SO, about that New Big Thing

[Alberyk]

The point of replacing stuff here is to create a more coherent and unique style for our sprites. It is being replaced to just don't be a mixture of everything we could gather from every single place or contribution that did not consider a single vision because it was not possible back in the day. However, we will not ignore feedback here.

[Faye <3]

I really like the new console sprites, and would like to see them in-game. They're swanky and cool. The wall sprites however I am fairly neutral on.

[Desven]

2 hours ago, Alberyk said:

The point of replacing stuff here is to create a more coherent and unique style for our sprites. It is being replaced to just don't be a mixture of everything we could gather from every single place or contribution that did not consider a single vision because it was not possible back in the day. However, we will not ignore feedback here.

As I explain in what I wrote, the consoles, both computers and walls, feel fairly cohesive in that they are contributions that have been done for Aurora with very little that has aged on them- I would say at most the frame of the current computers may look a bit flat, but otherwise, from screens to holographic looks, they look like a full set.

 

Let's be honest, it would be impossible to resprite the whole server for a consistent style unless you payed somebody to lock themselves for months, go through every item in game and do it. Which I doubt it would happen. It is a game done by contributors over time and it's just one of the cons of the system, even though it has a lot of pros too. You can start to make the server look more unique (and I think it does, Aurora feels a lot more sterile than other servers), but instead of the cool computers, there are things that look really ancient now (telecomms machines, APCs, the window system we still use...) and are more clashing than the work Wezzy and others did (which is consistent with other Wezzy sprites too, like guest passes etc).

 

If you really want to update some computer sprites, I recommend doing the laptop ones. They're basically the same since before Aurora took the split to change how console computers look, and some screens just don't fit anymore (red security in laptops, etc). The stationjobs.dmi has a bunch of different machines we see still in game that could use a serious glow up.

Edited October 27, 2021 by Desven
not computer.dmi, but stationjobs.dmi (also the science machines one)

[Alberyk]

Today's teaser:

Medical morgue:

Spoiler

Telecomms machines new sprites:

Spoiler

 

[Desven]

8 minutes ago, Alberyk said:

Today's teaser:

Medical morgue:

  Reveal hidden contents

Telecomms machines new sprites:

  Hide contents

 

As with other Kyres sprites, the outline is way too dark for the machine. It looks specially odd since he decided to make the shading lighter than the body of the computer. Other than that, they look a bit too flat. The servers and hub perspective, mostly.

[Desven]

Also, the morgue being dirty feels the opposite of how much more clean the current morgue is. I know it adds the atmosphere probably, but it's a sterile area. Not a butcher's shop.

[Butterrobber202]

5 hours ago, Alberyk said:

Today's teaser:

Medical morgue:

  Reveal hidden contents

Telecomms machines new sprites:

  Reveal hidden contents

 

I like the morgue, nice and DIRTY. 

The Icons are good, besides the REALLY thick outlines in some parts. If those were cut down, it'd have my full support.

Edited November 1, 2021 by Butterrobber202

[Desven]

Yet again I find it hard to defend the sprites shown for NBT. What strikes me the most strange is the calls of consistency. Here is an example sprite of the teaser that I discussed in depth with an artist.

 

 

As you can see up close, the shape makes little sense. I don't particularly dislike overhaul of machines, I've done some myself, but it's weird that a machine that, while currently flat in dimensions, is tall, here it's either on a really strange shape or two small machines. It remains to be flat, however, despite what the rest of the machines in game currently look like. Is he planning on flattening them all? Even if that's the case, his other additions are inconsistent.

 

Current processor sprites.

The shape of the resprite. The bottom box looks strange to justify in that position.

 

The clothing machine has a completely different palette, type of shading and details. The only consistent thing is the thick dark outline, which the game rarely uses and is just vestigial in some ancient sprites now, and the fact that analyzing the shadowing makes it look odd and just placed without much thought. I've said this is a problem with Kyres sprites in uniforms too, but in machines it's much more obvious. I actually had to resprite this machine so it would match other vendors. What I rarely share, though, is that before Kyres I made a sprite for the very same machine, which is this and looks more like the rest. My resprite, following the Kyres palette (that also made little sense, like the strange magenta at the bottom despite the color not being anywhere as bright elsewhere), now blends too much with the room.

(My original machine sprite).

