The beginner's guide to VGBA.

[Ayron]

Hello fellow users of Vgboxart!
After seeing alot of people asking for help in vgba's technicalities,I've decided to try and set up a thread where people can go when they first arrive at VGBoxart to learn the basics of the site.
Please, do give me feedback on the following guidelines,as i want this to be a full beginner's guide to VGBA.

Step 1. Creating an account.

This first step is fairly easy.
All a visitor without an account has to do, is click the ''register'' button,which is located at the top right-hand corner on vgba's homepage.
You'll be redirected to a page where you're going to have to fill in your date of birth.
Please fill in this form truthfully!
Under aged members [Younger than 13] wíll be declined.

After this, you'll be redirected to forum rules,which have to be read thoroughly.
Following that is a form you have to fill in [ again, according to the truth ].
Especially mind your E-mail adress.
Follow the next few steps on your screen,and you will be able to log in.[ top right-hand corner.

Step 2.Vgba's baby steps.

Now that you are a full-fledged member of the site, there are a few things that you can do.
Here are a few options:
-Start making a box immediately[for the graphically advanced members]
-Browse around the homepage,looking for friends and/or examples of boxarts.
-Download printables for you to print yourself,and put inside your own game box.

I'll explain them one by one.

Step 2.1 Start making a box.

For the newest members that already have experience in graphic designing,but are just looking for a new branche to develop their skills in, the rest of the steps may be useless.
For these users, i will post some usefull links to get you resources and/or help on making boxarts.
Remember, pm'ing a member[ go to their forum profile,and click ''send message'' ] for help is nothing to be afraid of! Most experienced users are willing to help you,if you are serious about it!

Resources Templates,logo's,renders..you name it, we have it. this is a new system,so it hasn't got alot of items yet.

Resources forum the part of the forum where lots of members have posted their own resources. there's also a ''search'' button at the top bar of the forum.Don't be afraid to search [keywords like templates,renders or a game title usually work]

Boxart megathread You read it. it's Méga! Some of the links are outdated, but this post contains álot of the most usefull links on the site.Be sure to check it out.

That's that for the links for now. You can always look outside this site for resources such asgamewallpapers.com,planetrenders.com and our biggest friend: google.com!

Step 2.2 Browsing the homepage.

So,you're new to graphic design, and you're new to this site.What áre you to do?
Well, all beginning is hard, but my personal experience proves that the best thing to do is just browse the site.
Once again, don't be afraid to ask for help, or just play around a bit in the forums.
Be sure to post like someone your age.With this i mean that this site does not allow members of under 13 years of age, so don't act like one. Users are more likely to respond well to a well-behaved member as they would to a noisy kid.
Caps-lock,cussing and useless remarks are not welcome.
Big tip: Watch out with sarcasm. It has lead to alot of fights before,and it will if you don't watch out!
Good luck!

Step 2.3 Printables!
Printables are works of art that a user has made and uploaded to this site in order for other members to print them out,and use them as their own game-cover.
If you go to a box' page, you will find that right underneath the image, it usually has a button that says ''full view''.
Well, some boxes[the ones with printables] will have a button for printables,obviously.
These buttons are located directly next to the ''full view'' button.
Click it, and a huge image will pop-up, a flat 2-d image of the boxart.
I myself am not so experienced with the printing of images myself, but once again, asking for help is not a felony,folks.Don't be afraid.

Step 3 Making boxarts: quick guidelines.

There are a few small ,unspoken rules about making boxarts.
Here's a small list of them.

-Don't post spam. Obvious rule, don't do childish things. We take this seriously,so should you.
-Listen to criticism When a member of the site gives you critique,he/she is trying to help you.Listen to this.
-Don't steal boxes Another obvious one.We work for our art.You do the same.
-Make friends,not enemies A general rule.Most people don't like it when you go around screaming ''You're a noob'' to everyone.Want respect? Give respect.
-Post in the correct section. When you upload a box, there are several options. be sure to choose the right ones, as it may be confusing otherwise.


FAQ
Q: What are masterworks/Hall of Fame?
A: When a box get's added to ''favorites''[by clicking,add to favorite] it means a person really ,really like the box. When alot of people favorite one box, the box might reach the Hall of fame status.[ a medal is shown on the box' page].
When éven more people favorite the box, the hall of fame status is replaced by a Masterworks status.[ top notch. ]

Q:What are those little dots next to a user's name?
A:That's the member's rank.When you post boxes,and people favorite you[''add author to favorites''],or the box, your ''rank'' goes up.
how high your rank is is seen on your author's page. www.vgboxart.com/author/[insertnamehere]/.
First, the red dots go to 9, and are then replaced by blue dots, going from 10 to 18.

Q:Who are the leaders of the site?
A: Reed is the administrator, the official owner of the site. He is in charge of everything that goes on.If everything ever goes bad like it's never been bad before,send him a message. The current ''moderators'' [ like santa's helpers, but then online] are Ladykiller,Drakxxx and E_G. They maintain the site and forums.
You should under every circumstances listen to them.


Well,that's it.
I hope i have helped you enough for now, and that your stay here at Vgboxart will be a good one.
This thread will be updated as i see fit.
Please, do give me feedback on how to improve this.

-Ayron



-edit-

If there is anything else that you want to know, don't hesitate to send me a message. If I don't forget to read it, I'll be more than happy to help you out!