Need help with my Gaming Banner!

[Rune Guru]

BEFORE YOU READ ON THIS IS NOT REQUESTING ANYTHING! ALL I AM ASKING IS FOR SOME INSPIRATIONAL IDEAS!

Here is the first stage:

I was going to try and add a "Bomb" explosion in the back and just have Vintage games on 1 side and new games on the other.

 

[Spraynwipe]

What do you need help with then? For the bomb explosion, you could use a ball of smoke or something similar (transparent so only the wisps of the smoke show - smoke brushes would work well) and drop it on the layer behind everything. Then find some transparent game covers or characters and put them on either side?

I do like the ideas you've already shown, very retro-gaming type font and the bomb character could have its edges made a little smoother. But good one overall.

 

[Noam]

The #1 rule of graphic design, from what I've learned, is Typography. That font looks like shit - Go to dafont.com and find a font you like, install it, and use it. It will look that much better

 

[Kinaesthic]

So much to improve, so much to adjust..
Okay, firstly, the text is way too dull.. the render jumps out pretty well but it just curses with the text, make it look more interesting and not just plain..
Secondly, colours.. if you want it to look vintage, give it the colour correction it deserves..
Id like to see future versions

 

[Jeff]

The #1 rule of graphic design, from what I've learned, is Typography. That font looks like shit - Go to dafont.com and find a font you like, install it, and use it. It will look that much better

I don't understand, I think that font suits.

And regarding the idea of an 'explosion' in the background, I'd definitely like to see that implemented as the current transparent background looks too plain.

Although I'm not much of a graphical expert, your current banner does not look too bad.

 

If you're after vintage, pixel/sprite artwork and an 8bit style font would look brilliant. Just my two pennies.
I'll give this a go tommorow.

Also, game bomb reminded me of this:

 

[kovan]

I agree with Kinaesthic and noamyoungerm,,

Font doesn't match well with the style you're going for,, you can find better fonts,, more appealing ones.. And you should add more colors,, colors that go well together and that reminds you of games/gaming

And also you have to work on rendering the picture,, there are a few choppy parts around the cut(around the feet especially)

maybe you could also add some sort of explosion,, or at least have a spark starting on the bomb,, (if you understand what i mean,, excuse my english)

Hope this will help you improve on your banner,, goodluck!