 

But the other teasers shown don't match either. The metal used in the wall consoles is nothing like the base of the computers or the purpleish color these machines, for no reason, have. They don't blend with the rest of the sprites, we don't have those hues. I like the tone, but it makes no sense for that purple to be the shade (and again, in that pattern) or complimentary color of the other one. It's something I see consistent with Kyres art, which is worrisome. Without going too much into detail, he made two Earth globes that look nothing like the planet. The first one had Canada colide with Europe, the second one had random lines as rivers in known areas of the world. When confronted about this, he just said to add to lore that canals were made, even though it would just be easier to actually follow any picture of Earth available online.

 

Back to the wall consoles, other than being cluttered, smaller versions of the superior consoles we have, the only new thing they add is the ATM reskin, which is arguably a machine that should look different as it is the bank terminal of a particular company. I can see why some are attracted by the battle station idea of the computers, but I've also addressed why they're tiny, cluttered monitors that don't really look like they belong in the same room in what has been shown.  So I ask one more time what's the consistency you're looking for? Is it the work of a single person? This brings me to another point that may seem out of place, but I feel that Kyres is partly working out of spite. He only began to tease about respriting every single machine after I started porting or designing machines myself. It wouldn't surprise me if that's still his goal here, but is it really worth it to be “consistent” if they are going to be inferior versions of current machines at worst even more inconsistent with each other at best? I urge you to reconsider this whole project. I really don't understand why it's something that can't be altered at all. There is no reason for the server to look like this at all.Back to the wall consoles, other than being cluttered, smaller versions of the superior consoles we have, the only new thing they add is the ATM reskin, which is arguably a machine that should look different as it is the bank terminal of a particular company. I can see why some are attracted by the battle station idea of the computers, but I've also addressed why they're tiny, cluttered monitors that don't really look like they belong in the same room in what has been shown.  So I ask one more time what's the consistency you're looking for? Is it the work of a single person? This brings me to another point that may seem out of place, but I feel that Kyres is partly working out of spite. He only began to tease about respriting every single machine after I started porting or designing machines myself. It wouldn't surprise me if that's still his goal here, but is it really worth it to be “consistent” if they are going to be inferior versions of current machines at worst even more inconsistent with each other at best? I urge you to reconsider this whole project. I really don't understand why it's something that can't be altered at all. There is no reason for whole the server to look like this.

[Alberyk]

@Desven First of all. Don't assume anything or accuse people without any kind of proof. No one in the team is working out of spite. Having a definitive look and style for the server is something we have always wanted. I can look for proof of skull talking about this since forever. So chill down and stop creating conspiracy theories. This is not kyres showing up and doing whatever to fuck with people, it is the product of us discussing the nbt and the art style as a team. Seeing this kind of accusation from someone in the team is really frustating and does not help us in a project that is already not easy.

And we will consider all the feedback that people posted here to improve the sprites.

[BunkyB]

Where does the Medical Morgue connect to?
Is it connected to medical by a stairwell, elevator or is it on the same level?

[Arrow768]

From what I remember the morgue is connected by „ghetto elevator“ (which is basically just a moving platform without any doors,…)

I think there is also a ladder around somewhere.

 

[Alberyk]

Medical surgery area remapped a bit after feedback:

Spoiler

Mining Shuttle (it might get different wall sprites and some tweaks, but this will be roughly the shape):

Spoiler

No sprite teaser today because kyres has been busy with irl, but we are currently working on the implementing the feedback and the new unfirosm.

[KingOfThePing]

Medical looks sexy enough to make me play medical again after 2 years

[BunkyB]

no space for drills, or ore boxes for that matter. are we keeping drill droppers?

[Carver]

10 hours ago, Alberyk said:

Medical surgery area remapped a bit after feedback:

  Hide contents

 

I don't like how closed off that back closet is, as it seems designed to hide corpses and do antag stuff in medical extremely trivially - I believe it wouldn't hurt to give it some glass doors. In a similar vein, I don't think it would hurt for the recovery ward to have a glass door too.

[Hunt]

8 hours ago, Carver said:

I don't like how closed off that back closet is, as it seems designed to hide corpses and do antag stuff in medical extremely trivially - I believe it wouldn't hurt to give it some glass doors. In a similar vein, I don't think it would hurt for the recovery ward to have a glass door too.

Personally, I fail to see the issue with providing antags an easier route for causing drama/issues for the crew on whatever the vessels name is. There are countless agents in medical along that can/are used directly against antags, this being that of suit-sensors, GPS, medibot reportings, sound-effects when a patient is flatlining on a properly equipped bed, etc. The current NSS Aurora surgical fridge is far bigger and closed off in the same regards as this and to my knowledge has never posed any issue. Antags exist to cause issues and antagonize the crew/personnel, I personally rather see map creations which aid in both antags goal(s) and security combatting the antag.

