracy.com/index.php?topic=1057.0) and deviantART here (http://hegemon4hire.deviantart.com/gallery/)).  That is still its primary purpose, but the project's goal is now to create enhanced icons for every NPC corp and faction and compile them into a single, carefully crafted image complete with informative descriptions and pertinent screenshots/EVE art from chrons and such.  An example of an early version at half resolution is available here (http://dl.eve-files.com/media/corp/Ken/eve_iconocracy_amarr_empire_complete.png).  I'm looking at the final, grand image coming to somewhere around 13000x8000 pixels in size (with each of the over 200 icons alone represented in 512x512px), a resolution sufficient to have a professional printer create a sizable poster with good print resolution.

The component images we're talking about are not simply resizes of the current icons.  They are original creations made to look like the in-game icons and it takes a good bit of my time to draw and polish each one.  Thankfully, I find the creation process quite fun.  My artistic goal is to impart a certain amount of uniformity across the various icons within each faction by giving them all the appearance of having the same material and lighting (polished stone for the Amarr, brushed metal with two light sources for the Caldari, etc).  I'm also trying to establish a certain amount of uniformity across all the icons in every group so that they look better together in the final product.

The way I'm going to lay out that final product leaves some room to include a few special additions.  I want to use that space to incorporate a few player corporations (or alliances) in the final product.  The question I'm left with answering is how best to choose whom to include.  I think, in the spirit of the Backstage, a fiction contest might be the best means to that end.  Update October 3rd: that contest has now been announced and you can find out more here (http://backstage.eve-inspiracy.com/index.php?topic=1190.0).

Since I can't log in to the client from here, I am also soliciting you (yes, you! :o) for your badass EVE screenshots of: fleets standing still, fleets in motion, fleets stuck in and lancing their opponents with heavy fire, and also the rare and interesting sights of New Eden that most people tend to just warp on by.  Please link or email your screens to kenreikko@gmail.com.  They don't even have to be your screenshots, just point me in the right direction if you come across one.

Project agenda/timeline--

100%: Amarr enhanced icon stock
100%: Amarr finished icons
100%: Caldari enhanced icon stock
100%: Caldari finished icons
100%: Gallente enhanced icon stock
100%: Gallente finished icons
100%: Minmatar enhanced icon stock
100%: Minmatar finished icons
100%: Neutrals & pirates enhanced icon stock
100%: Neutrals & pirates finished icons
100%: Assemble screenshot stock from the community
100%: Contest to select player corporations/alliances for inclusion (http://backstage.eve-inspiracy.com/index.php?topic=1190.0)
42%: Player corp icon stock
42%: Player corp finished icons
CONTINUAL: Review all stock artwork and tweak
78%: Finished 771x579px 'card' for each corp/faction

Factions examples (slightly outdated):
(http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2662/cardamarrempire.th.png) (http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/2662/cardamarrempire.png) (http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5327/cardcaldaristate.th.png) (http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5327/cardcaldaristate.png) (http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/7284/cardgallentefederation.th.png) (http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/7284/cardgallentefederation.png) (http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9062/cardminmatarrepublic.th.png) (http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9062/cardminmatarrepublic.png)

Bloodline examples:
(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/5663/eveiconocracyamarrblood.th.png) (http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/5663/eveiconocracyamarrblood.png) (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/568/eveiconocracyintakibloo.th.png) (http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/568/eveiconocracyintakibloo.png)

32%: Compile the final image
0%: Printing test runs and further tweaking
0%: First finished posters awarded to contest winners
0%: Posters available to everyone
0%: Enhanced icon image stocks released to the community

Can you dig it?

Title: Re: Iconocracy
Post by: DeT Resprox on 22 Sep 2010, 04:03

That is excellent.  Going to pinch this for our website  :D

Did you create this yourself, and is there a version for other races.  I'll happily have a go at making a Minmatar one if not  ;)

Title: Re: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 22 Sep 2010, 04:15

This reply and DeT's first few posts pertain to a much earlier version of the OP.  So don't consider them relevant to the current discussion.

Quote from: DeT Resprox on 22 Sep 2010, 04:03

That is excellent.

Thank you.

Quote from: DeT Resprox on 22 Sep 2010, 04:03

Did you create this yourself

Pretty much everything but the smaller in-game logos.  This is a maturation of the work that started in this thread (http://backstage.eve-inspiracy.com/index.php?topic=1057.0).  I'm still looking for the right way to distribute what I'm producing.  Some of these images are already out there in higher-res (768px square) on deviantART (http://hegemon4hire.deviantart.com/).

