Rough final front cover plan

After quite a bit of planning I have come up with a simple guide of how I will be doing my final front cover. This is more of a basic idea of how it will have been lain out. The only thing is that the font is too dull, the image is too blended and nothing stands out at all. It is way too blue and too many words everywhere. So after this I am going back to more planning for my final front cover as this just lacks too much.

The added bar code is nice but this is going to be an online magazine so more or less, the bar code is just a useless add on. The logo isn't really that noticeable either which does not help getting the name out there.

More front cover designs

I have been experimenting with more front cover designs, by the looks of it I have been basing the front covers off Monster Hunter and Legend of Zelda. Here are some of them.

For this front cover, I have gone into Photoshop and created my own sand texture. I then grabbed the two images and tried to make them fit into their environment by bass relief with similar colours. The only thing is this doesn't fit my theme at the end of the day. Plus it just seems a bit too plain in certain areas.

Here are the source images I have used.

Finally I have made a Zelda version of the Link I have done earlier with the crystal cloud effect. Again this is a bit too plain and doesn't stand out much at all. I have also tried to give the a slight stone slab effect too.

Here is the source image I have used

Front cover experiment

Here I have made a front cover and just experiment with Photoshop and made this, the game is called Skyward Sword and the main village is in the sky so I thought I would be creative and make this.

I tried out one with the icon and one without the icon.

What I have done to make these is the simple cloud effects again but on the image I have included the bass relief which keeps the characters details and also gives off a crystal or sky effect. I honestly like the idea but it would not stand out well for a game magazine. It does seem a bit too concealed and does not stand out well, better off used as just fan art more than anything.

Cover Research

I forgot to include this earlier but I have been doing some front page research. My main target for research is the the Official Nintendo Magazine which happens to be my favourite gaming magazine. Here are a few examples of their front pages.

First of all this cover has a simple blue background followed by the white lines that draw you into the center image. The image consists of many characters that form a crowd which fits in really well. Also one character sticks out on the front with his arm out which gives off a 3D like effect. A nice simple logo in white works really well with this background. The logo definitely sticks out to show which magazine this is. Also a nice stand out text with little words works really well.

Next we have something a bit more complicated but works really well. This time a glow effect has been used between the remote and the world. This glow effect manages to make your eyes focus center which helps you notice quite a few things on the page such as what the game is and the magazine logo. Also a little more text has been used but that is only if you want to read it. Finally the big text is a nice catchy title that fits in well for the front page game.

Finally, following the blue background themes I have seen on this magazine, this magazine focuses on the main character on the new Zelda game. Usually this would be enough to draw in most peoples eyes. Also by including sub characters in a faded background works really well. A catchy title has been used to advertise information about the game is included within the magazine.
























By looking at the covers you can do a simple or effective and detailed effect, either way there is usually a caption within the main topic of the magazine along with other features within the magazine. Therefore I am going to make a effective cover.

Logo and name progress

So far I have not come up with very good names, so far I am thinking of Gamers Base, that is the best I have come up with, I am no good at making names. Ah well, here is one of my logo designs, not the most interesting but it is a logo after all.

Front page design

I am currently working on Photoshop for starting my reviewing magazine. So far I have made a start on the front page of my magazine. This is how it is shaping so far. I am going to go through development stages.

Now that I have done the logo, I have added it onto the front page, here is what it now looks like, along with a bit of cropping.

This is just a basic design I have made, what I have done is taken an image from Google, then I went through with deleting the background. Finally I added a simple cloud effect, then slapped the logo in place. I know it is basic but this is just a rough idea of what I might be including in my front cover.

Research ideas for FMP

I have been researching ideas for what I can do for my FMP, I have came to the conclusion that I will use one of my hated programs, In Design, use the page panels and make a mini game review magazine. This will require the use of In Design, Photoshop my my own image design on stuff such as photos and a logo. I am going to design my own front cover, along with pages of reviews. Also I will make special sections which also include other various stuff about games and such. I am going to have to come up with a name for the magazine and also going to have to use games previously played as research to review. Another way I can research is by reading other review magazines and websites that do reviews, adapt from them and learn how to do research. By doing this I will be able to create a magazine and undergo the progress. As I either would like to be a Game Designer or a Game Reviewer.