Resource icons - graphic style

[Deggial]

I couldn't help but notice in the "Advanced Startup stream" that I don't like the current resource icons. They don't match the quality or look and feel of the rest of the game. This is especially true of the animal icons, which are strangely flat and unappealing. The brightly coloured backgrounds also stick out like a sore thumb. (Admittedly, this makes them very legible/distinguishable).
In a comment on a YouTube video I watched, I wrote: "The Firaxis art team must see and know this, too, and so I (decided to) believe that they are merely placeholders." So just WIP.

But do they and are they?
In one of the recent Civ reveal streams, these icons were shown again.
Maybe they are happy with them after all.

So what do you think?

 

[stealth_nsk]

Consider the current resource icons in the builds we've seen to be work in progress. That's the kind of things usually finished by designers in the last weeks.

 

[Leyrann]

Do you have a screenshot to help me judge them off of before voting?

 

[Deggial]

Here you go. (A screenshot from the stream I mentioned above. Unfortunately quite dark, but I tried to increase brightness & contrast a little bit.)

At least the 'marble' icon seems to be "stolen" from Civ6, which would support the WIP theory. (EDIT: Actually, not stolen at all, as a quick research inspired by my response to Archanist revealed. Just colmpeltely different in style in comparison to the animals.)
Worst offenders: elephants, horses and pigs.

 

[Blue whale]

Here you go. (A screenshot tfrom the stream I mentioned above. Unfortunately quite dark, but I tried to increase brightness & contrast a little bit.)

At least the 'marble' icon seems to be "stolen" from Civ6, which would support the WIP theory.

View attachment 707241

The horse icon look’s under-detailed compared to the pig icon

 

[Deggial]

The horse icon look’s under-detailed compared to the pig icon

This. And that "pointy" nose.
Additionally, the art style of the animals don't match that of marble at all.

That was one of the main reasons, I still think ... hope(!) it's WIP.

 

[Uberfrog]

I think it’s really hard to comment while squinting at such low-res screengrabs, but I have no particular problems with them so far.

Those of us who have been here a while will remember the great Civ 5 tech icon / stock image scavenger hunt / plagiarism scandal…

 

[Deggial]

I think it’s really hard to comment while squinting at such low-res screengrabs, but I have no particular problems with them so far.

Those of us who have been here a while will remember the great Civ 5 tech icon / stock image scavenger hunt / plagiarism scandal…

Sorry, that's all I could get. Actually, the screenshot is 1628x840 px - not sooo low-res. But taken from a YouTube video, of course, therefore compressed.
By the way: the fact that I couldn't find an official screenshot with those icons might mean something, too.

And yes, I do remember!
Fun times!

 

[Archanist]

Civ 5 icons are still my favorite, I really wished Civ 6 and 7 would return to that

 

[Deggial]

I really liked the icons in Civ 6.
Reduced, without the painted background. That dark outline that gave them a graphic look. (Especially suited to the map style, of course).

But be it Civ 5 or Civ 6 - the designers usually did a good job with their choice of style.
That's why I'd be puzzled if the current solution was final.

 

[kaspergm]

Here you go. (A screenshot from the stream I mentioned above. Unfortunately quite dark, but I tried to increase brightness & contrast a little bit.)

At least the 'marble' icon seems to be "stolen" from Civ6, which would support the WIP theory. (EDIT: Actually, not stolen at all, as a quick research inspired by my response to Archanist revealed. Just colmpeltely different in style in comparison to the animals.)
Worst offenders: elephants, horses and pigs.

Spoiler :

View attachment 707241

Wow, those icons really look like trash. The Horse looks more like a tapir!

 

[Evolena]

The first thing I don't like about the icons is the random background color.

 

[gdr_willter]

They might be better with bold outline tho.

 

[Gorbles]

Wow, those icons really look like trash. The Horse looks more like a tapir!

Having been to the zoo recently and seen tapirs, I have to ask what tapirs look like where you're from

Didn't vote, the poll options are weighted to the negative and there isn't a fair spread to choose from. I personally don't see much issue with the icons, and it's going to be hard to judge detail / polish from compressed stream footage. The art direction of them seems fine, most of the contrast is okay except for the carpet one (Furs? Silk?). Purple on red, hmm.

 

[Jeppetto]

I feel like some of the icon / portrait problems stem from them trying to capture Civ 4 vibe (among the obvious Civ 5 and Civ 6 inspirations). The yield icons likewise feel like Civ 4.

 

[Deggial]

Having been to the zoo recently and seen tapirs, I have to ask what tapirs look like where you're from

Didn't vote, the poll options are weighted to the negative and there isn't a fair spread to choose from. I personally don't see much issue with the icons, and it's going to be hard to judge detail / polish from compressed stream footage. The art direction of them seems fine, most of the contrast is okay except for the carpet one (Furs? Silk?). Purple on red, hmm.

Hm, I'm sorry to read that. I, too, hate weighted polls.
I really tried to provide a balanced spread: One positive, one neutral - and yes, two negative ones. But one with the hope of redemption and one purely negative.
And my OP clearly stated that I am willing to assume that the icons will be overhauled in the future. So no negative vibes there either. (Worries - yes! Otherwise this thread would be pointless, wouldn't it?)

What options are missing, in your opinion?

 

[gdr_willter]

Hm, I'm sorry to read that. I, too, hate weighted polls.
I really tried to provide a balanced spread: One positive, one neutral - and yes, two negative ones. But one with the hope of redemption and one purely negative. What options are missing, in your opinion?

If we need to correct, it should be a combination of two polls: "do you like it?" and "do you think that it is WIP?"

So the options will be:
- like it and it seems finised well.
- like it and it seems WIP so it will be even better.
(- like it regardless it's WIP or not.)
- dislike it and it seems final result.
- dislike it but it seems WIP so it can be better.
(- dislike it regardless it's WIP or not.)
- neutral.

 

[Deggial]

I see.
I tried to keep the available options simple.
Anyway, poll options can't be changed, AFAIK.

Can I still ask you to vote, since my intentions weren't malicious?

 

[gdr_willter]

Can I still ask you to vote, since my intentions weren't malicious?

I already voted

My vote was "I don't care / it is okay-ish", and I meant "I'm okay with it and it seems WIP"

 

[AriochIV]

You guys seriously think they're showing WIP icons?

Talk about copium.