Discussion: Announcing the City of Heroes Design a Loading Screen Contest!
By
Alexander_Drako,
Posted on: 2010-08-20 20:49 in News, Events and Announcement Discussion
Ok, I have completed my design and did not collapse or flatten the psd file just like they said. Problem is I can't email it.
Here is the error I am getting:
"Hi. This is the qmail-send program at yahoo.com.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
<cohcontests@ncsoft.com>:
211.189.163.230 failed after I sent the message.
Remote host said: 552 5.3.4 message size limit exceeded"
So the file is too big for the coh email box? WTF?
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This is absolutely true. The ONLY thing we're judging is the photo content. Typing out the zone names is just for fun, and we've got the frames of course. So if you send us a layered file w/ photos and we can open it, you're good.
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Originally Posted by Thirty-Seven
Ultimately, I don't see how the corruption of the frames themselves matters much... it is the things under the frame that are being judged. As long as you can get them open (and it seems most can... they just look crappy) then I dunno that there really IS a problem.
What you guys should test, is whether saving the file with your screens in it and then re-opening it will have any adverse effects on the actual screenshots or not. If it doesn't, aren't you still golden? Just a thought. |
David Nakayama, Lead Concept Artist
COH Concept Art Gallery now open at http://pixelsaurus.deviantart.com/
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Great, now just the matter of selecting a zone or 20.
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Originally Posted by Noble Savage
Hi, guys. These large layered files will automatically be too large for simple email attachment (I think the limit is 10 MB or something). Instead, please use an intermediary service like Sendspace.com to link us to your finish .psd files. Sendspace allows you to upload up to 300 MB, and it simply sends us a link where we can retrieve the file.
Cheers.  |
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Fantastic to hear. Thanks a ton, Mr. Savage. |
Originally Posted by Noble Savage
This is absolutely true. The ONLY thing we're judging is the photo content. Typing out the zone names is just for fun, and we've got the frames of course. So if you send us a layered file w/ photos and we can open it, you're good.
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Think I'll finally push my efforts up a gear now I can just forget about getting those final frames. The thought of not being able to submit any hazard zones or use one of the hero frames put me off getting on with my entries, but now I'm eager to get on and relax.
Not being able to select the Abandoned Sewer Network still seems a bit odd. The other restricted zones are very specialized visuals for their loading screens. Also, Siren's Call is listed with the villain material but it's geographically part of Paragon City and I it even uses a hero load screen right now.
This may be me being a little...thick... but 1024x768 seems awfully small for today's gaming generation on the 1920 displays etc. In Issue 18/Going Rogue expansion you changed the format of the screens to display a certain fixed resolution instead of stretching to fit the screen. I had assumed this was because you'd be making assets that would scale correctly off the back of this contest? Am I wrong? Will these new screens just be displayed at the current fixed size?
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I expect that they want to manipulate the 'Sewer Network' screen in some way, and then use that as the 'Abandoned Sewer Network' loading screen.|
Originally Posted by Zamuel
Not being able to select the Abandoned Sewer Network still seems a bit odd. The other restricted zones are very specialized visuals for their loading screens. Also, Siren's Call is listed with the villain material but it's geographically part of Paragon City and I it even uses a hero load screen right now.
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Siren's Call is currently using the villains screen, but I definitely agree that I think that it's incorrect in doing so. As part of Paragon City, I think it should have the hero frames. Bloody Bay and Warburg are fine as is; and even Recluse's Victory seems fitting with the villain frames, despite being in Paragon City.
If it were entirely up to me, Monster Island would be switched to use Hero Frames as well, even though it's a villain 'zone'.
Still no answer on the FONTS issue?
Avatea,
The only complaint I have is that we cannot include character images. This seems wrong somehow.
- Certain areas are impossible to get shots of without players being in the frames.
- Showing the higher quality costume designs would be a huge boon for your advertising department.
- A chance to show incredible action photos, which is very exciting.
