Forum Icons

[Joe Redifer]

WE NEED NEW FORUM ICONS!


Here's the icons we currently have:

First up are the icons on the main page. In my opinion, these are the two that are in the most desperate need of updating because they look so bland and generic. Also, they MUST be PNG, so no animation. The only way to use GIF is to change the forum code.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/forum_new-48.png
This icon indicates that there are threads inside that have been active since your last visit to the forum.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/forum_old-48.png
This means no new threads inside have been active since you were last here.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/forum_new_lock-48.png
Locked forum with new posts inside.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/forum_old_lock-48.png
Forum locked with no new posts inside.

The legends icons will also need updating:

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/forum_new-16.png

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/forum_old-16.png

The other two categories are not used, so there is no need to change their icons.

The thread icons themselves are background images for whatever reason. Again, all PNG.


http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_old-30.png
No new posts inside since your last visit.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_dot-30-right.png
No new posts inside, but you have participated in this thread.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_new-30.png
New posts inside.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_hot-30.png
"Hot" (as in it has a lot of replies in a short amount of time)

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot-30-right.png
"Hot" thread that YOU have participated in (made one or more posts).

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_new-30-right.png
"Hot" thread with new posts that YOU have participated in.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_dot_lock-30-right.png
Locked "Hot" thread you have participated in.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_lock-30.png
Locked. Nothing new inside.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_hot_lock-30.png
Locked "Hot" thread.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_deleted_30.png
Thread deleted.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_lock_new-30-right.png
"Hot" locked thread that you have participated in with new posts.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_dot_lock_new-30-right.png
Locked thread with new posts that you have participated in.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_lock_new-30.png
Locked thread with new posts.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_hot_lock_new-30.png
Locked "hot" thread.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_moved-30.png
Moved thread.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_moved_new-30.png
Moved thread with new posts.

The legend at the bottom of the page will also need updated. See next post as I can't fit any more images into this one post.

I am all for getting rid of the useless "hot" icons as they really don't do anyone any good and just make the place look too cluttered. I would duplicate their new icons with the normal old and new icons. As it is now, it is hard to tell if a "hot" topic has new posts or not without looking closely. I want "At a glance" icons.

[Joe Redifer]

Legend icons at the bottom of the page which will also need updating:


And of course the legend at the bottom of the page will need to be updated:
http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_new-16.png
Contains new posts

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread-16-right.png
Contains no new posts

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_hot_new-16.png
"Hot" thread with new posts

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_hot-16.png
"Hot" thread with no new posts.

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_lock-16.png
Thread is locked

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_dot-16-right.png
You have posted in this thread.

[Melf]

No one's interested? C'mon! We need some Sega forum icons!

[Cornholio857]

What if we used a Chaos Emerald for Hot New Posts, a Sonic 1-Up Monitor for New Posts and a broken Monitor for Read posts? Could also use a Robotnik Monitor for Locked threads. I know this isn't a Sonic only site but it's the first Sega related idea to pop into my mind. LOL

[eddiespruce]

What if we used a Chaos Emerald for Hot New Posts, a Sonic 1-Up Monitor for New Posts and a broken Monitor for Read posts? Could also use a Robotnik Monitor for Locked threads. I know this isn't a Sonic only site but it's the first Sega related idea to pop into my mind. LOL

I like this idea.

[Guntz]

Hmmmmmmmm.... Maybe if I have time, I'll try this out. PNG and no animation sounds pretty nice. Means less work and offers more creativity (relatively speaking). Perhaps the best way to make this all fair is to limit one icon (or set of icons) per single game or series. So Sonic would make one appearance, then RKA and then TJ&E, as an example.

Do game sprites have to be in original sizes? Or can they be shrunk down to fit the required icon sizes?

