BetterCraft: A Review(Textures by Dan2098)
By X_Paragon_X, guest/cameo reviewer
Ok, so this one is definitely a pack for the discerning, 'eye-for-detail' Minecraft user. The creator of this pack insists not on creating some entirely new visual experience, but instead making the vanilla textures the very best that they can be, by revising and improving upon its most irritating features. Therefore, in this review, I will be focusing on its improvements on the default, its shortcomings, and places where it could expand.
So overall, Dan's approach is to improve vanilla by removing the tonnes of unnecessary noise found in default, and to make sleeker, smoother designs to replace certain textures (glass in particular). My opinion is that in general, he does a very good job of this, keeping true to the vanilla spirit while just plain making it look better all the while. Let's look at some pictures to demonstrate:
orig. clay versus better clay.
Let's address them all, shall we?
The clay is a nice improvement. Simple in concept. The undiscriminating eye may not notice, but it helps to give clay more of a soft, warm feel compared to vanilla's cold, stony counterpart. Points for Dan.
The water...needs work. First, it lacks an animation (as does the lava). Second, notice how flat Dan's water looks compared to default. Default has this shimmering effect going on, BetterCraft's is more pale and featureless. I feel that this should stay default, or you should just go a different route here.
A small, yet signifigant improvement in the soil, getting rid of those pesky grey spots. It's good to not have salty soil :biggrin.gif: If he could do the same thing with the sand as he did for the soil, that'd be great. Vanilla also has these weird white spots on the sand, if you look closely. Giving a warmer hue would be nice.
Then, the wood. I like the wood here, I prefer the smoothness of it to the roughness of the original. However, I feel that it still looks a bit splotchy, he should continue to improve on it, or perhaps start from scratch on a new wood texture.
To speak of some other important changes, glass is a huge one. He completely replaces it and goes for a more sleek, modern approach, which easily beats the awkward streaks on vanilla:
It's a pattern that gets repeated for wooden doors and trapdoors, and is a much appreciated entry.
Also, a very small, but logical change: the shovels are reversed, which means Steve now holds it like he should, pointing towards the ground.
Aside from subtle changes, Dan also adds some totally new stuff:
The creeper moon is bound to be controversial. I personally like designs like this on the moon and sun, but other people just want to see those textures for what they are and find this type of thing annoying. My advice is to see how your audience reacts, then decide to keep it or not. Otherwise, it's good.
The pumpkin has a nice creepy little grin, which is a very novel change that is made without straying from default too much. Me likey :smile.gif:
For once, some cows that we can relate too. I like this change, makes the cows fun to be around for once. One little nitpick, though; I can't make out their eyes that well.
And of course Steve needed a change of wardrobe, that old teal tee had become sweaty and garroted! Good on you for the new threads.
On to [hostile] mobs...
Look at the artist's OP for these.
The headless undead is a straight up win. Very ingenious. I've never seen a *legit* slime, but the ones in his post look pretty cool. As for the creepers, though...I don't like the TNT wrapping, actually. It looks like you were trying too hard to come up with something. Yes, creeper = TNT, but perhaps something not so obvious?
So, having looked at the major aspects of this pack, I would advise the artist to continue in this trend of smoothing/de-noising the vanilla textures. Go further, improve on the grass, trees, cobble, and stone, among other things. Just be careful not to oversimplify them!
Also continue to add your own original easter eggs like the moon, cake, pumpkin, and whatnot, but just be mindful of how they fit into the rest of the pack and be sensitive to critical response.
Finally, continue mob development. I really enjoy what has been done for the most part, so making contributions to all mobs would doubtlessly be quite interesting.
Wasn't that lengthy? whooo....I hope this was of some assistance.
Can I reserve a spot? Im making a sequal to the texture pack in my signature, and im probably gonna publish it soon (my brother is playing fallout3 on the computer with the texture pack >.>)
Can I reserve a spot? Im making a sequal to the texture pack in my signature, and im probably gonna publish it soon (my brother is playing fallout3 on the computer with the texture pack >.>)
EDIT: Nevermind, the thing seems full.
