[casual_games] app resolution

[Donald Bahlman]

Hey Dan,

I have a suggestion that may help.  What we do is build all Art assets at a 
higher rez than what the market is accepting.  Then archive those "master" 
images and down sample the game images to your target size.  You can always 
release at 640x480 then add a little marketing pizzazz and re-release later 
at 800x600.

In the case of GUI's, we make two slightly different versions to handle the 
aspect ratios.  But again, we make them about twice the target size then 
down sample.  The reasoning here is that the quality of the market will 
eventually increase allowing for higher rez images.  You can always go down 
in resolution, but you can't go up without creating new Art assets.

That's my two pixels worth. :-)

Donald Bahlman, Founder/CEO
xBlitz Entertainment

www.xblitz.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "dan chao" <dchao at mastermindgames.net>
To: "IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List" <casual_games at igda.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 2:15 PM
Subject: Re: [casual_games] app resolution


>I just downloaded plantasia from gamelab/playfirst and Heavy Weapon from 
>Popcap.  I'm just trying to tell my artist what rez to do stuff in. 
>plantasia and if I'm not mistaken, diner dash were both in 640x480.  so the 
>audience is ok with 800x600 as long as d/l sizes don't get too big.
>
> Phil Steinmeyer wrote:
>
>> Where did you get that impression?  Download the top 10 games from Real, 
>> and probably 7 out of 10 are at 800 x 600.  Those still staying at 640 x 
>> 480 are either behind the times or trying to keep their download size 
>> really small (smaller target-rez = smaller source graphics = smaller 
>> files)
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "dan chao" <dchao at mastermindgames.net>
>> To: "IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List" <casual_games at igda.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 1:21 PM
>> Subject: [casual_games] app resolution
>>
>>
>>> it seems to me all the games are still using 640x480.  any thoughts 
>>> about the status quo going up to 800x600?  it'd be so nice, but I 
>>> realize this isn't the industry to being pushing boundaries like that.
>>>
>>> dan
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Casual_Games mailing list
>>> Casual_Games at igda.org
>>> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/casual_games
>>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
> -- 
> Dan Chao
> CEO - Mastermind Games
>
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