Game icon design occupies a very important position in game UI. For example, when we see a game's launch icon, it's easy to tell which game it is. Designing a game icon is not only a graphic, but also a logo.
This article will share the categories of game icons and the thinking of designing game icons through various game icon design materials.
1. Classification of game icons
The main types of game icon design are as follows:
1.1 Badge icon
It is a large-scale icon, which requires the highest precision in game icon design, and also poses the greatest challenge to designers' aesthetics and creativity.
1.2 Function icons
The function game icon is also called the entrance icon, which refers to the entrance of each function in the interface. A function icon is an icon that can generate interactive functions (such as click, long press and other gesture operations) in the game UI interface. Icons such as the lower menu entry, pointing function entry, achievements, activities, commands, etc. belong to the entry function icons
1.3 Item icon
Icons representing various strange props in the game belong to prop icons, such as various treasure chests, various experience cards, various speakers, etc. The equipment in the game also belongs to the prop icon; there are many kinds of prop icons, which are used to display the thumbnail information of the props in the game, helping players to associate and resonate in the game world view. Props game icons are in great demand, and the drawing precision is low.
1.4 Control icons
The control icon is a relatively unimportant part, that is, the friend button, setting button, closing and opening, etc. that often appear on the top of the game UI interface. The area is the smallest, as long as it is clear and unified.
1.5 Skill Icons
Complex skill game icons are a complex category that requires high precision in game icon design. To be able to present the key content of skills accurately, concisely, quickly and effectively, it is not difficult to say simply, because there are many routines to follow.
1.6 Start icon
The launch icon means that players can receive game information at the first glance on the platform port (mobile phone, PC or other platforms). You can enter the corresponding game world by clicking the start game icon.
2. Game Icon Design Template
Different types of game icons have different expressions, so for the time being, we can only summarize them from a general perspective. According to the style of icons, they can be roughly divided into the following categories:
2.1 pixel style game icons
The pixel style can be traced back to the era when video games were born, so we have a natural acceptance and feeling for this style; however, designing high-quality pixel-style game icons is not an easy task, after all, the picture is relatively rough and can only be Retaining players is the core of an interesting game; at the same time, the art development of pixel-style games is much less difficult than other more refined styles, so it is quite wise for independent game developers to choose pixel-style games under limited conditions.
Pixel style game element icons
2.2 Flat Style Game Icons
In fact, game icon design in a flat style is much more difficult than in a hand-drawn style. The focus of the design is the rhythm of the patterns, the control of positive and negative shapes, the smoothness of the lines and the recognizability of the icons. In addition, how to make simple flat icons look not simple is also something that game user interface designers need to learn.
Unlike commercial app icon designs, designers have more freedom when designing game icons. On the basis of intuitive and clear information transmission, they can add richer details than ordinary UI icons to match different styles.
2.3 Q version style game icon
The biggest difference between the Q-version style and the hand-painted style is that it weakens the touch of the brush, and some even directly use 3D models to assist in drawing to obtain perfect light and shadow; in terms of modeling characteristics, the prominent feature of the Q-version game icon is that the outline is very round and the shape is very full , the details are large and rounded, and each component is thicker than the real thing.
2.4 Realistic hand-drawn style game icons
The hand-drawn style is the most common and "oldest" style of icon art. The focus of drawing is the sense of brush strokes and the color sense of icons. Icons need a clear structure and three-dimensionality. After years of evolution, the hand-drawn style icons have produced various branch styles. At present, there are still a large number of game interface icons drawn in a hand-drawn style. Therefore, game UI designers must master the basic hand-drawing ability and understanding of the relationship between structure and sketch, as well as the ability to control different styles of hand-painting.