[StarMist]

Could also use a Robotnik Monitor for Locked threads.
Beat me to this one.
Also = Sonic tapping his foot (still shot, I know) for No New Posts. Alternatively, a Phantasy Star II chest opened.
The old Shining Force 'Return' (escape battle spell, I forget its proper name) icon for Moved threads.
This doesn't make too much sense, but if Hot icons are retained how about using an image of the dude from Gunstar Heroes pointing his gun? It'd just look cool.

[djshok]

What if we used a Chaos Emerald for Hot New Posts, a Sonic 1-Up Monitor for New Posts and a broken Monitor for Read posts? Could also use a Robotnik Monitor for Locked threads. I know this isn't a Sonic only site but it's the first Sega related idea to pop into my mind. LOL

+1 for this idea.

[SpaceFlea]

The old Shining Force 'Return' (escape battle spell, I forget its proper name) icon for Moved threads.

You mean this gorgeous thing. http://rpg-home.lunar-net.com/sf-web/items/egress.gif

The proper name is EGRESS. It's a shame they changed it for the stupid people who couldn't figure out what it meant. Its such a strong and uncommon word - they replaced it with a boring common one - shame...

That would be perfect for moved threads. There's something about a guy being flung over a mountain that just screams "moved." Of course it would need to be turned into a png and enlarged.

[StarMist]

It's a shame they changed it for the stupid people who couldn't figure out what it meant. Its such a strong and uncommon word - they replaced it with a boring common one - shame....
When did they change it? The Sega CD game? I played that not too long ago (oh yeah, that goes under the Beaten thread), only I never had to use the spell. Way too long since I played the second to recall.
Here's one a bit bigger; needs the edges trimmed, perhaps some extra illumination, but that's the limit of my tech.
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd438/elf113/Egress2-Copy.png

[Joe Redifer]

I really think the graphics should be related. Having a jewel or emerald for a new post and something completely different for no new posts would look extremely jumbled. At most, it should be something like a yellow or white chaos emerald for new posts and a blue one for no new posts, etc. You need to have a sense of unity and not chaos, no pun intended. Look at the way the forum icons are now and see how they relate to each other. It MUST be the same way if there is to be any logical coherence to the forums. This is why I posted the icons. Please use them as a guide.

It really needs to be as minimalistic as possible when it comes to the variety otherwise it will be an eyesore.

[StarMist]

Look at the way the forum icons are now and see how they relate to each other. It MUST be the same way if there is to be any logical coherence to the forums.

Seriously? Have you witnessed the contents of these threads?

[chessage]

Could also use a Robotnik Monitor for Locked threads.

I disagree, Bonanza Bros. would be more fitting.

[Joe Redifer]

Seriously? Have you witnessed the contents of these threads?

Yes, seriously. It should look professional instead of having kids with the idea of "LOL this game would work for this icon, that game would work for that icon, every icon is from a different game LOL"

But hey, if you guys want the visual appearance of the forums to be a clusterfuck, more power to you.

[Guntz]

that's not quite what I meant. When I said every icon should be from a different game, I was trying to say that more than one game should be represented. Since this isn't Sonic-16, it would be weird to have only Sonic themed icons.

[Joe Redifer]

that's not quite what I meant. When I said every icon should be from a different game, I was trying to say that more than one game should be represented. Since this isn't Sonic-16, it would be weird to have only Sonic themed icons.

I agree and I wasn't targeting you (or anyone) specifically, just the overall thought that is so far prevailing in this thread about how something from this game would be appropriate because it has a graphic of a lock or a jail cell or whatever, regardless of what the "open" thread icon is.

[Cornholio857]

If the Chaos Emerald wouldn't work perhaps I could do a mock-up with a Chaos Emerald Monitor. (When my Internet at home is back up) As before, I know this isn't a Sonic only site. But since no one else really posted ideas before me, I went with the first thing that popped into my mind. Now, if we want icons from multiple games, or icons that aren't even game related, let me brain-storm a little throughout the day, do some mock-ups on paper, etc. I'm positive something will come to mind.


