Replied in edited post above yours now agapooka, enjoy.

ok. you think you can do better?
With ABSOLUTELY NO screenshots, etc from movies, tv, etc?

competition open.
1Mil UU for best banner(900x125);
1Mil UU for best banner(725x90);
1Mil UU for best "square" (125x125);
500,000UU for best 'race pic' (125x125) - for each of the 4 main races.
500,000UU for best 'race pic' (125x125) - ascended races.

will use this thread, will ask a mod to take ownership of it (please state who will do this on the thread) and contest will run for a month, give or take.

the 'finalists' will get voted on by the community, in this or a different post.

i reserve the right to decline or veto any image - but if in good taste, not copyrighted, and good - i promise i will not
Also - with the banners & race pics, there may be more than 1 winner if they are good enough - at 10% less per 2nd/3rd place, etc. (so 3rd place would get 80% of 1mil UU IF it is also chosen to use).

we've tried this before, but mostly got great collages (sp?) of tv or movie screenshots... if this time is different, i will be very pleased

i'll watch it, another mod may join me however, since i've been somewhat busy with other things recently.

~_+Psi Kiya Trist+_~

Can we get confirmation on where these pictures will be going? As in, what are they replacing?

I might further say it was very wise to put a designated pixel size on the pictures

And Forum I still think your graphics are more than ok.

the big banner will 'replace' the existing sgw big banner.
the 725x90 banner will be a 'default' for the ads showing, if no good ads are shown. it *may* also be used to advertize SGW on other sites/ad networks/game directories, etc.
the squares will replace the sgw box on the right top now -- the box will change to race pic when logged in, or teh new square when not. again, this may also be used to go onto game sites, etc if appropriate, with the sgw game summary. (most allow a summary&small pic).

in short -they will replace, or rotate with, existing banners & square you see on the top of the screen...if you think they should go elsewhere, tell me, as i am open to graphics in the game IF they are appropriate, wont slow the non-highspeed users, and are of course legal with copyright...

kit-fox -thanks i think they're good too, but being no artist, am willing to open it up....

Apologizes for so many questions but I've got a few more.

Do you want one for each ascended race too? IE: One for NanoTiMasters, one for Tollan's, one for SystemLords, and one for Ancients; or would a single one for all the ascended races?

What about banners for ascended? While I personally like the banners and such you've got, I think an idea of some new art isn't a bad idea.

Please take the time to read everything before posting.

for each race - yes.
each ascended - yes.
quantum/ascended/chaos -- i dont know. i will go on a limb and say yes. but the 'reward' will be based on the art submitted, and can be given in either main or the server in question. the amount, again, will be decided by me on a case by case basis.
but -as always (in my mind at least) it will be fair

I have also setup an email: mailto:sgwpics@herebegames.com ( mailto:sgwpics@herebegames.com ) for anyone having problems getting images on a site.
I will post the best before any final descisions. this email is NOT monitored until image descisions/steps are made...

Actually if you save the files as a high resolution PNG, you're still looking at a filesize which is maybe 8k; you apply a little CSS coding, you're looking at less - there really is no need for the cluttered look that it has now.

size, ease, quality, etc -- this is all 2ndary.
can SOMEONE make a good pic? that is the real question.
if you cannot yourself answer "yes" then how much space or time it takes to load is something i already know.... none - since there is no image.

please - if you can make it, post. if you cannot make one -- or support someone making one -- i am comfortable with the bandwidth etc that images take....

i just need someone that can draw.

(no offense...this has always been the issue... everyone talks a good game.. but nobody can draw.)

come on you buggers aren't u aching to prove admin wrong?

Perhaps I'll throw in something almost as valuable.

I suspect the problem here, is that you're asking people to divert man hours to a project on a professional level and offering no real recompense; to clarify, if you're saying a render is ok, that I can do...If you're asking for a good site design, that too, I can do, but if you want custom drawn graphics, for me at least you're talking about ponying up a little money so I can sit back and divert man hours to it without affecting my living.

Essentially what I'm asking, is CAN I take public domain publicity photos and use them?

So you're asking for hand drawn art? I can do that. It'll take much longer than a render, but I think I can do that.