USA Map Pack [Quenched]

[yeti_c]

1) Legend like USA map (name of state in text only on colored bars)

This one.

C.

[pamoa]

no 1 will be unplayable in great lakes, new england and rockies, go for no 2!

[WidowMakers]

no 1 will be unplayable in great lakes, new england and rockies, go for no 2!

I think that maybe if the icons are more visible, then the text only legend might work. How about we try #1. And if it does not work I can just rework the legend to have a mini map.

Since my goal was to make these as similar to the USA map from a GFX perspective I think I might try that first.

I think I will get the west map done first since it is the smallest and simplest. That way we can get all of the issues worked out (roads, interstates, icon/color layout.) Once we agree on those, I will try to apply them to all maps and see what we get.

How does that sound?

[pamoa]

On the contrary I think you have to go for the most complicated so we can see all the problems and solve them.
The solution you will end with will work for all maps.
If you start with the simpliest some solutions may not work and you will have to redo more maps.
I would say try with great lakes which is the most complicated graphically, ideally the small version.

[WidowMakers]

On the contrary I think you have to go for the most complicated so we can see all the problems and solve them.
The solution you will end with will work for all maps.
If you start with the simpliest some solutions may not work and you will have to redo more maps.
I would say try with great lakes which is the most complicated graphically, ideally the small version.

ok. That does make more sense. I will do great lakes.

So since I will be doing GL, I will need icons for each state. Just post the suggestions and I will look at them. I already have a bunch and here they are. They need to be small, simple and different enough from the others.

ICONS for GL:

Minnesota-Moose Head
Iowa-Corn
Missouri-Cow
Wisconsin-Cheese Wedge
Illinois-?
Michigan-Car side profile
Indiana-deer
Ohio-Fish
Kentucky-Hogs
W. Virginia-Coal
Virginia-Cotton
Maryland-crab
Delaware- Chicken

We will do this for each map. But for now keep it to this Great lakes only please.
I will setup everything else and put these in last.

Thanks

[WidowMakers]

OK Version 3 for Great Lakes

I added the icons and colors. I am going to wait to do the rest of the roads.
I want to get everyone's reaction to the map before I continue.

[Night Strike]

Was there a reason you used mostly animals for the backgrounds? I think some more variation would be better, plus having animals on red tint backgrounds looks really odd and unnatural.

Also, I think something like the St. Louis Arch would be much better for Missouri (it's where I'm from).

[WidowMakers]

Was there a reason you used mostly animals for the backgrounds? I think some more variation would be better, plus having animals on red tint backgrounds looks really odd and unnatural.

Also, I think something like the St. Louis Arch would be much better for Missouri (it's where I'm from).

The only reason was that the animals are easily recognizable. If there are other things that people want to see then I am ok with that. make your suggestions and we can move forward.

But right now I want to talk about readability. Regardless of the icon in each state, if the legend is not readable now, it will not be with a new icon.

Do the colors work with the roads and everything else?
I need colorblind assessment as well.

WM

[pamoa]

Well let's be honest, pink is ugly...
I think you should try with brighter contrast
Working with four color/shade is the good direction
It could be red, light orange, white and grey
And changing the icons colors on the same background works well
white with red, orange and grey and so on you have tweleve combination
and as you did using gold for the thirteenth is a very good idea
Try to avoid low contrast such as you have in michigan
For me road are legible enough although you can think using blue to contrast with main color theme.

[Juan_Bottom]

Ok, WidowMakers,
The colors you're using are not my first choice, if I scaled them I'd give them a 6.8. However, yes, they do work together!

And yes, I can read it all very easily.*

And noticing that Illinois doesn't have a background Icon, may I suggest something Lincoln-ish? I'm from Kent, Illinios and this state is proud as heck of Mr. Lincoln's being raised here. This is after all, i] "the land of Lincoln."[/i]
Maybe a Lincoln style hat?

*The "Ohio Fish" is invisable almost. And both Virginias are kinda hard to interpret. Though once someone says "It's Cotton," you can see it pretty easily. Also, I would switch the color of the red freeway with the green freeway's color. Just so you don't have a red road running through two red states.


Otherwise, it's awesome to have another map of my home region!

[WidowMakers]

Well let's be honest, pink is ugly...
I think you should try with brighter contrast
Working with four color/shade is the good direction
It could be red, light orange, white and grey
And changing the icons colors on the same background works well
white with red, orange and grey and so on you have tweleve combination
and as you did using gold for the thirteenth is a very good idea
Try to avoid low contrast such as you have in michigan
For me road are legible enough although you can think using blue to contrast with main color theme.

I am using shades of colors from the Bonus region of the USA. Great lakes is red and white. That si where we get the pink shades. I will not be using orange since the South East and West are the yellowish orange regions.

As far as contrast, they look good on my monitor. I can't use 4 colors for the states and those same for the icons. It looks BAD. I don't want TONS of contrast because they image hurts your eyes (think green on red)

I can look over the blueish roads.

Ok, WidowMakers,
The colors you're using are not my first choice, if I scaled them I'd give them a 6.8. However, yes, they do work together!

And yes, I can read it all very easily.*

And noticing that Illinois doesn't have a background Icon, may I suggest something Lincoln-ish? I'm from Kent, Illinios and this state is proud as heck of Mr. Lincoln's being raised here. This is after all, i] "the land of Lincoln."[/i]
Maybe a Lincoln style hat?

*The "Ohio Fish" is invisable almost. And both Virginias are kinda hard to interpret. Though once someone says "It's Cotton," you can see it pretty easily. Also, I would switch the color of the red freeway with the green freeway's color. Just so you don't have a red road running through two red states.


