Introduction
ark: survival evolved (2017) game icons banners, “ARK: Survival Evolved” is a popular action-adventure survival video game developed by Studio Wildcard. Released in August 2017, the game has captivated players with its immersive world, where players must survive in a prehistoric environment filled with dinosaurs and other ancient creatures. This comprehensive guide delves into the game’s visual elements, specifically the icons and banners that play a crucial role in the player experience.
Game Overview
Before diving into the specifics of icons and banners, it’s important to understand the context of “ARK: Survival Evolved”. The game is set on a mysterious island, where players start with nothing and must gather resources, craft tools, build shelters, and tame dinosaurs to survive. The game features both single-player and multiplayer modes, offering various challenges and adventures.
The Importance of Visual Elements
In “ARK: Survival Evolved”, visual elements such as icons and banners are not merely decorative; they serve functional purposes. They help players navigate the game, understand their environment, and communicate with others. These visual aids contribute to the overall gameplay experience, making the game more intuitive and engaging.
Icons in ARK: Survival Evolved
Types of Icons
Icons in “ARK: Survival Evolved” can be categorized into several types based on their function:
- Resource Icons
- Tool and Weapon Icons
- Dinosaur and Creature Icons
- Status Effect Icons
- Building and Structure Icons
Resource Icons
Resource icons represent the various materials players can gather and use for crafting and building. These include:
- Wood: An essential resource for building and crafting.
- Stone: Used for creating more durable structures and tools.
- Metal: Required for advanced tools and weapons.
- Fiber: Needed for crafting various items.
- Thatch: Used for early-game building and crafting.
- Hide: Obtained from creatures and used for crafting armor and other items.
- Flint: Combined with other resources to create tools and weapons.
Each resource icon is designed to be easily recognizable, ensuring players can quickly identify the materials they need.
Tool and Weapon Icons
Tool and weapon icons represent the various items players can craft and use. These include:
- Pickaxe: Used for gathering stone, flint, and metal.
- Hatchet: Used for gathering wood and thatch.
- Spear: A basic weapon for hunting and defense.
- Bow and Arrow: A ranged weapon for hunting and combat.
- Sword: A powerful melee weapon for close combat.
- Gunpowder Weapons: Advanced firearms for dealing with tougher enemies.
These icons are crucial for quickly accessing the necessary tools and weapons during gameplay.
Dinosaur and Creature Icons
Dinosaur and creature icons represent the various creatures players can encounter and tame. These include:
- Raptors: Fast and agile predators.
- Triceratops: Large herbivores that can be used for defense and gathering resources.
- Tyrannosaurus Rex: Powerful predators that can dominate the battlefield.
- Pteranodon: Flying creatures that allow for aerial exploration.
- Brontosaurus: Massive herbivores that can carry heavy loads.
Each dinosaur and creature icon is designed to capture the essence of the animal, helping players identify them quickly.
Status Effect Icons
Status effect icons inform players about their current condition and any effects impacting their character. These include:
- Health: Indicates the player’s current health level.
- Stamina: Shows the player’s stamina, which depletes with physical activity.
- Hunger: Indicates the player’s hunger level.
- Thirst: Shows the player’s hydration level.
- Temperature: Indicates if the player is too hot or too cold.
- Poisoned: Indicates if the player is suffering from poison.
- Encumbered: Shows if the player is carrying too much weight.
These icons are vital for managing the player’s well-being and ensuring survival.
Building and Structure Icons
Building and structure icons represent the various constructions players can create. These include:
- Foundation: The base of any structure.
- Walls: Used to create enclosed spaces.
- Doors: Provide entry and exit points for buildings.
- Roofs: Complete the structure and provide shelter.
- Storage Boxes: Used for storing items and resources.
- Crafting Stations: Enable the crafting of more advanced items.
These icons help players efficiently plan and construct their bases.
Icon Design
The design of icons in “ARK: Survival Evolved” is characterized by several key principles:
- Clarity: Icons are designed to be easily recognizable and distinguishable from one another.
- Consistency: Icons follow a consistent visual style that fits the game’s overall aesthetic.
- Functionality: Each icon serves a specific purpose and conveys important information to the player.
- Thematic Relevance: Icons are designed to fit within the prehistoric and survival themes of the game.
Clarity
Clarity is paramount in icon design. Each icon must be easily identifiable at a glance, even in the heat of action. This is achieved through distinct shapes, colors, and imagery that represent the icon’s purpose.
Consistency
Consistency in icon design ensures a cohesive visual experience. Icons share a common color palette, style, and level of detail, which helps players intuitively understand their functions and relationships.
Functionality
Functionality is key to ensuring that icons effectively communicate their intended message. Whether it’s a resource, tool, or status effect, each icon must clearly convey its meaning to aid player decision-making.
Thematic Relevance
Thematic relevance ensures that icons fit seamlessly into the game’s world. In “ARK: Survival Evolved”, icons are designed to reflect the prehistoric and survival themes, using imagery that evokes the natural and rugged environment of the game.
Banners in ARK: Survival Evolved
Types of Banners
Banners in “ARK: Survival Evolved” serve various purposes, from marking territory to celebrating achievements. They can be categorized into several types:
- Tribe Banners
- Event Banners
- Achievement Banners
- Customization Banners
Tribe Banners
Tribe banners represent player tribes, groups of players who band together for mutual benefit. These banners often display the tribe’s emblem and colors, helping to distinguish them from other groups. They can be placed around the tribe’s territory to mark their domain.
Event Banners
Event banners are used to celebrate special in-game events, such as holidays, game anniversaries, or community challenges. These banners often feature unique designs related to the event and can be placed around player bases or in public areas.
Achievement Banners
Achievement banners are awarded to players for completing significant milestones or challenges in the game. These banners serve as trophies, showcasing the player’s accomplishments and adding a sense of pride and recognition.
