Feedback r.: DRAW with KUBI

[jankoM]

Hi,

I have made the free program for kids "DRAW with KUBI" which is one of activities in KUBI2 (Which will in version 2 be called KUBI ACTIVITY CENTRE and will have at least 7 activities).

It is totally free (and separate) program which will hopefully make some kids and parenths happy and promote KUBI AC around. KUBI AC is not yet released but you can see KUBI (v1) on http://www.bravekidgames.com/kubi/.

DRAW with KUBI (KUBI AC) takes some steps away from KUBI 1. Art in Kubi1 was done by pro artist and is now done by myself - I know it looks more amateurish but this gives me the ability to constantly improve and grow Kubi which it was meant to be (ever growing set of activities with common concept - these cubic pictures). Kubi is now finally a personality - this Kubic little robot. Many many details are improved for common sense - clarity and usability.

You are welcome to comments anything - but these are some points of what am I interested in:
- Is it KID (user) friendly.
- What would you improve/add...
- Does it look well enougth (KUBI AC - (not free) will look the same way)
- Do you notice any incostistencies in style - usabillity...
- what do you think about this "free for promotion" or do you think Iit would be better to charge a little like $5 for it..

(I know I am not on oscars or something but I think I should thank DayDream from Sprite Attack who took his time and showed me what I was doing wrong with art (http://forums.indiegamer.com/showthread.php?t=6653&highlight=kubi+draw) - I don't know if I got and did what he meant to tell me but at least I think I got more than few concrete directions from his post that improwed the whole thing by tons. Ok and while I am on it big thanks goes to Roman from AnaWiki and especially his small dougther for many emails of ideas how to improve Kubi, and Patrice from Phelios for many things. And a lot of you others helped a lot too...)

screens: menu (http://itmmetelko.com/storage/dwk_menu.jpg) draw (http://itmmetelko.com/storage/dwk_draw.jpg) load (http://itmmetelko.com/storage/dwk_load.jpg)

download here (http://itmmetelko.com/storage/draw_with_kubi_090.zip) just 2MB (in Zip so no need to install to try - it will have installer when released for real of course)

This is not just feedback request but also anouncment. I am sure some of you have got kids sooo... feel very welcome to give it to them (as I said it's free).

regards,
Janko M.

[dntoll]

Hi

Just wanted to say that I like it!
It was very easy to use and invites to play!:D

Hm any reason black is gray in the colorselector?

[jankoM]

Thanks dntoll!

I newer noticed this but now that you said it I see that its really gray. Thanks for telling me - I also see now that other colours are not exacktly as they are then now (now that cross at pointer changes to selected color) and I will fix this.

thanks again,
Janko M.

[Roman Budzowski]

Hi
It's nice :) but I wish you could do colour picker and paint bucket the way I described it in my email - so the paint has the colour that has been picked.

I look forward to seeing this finished.

take care
Roman

[jankoM]

hi Roman,

Your idea was good and logically the most correct so I still strive to make something according to it. The problem with aproach we talked about can be seen on this picture where I was making tests about it.

http://itmmetelko.com/storage/test_romans_idea.png (400kb) if you are on dialup try this: http://itmmetelko.com/storage/test_romans_idea.jpg (80kb)
The thing that bothers me is that if paint (at bucket) is the currently selected color it becomes poorly visible above the same color (with brush it's even worse and painting with certain color near that same color happens often. Because I don't have a clear solution (I have some ideas but noone is in tone with everything as it is now) for this I left it ripe for now. Current solution is ok, because collors used at paint and brush are not on pallete. I like the cross that shows the point of drawing in exact way.

I had similar problems on palete... with what color do I show the selected color if color can be any color from light to dark? Now I use the negative of that color and movement (but negative doesnt allways meen the most "different" color (for example the negative of middle gray is middle gray).


Thanks for reply!
Janko M.