Simple plan, simple design. Suggestions/thoughts please.

Bump

it's a cute idea, but I would suggest 2 things :
1) getting the color scheme to a more CGA-like feeling
2) making the whiteboard+circle+"invade" pixelated as well, to fit with the general style.

good luck, and check out my critique!

What he said.
Other than that, I like it.

Pixelated the blackboard and changed the colour scheme, thoughts and comments please.

I preferred the other one, so much white on black is just a bit dull. The blackboard etc... are an improvement though

i love the idea (agree it might be better with colour). i might like it if the circle were a pixelated earth, with the pixelation being matched in size to the space invaders.

The invaders need to be in color like V1.
Get rid of the circle and print "invade" in pixelated text. Have the leader pointing to it with a pointer (pixelated, of course).

remove the circle
and include something with the little tank from the game in the plans

Make the board a bit bigger, include the earth and in a "box" put "ENEMY" with a picture of the tank

Oh and critique mine http://www.threadless.com/critique/31860/Irrational_Behavior

I liked the colorful invaders better

I like the idea! but shouldnt the arrow point down? since you have to protect the bottom in that game?

colors please!

it would be better if we knew where to invade. make the circle a pixelated planet

Looking good! I suggest putting something clever inside the invade circle...what that might be I dunno?

Yep. I think it'd be cool if the teacher guy looked more authorative somehow, maybe with a wooden pointer-thing that teachers use, and somehow you could give him a stern look in his eyebrows. Also, I think the arrow should point down and say something like 'move downwards' or something. Or a pixellated sketch of an invader with just an arrow pointing downwards, no text. (Text kills things for me most times). I think just that. A rough pixellated sketch of an invader with an arrow to the right, then one down, then one left...that's what they do. Shuffle shuffle shuffle, drop, shuffle shuffle shuffle, drop. But if you can get it going WITHOUT text and make it super clear (not working for me right now) you got a winner. Nice one. Give him a staff too, get the whole lecture vibe going. ;)

Two new versions:

1. Keeps the text and circle, to show that the Space Invaders grand plan is to literally 'invade some space'.

2. Dropped text for a simple illustration of the invaders' ridiculously simple battle plan.

Hands up for the one you like the most, and thanks to all who have commented so far, it's been really helpful.

Also, minor point, but will probably change the title to 'A Simple Plan'.

I love this.
I saw v1 when it came up and i thought it was ready for sub tbh.

Both versions are real good.
the arrows are a bit confusing in 2.

What about text?
something like;

"1) Drop Down
2) Increase Speed
3)Change Direction" ?

I don't know. It's real good though.

Thanks for the comments

I love this, and especially the arrow version. I mean, I giggled when I saw it, and the previous ones are cute but didn't inspire 'gotta have that'. Arrows does.

That said, you have more space, and the arrows are a little misleading. I was trying to describe how I'd change it, and getting bogged in words, so I just popped it into photoshop to show you: here.

As it is the arrows are a little misleading; not as clearly linear as the little commander thinks ;-). Spacing them more will give more impact, I think.

S.

(Please consider reviewing my design?)

Thanks a lot for the really considered comments, I'll definitely look into the spacing of the arrows.

version 2, but with thespian smc's spacing i think. nice work!

I do like both versions though... hard to say

I personally think the "Invade" option works better. "Space Invaders" as a concept or brand name I think is a lot more accessible to more people than their movement patterns, which you'll have had to have played the game to appreciate. and like othes said, try getting him a pointer and maybe some angry eyebrows. Space Invadin': Serious business!

I see what Skilly means, but if you weren't a fan of the game, or had never played it, would you really want to buy the shirt anyway? That said, I agree that the Invade option is more immediately understandable and clear.

Hmmm...dilemma! Thanks for checking and commenting though.

Yes, especially since (just had a thought) the assembled class are mostly of different designs to the dude on the blackboard, which could further confuse the casual observer. Maybe.

I prefer the arrows. The space invaders don't exactly invade empty space. There's your base thingy with the um, shield things that they're attacking.

Their not-very-strategic attack plan to drop down, increase speed and change direction is easily recognisable as part of popular culture whether you've played it or not. Like in this Futurama episode.

You could always have two blackboards though or different headings like "Objective" and "Strategy" or something.

I guess the arrows amuse me more because they make it more like a real war room/football plan - they rarely write words on the board, instead going for the arrows and stuff.

I find the arrows more clever, and...well. let's be honest, after what, 30 years, it's pretty culturally ensconced, especially with the peeps who buy Threadless.

i like v1
the arrows on the second one are not as humorous

Use the arrow version (with wider spacing).
The circle isn't "digital" enough and the word is unnecessary.