The shot of the character is unfortunately with my old video card, and the angle/pose isn't really right. Obviously, the characters would have to be incorporated into the shots in a natural way, not with overlays, but it was all I have access to for my example.
But imagine if that left frame had a couple teams attacking the octopus? What we see now as an interesting, but dull shot would become action-packed.
I understand a shot of my character like the above one will not work, mainly because that character is not always in the zone and it is a 'zone' loading screen. But characters engaged in actions in that zone should be allowed.
So...is there anyway we can be allowed to submit shots with characters in them? Maybe not in the way I showed above, but in more natural ingame ways?
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The answer to the frames issue is the answer to the fonts issue. As long as you can send a frame with some screenshots in it, and the art team can open the file, you're elegible for entry. They'll simply put your screens into appropriate frames, and write in the zone name themselves. Therefore, we don't actually need the font.|
Originally Posted by American_Angel
Still no answer on the FONTS issue?
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Originally Posted by Noble Savage
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Some of the fonts seem to be created by Cryptic studios long long ago, so in terms of them providing them to us, would be highly unlikely. Because they are covered in all sorts of copyrights.
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Protip: You legally can't copyright a "font". The only thing you can copyright is the means to create it, like photoshop. So for example if you create something with a font with photoshop but don't have a license to use it then if they can prove you used their software to create the image that used font, they can bust you for copyright infringement. |
Originally Posted by Newty
Some of the fonts seem to be created by Cryptic studios long long ago, so in terms of them providing them to us, would be highly unlikely. Because they are covered in all sorts of copyrights.
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Cryptic studios or whoever has the original data for the font doesn't NEED to give it to you.. However i'm fairly sure the font the game uses is just one you can find on the internet, ive seen it before.
edit: On the copyright issue the exception is the font "data" like the truetype code. The design itself is not copyrightable.
D: Toss me a hai @DarkNat My Fify glory: Renzer Dark/Dark Corr., Renzro Dark/Dark Def., Amartasu Dark/Dark Scrap.Less important ones: Fire/Fire Blaster,Ice/Ice Blaster,Ele/Ele Brute, Mind/Storm Troll,Fire/Kin Corr.,Bots/FF MM., DB/Regen Scrap.
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Originally Posted by American_Angel
Avatea,
The only complaint I have is that we cannot include character images. This seems wrong somehow.
The shot of the character is unfortunately with my old video card, and the angle/pose isn't really right. Obviously, the characters would have to be incorporated into the shots in a natural way, not with overlays, but it was all I have access to for my example. But imagine if that left frame had a couple teams attacking the octopus? What we see now as an interesting, but dull shot would become action-packed. I understand a shot of my character like the above one will not work, mainly because that character is not always in the zone and it is a 'zone' loading screen. But characters engaged in actions in that zone should be allowed. So...is there anyway we can be allowed to submit shots with characters in them? Maybe not in the way I showed above, but in more natural ingame ways? |
You really think everyone and their mother wants to see characters when loading into a zone? Sorry but I have to agree 110% with the current rules, especially after seeing your example. This is not about self promotion. The screens need to be as neutral as possible. Iconic characters in the lore like Sister Psyche, maybe. But even then, I think pictures should focus on the environment. The bridges in your pic are excellent, I care not for Lusca or your character.
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You got a source for this? Since I'm almost positive the design would be copyrightable in the same way a piece of artwork would be.
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Originally Posted by ShadowNate
Protip: You legally can't copyright a "font". The only thing you can copyright is the means to create it, like photoshop. So for example if you create something with a font with photoshop but don't have a license to use it then if they can prove you used their software to create the image that used font, they can bust you for copyright infringement.
