New Emoticons

I have a couple of observations about the new smileys. Other people above me have voiced concern, consternation and disappointment about removal of what they're used to seeing when they weren't even aware there was anything 'wrong' with the original set you were using in the first place. A lot of this comes down to the fact that the set that you guys have replaced those with doesn't replace all of them, and actually causes us to really feel kind of sad that we cannot communicate in the same way we are used to communicating. Some emoticons just made us happy to be able to use them, even if they didn't serve much other purpose. Like the dancing bee for example. Totaly gone now, and we don't have a way to do that. It was cute, but now is no more. 

I would also like to point out that I realize you're striving to create a wholly original feel for the game. I'm behind that, and I support that whole-heartedly. It's as it should be. However, some things just shouldn't be altered until 'fixing it' doesn't 'break it'. And this certainly broke it.

Some of us don't care. But the vast majority have spoken up rather loudly that there are some that we really utilize a lot and now we have had that portion of our community language ripped out.

For example, while it's very easy for me to say '/me goes and gets some coffee' I'm much more fond of typing /me goes to get some ~O). It's more entertaining for both me and others and isn't so bland to say it in such a manner. 

This used to produce a steaming cup of java, and now... Doesn't. I'm just feeling like the set of emoticons is half-baked at best. It's not ready and is nowhere near ready for implementation due to a lack of completeness on the level which the vast majority of those that frequent the chat segments of Illyriad have come to expect of their emoticon selection.

I have to say that I disagree with the sentiment that GM Cerberus' art is not in line with the feel of Illyriad. Primarily, various things seen in Illyriad, are in fact Cerberus' art. It's very much part of the game and in line with the feel of Illyriad. This isn't as much about his art itself as it is the communication it's imparting (or failing to impart) and the completeness of the solution.

The issue I'm having with the emoticons is a loss of communication due to resolution dependence which is occuring for some unknown reason. Either not a high enough resolution image to start with, or too much detail, but the emoticons become muddy and difficult to read. Without leaning into my monitor real close, I can't read the expression on the emoticon nearly as readily as with the previous set. The idea of emoticons is to instantly convey a complex idea and I think they're missing the mark due to resolution issues, and further, perhaps even coloration that doesn't quite fall in line with the way we'd expect them to appear for each race.

I really like the dwarf and the orc smiley icons but am dismayed by the human and elven forms. I can't tell the gender of male or female elf for example and sometimes the female of that group looks like a blonde 'Wolverine' (X-Men) instead of a female elf. I don't know why, but the hair seems to wrap the face and looks like a beard. Overall, at the resolution and size of the smileys it's entirely too much detail and the communication gets lost. Human male appears a bit like a lego-knight. A bit too blocky. These are all issues that I think can be rectified with higher resolution vectors. Also, simplify the art just a little, or create greater contrast between elements. Something to make the details stand out and not get lost in a clutter of facial features and hair.

Very cool with the thumbs up and thumbs down by the way, I give them both a :-b. But again, we're missing key elements... ROFL and coffee and of course, my favorite, and the one I'd have used when I first arrived on the scene this morning but it was no longer available: /:) 

I really miss my *quirking of the eyebrow*. Granted these issues don't affect game play, but they are affecting the social aspects of the game. And Illy is a social game. And it's causing a major upheaval in the way people view communication and the way they view the world they're playing in.  It's affecting communication directly as it's causing a lack of ability to effectively and visually communicate our moods or thoughts properly.

Yes, it has that much of an impact.

So my question is... What can you do for your community to fix this issue?

I really do like the concept. But I think it needs more development, testing, and experimentation before implementation. Keep up the great work, and I haven't gotten to see the animals on the move yet, but I'm looking forward to it. I also like the arrows, very good implementation. 

Keep it up and great work folks. Please fix our emotes? Thanks. Also, I'm really tired writing this (haven't been to bed yet) and so if it's at all unclear, I apologize.

All the best.

 Thorulfr Gunnarssen

This might work for the people that want it back 

*fixed the link

I like this idea however. Makes both camps happy. For those that do not like the old emotes you won't see them and only see the new ones. For those of us that enjoy and love the expression we get out of the old ones we can STILL enjoy them. We are all happy that way!