Help Choose Icon for "Pushed The Limits" Series

[racketboy]

So on the front page, I have little sprite icons for the different series of guides.

I'm planning on swapping in Games That Pushed the Limits to replace "Game Art" -- not sure why I didn't do that earlier.
(I also have a PS1 installment coming soon!)

Anyway, I was thinking about something like a computer chip, a robot, or something speed-related.

Below are some of the best ones I've found so far, but not in love. Anybody else have any ideas?

limits-icons.gif (34.42 KiB) Viewed 2385 times

[racketboy]

Here's a coupe samples with them added in

limits-icon-ex-1.jpg (193.02 KiB) Viewed 2383 times

limits-icon-ex-2.jpg (211.87 KiB) Viewed 2383 times

[isiolia]

To me, the chip doesn't really convey the idea well. I see that, and I think hardware or technical details. Arguably, the same could be said for some of the other icons - the sprites for defining games and genres, for example, don't really line up with those concepts.

Additionally, and this might just be speculation, but I'm not sure how great an idea it is to be using what is likely (or could be) protected artwork as design elements. While the nature of the site is likely going to feature a lot of copyrighted material in articles, that's done in a way that falls under fair use. As an icon, it might be okay for a fan site, but maybe not for a bigger monetized one.


As an alternative to the speed concept (though a speedometer/rocket/etc would work), maybe some play on the glowing TV/monitor with a player (or players) being shocked/amazed.

[ElkinFencer10]

Of those two, I definitely prefer the chip, but I think a tachometer with the needle at the far edge of the red would likely convey the idea better.

[racketboy]

To me, the chip doesn't really convey the idea well. I see that, and I think hardware or technical details. Arguably, the same could be said for some of the other icons - the sprites for defining games and genres, for example, don't really line up with those concepts.

Additionally, and this might just be speculation, but I'm not sure how great an idea it is to be using what is likely (or could be) protected artwork as design elements. While the nature of the site is likely going to feature a lot of copyrighted material in articles, that's done in a way that falls under fair use. As an icon, it might be okay for a fan site, but maybe not for a bigger monetized one.


As an alternative to the speed concept (though a speedometer/rocket/etc would work), maybe some play on the glowing TV/monitor with a player (or players) being shocked/amazed.

All very fair points. And yes, I'd prefer not to have something that is a protected work, if possible. But I'll admit it's pretty tricky to choose a retro feeling icon to convey what you're looking for.

Of those two, I definitely prefer the chip, but I think a tachometer with the needle at the far edge of the red would likely convey the idea better.

It is a nice idea!

[racketboy]

So here's a few that I found along with a rough, mosaic-pixelization to give you an idea of what the could look like at lower-res/sprites

Thoughts?

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[Michi]

I think simplest is best. It would better match the other icons.

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[ElkinFencer10]

I think simplest is best. It would better match the other icons.

limits.png

Agreed. Although I do prefer the color scheme of the tachometer on the left of Nick's post.

[isiolia]

Main potential problem with that one is that it looks very much like an icon for a Google product.

Something like what Michi posted is likely better - to me, the more muted colors evoke more of an early gaming, limited color palette kinda thing.

[marurun]

Michi's design is good, but I want stronger colors. The red needs to be very red, and maybe the other colors should be slimmer lines. So the light blue is only a third of the depth of the red, and the dark blue 2/3 of the red. That would make it more obvious.