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XCOMUFO & Xenocide

Issue #125 Planetview Globe Icons


rincewind

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Hi,

since I'm currently working on the system that allows to place arbitrary icons on the globe and I'm sick of my own ugly drawings, I thought I would post here to get some cool looking icons for stuff like ufo's, interceptors, cities, terror-sites, etc.
The icons will have to be 32x32 pixels (they will probably appear smaller on the screen though) but you have to leave a 1px border around whatever you draw, so the effective area is going to be 30x30 px.
You can also use the alpha channel to mask out transparent areas.

So let your creative spirits flow...

Greetings,

Rincewind Edited by Vaaish
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Guest Azrael
Finally found it, in this thread there are a lot of geoscape icons, check them out :)
[url="http://www.xcomufo.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3638"]http://www.xcomufo.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3638[/url]
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OMG you read my mind... I was looking for those but couldnt find em... :D
good job!!
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Guest Azrael
[quote name='Shinzon' date='Mar 8 2005, 12:15 AM']OMG you read my mind... I was looking for those but couldnt find em... :D
good job!!
[right][post="113330"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]
Yeah, your threads are so messy I couldn't find it until now :)
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[quote name='Azrael' date='Mar 8 2005, 01:53 AM']Finally found it, in this thread there are a lot of geoscape icons, check them out :)
[url="http://www.xcomufo.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3638"]http://www.xcomufo.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3638[/url]
[right][post="113327"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]
Cool, thanks a lot.
Does anybody care to pack them all in a nice texture (256x256 with 32x32 tiles should give room for 64 icons)? For me it takes ages as I don't have any experience with alpha-layers, etc. :Help:

Some notes: as said, you have to leave a border of 1 px around the icons, so effective maximum size is 30x30 pixels. Also, you should copy the color from the edge of the icon to the first line of pixels which are actually made transparent by the alpha, otherwise the filtering of the engine might mess things up. (Don't know if I made sense there, if not, ask).

Thanks again,

Rincewind
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  • 3 weeks later...
Hi,

just giving this thread a little bump. As we are now moving towards a having moving UFO's on the globe, controlled by an AI and being able to intercept them, we now urgently need those icons. I tried my luck with the "interceptor" icon but it doesn't look that good as I'm not really good at getting the fading alpha at the edges, etc.
So could someone from Art take a look at them and convert the images to the format described below?

Thanks,

Rincewind

[quote name='rincewind' date='Mar 8 2005, 04:47 PM'][quote name='Azrael' date='Mar 8 2005, 01:53 AM']Finally found it, in this thread there are a lot of geoscape icons, check them out :)
[url="http://www.xcomufo.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3638"]http://www.xcomufo.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3638[/url]
[right][post="113327"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]
Cool, thanks a lot.
Does anybody care to pack them all in a nice texture (256x256 with 32x32 tiles should give room for 64 icons)? For me it takes ages as I don't have any experience with alpha-layers, etc. :Help:

Some notes: as said, you have to leave a border of 1 px around the icons, so effective maximum size is 30x30 pixels. Also, you should copy the color from the edge of the icon to the first line of pixels which are actually made transparent by the alpha, otherwise the filtering of the engine might mess things up. (Don't know if I made sense there, if not, ask).

Thanks again,

Rincewind
[right][post="113388"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right]
[/quote]
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[quote name='Vaaish' date='Mar 30 2005, 01:00 PM']IIRC Drewid had comeup with a set of 3d icons for use on the globe. I'll see if I can dig them up.
[right][post="115701"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]
You are probably talking about this thread:
[url="http://www.xcomufo.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3638"]http://www.xcomufo.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3638[/url]

Problem is that I need them in the format I described in this post. I tried to do it myself but failed miserable with the alpha channel.

Greetings,

Rincewind
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  • 3 weeks later...
Please...

:Help: :Help: :Help: :Help: :master: :master: :master: :master:

:blush1:

Rincewind

[quote name='rincewind' date='Apr 3 2005, 11:12 AM'][quote name='Vaaish' date='Mar 30 2005, 01:00 PM']IIRC Drewid had comeup with a set of 3d icons for use on the globe. I'll see if I can dig them up.
[right][post="115701"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]
You are probably talking about this thread:
[url="http://www.xcomufo.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3638"]http://www.xcomufo.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3638[/url]

Problem is that I need them in the format I described in this post. I tried to do it myself but failed miserable with the alpha channel.

Greetings,

Rincewind
[right][post="116023"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right]
[/quote]
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I just though, that if we use simple 3d models instead, it would look better when you rotate the globe. Anyone agree/disagree?
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3d models aren't that bad idea, but I think that it should be clean where that ship is. It's hard to cleanly show where's ship using 3D model. I would vote for rendering that icons as decals on earth.