Err...I may be able to take care of that, if you'd like...My job is kinda to hit up some of the packs that Mirror couldn't queue.
Can I reserve a spot? Im making a sequal to the texture pack in my signature, and im probably gonna publish it soon (my brother is playing fallout3 on the computer with the texture pack >.>)
I've been addin' all of 'em to the list. We can both review 'em, therefore we get twice the input for the packs. :tongue.gif:
Sounds like a sweet deal to me. I can't be on as often as you, as you may have noticed, but I will try to get in as many as I can whenever I am on. So consider me a sort of 'cameo' reviewer (like a hidden character in a video game...)
Yo, check out my pixels! In my sig! It's not release yet though.
How do I review it if I can't play with it? :tongue.gif: Silly.
To everyone waiting: Don't worry! I'll be working on these soon. I've been pretty busy recently gearing Resonance up for 1.8, helping out around Texture Packs and all sortsa crap. So hold yer horses everyone; your reviews will come eventually! :biggrin.gif:
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Quote of the Day: "If you think you're gonna snap, or be rude, here's an idea: Don't post." - Theevilpplz
If you're interested in another guest reviewer, then I'd quite enjoy reviewing some! Obviously, this is your thread so if you'd rather do them yourself thats fine, I just thought I'd offer :tongue.gif:
Feel free to review any of them you want, mate!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Quote of the Day: "If you think you're gonna snap, or be rude, here's an idea: Don't post." - Theevilpplz
I have some alternate textures for the ores and mossy that I would like you to try out.
You can get them in a nice package below. Also, I did a little 64x upgrade-ish thing
for myself that I would like you to look at. Note that it's a WIP and I am a little stuck
on what to do with the items.png.
Dowload (64x highly wip, alternate 16x and 64x ores and mossy)
Tis quite effective. x3
Quote of the Day: "If you think you're gonna snap, or be rude, here's an idea: Don't post." - Theevilpplz
By X_Paragon_X, guest/cameo reviewer
Ok, so this one is definitely a pack for the discerning, 'eye-for-detail' Minecraft user. The creator of this pack insists not on creating some entirely new visual experience, but instead making the vanilla textures the very best that they can be, by revising and improving upon its most irritating features. Therefore, in this review, I will be focusing on its improvements on the default, its shortcomings, and places where it could expand.
So overall, Dan's approach is to improve vanilla by removing the tonnes of unnecessary noise found in default, and to make sleeker, smoother designs to replace certain textures (glass in particular). My opinion is that in general, he does a very good job of this, keeping true to the vanilla spirit while just plain making it look better all the while. Let's look at some pictures to demonstrate:
orig. clay versus better clay.
Let's address them all, shall we?
The clay is a nice improvement. Simple in concept. The undiscriminating eye may not notice, but it helps to give clay more of a soft, warm feel compared to vanilla's cold, stony counterpart. Points for Dan.
The water...needs work. First, it lacks an animation (as does the lava). Second, notice how flat Dan's water looks compared to default. Default has this shimmering effect going on, BetterCraft's is more pale and featureless. I feel that this should stay default, or you should just go a different route here.
A small, yet signifigant improvement in the soil, getting rid of those pesky grey spots. It's good to not have salty soil :biggrin.gif: If he could do the same thing with the sand as he did for the soil, that'd be great. Vanilla also has these weird white spots on the sand, if you look closely. Giving a warmer hue would be nice.
Then, the wood. I like the wood here, I prefer the smoothness of it to the roughness of the original. However, I feel that it still looks a bit splotchy, he should continue to improve on it, or perhaps start from scratch on a new wood texture.
To speak of some other important changes, glass is a huge one. He completely replaces it and goes for a more sleek, modern approach, which easily beats the awkward streaks on vanilla:
Also, a very small, but logical change: the shovels are reversed, which means Steve now holds it like he should, pointing towards the ground.