Cryptic studios or whoever has the original data for the font doesn't NEED to give it to you.. However i'm fairly sure the font the game uses is just one you can find on the internet, ive seen it before. edit: On the copyright issue the exception is the font "data" like the truetype code. The design itself is not copyrightable. |
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Thought I'd second this. When I'm zoning into Kings Row, I want to see pictures of Kings row. I don't want to see a shot of Paladin, Blue Steel, and 'NuRsE.KiTtY'. Exaggerating a little, I admit. But I'm sure you get my point.
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Originally Posted by Peacemoon
You really think everyone and their mother wants to see characters when loading into a zone? Sorry but I have to agree 110% with the current rules, especially after seeing your example. This is not about self promotion. The screens need to be as neutral as possible. Iconic characters in the lore like Sister Psyche, maybe. But even then, I think pictures should focus on the environment. The bridges in your pic are excellent, I care not for Lusca or your character.
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Here is the original post http://boingboing.net/2004/12/26/can...yright_a_.html|
Originally Posted by Reiska
You got a source for this? Since I'm almost positive the design would be copyrightable in the same way a piece of artwork would be.
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""The following are examples of works not subject to copyright and applications for registration of such works cannot be entertained: (...) typeface as typeface" 37 CFR 202.1(e). House of Representatives report accompanied the new copyright law when passed in 1976: "The Committee has considered, but chosen to defer, the possibility of protecting the design of typefaces. A 'typeface' can be defined as a set of letters, numbers, or other symbolic characters, whose forms are related by repeating design elements consistently applied in a notational system and are intended to be embodied in articles whose intrinsic utilitarian function is for use in composing text or other cognizable combinations of characters. The Committee does not regard the design of typeface, as thus defined, to be a copyrightable 'pictorial, graphic, or sculptural work' within the meaning of this bill and the application of the dividing line in section 101." H.R. Rep. No. 94-1476, 94th Congress, 2d Session at 55 (1976), reprinted in1978 U.S. Cong. and Admin. News 5659, 5668. It's also in accordance with a court case that has considered the matter: Eltra Corp. V. Ringer, 579 F.2d 294, 208 USPQ 1 (1978, C.A. 4, Va.). The U.S. Copyright Office holds that a bitmapped font is nothing more than a computerized representation of a typeface, and as such is not copyrightable: "The [September 29, 1988] Policy Decision [published at 53 FR 38110] based on the [October 10,] 1986 Notice of Inquiry [published at 51 FR 36410] reiterated a number of previous registration decisions made by the [Copyright] Office. First, under existing law, typeface as such is not registerable. The Policy Decision then went on to state the Office's position that 'data that merely represents an electronic depiction of a particular typeface or individual letterform' [that is, a bitmapped font] is also not registerable." 57 FR 6201. |
D: Toss me a hai @DarkNat My Fify glory: Renzer Dark/Dark Corr., Renzro Dark/Dark Def., Amartasu Dark/Dark Scrap.Less important ones: Fire/Fire Blaster,Ice/Ice Blaster,Ele/Ele Brute, Mind/Storm Troll,Fire/Kin Corr.,Bots/FF MM., DB/Regen Scrap.
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Player characters and regular mob spawns certainly shouldn't be in. However, GMs and some contacts make sense--especially Lusca. Some may not even be avoidable. Furthermore, Monster Island's current load screen has enemies on it and it's fitting for the zone.
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Originally Posted by StormSurvivor
Thought I'd second this. When I'm zoning into Kings Row, I want to see pictures of Kings row. I don't want to see a shot of Paladin, Blue Steel, and 'NuRsE.KiTtY'. Exaggerating a little, I admit. But I'm sure you get my point.
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I must say that I can't disagree with Monster Island; it's what the entire zone's about. Hell, my own Monster Island screen's got one at the moment.
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Originally Posted by Zamuel
Player characters and regular mob spawns certainly shouldn't be in. However, GMs and some contacts make sense--especially Lusca. Some may not even be avoidable. Furthermore, Monster Island's current load screen has enemies on it and it's fitting for the zone.
