Player backgrounds

[joehelmer]

I've tested to have player backgrounds. That means that I downloaded wallpapers of some players from their NHL team's websites.

Here's two screenshots:

Sidney Crosby
Alex Ovechkin

[sjsharkz]

They look good mate, any chance of getting me a Patrick Marleau one?

Thanks

Tim

[joehelmer]

They look good mate, any chance of getting me a Patrick Marleau one?

Thanks

Tim

Here's a preview:
Patrick Marleau

I will upload the player backgrounds here later.

[Shadd666]

Really good idea!

But...
- sometimes it affects badly the lisibility of the screen
- it would be hell of a lot of work to do this for every player in the game! Even just with NHLers, it would take a long time

But the project is interesting

[joehelmer]

Yeah, I know, but I will do the players that are on the team's wallpapers. But as I said, when I'm done with the NHL players that's on their team's web sites I will upload them here. and then I will try to get some backgrounds for AHL and other leagues.

[archibalduk]

Nice idea but I think it needs some refining before it is made into a pack. For example, your Marleau background is stretched too wide (i.e. out of proportion). Also, it looks as though the picture has been made too big (so that you can see the jagged edges).

I think the way to go is to make player appear to the right of the left-hand menu bar and below the top titlebar. This way it will look more "centred" on the screen and parts of the player won't be cut-off by any parts of the EHM navigation bars, etc.

Finally, make sure that you cut off any parts that say the player's name. The text will interfere with the game text ontop of it (e.g. see your Crosby one). This also goes for any special effects that have been put on these wallpapers. If you want to use a special effect then it has to present on every single player background - otherwise it looks like you've just grabbed any old picture from the internet and not put some thought into it.

Don't take this as a big criticism of your work; it's more constructive criticism. I really like your idea of making some player backgrounds - that's why I've taken the time to give you some advice/comments

[Shadd666]

Yeah, i agree with Archi.

It's a nice project that needs some reflection on it and some tweaks to become an awesome project

I guess Minty will give you some advices too to help you on this one.

Keep up the good work!

[joehelmer]

Thanks for the tips Archie. But it's hard to do in Paint, that's why the Marleau was stretched, it was actually a wallpaper with Marleau and Sturm from the beginning, so I had copy the Marleau pic from that first and then stretch it.I would do a better work if I had Photoshop or something.

But I think as it's easier to find good wallpapers for clubs in instead. And they look good to the text as well.

[archibalduk]

You need to get yourself an evaluation copy of PaintShop Pro or Photoshop. Alternatively there's GIMP - it's a very powerful freeware graphics package. It'd certainly be a great free alternative to PSP and Photoshop. I hear that there's plenty of plugins for GIMP too, which gives it lots of extra features.

[Joe]

Wow those are sweet, it'd be cool if you could do a pack for each team. Then if you play as say Washington, each time you load a new day, there would be a new player as the background. But I think thats getting a little far ahead of ourselves...

[CatchUp]

Wow those are sweet, it'd be cool if you could do a pack for each team. Then if you play as say Washington, each time you load a new day, there would be a new player as the background. But I think thats getting a little far ahead of ourselves...

a cool idea, but that would also have to be scripted into the games code I believe. It's a little more complex than just a graphics add-on...

And joehelmer, I do really like your idea as well! However, I agree with archi that you need to have some consistency with each piece you do in a pack. Otherwise, the constantly changing backgrounds will be distracting for the user. If you're serious about making this pack (and I think it's awesome!) you should defnitely look into a better graphics editor. Obviously, you're not going to go out and spend months of savings on the Adobe creative suite like I had to. (for school - but it was sooo worth every penny!) BUT, as I'm sure you're aware, you've got options on the internet like downloading a freeware product like GIMP.

Anyway, best of luck bud! Hope to see this pack progressing!

Cheers.

[Shadd666]

Joehelmer: i have GIMP, and it's an easy-to-use freeware that would allow you to make good work However, don't ask me technic things for it, as i don't use it a lot

[joehelmer]

Yeah, I've downloaded GIMP, but I can't start it. It comes to the screen where it loads files, then it stops.

[Shadd666]

Arf i can't really help you on the one Joe

[ElQuapo]

Yeah, I've downloaded GIMP, but I can't start it. It comes to the screen where it loads files, then it stops.

Which file did you download?

At this page :

http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

You need to first install the "Runtime Environment" before you install Gimp itself.

First install : "GTK+ 2 Runtime Environment (version 2.10.6, for Windows 2000 and newer)" (or the other if you have Win98)

Then install : "The GIMP for Windows (version 2.2.13, fixed installer)"

Hope that fixes it

[joehelmer]

Yeah, I downloaded it yesterday and now it works.

[ElQuapo]

Yeah, I downloaded it yesterday and now it works.

Good to hear