Title Screen Concept Phase

Research:

The first image I chose was from an older game, Super Mario Bros. Just from this still image a person could see how there is a background (the clouds), a mid-ground (the "plants"), and a foreground (the turtle). This still image of the title screen probably has the turtle moving back and forth across the screen with the "clouds moving even slower in the background. Even though this doesn't show much about the game, it does have a very simple layout. This idea of a simple layout is one that I wish to incorporate into my title screen.

This second image I chose is from a more recent game that I like to play called Kingdom Rush. The title screen is very simple, and there isn't really too much going on. However, it does tell you a little bit more about the game than the previous image does and shows you that the game takes place in more of a mid-evil era instead of a futuristic or present era type of game. In the background you can see a great skyline showing it is outside and the mid-ground shows a castle with an archer shooting the troll in the forground giving the impression that this is your enemy and what you will be fighting against. This idea of showing the player or at least giving them a slight hint as to what the game is about is exactly what I would like to do with my game. I'd like to incorporate just a little bit of an animation so they know what they are getting into and get a sense of the type of game this is.

This last image is of a game that most closely resembles my game. This would be an indie game called Flick Home Run. Focusing on the title screen though, there are things I both like and don't like. What I do like is the simple layout of the title screen. It has all the things you need to start a game or change options and more. However, what I don't like is how cluttered the background is. Granted it tells a lot about the game, even if you don't understand everything at first, as you get more advanced, everything will make sense. On the other hand, the cluttered title screen, in my opinion, makes it hard to differentiate between the foreground, mid-ground, and background. While designing my title screen, I tried to stay away from this and keep it more simple like the two images previous to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69J9GJHLc3M This URL leads to a youtube video of the title screen for Assassin's Creed 3. In this example, the animation in the background isn't too distracting. Also the layout is very simple, just push the start button to start the game. I like how simple this type of title screen is. It doesn't show anything about the game or the characters, where it takes place, the only thing it really shows is the symbol for the Assassins. I look to make my title screen slightly more complex than this but not so simple that the player doesn't get a sense of what the game is actually about.

Trial Title Screen:

For my possible title screens, I came up with two overall ideas but can't decide between them. The difference lies in the position of my main character. In one of these he is seen just about to jump and then the second is just when he is about to dunk. However, since the game is called HookShot, which is a type of shot in basketball, I figured that he should be, at the very least, shooting the ball instead of dunking it. Another possible problem I am having lies in the differentiation of the foreground, mid-ground, and background. What I want to make sure of is that one can see the difference between the three and be able to tell which is which. What I did do well, I feel, was the simplicity of the title screen, meaning how easy to use it is. I clearly show where to play, where to change settings, and I even added a leaderboard so you could compare with your friends. I would really appreciate your opinions on this so please feel free to comment.

Title Screen 1: Character Dunking

Title Screen 2: Character shooting