Quote from: DeT Resprox on 22 Sep 2010, 04:03

is there a version for other races

Yes.  I think Nouvelle Veiy has a couple of these going around, one for each empire at least.  I'll post the others once I "get my hands on them"  ;)  Apparently they all connect to create a giant poster (that'll be available IRL in a high gloss print, fingers-crossed, at some point...)   8)

Title: Re: Iconocracy
Post by: DeT Resprox on 22 Sep 2010, 05:30

I'd be very interested in using something like this to create a dynamic php template for each race where corporations could add their own corporation under each Bloodline beneath each Faction.  Ideally, i'd like to use something like your sheet as a building block where sections would be added underneath much like Nouvelle Veiy has been.  

If you are happy with this, maybe we can work on something.  It would be a simple thing for me to knock up in a couple of hours and could be dynamically updated to eve-files.com where clicking on each corp/alliance could open up the relating eve page or corp/alliance show info window ingame :)

Title: Re: Iconocracy
Post by: DeT Resprox on 22 Sep 2010, 05:32

Quote from: DeT Resprox on 22 Sep 2010, 05:30

I'd be very interested in using something like this to create a dynamic php template for each race where corporations could add their own corporation under each Bloodline beneath each Faction.  Ideally, i'd like to use something like your sheet as a building block where sections would be added underneath much like Nouvelle Veiy has been.  

If you are happy with this, maybe we can work on something.  It would be a simple thing for me to knock up in a couple of hours and could be dynamically updated to eve-files.com where clicking on each corp/alliance could open up the relating eve page or corp/alliance show info window ingame for selected corp/alliance :)

Title: Re: Iconocracy
Post by: Saede Riordan on 22 Sep 2010, 20:23

shiny I like it, and would put it on my wall.

Title: Re: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 23 Sep 2010, 09:23

Quote from: DeT Resprox on 22 Sep 2010, 05:30

idea

Sounds like it could be very useful!  My part in it wouldn't really be able to go beyond providing icon artwork.  I'm no programmer (of anything!), but I'd be happy to lend a hand in my own way if you do want to put something together.  Can you put an example of your concept together without graphics or using basic images to start with?

Quote from: Nikita Alterana on 22 Sep 2010, 20:23

shiny I like it, and would put it on my wall.

Thank you :)  More to follow on that.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 24 Sep 2010, 22:43

OP changed substantially and bumped for great justice. 

Who would be interested in being a part of this?  (As subject matter, I mean.  I'll do the drawing.  :))

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Saede Riordan on 24 Sep 2010, 23:00

Quote from: Ken on 24 Sep 2010, 22:43

Who would be interested in being a part of this?  (As subject matter, I mean.  I'll do the drawing.  :))

what do you mean?

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 25 Sep 2010, 03:06

I'm making an enormous version of this (http://dl.eve-files.com/media/corp/Ken/eve_iconocracy_amarr_empire_complete.png), which will include all four factions and minor powers, for eventual poster production.

Quote from: Ken on 22 Sep 2010, 03:48

The [layout leaves room] to incorporate a few player corporations (or alliances) in the final product.  The question I'm left with answering is how best to choose whom to include.  I think, in the spirit of the Backstage, a fiction contest might be the best means to that end.

I would like to gauge interest in such a contest before launching one.  Would you be interested?

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Saede Riordan on 25 Sep 2010, 04:04

oh I see...lets put words together, K Fi, yeah, thats a good idea.

Depending on the contest, I'd probably get behind it, I do enjoy writing.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ghost Hunter on 25 Sep 2010, 04:12

Win! So much win! win everywhereehnnngghhhhh (http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/2159/1218610662871.jpg)

So shiny and so pretty.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 25 Sep 2010, 08:48

:lol:  I'll take that as a "yes", Ghost Hunter.  (And I'll be adding it to my desktop wallpaper rotation.)

Nikita- I'm thinking something in the flash fiction realm.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Alain Colcer on 25 Sep 2010, 08:59

deviant art gallery is awesome!

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: joharakador on 27 Sep 2010, 17:06

Well, I don't think I have the ability to write-to-win yet, however, I know that I would happily pay (yes real money) for a posterized version of all 4 major factions (and of course the "others") if it were available.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 28 Sep 2010, 08:24

You never know, Johara.  And thanks for the +1 on the concept.  Also thanks to Bruno.  :)

I'm pushing the overall polish on all these icons to the next level and you can see examples of what that looks like by checking out the example 'cards' (linked in OP).  That's what each entry will look like in the final product; 212 total entries.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Silver Night on 29 Sep 2010, 00:32

This is awesome. I'm in the middle of a move right now, and I'm looking forward to giving all the new stuff the time it deserves once I'm settled into the new place.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: DeT Resprox on 29 Sep 2010, 09:52

Quote from: Ken on 25 Sep 2010, 03:06

I'm making an enormous version of this (http://dl.eve-files.com/media/corp/Ken/eve_iconocracy_amarr_empire_complete.png), which will include all four factions and minor powers, for eventual poster production.

