Cover test

[Brandon Hanvey]

http://www.thegeekout.com/images/mmorpgcovertest2.jpg

So this is my first attempt at the cover of my MMORPG comic which is tentatively titled “Realms & Reality.”
What do you think?

I'm at page 83 of 124 and should be done by the end of February so I can get it printed for this year's APE.

[Typo Lad]

I love the more angular look of the roleplaying characters in contrast to your more rounded "real world" style.

[Joe Rice]

Nice logo. (That's what she said.)

[Roquefort Raider]

I also like the contrast between the colorful background of the make-believe world and the gray one of the real world!

The expression on your characters' faces is, as ever, excellent.

[BoosterBronze]

very nifty looking.

[Jaye]

I'm not used to seeing your stuff in color, nice work!

[Brandon Hanvey]

I'm not used to seeing your stuff in color, nice work!

Yeah. I'm still not sure if I should make the characters in color.

I always find it weird that the characters are in color on the cover and then B&W through the rest of the book.

[howyadoin]

I love the more angular look of the roleplaying characters in contrast to your more rounded "real world" style.That's the only aspect of the cover that didn't work for me, actually. I get why Brandon's doing it, but it just doesn't float my boat.

[elheffe]

I'm not sure if this is the effect you're going for, but my eye tends to be drawn down thanks to the light cyan background in the 'real' characters. The fantasy characters have this complex background with mountains and sky (which kinda muddles them in my opinion) and the real characters have this flat color for a background.

EDIT: Geez, I just read Roquefort's post and his is almost the exact opposite of mine!

[Brandon Hanvey]

That's the only aspect of the cover that didn't work for me, actually. I get why Brandon's doing it, but it just doesn't float my boat.

I know I'm gambling with the different art style for the game scenes. I tried using my regular style for them but it just didn't look right to me.

I'm not sure if this is the effect you're going for, but my eye tends to be drawn down thanks to the light cyan background in the 'real' characters. The fantasy characters have this complex background with mountains and sky (which kinda muddles them in my opinion) and the real characters have this flat color for a background.


I'm still working on the top game part of the cover. I do want to show contrast between the two pieces (game vs real life). I'm thinking of lighting the background shapes so they fade and the characters pop more.

[Brandon Hanvey]

So I did another mock-up for an idea for the cover.

New idea
http://www.thegeekout.com/images/covertest2.gif

Old idea
http://www.thegeekout.com/images/mmorpgcovertest2.jpg

Which do you think works better?

[howyadoin]

Which do you think works better?Definitely the new one. It looks better from a purely aesthetic perspective, and it makes more sense visaully.

[Kara Zor El]

I like what you have done with both covers. I prefer the first one. And the different styles of the different 'verses works a treat for me.
You can always do alternate covers.:D