EDIT: OK, an idea. What if you used the Icons we have, but replace the BGs with Sega ones. The Red Stripes, Blue Stripes, Yellow Stripes and Back and Gray Grid with the Speech Balloon, Lock, etc on them. I can do some mock-ups when I get home as I am at work and can't do it here.

For the Icon representing you posted here(Green one)

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/images/statusicon/thread_dot-16-right.png

Perhaps we could use Sonic's hand giving a Thumbs-Up?

[Cornholio857]

Sorry to double post, but I completed my Mock-Ups.

Hot New Topic
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/cornholio857/Icon%20Mock%20Ups/Hot_Topic1.png

Unread New Topic
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/cornholio857/Icon%20Mock%20Ups/Unread_Topic1.png

Locked Thread
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/cornholio857/Icon%20Mock%20Ups/BG_Grid_Locked.png

I by no means claim to be a great graphic artist. But as you can see from my mock-ups, you can get an idea of what I was talking about using the Sega Stripes and such as BGs to the Icons. If anyone has any suggestions, or want to improve upon my idea, be my guest. :)

[eddiespruce]

Sorry to double post, but I completed my Mock-Ups.

Hot New Topic
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/cornholio857/Icon%20Mock%20Ups/Hot_Topic1.png

Unread New Topic
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/cornholio857/Icon%20Mock%20Ups/Unread_Topic1.png

Locked Thread
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/cornholio857/Icon%20Mock%20Ups/BG_Grid_Locked.png

I by no means claim to be a great graphic artist. But as you can see from my mock-ups, you can get an idea of what I was talking about using the Sega Stripes and such as BGs to the Icons. If anyone has any suggestions, or want to improve upon my idea, be my guest. :)

Those icons look great! Rep'd:)

[Phantar]

What's the "unread" symbol supposed to be? That thing within the speech bubble I mean...

And I don't know, I think the lock in the third icon is way too big... and no offense, but it looks like an ass to me...

Finally, I find the idea of using the Genesis case design as a background for the icons brilliant. However, I would stick to no more than two different background designs for all of the icons, as the forum would just look cluttered if there were too many different icon colors onscreen (just think of an old mid-90s geocities site and you know what I mean...).

But how about using different Sonic Monitors over the classic black grid background? With "working" monitors for unread, "broken" monitors for read topics? That could work, I think...

[Joe Redifer]

I think the unread bubble is supposed to be the "CD" logo from the original Sega CD. I don't think the speech bubble is necessary, though.

[Cornholio857]

What's the "unread" symbol supposed to be? That thing within the speech bubble I mean...

And I don't know, I think the lock in the third icon is way too big... and no offense, but it looks like an ass to me...

Finally, I find the idea of using the Genesis case design as a background for the icons brilliant. However, I would stick to no more than two different background designs for all of the icons, as the forum would just look cluttered if there were too many different icon colors onscreen (just think of an old mid-90s geocities site and you know what I mean...).

But how about using different Sonic Monitors over the classic black grid background? With "working" monitors for unread, "broken" monitors for read topics? That could work, I think...

I know it (Third One) looks like ass. ;) I drew the whole thing by hand in about 5 minutes. I really made these so people could get an idea of what I was saying with a visual aid. Also, I do not claim to be a great graphic artist. I also tossed the idea around with Sonic Monitors, broken and unbroken. And thanks for liking the Genesis case idea, I thought it was pretty good myself. :ok:

When I get home, I'll touch them up, show some different ones. I'll also give Joe's idea with no speech balloon a try.

EDIT: Thanks for the input guys!!!

[Phantar]

^^ I didn't say it looks like ass... I said it looks like AN ass... you know? buttocks? behind? bottom? rear? backside? heinie? keister? tush?

:p

[Cornholio857]

Hahahaha!!! I see it now! :) I'll also give your ideas a try tonight as well. Classic grid with Monitors. I should have them posted by Friday. Should. But my schedule is crazy ATM.

[Melf]

Anyone interested in this? Those stock forum icons need to go!

[108 Stars]

Maybe I´ll look into it tomorrow...