Quote from: Ken on 22 Sep 2010, 03:48

The [layout leaves room] to incorporate a few player corporations (or alliances) in the final product.  The question I'm left with answering is how best to choose whom to include.  I think, in the spirit of the Backstage, a fiction contest might be the best means to that end.

I would like to gauge interest in such a contest before launching one.  Would you be interested?

I'm halfway through coding a php image template allowing you to manually add your own corp and description based upon this as mentioned above.  I'll shout when it's available for playing with - probably this coming weekend :)

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 29 Sep 2010, 22:19

Hope the move finishes smoothly, Silver. 

Can't wait to see first draft on the dynamic page, DeT!

I updated the example cards in the OP to show one from each of the four central empires.  You can get an idea for the style of the icons I'm putting together for each by taking a look at the spread.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Benjamin Shepherd on 04 Oct 2010, 01:01

This is a masterpiece.

Finish this, and I will call you Supreme Ruler Ken.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Artabanus on 04 Oct 2010, 20:31

Simply incredible....

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Milo Caman on 05 Oct 2010, 03:44

Just fantastic. Can't wait to see it finished.  :D

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 05 Oct 2010, 09:53

Thank you, gentlemen.  I just passed 150 completed icons today.  Two away from wrapping up all Gallente icons and then on to finish the last dozen Minmatar.  In the home stretch now on the stock images and finished icons. 

Putting together all 200+ infocards will take perhaps just as much time as the art!  On that note...

If anyone has really fine screenshots of their fleets in motion, fleets in fights, or altogether sexy looking EVE starships and space scenes (and who doesn't, really?), I could certainly use them for this.  If you link or email your best screens to kenreikko@gmail.com, you may just see them turn up in the final product.   ;)

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Seriphyn on 05 Oct 2010, 16:07

When you get around to infocards I recommend...

http://wiki.eveonline.com/wikiEN/images/3/37/3359737756_de24877628_b.jpg

For the FIO infocard pic...Black Eagle Megathrons are described like so...

For Roden Shipyards, I recommend a pic of the Roden Center, which is a Gallente station with a redness to it. I'll try find a pic at some point

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 05 Oct 2010, 22:19

Thanks, Seri.  Perfect shot (of the old FedNav Megathron, yes?).  Pics of strange or unique places in New Eden (like the Roden Center) are also highly desirable as I can't log in to the client to get them myself.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 13 Oct 2010, 10:21

This morning I finished the last of the fundamental art resources for Iconocracy with the 197th NPC icon.  What remains is to assemble the infocards (23 are finished and 179 are primed out of 209 total), find our winning player corps/alliances in the flash fiction contest, and bring it all together.

To give you a sense of the scale I'm hoping to achieve, the complete Iconocracy image of all NPC factions, bloodlines, and corporations (along with our three lucky player corps and a couple surprise entries) is going to be at least 13107x7527 pixels in size.  At 200 pixels per inch, that generates a ~65x37 inch printed image.  I'm seeing the first slices of it come together as I work and (speaking as an EVE fanatic) it looks rather good.

While looking back, however, I realized that these last two NPC icons were also part of the first set I posted about six weeks ago before I sat down to improve my admittedly amateur design skills and this became a big project.  I thought I'd share the final versions of these last two NPC icons with everybody, side by side with the very first versions (that I actually thought were pretty badass at the time 8)).

Thanks for all the encouragement and remember keep your eyes open for the next contest challenge thread!  ;)

Thukker Tribe

Original in-game icon:
(http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/9982/logoevefactionofficialt.png)

Six weeks ago:
(http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/7850/logoevefactionoriginalt.png)

Final Iconocracy version:
(http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/9834/logoevefactionthukkertr.png)

Blood Raider Covenant

Original in-game icon:
(http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6456/logoevefactionofficialb.png)

Six weeks ago:
(http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9411/logoevefactionoriginalb.png)

Final Iconocracy version:
(http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3979/logoevefactionbloodraid.png)

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Laurentis Thiesant on 13 Oct 2010, 14:32

I noticed that 'ring' Amarrian symbology in the latest Thukker image. 
That wouldn't be some kind of sinister plot on your behalf, now would it?  8)

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Graelyn on 13 Oct 2010, 14:58

The Amarr Empire does not call ancient law of 'dibs' on the concept of circles.






Yet.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Laurentis Thiesant on 13 Oct 2010, 15:12

Quote from: Graelyn on 13 Oct 2010, 14:58

The Amarr Empire does not call ancient law of 'dibs' on the concept of circles.






Yet.

But but, it has the point on it and everything.
I MUST BE RIGHT!