Guyver
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ok here is what I have for now... they don't shrink down ery well yet but I don't have time to fix them ATM. This should give you something to work with though.

The PSD file has all the layers named for what the icon is.
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[quote name='Vaaish' date='Apr 21 2005, 01:02 AM']ok here is what I have for now... they don't shrink down ery well yet but I don't have time to fix them ATM. This should give you something to work with though.

The PSD file has all the layers named for what the icon is.
[right][post="117752"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

Thanks a million times. As said, I'm completly unfit to work with image editing software.

Rincewind
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no problem. I'll try to get more refined Icons out there tonight. Side note: these icons are not 100% accurate because of their size, I would recommend drawing a linfrom them to the actual point whenre the UFO is and adding a vector line to them to indicate direction of travel. Edited by Vaaish
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Well I had more time than I thought I would tonight so I got all of them complete. I did some prelimary tests and they can be reduced quite a bit from their current size and still be recognizable. One exception is the base icon and as much as I like it I may have to change it to something less complex.

general guides:
Circle - offensive craft
Diamond - defensive craft
broken circle - grount event or base.
bracketed circle/diamond - advanced version of craft

the indivdual icons:

Triangle- fighter
circle- transport
Teardrop - fighter/transport combo

Alien ID
All alien craft are in circles to designate Offensive craft and colored red to indicate hostile.
Teardrop- small UFO
Triangle- Med UFO
Bracketed circle w/ triangle - Large UFO. Edited by Vaaish
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Oh my, I love those. I have whole weekend to work on xeno. Now I'm porting XNetLoader to use XmlManager, but then I want to put those icons in game :D

Edit: that teadrop looks smaller than triangle, maybe that one should be for small UFO ships, and triangle for medium?

Guyver Edited by guyver6
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[quote name='guyver6' date='Apr 22 2005, 02:52 AM']Oh my, I love those. I have whole weekend to work on xeno. Now I'm porting XNetLoader to use XmlManager, but then I want to put those icons in game :D

Edit: that teadrop looks smaller than triangle, maybe that one should be for small UFO ships, and triangle for medium?

Guyver
[right][post="117873"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]


you are right, makes more sense to go that route since the large ufo will look more like an extension of med ufo icon.

so the in my previous post swap the small and med UFO icons.
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[quote name='guyver6' date='Apr 22 2005, 07:52 AM']Oh my, I love those. I have whole weekend to work on xeno. Now I'm porting XNetLoader to use XmlManager, but then I want to put those icons in game :D

Edit: that teadrop looks smaller than triangle, maybe that one should be for small UFO ships, and triangle for medium?

Guyver
[right][post="117873"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

If wou want to include them, there's an xml file that links craft types to icons. Should be pretty selfexplanatory. I don't remember the name right now, but take a look at the "mapper" in globeitemmanager.

Rincewind
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[quote name='Vaaish' date='Apr 21 2005, 10:46 PM']Teardrop - fighter/transport combo

Alien ID
All alien craft are in circles to designate Offensive craft and colored red to indicate hostile.
Teardrop- small UFO
Triangle- Med UFO
Bracketed circle w/ triangle - Large UFO.
[right][post="117860"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

Vaaish -

I like them a great deal. Crisp, not overly complex, and intuitive. My only questions is if there should be an icon for Very Large UFOs as well, seperate from just the Large UFO? Just a suggestion. Otherwise, I really do like them a lot!

Thanks,
Gold
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[quote name='GreatGold' date='Apr 22 2005, 05:53 PM'][quote name='Vaaish' date='Apr 21 2005, 10:46 PM']
Teardrop - fighter/transport combo

Alien ID
All alien craft are in circles to designate Offensive craft and colored red to indicate hostile.
Teardrop- small UFO
Triangle- Med UFO
Bracketed circle w/ triangle - Large UFO.
[right][post="117860"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

Vaaish -

I like them a great deal. Crisp, not overly complex, and intuitive. My only questions is if there should be an icon for Very Large UFOs as well, seperate from just the Large UFO? Just a suggestion. Otherwise, I really do like them a lot!

Thanks,
Gold
[right][post="117930"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right]
[/quote]


If we need to I can create a new one for very large UFO. there is enough space and the guidelines are there for it.
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Vaaish, may I ask you to add 2 more icons? Two arrows pointing up, one red, second blue, in that free space that left in right-bottom corrner. Much appreciate and thanks in advance.

EDIT: I added rearranged icons, that way it's easier to put them in code. Add two small arrows in the free space please. I intend to use them as indicators where ufos are when not shown on the visible side of the earth.

EDIT2: you can add those arrows to the file you posted eariler. I'll split them anyway, because of too big size differences between icons.

