RedDog Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 This is my first theme for GameEx (or for anything else for that matter). When I first started making the theme, I did not expect it to be anything special, but at some point I really thought it started looking pretty good. After all the positive feedback and great suggestions from everyone who took the time to take a look at my work, I am ready to release it. The idea of the Sidebar theme is to give the GameEx user the feeling of looking at the box or jewel case that games might come in. It is fairly simple and minimalistic, but when combined with title/snap shots or videos, it looks nice. Hopefully someone else out there there in GameEx-land will enjoy it as well. Most assets have been altered or changed including: - 45+ Backgrounds (including optional alternate backgrounds) - 90+ Logos to match the backgrounds or game consoles - Update and Loading screen assets - Sound assets Here are some snaps of the theme in action: RELEASE: http://www.gameex.info/forums/files/file/529-sidebar-1920x1080/ ...and a big thanks to everyone who took part in this thread over the last few weeks. === 7-20-2016 === - Added Wii logo and background 12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stigzler Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Wow - I wouldn't call that amateurish - they look fab! Great design and great layout. Definitely add this to the repository once finished!My one reservation would be the GameEx logo on the top right. Now, I realise I may be being a little controversial on this one, but one of the reasons I went for GameEx in the first place was to customise and make it totally yours (ish!). I happily credit GameEx on my system, but am a bit averse to branding on every page. Is it easily removable (i.e. a theme layout component) or is it included on the overall page graphic (i.e. incorporated at gimp/AI stage?)Great work - genuinely love your theme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco1962 Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Hey RedDog, this looks very good! If this is your first attempt at a theme then color me impressed!To cover every system ever made and emulated will be a tremendous undertaking, and you will find yourself deluged with requests for X system/emulator that you didn't get to or think of. Perhaps creating for what systems you are emulating and the more common ones for each of the categories (consoles, handhelds, Pinball, Slots, etc.) I don't know what graphics editor you are using, but if you can create a template in .psd (Photoshop) or .xcf (GIMP) formats to upload with the theme for others to create their own, you should be golden.I see no problem with the GameEx branded page for the Start page, but you may want to consider providing an start_bak-alt.png page that those who prefer no branding can rename and use in its place.Congrats on your first theme! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stigzler Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 First page cap doff is a good idea. Draco has a point about number of systems. The number in the GameEx database below. You'd have a job on. Best to publish a gimp/PShop template and let others make those obscure ones...Acetronic MPU 1000Acorn ArchimedesAcorn AtomAcorn BBC MicroAcorn ElectronAdobe FlashAmerican Laser GamesAmstrad CPCAmstrad GX4000Amstrad Mega PCApple 2GSApple IIApple IIGSApple MacintoshApple PippinApple Powerbook 520Atari 1040STAtari 1200XLAtari 130XEAtari 2600Atari 400Atari 5200Atari 520STAtari 65XEAtari 7800Atari 8-bitAtari 8-bit DemosAtari 800Atari 800XLAtari JaguarAtari Jaguar CDAtari LynxAtari Lynx IIAtari PongAtari STBally AstrocadeBandai PlaydiaBandai WonderSwanBandai WonderSwan ColorBandai WonderSwan CrystalBig Fish GamesCamputers LynxCasio LoopyCasio PV-1000Casio PV-2000Coleco VisionCommodore 128Commodore 16Commodore 64Commodore 64 DemosCommodore AmigaCommodore Amiga 1000Commodore Amiga A1200HDCommodore Amiga CD32Commodore Amiga CDTVCommodore Amiga DemosCommodore CDTVCommodore MAXCommodore PETCommodore PET_CBMCommodore Plus 4Commodore Plus_4-C16Commodore VIC-20CPS-3Creatronic Mega DuckDragon 32-64Emerson Arcadia 2001EnterpriseEntex Adventure VisionEpoch Super Cassette VisionFairchild Channel FFairchild Channel F System IIFM Towns MartyFrets on FireFujitsu FM TownsFuntech Super A'canFuture PinballGamePark GP32Games for WindowsGCE VectrexGenesis Microchip NuonGoGHartung Game MasterIBM PCInterton VC 4000Jupiter AceLaserdiscMagnavox OdysseyMagnavox Odyssey 2Magnavox Odyssey 400Magnavox Odyssey 500MameMattel AquariusMattel HyperScanMattel IntellivisionMattel Intellivision IIMemotech MTXMGT Sam CoupeMicrosoft DOSMicrosoft MSXMicrosoft MSX 2Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft XboxMicrosoft Xbox 360MSX 2+MUGENNEC PC-98NEC PC-FXNEC PC EngineNEC PC Engine CDNEC SuperGrafxNEC TurboDuo (JP)NEC TurboDuo (NA)NEC TurboGrafx-16NEC TurboGrafx CDNintendo Arcade SystemNintendo DSNintendo DS LiteNintendo Entertainment SystemNintendo FamicomNintendo Famicom Disk SystemNintendo Game BoyNintendo Game Boy AdvanceNintendo Game Boy Advance SPNintendo Game Boy ColorNintendo GameCubeNintendo N64Nintendo NESNintendo Pokemon MiniNintendo SatellaviewNintendo SNESNintendo Super GameboyNintendo Virtual BoyNintendo WiiNokia N-GageNuonOpenBORPanasonic 3DOPhilips CD-iPhilips OdysseyPhilips Odyssey 2Philips VG 5000PopCapRCA Chip-8RCA Studio IISammy AtomiswaveScummVMSega 32XSega CDSega ChihiroSega Computer 3000Sega DreamcastSega Game GearSega GenesisSega Genesis 32XSega Genesis CDXSega Genesis Model 3Sega Master SystemSega Mega DriveSega Model 2Sega Model 3Sega NaomiSega PICOSega SaturnSega SC-3000Sega SG-1000Sega SG-1000 IISega ST-VSega System 1Sharp MZ-700Sharp MZ-800Sharp MZ80KSharp X1Sharp X68000Sinclair ZX SpectrumSinclair ZX80Sinclair ZX81SNK Neo-GeoSNK Neo-Geo AESSNK Neo-Geo