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 13 Oct 2010, 22:40

Quote from: Jianni Sotaku on 13 Oct 2010, 14:32

I noticed that 'ring' Amarrian symbology in the latest Thukker image. 
That wouldn't be some kind of sinister plot on your behalf, now would it?  8)

There is no sixth symbol.  You must be seeing things.   :twisted:

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Laurentis Thiesant on 13 Oct 2010, 23:35

*twitch*

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: DeT Resprox on 21 Oct 2010, 02:33

All,
working off of Ken's fantastic work, i have now fully completed coding a model allowing players to add their corporations to each Faction template.  A test version for the Amarr template is available - feel free to add anything to this and waffle as it will be emptied out priot to proper release (when Ken has other faction templates available - i can help design others if need be ;) ).  To view this test template, please see:

http://triad-eve.net/amarrcorpsd.php (http://triad-eve.net/amarrcorpsd.php)

To add your corp to this template, simply goto http://triad-eve.net/corpadd.php (http://triad-eve.net/corpadd.php) and fill in the details then go back to the above link to see your corp added.  As each template is made available for the other factions, these will become available too.

For now, adding a corp reads off of our killboard, if you are not present in the dropdown list, you need to manually add your corpname and corpid.  I will change this TONIGHT to autoread your eve headers to add your corp manually IF you are CEO or DIRECTOR ONLY, allowing everyone in EvE to add their own corp to each Faction template via the ingame browser.  

This is a test version ONLY - When i release the proper version, it will be first  to post = first to the top of the list as it is now after the NPC corps lising for each bloddline per faction :)

The final version (which will be ready tonight and released with the other factio0n templates as mentioned) will link clicking on each corp to open the showinfo window for said corp ingame :)


Thank you to Ken for making this possible.  :D

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Casiella on 02 Nov 2010, 13:42

Just out of curiosity (I swear, not pushiness), how are the other icons coming?

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 02 Nov 2010, 15:47

Every last one of the NPC corps and factions is finished (has been for a couple weeks) and I've moved on to building the infocards for them all.  Settled on a final format (font, sizing, spacing, etc.) and layout for the poster about a week ago after playing around with a number of options.  I'll keep slugging away at the writing for the cards until it's done, but my real life workload is coming and going erratically.  So overall progress will be in fits and starts.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Saede Riordan on 02 Nov 2010, 16:32

would it be possible to release all the icons now so us graphic artists could play with them?

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 02 Nov 2010, 16:40

Quote from: Ken on 22 Sep 2010, 03:48

0%: Printing test runs and further tweaking
0%: First finished posters awarded to contest winners
0%: Posters available to everyone
0%: Enhanced icon image stocks released to the community

My intent is to release all of it, but not until I've actually finished what I set out to do.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Seriphyn on 02 Nov 2010, 16:58

Quote

(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/Seriphyn/20101024144127.jpg?t=1288738565)

Quote

(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu328/Seriphyn/20101024144134.jpg?t=1288738659)

Images of the Roden Centers, btw

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Saede Riordan on 02 Nov 2010, 18:30

ooh, interesting.

I like the cloud of TV screens around it.


however that makes me dissapointed we don't have something epic and unique for the Jita 4-4 station, the Amarr Center Station, and some of the other stations important to the story or trade in the cluster.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 02 Nov 2010, 18:55

Especially strange that these Roden Centers are just random furniture floating at beacons in a couple lowsec systems.  This is what the corporate HQ station should look like.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: DeT Resprox on 03 Nov 2010, 05:26

Well, the testing ( see http://backstage.eve-inspiracy.com/index.php?topic=1146.msg15091#msg15091 (http://backstage.eve-inspiracy.com/index.php?topic=1146.msg15091#msg15091) ) seems to be going smoothly without any issues. This can easily fit into other cards i guess so that anyone can add their corp to each faction :)

Thank you to those who submitted test data :D

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Akrasjel Lanate on 12 Nov 2010, 03:47

Very nice

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Benjamin Shepherd on 16 Jan 2011, 18:41

EDIT: I bumped the wrong thread, wtg.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: DrizzCat on 18 Jan 2011, 07:57

Quote from: DeT Resprox on 21 Oct 2010, 02:33

To add your corp to this template, simply goto http://triad-eve.net/corpadd.php (http://triad-eve.net/corpadd.php) and fill in the details then go back to the above link to see your corp added.  As each template is made available for the other factions, these will become available too.

I find it interesting that you got 1 of the 2 corps I am Involved with.  But considering that 24IR is semi Mothballed right now thats ok.  

Edit: Can I suggest that you add a Character Limit the Corp Description Field So you don't type a Huge pile of stuff and then have have of it Cut off?

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Saede Riordan on 16 Mar 2011, 23:49

any updates on this? I'd really like to be able to have a bunch of super shiny logos and nice smooth black outlines to use in my art for things.

Title: Re: [Project] EVE: Iconocracy
Post by: Ken on 17 Mar 2011, 19:56

Hmm.  Yes (http://backstage.eve-inspiracy.com/index.php?topic=1910.0).