Customization Banners
Customization banners allow players to create personalized designs, adding a unique touch to their bases. Players can use the in-game painting system to design these banners, making their bases stand out and reflect their individuality.
Banner Design
The design of banners in “ARK: Survival Evolved” follows several key principles:
- Symbolism: Banners often feature symbols that represent the player’s tribe, achievements, or the event being celebrated.
- Color: Color plays a crucial role in banner design, helping to convey the intended message and create visual impact.
- Size and Placement: Banners come in various sizes and can be placed in strategic locations to maximize their visibility and impact.
Symbolism
Symbolism is at the heart of banner design. Each banner features symbols that carry specific meanings, such as a tribe’s emblem, a holiday motif, or an achievement icon. These symbols help convey the purpose and significance of the banner.
Color
Color is used to enhance the visual appeal of banners and convey additional information. For example, tribe banners might use specific colors to represent the tribe’s identity, while event banners might use festive colors to celebrate a holiday. The choice of color helps create a distinct and memorable visual impact.
Size and Placement
Banners come in various sizes, allowing players to choose the appropriate banner for their needs. Large banners can be placed at key locations to mark territory or celebrate major events, while smaller banners can be used for more personal or decorative purposes. The placement of banners is strategic, ensuring they are visible and effectively communicate their intended message.
Customization and Player Creativity
One of the standout features of “ARK: Survival Evolved” is the level of customization available to players. This extends to icons and banners, allowing players to create personalized designs that reflect their style and preferences.
Painting and Custom Designs
Players can use the in-game painting system to create custom icons and banners. This system allows for a high degree of creativity, enabling players to design unique emblems, symbols, and patterns. These custom designs can be applied to banners, signs, and even dinosaurs, adding a personal touch to the game.
Modding Community
The “ARK: Survival Evolved” modding community has also contributed significantly to the customization options available in the game. Players can download and install mods that introduce new icons, banners, and other visual elements. This community-driven content enhances the game’s diversity and allows for even greater personalization.
FAQ
1. What are the primary functions of icons in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Icons serve to provide quick visual cues for resources, tools, weapons, creatures, status effects, and structures, helping players navigate and manage their gameplay efficiently.
2. How can I distinguish between different resource icons in the game?
Resource icons are designed with distinct shapes and colors representing their physical characteristics. For example, wood is brown and resembles logs, while metal is depicted as metallic gray chunks.
3. What do the status effect icons indicate?
Status effect icons inform players about their current health, stamina, hunger, thirst, temperature, and other conditions like being poisoned or encumbered.
4. Are dinosaur icons specific to each species in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Yes, dinosaur icons are unique to each species, helping players quickly identify the creatures they encounter or tame.
5. Can I customize the icons in the game?
While the default icons are not customizable, players can use mods to introduce new icons and alter existing ones for a more personalized experience.
6. What is the significance of the encumbered icon?
The encumbered icon indicates that a player is carrying too much weight, which slows down movement and can prevent running or jumping.
7. How do building and structure icons assist in gameplay?
These icons help players identify and select the correct components for constructing their bases, ensuring efficient and organized building processes.
8. Do weapon icons change based on upgrades or modifications?
Weapon icons typically represent the base item, but some mods may offer variations that reflect upgrades or modifications visually.
9. How do tool icons differ from weapon icons?
Tool icons are designed to represent items used for gathering resources, such as pickaxes and hatchets, while weapon icons depict items used primarily for combat, such as spears and bows.
10. Are there icons for underwater resources and tools?
Yes, there are specific icons for underwater resources like oil and silica pearls, as well as tools designed for underwater exploration and harvesting.
FAQs about Banners in ARK: Survival Evolved
11. What are tribe banners, and what purpose do they serve?
Tribe banners represent player groups (tribes) and are used to mark territory, display the tribe’s emblem and colors, and foster a sense of identity and unity among tribe members.
12. Can I create custom designs for my tribe’s banner?
Yes, players can use the in-game painting system to create custom designs for their tribe’s banners, allowing for unique and personalized emblems.
13. How are event banners different from other banners?
Event banners are designed to celebrate special in-game events like holidays or community challenges and feature unique designs related to the event.
14. Where can I place banners in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Banners can be placed around player bases, within structures, and at key locations to mark territory or celebrate achievements. They should be placed strategically for maximum visibility.
15. What is the process for creating a custom banner design?
Players can use the in-game paintbrush tool to apply colors and designs to a blank banner. This process allows for a high degree of creativity and personalization.
16. Are there achievement banners in the game, and how do I earn them?
Yes, achievement banners are awarded for completing significant milestones or challenges in the game, serving as trophies to showcase player accomplishments.
17. Can banners be used for in-game communication?
While banners primarily serve decorative and symbolic purposes, they can also be used to communicate messages, mark locations, or provide visual cues within the game world.
18. How does the modding community influence banner designs in ARK: Survival Evolved?
The modding community creates and shares custom banners and designs, offering players a wider variety of visual options and enhancing the game’s personalization features.
19. Are there limitations on the size and number of banners I can place?
There are some limitations on the size and number of banners you can place, depending on server settings and performance considerations. These limits ensure the game runs smoothly.
20. Can I download pre-made banner designs from other players?
Yes, players can download pre-made banner designs from the Steam Workshop or other modding platforms, allowing for easy implementation of unique and creative designs in their game.
Conclusion
Icons and banners play a vital role in “ARK: Survival Evolved”, enhancing the gameplay experience by providing essential information, marking territory, and celebrating achievements. Their design is guided by principles of clarity, consistency, functionality, and thematic relevance, ensuring they are both visually appealing and highly functional. The game’s customization options, including the painting system and modding.