Whatever happened to Solar Plexus?

[Jess Ragan]

"There was supposed to be a cartridge version of this, wasn't there?"

 

Yeah, there was, and it's totally my fault that it's not out yet. I've been working on cartridge artwork for the game, but I haven't finished it, because I keep getting occupied with everything else under the sun (college, freelance writing, gaming, etc.).

 

The drawing has already been inked, but I need to find someone that can really make the art leap off the page with a good coloring job. I've given some thought to arranging a coloring contest with the webmaster of Atari Age, where the winner receives a free copy of the game. Would you be willing to participate in something like that, Al?

 

After the artwork is colored, I could start work on the instruction manual and finally get Solar Plexus out the door and in the hands of collectors.

 

JR

[Jess Ragan]

Anyway, here's the planned cartridge artwork for Solar Plexus. Anyone think they can really make it jump off the label with a great coloring job?

 

JR

[Zonie]

Anyway, here's the planned cartridge artwork for Solar Plexus.  Anyone think they can really make it jump off the label with a great coloring job?

 

JR

944786[/snapback]

 

Kinda looks like the old catalog artwork.

[yuppicide]

Looks like a picture from a paint by numbers book with the numbers removed.

[Jess Ragan]

Uh... thanks?

 

JR

[+Nathan Strum]

I can probably take a shot at it. But I need to finish up the RPS label first.

 

Is the line art posted here full resolution?

[Jess Ragan]

Yep, that's full size. Thanks for considering it.

 

Oh... by the way, I should probably point out a couple of things about the picture. It's a rough approximation of the X-Wing cockpit, and the pilot is supposed to look like Craig Charles from Red Dwarf. When you color him (if you choose to tackle this project), make sure he's got a light chocolate skin tone like the actor in the show. Thanks!

 

JR

[+Nathan Strum]

Another quick question - was this drawn in the computer in black and white (1-bit), or scanned as grayscale, then converted? The reason I ask is, a grayscale scan will have much smoother lines when it's finished.

[Jess Ragan]

Straight 1-bit black and white. The reason I scan them my art this way is because I find it much easier to color them once I'm finished. If you'd prefer "the power of greyscale*", let me know and I'll rescan the drawing.

 

JR

 

* Sorry, bad He-Man joke

[+Nathan Strum]

Yep, if you can post a grayscale version, that works for me better. 300 dpi or higher.

[Jess Ragan]

I'll get that to you later tonight. Thanks!

 

JR

[Godzilla]

uhm what is solar plexus? some space/anatomy game?

[+Nathan Strum]

This is Solar Plexus.

[Jess Ragan]

All right, have a go at this. I jumped it up to 300dpi, but my scanner's kind of old so this may be interlaced.

 

JR

[+Nathan Strum]

That'll work. Thanks!

[Jess Ragan]

Here's an early design for the Solar Plexus cartridge label. The artwork was created by Nathan Strum and myself... well, actually, Nathan deserves the lion's share of the credit, as he took a simple line drawing and turned it into something with a lot more detail and character.

 

I'm working on a suitable border for the artwork... it's a little rough at the moment, but I'm going to experiment a little with the layout, trying to find the right places for all the various logos that will need to be included on the front of the cartridge. Later on, I'll begin the text for the game's instruction booklet... it should be a lot of fun to write that, since I'm planning a storyline that's a bit out of the ordinary for a science-fiction video game.

 

Anyway, give it a look and tell me what you think. Thanks again to Nathan Strum for taking the time to work on the cover artwork!

 

JR

Edited November 8, 2005 by Jess Ragan

[Gateway]

I have to admit I wasn't too keen on your line drawing artwork, but now I think it looks a lot better for a label!

 

It has a bit of the Atari Picture label style mixed with some of the style of a few recent homebrew labels.

 

It may look nice in the Atari silver or red label format.

[Lord Helmet]

I like the artwork alot. Can't wait to get a copy of the game!

[Jess Ragan]

Here's the new label design, resized to fit the dimensions of an actual Atari cartridge. Next on the menu? An instruction manual, probably eight pages in size. When that's finished, the game should be ready to ship.

 

JR