You can also think of adding animation to crash site/land site/terror site (that circular ring around them is just shouting to be animated). Because of that you can change bases ring to solid (not dashed), because animating bases will be too disturbing during game.

EDIT3: :D Sorry, but ideas are running through my head like crazy, anyway, here are some specifics for what is needed:
[code]* the icons are pretty and informative and should stay like that
* crash site (broken wheel surrounded by dashed ring) should be animated, lets say 5 frames (I'll loop them later) with that dashed ring moving outwards (when ping-pong looped in game it'll kinda "pulse")
* land site (white wheel surrounded by dashed ring) - the same like crash site
* terror site (exclamation mark surrounded by dashed ring) - you guessed it :)
* human/alien base - just change that dashed ring to solid ring (it won't animate to not distrub player)
* ships icons are OK and I see no changes to them, althou if you've got some ideas then feel free to add them[/code]
Oh, that sites icons you can put to another image, 256x256, each frame should exacly 64x64 thou you don't need to fill whole area - see my arrangement, I put them on 64 pixels grid (then you'll be able to fit 16 frames, 5 per crash site, then it leaves one frame free for future use). Put frames one by one starting from top-left corner going to right and then to next line.

And that two arrows could come in handy ;).

Comments? :)

EDIT4: :blush1: Take your time of course, I don't need it at once, since I have static icons to work with. Make it when you have time, don't feel forced

Guyver Edited by guyver6
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I'll add the arrows

The icons were created with specific purposes in mind, dashed circle represents gound, solid circle represents offensive aircraft, and solid diamond represents defensive aircraft (transports)


Changing the dashed line around the base to solid breaks that visual unity. Instead of animating the icons ring lets have the entire icon fade in and out to call attention to the event.

The idea behind the icons is make each type distinct enough that they can be instanty recognized at a glance between Offensive air, Defensive air, Ground and hostile craft. Beyond that the symbols inside the icons will give the player more information on the craft type without needing to click the icon and view the craft.
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[quote name='guyver6' date='Apr 23 2005, 12:00 PM']So no animation :(. This makes it easier from programming side thou. So be it :)

Guyver
[right][post="117978"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]


Ok here is the update with the arrows for ya.

Is fading the icons in and out for attention possible?
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[quote name='Vaaish' date='Apr 23 2005, 06:37 PM']Is fading the icons in and out for attention possible?
[right][post="117982"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]
I don't know, but probably yes, and probably pretty easy. Thou I'll have to work on that for a little while.

And thanks for arrows, looking great. (as usual when you make something :) )

Guyver
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[quote name='guyver6' date='Apr 23 2005, 05:27 PM'][quote name='Vaaish' date='Apr 23 2005, 06:37 PM']Is fading the icons in and out for attention possible?
[right][post="117982"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]
I don't know, but probably yes, and probably pretty easy. Thou I'll have to work on that for a little while.

And thanks for arrows, looking great. (as usual when you make something :) )

Guyver
[right][post="118000"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right]
[/quote]

np :)
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[quote name='kafros' date='Apr 26 2005, 06:38 AM']Just a question:
Will the plane icons mentioned above be used?

Then, we have a nice collection of icons! I can't wait to see them on the globe :D
[right][post="118157"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

Plane Icons? I'm not seeing where this is, can you explain please?
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Well, it seems that the page was either deleted or moved, so I cannot find it either... :S

Hey, don't you remember a page where some plane icons were posted? Some light-blue ones looking like XC-## ships and some gold circles ressembling UFOs?
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[quote name='kafros' date='Apr 26 2005, 09:52 AM']Well, it seems that the page was either deleted or moved, so I cannot find it either... :S

Hey, don't you remember a page where some plane icons were posted? Some light-blue ones looking like XC-## ships and some gold circles ressembling UFOs?
[right][post="118170"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]


yes thats what these icons were originally based off. I killed the aircraft shaped icon concept because they got to hard to recodnize when they got really small.
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[quote name='Cpt. Boxershorts' date='Apr 26 2005, 01:11 PM']I'm assuming this got covered somewhere, but what exactly would a 'Transport' (ie: red w/ teardrop) UFO be?

Is there a breakdown of specific vessels by icon somewhere?

-The Captain
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i think i posted the combinations on here a few posts ago. basically since i haven't come up with individual icons for alien craft they are all offensive and reuse the human versions to sho small [teardrop] med [triangle] and large [bracketed triangle] maybe later i'll come up with a new set for alien craft.
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We could try something else, which will probably be much more difficult:

You can see large craft icons ABOVE the earth, and below them a pin which points to the earth!

Can you see that? If you don't, I will try to illustrate it :)
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  • 4 weeks later...
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