I do not like how it no longer says “It’s <Character Name>. Welcome to…” I have four characters now, one for each ambition. I need that to tell me at a glance which I’m on, because I’m stupid and can’t always remember. :)
The discard buttons being at the top of the cards will take some getting used to, and its seems like they took away some features like the candle and the greeting at the top, all of which gave the game character and were well liked by the fans. In return, they added a giant banner that really doesn’t need to be so big and ?
Of course, in fairness, I’m not super website savvy, so I could be missing some things that are a def. improvement over the old design. Anyone who is a bit more tech savvy than me care to point them out? It’s possible they’re changes that I’ll love :)
I’m personally not a fan of circular qualities, as qualities weren’t designed for being used like that. Qualities like Watchful/Shadowy/Persuasive/Dangerous, BDR and Menaces, as well as Quirks and Credit with the Headmistress, have rectangular borders, which will look quite weird in a circle.
Also, you’re cutting off 1/3-to-1/2 of the icon, and that’s just not cool with me.
[quote=genesis]The latest blog has given us an early peek at the website redesign. Some interesting observations:
A "Possessions" (?!) tab
Five cards in a row!
Banner redesign
Discard buttons at the top of the cards
No candles! (simple action counters)
Round, rather than square, quality icons
Some of these are "imported" from the app design. If so then other things we might expect:
Exact luck probabilities
The "Prominence" category of qualities that includes things like Notability and Making Waves edited by genesis on 2/9/2018[/quote]
I think that’s a good summary of what we can tell from the image posted.
Overall, I like 1 and 2, am indifferent to 3, and dislike the rest. I particularly agree with Kukapetal that eliminating the candles sucks some of the flavor out of the visual presentation of the game.
I am personally not a big fan of the website’s redesign. I prefer our current 'parchment’y styled website over this more modern aesthetic. I feel as if Fallen London would lose some of its character and appeal, if it were to make the switch. The loss of the greeting, action candle, its 'parchment’iness, and blocky qualities makes me feel rather upset and the idea of making Fallen London look like more like a modern website just makes me feel rather uncomfortable overall. And personally, I never had an issue with the site whenever I had accessed it via mobile phone.
Regardless, this is merely my personal opinion. Even if FBG were to make the transition to the more modern looking website, I will still play Fallen London to the very end.
Yeah the game takes place in an old timey setting, so the website doesn’t necessarily need to look all sleek and modern edited by Kukapetal on 2/9/2018
So what do we think is the difference between “myself” and “possessions”? Is it qualities vs items? Or is it more of a “equipped” vs “owned”? Or something else?
Echoing what others have said here, the big problem with this prototype is the loss of visual character. And to my eye the switch to circular icons makes it look like Twitter which makes it look like every other site redesign that’s dropped in the past few months and that’s a manner of thing that shall not be well.
Not that change is always bad, if anyone’s ever dragged out the original Dauntless Temperance Campaigner picture and compared it to the newer one. Or His Amused Lordship. But then, I’m not sure how I feel about the newest portrait style that’s almost definitely based on photographs. The Bishop of St Fiacre’s is obviously Lance Reddick, while His Amused Lordship would do a decent turn as a Brian Blessed impersonator.
I thought "His Amused Lordship" was always BRIAN BLESSED in the Neath? The reference was always fairly obvious.
Not a fan of "everything has to be round or circle shaped" like an apple product or some of google’s services. I wonder, how could you make the site look like "gothic horror". Sharp rectangles, every content window looks like a ribbed vault and every button like a pointed arch?
Some of the old comic book art has aged rather poorly, i like the new painting style. (Although this isn’t really a web design issue.) The portraits in Sunless Sea and Sunless Skies also work rather well. Multiple layers of color and lighting with the art direction going into caricature.
[quote=The Maltese Raven]I thought "His Amused Lordship" was always BRIAN BLESSED in the Neath? The reference was always fairly obvious.
[/quote]
Yeah, after I posted that I thought on it and decided I have no problem with Brian Blessed being part of official Fallen London canon. Anyway, you’re right the portraits aren’t part of web design issues, but they’re an interesting way to track past changes in the game’s aesthetic.
Ugh, NO. No more realistic portraits! They freaking BUTCHERED the Firebrand, and I don’t want to see all the rest of my favorite characters lose all their personalities and become bland portraits of “some guy.”
I can’t even imagine how annoyed the missionary’s fans must be. She looks like a prostitute with a bad hangover.
[quote=Kukapetal]Ugh, NO. No more realistic portraits! They freaking BUTCHERED the Firebrand, and I don’t want to see all the rest of my favorite characters lose all their personalities and become bland portraits of "some guy."
I can’t even imagine how annoyed the missionary’s fans must be. She looks like a prostitute with a bad hangover.[/quote]
WOAH. I want pictures.
Haven’t seen the new companion picture andd the questline still uses the old ones.
Edit: Thank you Barse.
Pose is a lot more "neutral" in both pictures…
Firebrand is okay. Reduce some layers of colour and give him a stronger pencil outline and you would have a Sunless Sea style portrait.
Missionary is really odd though, i agree. Some excessive use of shadow and i can see the "hangover." Huh, did her eyes always have the colour of Irrigo? edited by The Maltese Raven on 2/9/2018 edited by The Maltese Raven on 2/9/2018
I have mixed feelings about them - the art is really well-done, and I think more than some people I enjoy the newer, more realistic style, but I do feel these portraits (the Missionary in particular) strike a different tone to the originals.
I also agree with wanting to retain the candle, "welcome" messages, etc. - maybe I’m just a curmudgeon who’s resistant to change, but I really like the current site layout despite its ever-so-slightly dated feel. Cannibalising the app for assets is a smart move in terms of FBG getting value out of an otherwise unfortunate development, though. edited by Barse on 2/9/2018
They lost all their personality. The old Firebrand’s artwork gave him such a vivid personality. Looking at it, I felt like I could tell a lot about him…how he talked, how he sat, how he’d react if I flirted with him, or accidentally spilled wine on him or told him exciting news. The only thing I get from the new pic is that he looks like he’s about to ask me who farted.
I finally get my chance to marry him in the game and they turn him into someone I don’t recognize or have much interest in. It sucks.
I don’t know why they have to change the art. If the company is having financial difficulties, why spend money to change perfectly fine artwork?