Otherwise, it's awesome to have another map of my home region!

Well at least you can read them. Again since the goal is to use the colors from the bonus region of the USA map, these are the colors we get. And I am glad you can read it.

Illinois does have an icon. It is the radiation symbol. They were the first place to have a nuclear reactor for power production.

As far as Ohio, I can see the fish quite easily. Again I don't want the icons to be TOO bright. They choke out the roads and the text of the cities.

The MAIN purpose of the icons is to differentiate the states. My goal as not to have the icons perfect and 100% recognizable. If you all want I can make a quick image with 100% opacity icons on the states. You will see how it actually makes it harder to see and read the text. Plus it give you a headache.

WM

[WidowMakers]

Bump

Please evaluate the latest Great lakes map for Readability and colors with icons.

[edbeard]

Bump

Please evaluate the latest Great lakes map for Readability and colors with icons.

it's good aka you dun did good aka other than gameplay not being flushed out and all the roads not being drawn on, this map look finished



one thing I wish though...I wish there was four red states instead of three. too much pink for my taste. maybe michigan could be red. I don't see any other state that works in terms of not putting 2 reds next to each other

[pamoa]

If you really fancy pink... then at least enhance the contrast with icons in Michigan Kentucky and Maryland

An other point is your list order, very confusing:

Michigan middle up in list upper right in map
Ohio middle in list right in map
Illinois lower left in list center in map...

Here is a suggestion:

Minnesota - Wiscosin - Michigan
Iowa - Indiana - Ohio
Illinois - West Virginia - Maryland
Missouri - Kentucky - Virginia
Delaware

edit: bg color suggestion FFFFFF - FF80AA - FF0000 - AB3838

[WidowMakers]

Thank you ed and pamoa. I will look into both of these suggestions. I am pretty sure there will be no issues in implementing them.

The only issue with reordering the legend is making sure similar colors are not bordering but we shall see what happens.

Thanks
WM

[pamoa]

The only issue with reordering the legend is making sure similar colors are not bordering but we shall see what happens.

If it happens and it will better change bg color than names order

[ZeakCytho]

The map is perfectly readable for me, just...well, it's a little ugly. The colors and the background really clash, IMO. But if you want to keep the colors in line with the USA map, there's nothing you can do.

[WidowMakers]

Version 4 of Great lakes

Updates:

1) New colors
2) New Legend Bonus layout
3) Made basic road a bit easier to see.
4) Updated font to increase readability

Well? I think these colors are a bit better. I took pamoa's advice but tweak the suggested colors a bit. The outcome is better than version 3.
The new legend layout is much better as well.
I tried to get the icons to fit better and be easier on the eye. What do you think?

Once this is given the go by enough people, I will finish the roads. And once those are done and I get the GFX OK for this, only 5 more to do.

[edbeard]

the only one that doesn't work in the cheese in Wisconsin. It's barely visible. Perhaps make the background white (switch with Minnesota) or make the cheese not yellow.

[WidowMakers]

the only one that doesn't work in the cheese in Wisconsin. It's barely visible. Perhaps make the background white (switch with Minnesota) or make the cheese not yellow.

Cheese will be black outline then. it works much better.
Fixed above and on 1st page

[edbeard]

the only one that doesn't work in the cheese in Wisconsin. It's barely visible. Perhaps make the background white (switch with Minnesota) or make the cheese not yellow.

Cheese will be black outline then. it works much better.
Fixed above an done 1st page

it does. only things left graphic-wise seem to be the roads and the background image

[Night Strike]

I think Missouri's icon should be the Gateway Arch, and Maryland should have a Naval Ship (b/c that's where the Naval Academy is).

[pamoa]

Way much better, but...

maybe the bgcolor for bonus box should be the red as it is the basic color for this map
whatever the "potato" in Kentucky does represent it's not contarsted enough to be recognised
you have to move down right both icons in Maryland and Delaware so at least one of them is fully visible
Virginia cotton icons repartition seems to be irregular
I think you should give 1 pixel space between the wheels and the wagon in West Virginia coal icon, maybe even draw the wagon only as an outline
Iowa corn seems to be grape
Minnesota moose head could be made frontal so their isn't those two "legs"

Just a last question, did you put some red in the normal roads ?
That's all... again good job

[WidowMakers]

I think Missouri's icon should be the Gateway Arch, and Maryland should have a Naval Ship (b/c that's where the Naval Academy is).

Done

Way much better, but...

1)maybe the bgcolor for bonus box should be the red as it is the basic color for this map
2) whatever the "potato" in Kentucky does represent it's not contarsted enough to be recognised
3) you have to move down right both icons in Maryland and Delaware so at least one of them is fully visible
4) Virginia cotton icons repartition seems to be irregular
5) I think you should give 1 pixel space between the wheels and the wagon in West Virginia coal icon, maybe even draw the wagon only as an outline
6) Iowa corn seems to be grape
7) Minnesota moose head could be made frontal so their isn't those two "legs"

8) Just a last question, did you put some red in the normal roads ?
That's all... again good job

1) I made it as red as I can. All read is just too much
2) It is a hog and it is now easier to read
3-5) DONE
6-7) Need to still do.
8) Yes the basic road is dark read. I think I might try to make the basic roads a darker color of the map theme color

Version 5

[WidowMakers]

Who is stamping these maps? Can I get a prelim GFX stamp that way I know I am OK in starting the rest?

I just don't want to get all of them done and find out the roads or icons are not good and need to do ALL of them over.

Thanks
WM