Creating a interface for a game

[Lazereth]

hey all I am sitting down trying to creat a cutom interface for a game that I play and I wanted to see what you all could come up with for this. You all are amazing at photoshop and was looking for some techniques.

http://images.andale.com/f2/124/114/7146965/1074782705024_uicustomtest.jpg

This is the basic layout that I am wanting to use. Based in the 1024x768 layout. I need to keep the basic shapes or not take up to much more space of the page cause I need to see what is going on and cant miss what enemies are out there whild PVPing.

Anything input or what you come up with is more then welcome. Thanks in advance

Laz

[prawnFresh]

You're not really giving us much to go with that image.

All I can see is the same icon listed down the left, a compass - and some sectioned areas.

Is it a futuristic game or an old world game?

[Lazereth]

I am sorry bout that I will up load a pic of the actual game and what it all looks like from inside. The game is called dark age of camelot.

Here are a couple pics to give you an idea of what the game is about and the time period also.

[Greg Vander Houwen]

Welcome Lazereth,

Have you worked with vector masks at all? They are a very sweet tool for UI work. They allow you to layout the UI over the background of an existing UI (if you like) and scale/tweak the elements with Layer Styles applied and it is all live. If you tweak a button the effects respond, you lose no edge resolution when you change things...

The other thing I would add is that I would leave the UI layout in tack on your fisrt few attempts. It will ease gameplay and act as a starting point to build out from.

Greg

[Lazereth]

no I have not worked with vector masks as of yet. I am still fairly new to PS7. I do know most basics and some intermediate stuff. I am just wanting to see what you all think and maybe what you could come up with. I Have come up with the first layout that you see on the first posts link and that is basic idea of what I want. I would like to connect or make it seem like everything is connected seamlessly but still being able to move parts of it. Course I have learn Xml to apply the setting for the game into the pics that I creat.

I am also looking for tip and tricks that you all have that might make things easier. I will play with verctor masking for this and see what I can come up with. I am looking for a gothic type look but maybe also bringing a semi futuristic look also. I dont want sharp corners or anything like that :)

Well that is all I can say for the time that I have right now I will check back later.

Lazereth

[Smurf]

i dunno if i'm understanding any of this at all but...

have you considered a wooded or even stone (arch and column) border around your movable windows? you gould even make the compas sit in the middle of a stone circle or something... give it that knights of the round table feel...

[Lazereth]

well the thing is that you dont want it to clash to much with the background of the game to blend in to much either. Well at least I dont.

I have been working on it some here and there with the time that I have. when I get a little more done I will post a new pic of it. I want to see what you all came up with.

[The Iconoclast]

I like it a lot, actually...fairly unobtrusive as it is...but I don't play too many of those kinds of games (Generally only 1st person/MM RPGs use that)