Ha ha ha. Classic. I dig it ;) I'd just move the little instructor guy a little away from the board to not confuse the silhouette of the whole board and the instructor...consider maybe also giving him a white cane pointing to the board? Just some white pixels, maybe 2 across, one up or at just a plain 45 degree, I think 5 pixels is enough. Its nitpicking but I'd also space the arrows out more so its not all bunched up. Put the diagrammatic invader in the top left of the board, and have the horizontal arrows overlap the vertical ones. Hmm. How do I say this. The first horizontal arrow should overlap the first vertical arrow, but the second horizontal arrow should follow on from the first vertical. What I'm saying is get all those arrow heads in the 'corners' of where the arrows are pointing. Its seems super finicky but on first glance, a person's got to 'get' it. So as you have the arrows, but the first horizontal overlaps the second, the second horizontal as you have it, but then the second horizontal arrow's got to have its arrow head ALL the way to the end, then the last vertical arrow drops down below it. Of course, not RIGHT in the corners of the board, but in the original space invaders I think they go QUITE close to the screen. I'd say 3/4 pixels width from the edge, top and bottom. You could even try and include 3 space invaders alongside each other in the diagram and see what that looks like. It also bugs me that the instructor isn't IN GRID with the others, he's kind of skewed. I think if he's flat on it'll be better. And the cane!

Kind of a lot here, but shouldn't take too long. I love the concept, right now V1 is working more for me, but only in comparison to this version you have up now. With a LITTLE more work you could make the arrows work and it'd ROCK THE HOUSE!

But no text I think.

(You could even have a guy in an office cubicle and a pixellated space invader is rubbing up against him, clearly 'invading his space' and making him flustered. Ha ha. I might do that sometime.)

Ok, I drew a picture!

Also note in Photoshop when you resize your image, for pixel work, make sure RESAMPLING is set to NEAREST NEIGHBOR and not BICUBIC if you want to get crisp lines. If you REALLY want to preserve the pixel integrity look, make sure you resize to a pixel value something that the original size can divide into neatly, like if your original size is 130 pixels wide, make the new size something like 1300 pixels, or 650 pixels, if you get my drift.

RIGHT! My pic:

http://img291.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spsnvrg4.gif

Is it possible to give the commander (guy next to the board) a pointer stick.

mikdog's picture

I think mikdog's arrow directions work nicely. the pointer and expression are good too.

Wow, great suggestions - special thanks to mikdog in particular - I'll be making some changes and posting up soon (ish). Thanks to all.

Just a quickie - on the arrows version, have you tried joining the lines together and then adding the arrow at the end of that rather than having lots of arrows? Maybe make it less cluttered. But great idea. reminiscent of Star Wars Death Star briefing :)

theboybarnes - I have actually thought about trying that too - will probably submit it as another option for critique later, thanks for the feedback.

I really find this amusing. You can combine both versions pretty easily. You could try putting "invade" below the last arrow. If I had to pick though, the arrow version is funnier. Try also joining the arrows like the above suggestion, that will simplify the design a bit. Nice idea.

Right then. Added a pointer and now three different blackboard options - pretty self-explanatory, except maybe no. 3, which is supposed to show that the invaders speed up when they drop down a level.

Personally leaning towards no.1, but would like to know other's opinions, thanks.

I like no 3 - got the speed thing straight away. Submit!

Glad it comes across, thanks.

I like number 3 too, it takes the better of 1 and 2 and puts it together. As a videogames fan, submit!

I say 1. COOL! I might put the instructor up one pixel level to have him flush with the board, or make the difference more than one pixel, like have him 3 levels or so down. I think flush would look better though. I ALSO wonder what 1 would look like if the arrow carried on a bit horizontally right, about halfway with the arrow? Try it yourself and see what looks good. I'd also move the diagram (entire diagram, including arrows and invader) UP one or two pixels so it doesn't look like its 'falling' off the board. Rather have it more UP than DOWN centered vertically. AWESOME!

Thanks for the comments, I'm pretty much ready to sub, but will have a try-out of a few suggested tweaks.

turned out great!

It's up for scoring, so check it out if you want to.

that's cute haha

"You're My Loser" [click]
"Autumn Love" [click]
"Terror of Death?" [click]

#1 is Gold

Critique Mine?

i dont mean to bump this old thing up but, looking back on this, whoever clicked on dont submit and needs work were dead wrong.

Thanks!

haha! That is awesome. My boss would love this shirt. Big fan of the old games.

If you get a chance to vote on my sub I would appreciate it. :)

Done :)