KickStarter Vampire Syndicate: Gangs of MoonFall

[Zombra]

That's what you want

Found your problem.

 

[DoWhocares]

What do you guys think of new cover art in this style? Not exactly like this, but something similar. I'll probably redo the title logo too, since it's not what I want.

View attachment 47903

Current cover art:

View attachment 47904

If we're talking an actual proper game - the top (new) one looks interesting and intriguing. I'd be curious to see what it's about. The bottom one looks like generic weeb shit - instant pass.

If we're talking a porn game - same principle applies with the caveat that I've no interest in seeing hot chicks getting railed by weird-ass leathery monsters. And that arm suggests that that's what you'll be getting here.

 

[Harthwain]

That's what you want

Found your problem.

Sounds like a "you" problem to me.

 

[Tyranicon]

So, help me out. This is what I have so far, not final. Thoughts?

 

[BruceVC]

So, help me out. This is what I have so far, not final. Thoughts?

View attachment 48277

Nice, any full body images so we can comment on those aesthetics and voluptuous overall form?

 

[Peachcurl]

So, help me out. This is what I have so far, not final. Thoughts?

View attachment 48277

She looks nice, I like the eye in the shadow with that slight glow. But whose hands are those? The black one might be hers, in a somewhat awkward pose. But the robot hand? It's a bit confusing, is this with the "palm" up? Else, the thumb is not in the right place. I mean, it's not a real hand, so anything is possible, but it looks odd.

 

[Tyranicon]

So, help me out. This is what I have so far, not final. Thoughts?

View attachment 48277

Nice, any full body images so we can comment on those aesthetics and voluptuous overall form?

It's Iolanthe, the cover character. The hair is slightly different and so is the face.

So, help me out. This is what I have so far, not final. Thoughts?

View attachment 48277

She looks nice, I like the eye in the shadow with that slight glow. But whose hands are those? The black one might be hers, in a somewhat awkward pose. But the robot hand? It's a bit confusing, is this with the "palm" up? Else, the thumb is not in the right place. I mean, it's not a real hand, so anything is possible, but it looks odd.

The hands are not hers. It's just symbolism for the overarching "vampire vs machine" theme the game has.

 

[Peachcurl]

I see. Makes sense then, but some who see that image will first assume it's her hands from the context (and then wonder about pose).

Maybe you could:
- show at least some shadowy contours of the hands' owners in the background. If that comes with a darker background, I think that'd also be good for contrast to her light hair.
- or show her hands as well, maybe folded together or flat against each other in the middle?

 

[DoWhocares]

Maybe go for a marionette type deal, with both hands above your vampire lady and strings going down towards her, one hand demon the other robot.

Kinda like here, but you know, more simple and setting appropriate:

 

[Gargaune]

So, help me out. This is what I have so far, not final. Thoughts?

Honestly, man, I'm not feeling it. These new variants ain't hitting the cyberpunk mark and they ain't doing much for the vampire bit either. I get what you're going for with the hands, but I don't think it's landing. If you're going for "cybervamp", I liked the first cover better for a starting point:

The red lines behind are good, put you in that artificial, neon mood, maybe add some tiny scrolling 1s and 0s, GitS/Matrix-like to really drive the point home. Give her one "regular" vampire eye, cover the other with a Google Glass (it's only lame in reality, in fiction it's cool).

And most importantly - gimme that mouth wide open, baby. Vampires (especially vampire waifus) ain't gonna be very obvious shit by design, let alone in a 200px banner, so play up those chompers all the way and have her snarl at the viewer for a full frontal of them pearly whites. You know, bad pussycat look.

If you're worried about visibility, you can try it on a white background. Or even flip the red with the black - red field, black "circuitry" behind her. Might be a bit too intense, but worth a shot if you're messing around for now. And if you're not thrilled with the anime aesthetic, you can try the same concept with a softer, "Western" shading style for the character, but I think the concept itself was better grounded.

Not trying to be a downer, but I'd imagine "cyberpunk vampires" as a theme is going to be more easily communicated (visually) to a scrolling audience than "vampire caught between the pull of monster and machine." It might be more artistic and distinct, but I'm not sure it's as clearly evocative. Dunno, wouldn't wanna steer you wrong, just my take.

 

[Tyranicon]

Kinda like here, but you know, more simple and setting appropriate:

Strangely enough I'm actually a big Powerwolf fan. Was playing a lot of their stuff when working on my BG3 parody.

And if you're not thrilled with the anime aesthetic, you can try the same concept with a softer, "Western" shading style for the character, but I think the concept itself was better grounded.

That's actually the point, I'm not replacing the anime-esque cover, I just need something different to represent the very non-anime 3D renders.

If I already have dual artstyles, I might as well go ahead and have dual covers too and really capitalize on it.

 

[Zombra]

So, help me out. This is what I have so far, not final. Thoughts?

It's a little busy. Something I don't like about the hair - maybe it's blowing to the sides too much? The complicated symbol on the neckpiece doesn't read well; I'd say get rid of it. I disagree with Gargaune that it needs to be more blatantly VAMPIRE VAMPIRE VAMPIRE; in fact I thought the fangs were too on the nose. I like that other picture of the character where you can't see the fangs and you figure out she's a vampire from context. I love the thing with the hands - it hints volumes about the game's setting and central conflicts. Her tiny chin and huge eyes make her look like she's about 9 here which I hope is not what you are going for. I have many other thoughts and feelings but I'm on vacation so I won't be checking in regularly for a while. Hope this helps.