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That's your opinion. Lusca is inherent to that zone, so it only makes sense that the thing be one of the shots.|
Originally Posted by Peacemoon
You really think everyone and their mother wants to see characters when loading into a zone? Sorry but I have to agree 110% with the current rules, especially after seeing your example. This is not about self promotion. The screens need to be as neutral as possible. Iconic characters in the lore like Sister Psyche, maybe. But even then, I think pictures should focus on the environment. The bridges in your pic are excellent, I care not for Lusca or your character.
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Also, if you read my message entirely, I said that the shot with my toon was unacceptable. I also verbally gave an example of what WOULD be.
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I'm afraid you are mistaken in this. As a former professional in the Comic Book Industry, I can tell you that many, many, many fonts are copyrighted...as in the actual designs of them.|
Originally Posted by ShadowNate
Protip: You legally can't copyright a "font". The only thing you can copyright is the means to create it, like photoshop. So for example if you create something with a font with photoshop but don't have a license to use it then if they can prove you used their software to create the image that used font, they can bust you for copyright infringement.
Cryptic studios or whoever has the original data for the font doesn't NEED to give it to you.. However i'm fairly sure the font the game uses is just one you can find on the internet, ive seen it before. edit: On the copyright issue the exception is the font "data" like the truetype code. The design itself is not copyrightable. |
Blambot is a prime example of this. Go to their website and you will see a bunch of copyrighted fonts. They create the fonts themselves for illustrators. Some they creat with the intent of being free for everyone, others they limit use to liscensing.
EDIT: You gave excellent sources...but having worked for Marvel as a letterer in the past, they explained to us that some typefaces are copyrighted...and at the time gave us documentation to prove it.
It's been years since I've needed that stuff, and I no longer have it...unfortunately.
Is anyone else SEVERELY DISAPPOINTED that they're not accepting load screen submissions for the Shadow Shard zones? Those are among the most beautiful locations in the game!
It's the end. But the moment has been prepared for ...
That was a rather sneaky change. Just thought I'd point it out to those who, like me, hadn't seen it.
Noble Savage's post, as far as I can tell, has vanished into the cosmos:
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Also, the original announcement has been updated rather quietly to reflect the change in plan:| Hi, guys. These large layered files will automatically be too large for simple email attachment (I think the limit is 10 MB or something). Instead, please use an intermediary service like Sendspace.com to link us to your finish .psd files. Sendspace allows you to upload up to 300 MB, and it simply sends us a link where we can retrieve the file. |
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| Send us a flattened version of your loading screen (so it is small enough to be sent by email) but KEEP AN UNFLATTENED VERSION TOO. If selected as a winning entry, we may ask that you send us the unflattened file and it will have to include all 3 layers (see examples above). We have to be able to view each layer separately. |
UPDATED! Please note we now allow the use of https://www.yousendit.com/ for files bigger than 5MB.
Also viewing the entries we have received so far, we have decided that it was necessary for us to get UNFLATTENED files. Apologies for this change in the rules.
Thank you for patience, we look forward to seeing what you come up with!
Support Centre for our English European players
Support Centre for our North American players
Plateforme d'assistance pour les francophones
Support-Center f�r deutschsprachige Spieler
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Avatea, I got your email about sending the unflattened files through yousendit.com however the problem is this...even for their free trial of 14 days, they require a credit card. This has two negatives:|
Originally Posted by Avatea
UPDATED! Please note we now allow the use of https://www.yousendit.com/ for files bigger than 5MB.
Also viewing the entries we have received so far, we have decided that it was necessary for us to get UNFLATTENED files. Apologies for this change in the rules. Thank you for patience, we look forward to seeing what you come up with! |
- It requires a credit card to activate the trial, which I'm not willing to give
- If the credit card is a Visa Bank card (or any brand) and the balance is not in our accounts, the trial will not activate; this will prevent a lot of people from participating that were able to in the previously
Your concern is a valid one, it just seems like some people are getting just a tad too hung up on it.