As for the patient recovery ward, I could see a glass medical airlock being provided. Only concern would be the 'realism' of patient privacy in this area, but there are curtains for the beds/wards, so I don't see why glass would be a downside. Antags could still effectively do evil things behind a patient-ward curtain and not get instantly caught from an individual standing in the hall about 6 tiles away.

[Lucaken]

20 hours ago, Alberyk said:

implementing the feedback and the new unfirosm.

How wide-spanning are these new uniforms? Is this only for each department's uniforms, or contractor/megacorporations as well?

[Carver]

1 hour ago, Hunt said:

Personally, I fail to see the issue with providing antags an easier route for causing drama/issues for the crew on whatever the vessels name is. There are countless agents in medical along that can/are used directly against antags, this being that of suit-sensors, GPS, medibot reportings, sound-effects when a patient is flatlining on a properly equipped bed, etc. The current NSS Aurora surgical fridge is far bigger and closed off in the same regards as this and to my knowledge has never posed any issue. Antags exist to cause issues and antagonize the crew/personnel, I personally rather see map creations which aid in both antags goal(s) and security combatting the antag.

As for the patient recovery ward, I could see a glass medical airlock being provided. Only concern would be the 'realism' of patient privacy in this area, but there are curtains for the beds/wards, so I don't see why glass would be a downside. Antags could still effectively do evil things behind a patient-ward curtain and not get instantly caught from an individual standing in the hall about 6 tiles away.

Generally extremely secretive rooms like that closet are used to cause issues and ensure nobody ever knows you caused an issue. Essentially 'hide the body and make sure it's never found'. General antag stuff should still be pretty doable from just walking into maintenance since every surgical room has a maintenance hatch for whatever reason.

[Alberyk]

1 hour ago, Lucaken said:

How wide-spanning are these new uniforms? Is this only for each department's uniforms, or contractor/megacorporations as well?

Atm, we are thinking about each job having a single uniform for each corporation they can be in.

[Carver]

2 hours ago, Alberyk said:

Atm, we are thinking about each job having a single uniform for each corporation they can be in.

A single uniform ship-wide for each MC, or per department for them? If the former, will this be the end of the traditional protective values of departmental uniforms?

[Alberyk]

Engineering department entrance:

Spoiler

The dev team has also been working on adding new uniform sprites for the jobs and their respective corporations. Here are some what we had in mind for the Idris service division:

Spoiler

Please take in consideration that this is still work in progress.

We are also working to decided a way to chose the NBT's ship name. We will likely gather some ideas before doing a server vote.

[Faye <3]

The uniforms look interesting, though maybe are a little darker green than the current Idris related uniforms. Can we know anything about uniform regulations on the NBT ship?

[ImmortalRedshirt]

And with that, engineering's title of "department with the most obscenely large lobby" fades into yesteryear. I was about to comment on the rather dark nature of it, but then I noticed that the light was broken, so nevermind. Good change overall, still enough room to cram the usual engineering population into one area.

Uniforms are pretty serviceable(heh), too, though I can't say I'm all that sold on the bartender uniform being mostly one color. Especially in the case of Idris, there's a lot of room for something real professional, instead of being like, one step above a jumpsuit.

Quick thing I just remembered: I won't know for certain until we get a better idea of the layout, but once again, the department looks like it's going to be really easy to fortify. Are there other(non-maintenance) means of entering engineering?

Edited November 14, 2021 by ImmortalRedshirt
Sudden remembering of things

[Kintsugi]

The shading for the uniforms shown here is really wonky. Service manager looks good but the chef is too drastic and bartender is REALLY all over the place, especially with those sleeves.

[Desven]

35 minutes ago, Alberyk said:

Engineering department entrance:

  Hide contents

The dev team has also been working on adding new uniform sprites for the jobs and their respective corporations. Here are some what we had in mind for the Idris service division:

  Reveal hidden contents

Please take in consideration that this is still work in progress.

We are also working to decided a way to chose the NBT's ship name. We will likely gather some ideas before doing a server vote.

I won't say a thing about the consoles because I've already written much about it. However, the ringer button looks really off. I dislike the codersprite we currently have, but this one looks huge and I thought it was a sprite meant to go in a wall before. It doesn't look good for a table, especially with how huge it is.