Deth's Techpack Previews

[Deth McBones]

Okay, guys and gals, I could use some feedback before I release some new tech icons. I know that tech icons are kinda the minor leagues, but I enjoy making them. I need to know what you guys need/want/prefer for a few of these techs. For the most part I am never satisfied with the stuff I find on Google, and can never decide which images to use. This is where you all can help.

First up, I'm trying to finish up the 20th century. Each row is a different time frame, with the top being WW2, the middle being the Cold War, and the bottom being Post-Cold War. My main difficulty here is that I know I could fit some more techs into each pack. So I would like to know what needs exist out there, or just what concepts would make good techs. (These are not real size, as I scaled them down).

Sonar, Radar, Combined Arms, Mass Production, Rocketry1, Rocketry2
Computers, Avionics, Cold War, Plastics, Helicopters, Guerilla Warfare, Advanced Rocketry,
Microchips, Advanced Radar, Automation/Robotics, Fiber Optics/Networks, Reuseable Rocketry

Secondly, I'm trying to release a separate aircraft techpack, with the different kinds and generations fairly represented. My problem here is that I cannot come to a consensus as to which images are the best. Specifically, I cannot choose whether to focus on the engines or the planes in the first few generations, and I cannot make up my mind on which planes are good visual representations of the different types.

So, in this preview I have the monoplanes of the inter-war period represented by a generic looking monoplane or a P-40. This is followed by a P-51 in a white background and in flight. The last image is just of the Mustang's engine, which would be more of a "Supercharged Engines" tech. On the next line are the jets. The F-86D has a good closeup of a turbojet, but the Phantom is a nice and clean representation of a fighter, while the Mig-15 is instantly recognizable and has a classic look. Lastly, I have a good "Turbofan" tech image, but I'm not sure if I should use that, or include it with a plane, like the close up of the A-7, or the next image of an A-7 in flight.

So do I go with techs with planes or with parts of planes? And what other aircraft-related techs should I add to this?

 

[Deth McBones]

Reserved for later previews.

 

[bigdog5994]

i wish i had some Goldfishdar

lovely icons Deth

 

[georgestow]

So I would like to know what needs exist out there, or just what concepts would make good techs.

I've been barking up that tree before. It seems no-one ever needs tech icons.

As always, excellent quality icons!

 

[Deth McBones]

I know that tech icons are kinda the minor leagues, but I enjoy making them.

It seems no-one ever needs tech icons.

Yeah, well, Wyrm spends long hours making units, and I spend much fewer hours making tech icons. I find it kind of relaxing.

So I'm guessing that nobody out there really needs aircraft-type techs, or has any ideas regarding what would be useful? *sigh* I should get into the unit-making business.

 

[georgestow]

*sigh* I should get into the unit-making business.

That's what's happened to me. =P

 

[Delta_Strife]

Hey Deth I think the aircraft icons are very useful.

 

[JSnider]

I always need more tech icons .. can use the planes and some from the 1st batch but need more Post-modern era stuff, have gotten some already but could use more on genetically modified warriors, ones i made is blah. Now if have some on nanorobotics, singularity physics, dark matter manipulation, neural grafting, gene splicing ..... and about 20 more would be nice as it would help you relax, right?

 

[Grandraem]

The tech icons all look great! My tech icons and Civ necessities are all fantasy based, and so are in a different category than these, but if they were in the same category, then these all look fantastic and I can't think of anything but good words to speak of them!

 

[Civinator]

The Mig 15 and A-7 "in flight" icons look very good. Please don´t forget, that these icons also can be used as unit icons for the civilopedia and that is exactly what I would consider to use them. It will depend on how the small icons will look in the game.

The "close up" icons showing special parts of aircrafts and the Turbofan in my eyes are the classical "tech icons". I´m no friend of icons showing plastic kits of aircraft (especially if they look coming "fresh out of the box"). These kind of icons always are the first parts to be replaced if something better is available for me -but of course this is only my opinion.

 

[Deth McBones]

Thanks for the kind words, all. JSnider and Grandraem, if you have any specific requests, I'd be happy to try and do some. Oh, and JSnider, I do plan to do a near-future techpack, so feel free to give some suggestions other than the ones you listed.

Civinator, thanks for the feedback. I too do not especially like the model aircraft, which is why I also include the "in flight" images. It's just that the aerial photos are often in the wrong shape or much too busy to be useful for a tech icon. One of my axioms for techs is that there should be a very recognizable and important part that draws the eye at both 128x128 and 32x32. An extremely busy tech icon is very hard to shrink down to 32x32 pixels. Also, I had never thought of these used as unit pcxs; perhaps I could elaborate on this idea. Which units usually need pcx work?

 

[Civinator]

Also, I had never thought of these used as unit pcxs; perhaps I could elaborate on this idea. Which units usually need pcx work?

Definetely most of them. The problems are the the small icons. They must clearly show the unit. And another point about unit graphics: A lot of unit 32 images also could be reworked. For example in CCM a lot of unit 32 images are reworked Civ 2 units.

 

[Samez]

Nice icons! The small jet engine icon could some increased contrast (eps in the upper left quarter)
Making unit icons out of these tech icons would be a great idea! THe white background will be a nice standard for the large unit icons...

 

[JSnider]

Hey great if want to make some I have attached the InfoAge working on at this point, some have Icon that borrowed or made, but most just have place holders. The genetic line at the bottom is very sparse at this point. Again this is for a mod (based on RaR) I am still trying to complete that runs from 4000bc to about 3000AD. Has planets (large ones like in normal game) separated by space (with moons, small planets and star systems) that can't be traversed until this age. Right now redoing how units are generated as keep running into the limit on how many can have ... real bummer, so redo based on what CCM did in his game somewhat, so more testing. So need Neural Grafting, Retroviral Engineering, Biomachines, R.A.G.E, Genetic Uplift Protocols, E.L.F Systems, O.R.C. Systems, CTHONIC Engineering to name a few.

 

[Deth McBones]

Okay, so should I have "in-flight" icons or white background models for the unit pcxs? And, yes I'll increase the contrast on that turbofan small pcx, thanks for pointing that out Samez.

JSnider, I'd love to help out, but I'm afraid that I'm not entirely sure what some of those techs are meant to represent. What exactly are RAGE, ELF systems, and ORC systems? Does CTHONIC Engineering refer to Lovecraft or to subterranean engineering?

 

[JSnider]

Ah, they are genetic engineering steps that are a precursor to another mod trying to work out,esp if Steph gets is 'continuation' after an era working right. They create units/items for player that eventually lead to a 'slave' uprising that is a precursor mod for WH40K. ELF and ORC are obvious whereas Cthonic leads to chaos. No big deal if not able to help as still fighting with the to many units issue .. RAGE = Random Adjustment to Genetic Enhancement = it might work and then again it might not.
Whatever make even if not for this, I do enjoy them and d/l them, as you never know when will come in handy.