 

[BruceVC]

Maybe go for a marionette type deal, with both hands above your vampire lady and strings going down towards her, one hand demon the other robot.

Kinda like here, but you know, more simple and setting appropriate:

That works as long as its an attractive Vampiress, this is a porn game after all

 

[BruceVC]

So, help me out. This is what I have so far, not final. Thoughts?

It's a little busy. Something I don't like about the hair - maybe it's blowing to the sides too much? The complicated symbol on the neckpiece doesn't read well; I'd say get rid of it. I disagree with Gargaune that it needs to be more blatantly VAMPIRE VAMPIRE VAMPIRE; in fact I thought the fangs were too on the nose. I like that other picture of the character where you can't see the fangs and you figure out she's a vampire from context. I love the thing with the hands - it hints volumes about the game's setting and central conflicts. Her tiny chin and huge eyes make her look like she's about 9 here which I hope is not what you are going for. I have many other thoughts and feelings but I'm on vacation so I won't be checking in regularly for a while. Hope this helps.

Unacceptable, whats more important? Being on vacation or commenting on a Vampire porn game ....always prioritize the important things

 

[santino27]

I like it but agree that the way it's framed makes it unclear that the hands are symbolic or whatever it is you intended them to be. The black hand looks like it's supposed to be hers, while the metal hand looks like someone is reaching directly towards her from out of frame. If you're just trying to convey tech vs. monster, can you do so directly with her instead? You already have her showing as a bit of a duality... just lean into that more and integrate the metal parts into the left side and the monster parts more into the right instead of having two hands serving that role.

 

[Gargaune]

That's actually the point, I'm not replacing the anime-esque cover, I just need something different to represent the very non-anime 3D renders.

My bad, missed that context.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

I don't recall if I got their last album or not as I keep listening to Sabaton now. I have the urge to go back to Alestorm though.

 

[RaggleFraggle]

That claw is too awkwardly placed to be hers

 

[Zombra]

That claw is too awkwardly placed to be hers

That's the point. It isn't hers.

 

[Tyranicon]

New cover. As a reminder, it doesn't replace the anime one, it's part of the dual art style thing that I'm stupidly double-downing on.

large images

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

She's looking for blood sausage.
SAUSAGE TIME!!
WOOF WOOF!!

Are those her hands or someone elses?

It reminds me of a nurse I knew at a doctor's office while drawing my blood. We were talking about pulse and blood pressure and she commented that grasping the penis is a perfectly valid area to take a pulse.

 

[True Ukrainian]

Art looks awkward. Also doesn't tell the viewer anything about syndicates or gangs.

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

Can we make our main character to be like Cage?

 

[AdolfSatan]

Yeah, dual art style is the worst possible decision one could make. You will receive some bashing based solely on it that will discredit other aspects of the game.

Some more specific critiques:
Is the name « Vampire Syndicate: Gangs of Moonfall », or is it « Vampire: Syndicate: Gangs of Moonfall » ? Because the triple font and hierarchy leads me to read it as the latter.

The art itself is too complex for its own good, the excessive light sources are creating irrational shadow patterns that make it look off, and the hands look like they were tacked on without regards for the composition because they’re just weightlessly hovering over the character.

Most importantly, I assume this is a banner you’ll use on Steam and other platforms. Have you checked to see how it looks at the size it will actually be displayed at? Have you tested it in lower resolution screens (most of the world is using 1080p, and right next to it is 768p)? Have you considered that a good chunk of your players might have less-than-ideal eyesight? You have a lot of minute details that won’t render nicely when you translate this picture to real-life use.

 

[Tyranicon]

Yeah, dual art style is the worst possible decision one could make. You will receive some bashing based solely on it that will discredit other aspects of the game.

Some more specific critiques:
Is the name « Vampire Syndicate: Gangs of Moonfall », or is it « Vampire: Syndicate: Gangs of Moonfall » ? Because the triple font and hierarchy leads me to read it as the latter.

The art itself is too complex for its own good, the excessive light sources are creating irrational shadow patterns that make it look off, and the hands look like they were tacked on without regards for the composition because they’re just weightlessly hovering over the character.

Most importantly, I assume this is a banner you’ll use on Steam and other platforms. Have you checked to see how it looks at the size it will actually be displayed at? Have you tested it in lower resolution screens (most of the world is using 1080p, and right next to it is 768p)? Have you considered that a good chunk of your players might have less-than-ideal eyesight? You have a lot of minute details that won’t render nicely when you translate this picture to real-life use.

It's Vampire Syndicate: Gangs of MoonFall. I'm considering getting a new logo but I don't want to throw more money and time into it.

I'm happy with the artwork, but you are right about the lighting and the floatiness of the hands. But it's something I can live with.

I'm actually old hand at resizing for the Steam banners and stuff by now. I'm not good at it, I'm sure a professional will tear their hair out at the way I butcher things, but such is being a solodev.