Aside from subtle changes, Dan also adds some totally new stuff:
The creeper moon is bound to be controversial. I personally like designs like this on the moon and sun, but other people just want to see those textures for what they are and find this type of thing annoying. My advice is to see how your audience reacts, then decide to keep it or not. Otherwise, it's good.
The pumpkin has a nice creepy little grin, which is a very novel change that is made without straying from default too much. Me likey :smile.gif:
For once, some cows that we can relate too. I like this change, makes the cows fun to be around for once. One little nitpick, though; I can't make out their eyes that well.
And of course Steve needed a change of wardrobe, that old teal tee had become sweaty and garroted! Good on you for the new threads.
On to [hostile] mobs...
Look at the artist's OP for these.
The headless undead is a straight up win. Very ingenious. I've never seen a *legit* slime, but the ones in his post look pretty cool. As for the creepers, though...I don't like the TNT wrapping, actually. It looks like you were trying too hard to come up with something. Yes, creeper = TNT, but perhaps something not so obvious?
So, having looked at the major aspects of this pack, I would advise the artist to continue in this trend of smoothing/de-noising the vanilla textures. Go further, improve on the grass, trees, cobble, and stone, among other things. Just be careful not to oversimplify them!
Also continue to add your own original easter eggs like the moon, cake, pumpkin, and whatnot, but just be mindful of how they fit into the rest of the pack and be sensitive to critical response.
Finally, continue mob development. I really enjoy what has been done for the most part, so making contributions to all mobs would doubtlessly be quite interesting.
Wasn't that lengthy? whooo....I hope this was of some assistance.
EDIT: Nevermind, the thing seems full.
You see that green button with the plus? You dont have to click it, and I am not gonna force you to do it.
Err...I may be able to take care of that, if you'd like...My job is kinda to hit up some of the packs that Mirror couldn't queue.
Quote of the Day: "If you think you're gonna snap, or be rude, here's an idea: Don't post." - Theevilpplz
Sounds like a sweet deal to me. I can't be on as often as you, as you may have noticed, but I will try to get in as many as I can whenever I am on. So consider me a sort of 'cameo' reviewer (like a hidden character in a video game...)
Two questions, are you making a...collection of reviews or writing them yourself.
Also, if possible I would like a review of Impressions. :biggrin.gif:
or you can just consider this a free bump. either way.
To everyone waiting: Don't worry! I'll be working on these soon. I've been pretty busy recently gearing Resonance up for 1.8, helping out around Texture Packs and all sortsa crap. So hold yer horses everyone; your reviews will come eventually! :biggrin.gif:
Quote of the Day: "If you think you're gonna snap, or be rude, here's an idea: Don't post." - Theevilpplz
Quote of the Day: "If you think you're gonna snap, or be rude, here's an idea: Don't post." - Theevilpplz
But, later when the pack is a bit more complete. Could I get a spot reserved though? :tongue.gif:
Quote of the Day: "If you think you're gonna snap, or be rude, here's an idea: Don't post." - Theevilpplz
I'm looking forward to this, maybe it'll inspire me to work on my pack more?
Link: http://www.minecraft...s/#entry7781067
I have some alternate textures for the ores and mossy that I would like you to try out.
You can get them in a nice package below. Also, I did a little 64x upgrade-ish thing
for myself that I would like you to look at. Note that it's a WIP and I am a little stuck
on what to do with the items.png.
Dowload (64x highly wip, alternate 16x and 64x ores and mossy)
You can get the base pack from the post
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/369971-16x16-quantumcraft-v25-minecraft-17/
Quote of the Day: "If you think you're gonna snap, or be rude, here's an idea: Don't post." - Theevilpplz
Quote of the Day: "If you think you're gonna snap, or be rude, here's an idea: Don't post." - Theevilpplz
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/596225-x32-wip-8bitns-mystic-mana-rpg-v13/
Still not ready yet, I wanna get a few more blocks done. Just for future reference, there's the thread. :3