Icons: Sketched or Realistic?

[Lanceor]

Icons in Oblivion have a "sketched" quality to them, which is rather noticeable. Users would be able to very easily pick out modded icons that did not do something similar. For seamless integration of items into the game, this should probably be imitated as best as possible.

They also have a soft, yellowish (239 231 173 RGB or #EFE7AD) glow around the image.

Would you prefer the above, or a nice, colourful screenshot of the item (cleaned up with transparency of course)? Or something else altogether like a symbol?

[Hanaisse]

Real, real, real.

I'm not sure symbols would work either, unless it's a quest icon.

Edited February 13, 2012 by Hanaisse

[InsanitySorrow]

Either way would be fine with me, though I'm gonna say realistic though

[DsoS]

I voted realistic, but I think that having both would be nice so that the UI doesn't get boring over time. If it does, just switch out the icons for the other one.

[Porscha]

I vote Sketched. Realistic would be fine with me as well, and would actually look pretty nice. I just like like my "adventure book" to look more scriven rather than a photo collage.

[AjaxSt]

I voted for Sketched. I like the way that Oblivion's icons are styled, what they look like. If you're going to include a "realistic" option, then, in my opinion, it takes the user out of the visual look. It breaks the fourth wall in-game, and it should not do that. Everything, even a mod, should be as seamless as possible, and that includes icons.

However, if there is a realistic icon overhaul, which changes all basegame icons to be of the realistic style, then a realistic mod icon would fit the style, and be fine. But a mod just added to basegame should blend seamlessly into basegame. If I installed a large number of mods and brought in someone who has only seen screenshots, they should not be able to tell that there are any mods installed.

[Tamira]

I always liked the realistic ones much better.

[donnato]

I juist generally shrink a pic of the item and make it an icon...

[Khettienna]

I think I prefer sketched ones, but Nifskope crops are just fine too really. If the colors are super bright (particularly reds and sometimes greens), you might consider lowering the saturation a bit and/or lightening the image, and that will help them blend a bit better without doing a ton of work.