CDSNK Neo-Geo MVSSNK Neo-Geo PocketSNK Neo-Geo Pocket ColorSony PlayStationSony PlayStation 2Sony PlayStation 3Sony PocketstationSony PSPSony PSP GOSord M5SteamStepmaniaTaito Type XTaito Type X2Tandy TRS-80Tandy TRS-80 CoCoTangerine OricTangerine Oric-1Tangerine Oric AtmosTatung EinsteinTexas Instruments TI-99_4AThompson MO5Tiger Game.comTiger GizmondoTriforceVisual PinballVisual PinMAMEVTech CreatiVisionVTech Laser 2000VTech VWatara SupervisionWindows FrotzWoW Action Maxxx-Dummy-xxZ-Code Interactive Fiction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tthurman Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I think they both look really cool, but after flipping back and forth several times, I think I like the simplicity of the first version. It has a crisp and clean look, and retians the visual appeal wihtout being to fancy. I don't think the added border looks bad on the second version at all, but it seems that it could become overly busy in a crowded screen full of them. my 0.2Could just twist it around, Art-BoxKrakerman has ventured down the road of all the systems with his GameRoom theme, so I'd say go for it. You could always limit it to the big dogs as well.I think this would make for a really cool theme! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco1962 Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 I like both concepts. The first as tthurman noted for its simplicity and crispness. I'm more inclined toward the second with the tiled appearance as I take a second look as it is something I could see doing for myself.The first example would more easily lend itself to providing a basic template for end-user creativity IMO. The more adventurous and skilled should be able to handle creating a tiled frame, however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedDog Posted October 26, 2015 Author Share Posted October 26, 2015 @stigzler: Thanks for the praise. For the GameEx branding, I can see what you mean; after some thought, I may try to make the home page GameEx and remove the logo elsewhere (I do want to give prop to GameEx somewhere). I do intend to include templates so that anyone interested can make their own changes/additions too.@Draco: Thank you as well. Yeah, when I said systems from x-date to x-date, I really meant the most common ones. I certainly could not see doing ALL OF THEM. UG! But, the theme is simple enough that someone could do some on their own too.@tthurman: Thank you. It's funny that I didn't think of Art-Box as a name. I may go with that. I also came up with Art of the Game which I kind of like, but does not quite hit the mark. I will have to brainstorm a bit more though.And to everyone else who gave a like, Thanks to you as well.I will post updates when I have them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maikerbushi Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Good work, would like to see it in action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starbuck Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Looks good - ready to try it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stigzler Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 I dunno why, but the look of your theme makes me think "Cart" as in Cartridge Cart-ArtEmu-CartCarty-Arty-Flarty-Blarty....(OK - forget this one...!)Think my neurons are disconnecting with age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedDog Posted November 4, 2015 Author Share Posted November 4, 2015 Update:I've added an entry in the FIRST post along with some NEW screenshots of some of the new backgrounds.A lot of the work is done, but there is more to do. By the time it is finished, I estimate that there will be around 45 backgrounds. It does seam like a lot, but for the most part, I am enjoying the work. I also decided to spend some time cleaning up or creating logos that will go with with the backgrounds, so this has added to the project. They won't be anything super fancy, but they will be pretty clean.I have removed the GameEx logo from all of the backgrounds except for the Main Menu and Update screens. However, as a sort of ode to GameEx, I used the GameEx font in many of the non-game backgrounds (Main Menu, Themes, Statistics, Search, and Favorites to name a few).Maikerbushi asked about seeing the theme it in action. I did try to take a desktop video of GameEx with two different capture programs, but they either crashed or created a corrupt video file. I really didn't want to take the time to troubleshoot it as I do not have much experience with video capture and editing...so snaps will have to be enough for now. Also, while I REALLY do like the name 'Carty-Arty-Flarty-Blarty' as a theme name, I decided to go with a very simple name: SidebarEnjoy the pics...and any feedback is appreciated. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stigzler Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Also, while I REALLY do like the name 'Carty-Arty-Flarty-Blarty' as a theme name, I decided to go with a very simple name: SidebarYour loss, dude.....I guess Sidebar will do for now.. all looking good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco1962 Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 This is really coming together nice, RedDog! I look forward to giving it a whirl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tthurman Posted November 5, 2015 Share Posted November 5, 2015 I really like where this one is going! Classic lines and styling, not to subtle, but far from overbearing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedDog Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 I have uploaded the Sidebar theme as a test release. The link is at the bottom of the first post above.If anyone would like to take it for a tour or look it over, I would appreciate any feedback/suggestions you may have. Once it is 'good to go', I will arrange for it to be placed in the repository as an official release.Side Note: There is a thread in this sub-form regarding uploading themes. I assume that for larger projects, the best way to get them placed in the repository is still to message Tom with a link to the file...is this correct? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco1962 Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Hi RD - Very nice! Only a few trivial bits. First is with the Video background and probably just a personal thing. I would nix the NEtflix text as it may be misleading to someone using the theme that Netflix is accessible which the support was actually dropped when they withdrew their API last year.The other was the EmuBak which displays with Steam logos regardless of the emulated or integrated support. I would go generic with that image. I must say I am impressed and see myself using this!I would upload your theme here when you are ready to release it, and send Tom an email to review for placing in the repository. I can't see any reason why he wouldn't want to include this gem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adultery Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I would think that any of us upper staff can approve that upload/move to the repo, no? Thanks for the contribution! I'll load it up on my dev machine and give it a whirl for sure! Much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draco1962 Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I would think that any of us upper staff can approve that upload/move to the repo, no? Probably so. Just want to confirm with the "Big Guy" before taking that action since the Repository is a new thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedDog Posted November 19, 2015 Author Share Posted November 19, 2015 Hi RD - Very nice! Only a few trivial bits. First is with the Video background and probably just a personal thing. I would nix the NEtflix text as it may be misleading to someone using the theme that Netflix is accessible which the support was actually dropped when they withdrew their API last year.The other was the EmuBak which displays with Steam logos regardless of the emulated or integrated support. I would go generic with that image. I must say I am impressed and see myself using this!I would upload your theme here when you are ready to release it, and send Tom an email to review for placing in the repository. I can't see any reason why he wouldn't want to include this gem!Thanks for the info. I was wondering about Netflix. I had never tried to set it up in GameEx until I did the theme, so I just assumed I was missing 'something'. I will exclude Netflix then.Regarding the emubak, I did know that it is used for several purposes. I had included several emubaks (steam, GameEx Arcade, Highest Rated) so you select the one you wanted to use (I only use it for steam myself). I think what I will do is add a generic emubak as a default and then include the specialized types as alternates. Of course, the basic gimp templates are also there just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedDog Posted November 19, 2015 Author Share Posted November 19, 2015 I do appreciate the praise, but let's wait on asking Tom to upload until a few eyes have seen it.Even in these few posts, there are a few things to change.Another side note: The one thing I could not test was the GameEx upgrade update screens. Is there an archive where i can download a previous version of GameEx or is there a way I can trick GameEx into updating? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedDog Posted November 19, 2015 Author Share Posted November 19, 2015 I made some adjustments based on feedback:- Removed Netflix from VideoBak title- Added a generic EmuBak and made it the default for the theme. Other options are available in the Alternate Assets folder.- Adjusted the background color for some of the more generic backgrounds to be the same (AllGamesBak, EmuBak, LastPlayedBak, MostPlayedBak, StartBak)A version 2 file has been uploaded (check the bottom of the first post).Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stigzler Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Just took her for a spin. Spot on. Great contribution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedDog Posted November 20, 2015 Author Share Posted November 20, 2015 I needed to make a few adjustments for the GameEx Update assets:- Updated AutoUpdate1.png and UpdateAni1.gif- Also made minor changes to PicturesBak.png.A version 3 file has been uploaded (check the bottom of the first post).Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedDog Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 Update (11-24-2015) TEST RELEASE v4A few more updates. I am hoping that these may be the last of them:- Corrected ControlPanel.png layout for 1920 width- Updated ErrorDialog.png for proper sizing- Updated PleaseWait.png- Added Blank.png to LOGOS- Resized scroller- Added sample Scroller files to Alternate Assets- Moved ListNum under ListA version 4 file has been uploaded (check the bottom of the first post).I will give this a week and if nothing else comes up, I will probably throw it up on the repository.Thanks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tthurman Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 (edited) I gave this a go myself this past Sunday. Since I have such a limited setup with just MAME, it makes it difficult for me to fully appreciate. It looks great though, and I encountered no problems. I don't know how feasible this is, but a larger snaps screen would be nice. <edit> larger in general, across all themes, not just yours. Edited November 26, 2015 by tthurman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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