Ark: Survival Evolved is one of those games where you are placed on an island with dinosaurs and various dangers. It is possible to pick up berries, collect rocks, construct base structures, and domesticate creatures for assistance.
One of the creative elements of the game is the use of icons and banners. You can generate and employ icons or banners in this game. They help show who you are and what your ‘tribe’ (or group) is all about.
This article will explain what game icons and banners are, how to create them, and how the use of them can improve your game.
In Ark: Survival Evolved, icons and banners are pictures that represent different things in the game. Icons are small pictures you can put on things like flags, signs, or shields. Banners are bigger and are often used to decorate your base or show off your tribe’s symbol.
You can use icons to mark your stuff, like putting your symbol on a chest to show it is yours. Banners are great for making your base look cool or for marking important places. Both icons and banners can be customized, meaning you can make them look however you want.
The Role of Icons in ARK: Survival Evolved
Icons in ARK: Survival Evolved serve a vital purpose, helping players manage their inventory, interact with their surroundings, and navigate the vast open world. With an array of tools, resources, and creatures to keep track of, icons are essential for gameplay.
1. Resource and Crafting Icons
In ARK, resource management is key to survival. Players must gather various resources, such as wood, stone, fiber, and meat, all of which are represented by unique icons in the inventory. The icons for these resources are simple yet detailed, allowing players to recognize what they’ve collected instantly.
As players progress in the game, they can craft tools, weapons, armor, and structures using these resources. The icons for crafted items, such as spears, bows, and wooden huts, are distinguishable and easy to identify within the crafting menus. The visual representation of these items provides clarity, making the crafting process more intuitive.
2. Creature Icons
One of the standout features of ARK: Survival Evolved is its focus on taming and interacting with prehistoric creatures. Each creature in the game, from the Raptor to the Tyrannosaurus Rex, has a unique icon that players can view in their inventory when taming or interacting with them. These icons help players manage their tamed creatures and easily locate them in menus or when transferring creatures between locations.
The detailed creature icons reflect the distinct characteristics of each animal, making it easy for players to differentiate between them, even when managing large numbers of tamed creatures.
3. Health, Hunger, and Status Icons
Survival in ARK means constantly monitoring your character’s health, stamina, hunger, and other vital stats. Icons play a crucial role in keeping players informed about their current condition. For instance:
- Health is represented by a red heart icon.
- Stamina is depicted by a lightning bolt.
- Hunger is indicated by a steak icon, and thirst is shown with a water drop.
These icons are designed to be clear and simple, ensuring that players can quickly glance at their HUD to assess their survival status and make adjustments in real-time.
4. Action Icons
Whether crafting a new tool or riding a dinosaur, ARK uses action icons to represent specific in-game actions. For example:
- The crafting icon shows a hammer and wrench.
- The building icon depicts a blueprint.
These icons not only provide visual cues for gameplay actions but also streamline the game’s user interface, making it more accessible for players who are navigating complex gameplay mechanics.
How icons help in the game
Icons in Ark have many uses. They can help you mark your territory, show which tribe you belong to, or even scare off other players. Some ways you can use icons include:
- Your tribe can have a special symbol that everyone knows is yours. This is useful in multiplayer games where there are lots of different tribes.
- You can put icons on your things, like storage boxes or weapons, so you know they belong to you.
- By putting icons on flags or signs around your base, you can show others that this area belongs to you.
- You can use icons to leave messages for other players. For example, putting a skull icon on a sign can warn others that a dangerous creature is nearby.
How to make and customize icons
Making icons in Ark is fun and lets you be creative. You can use special software to design your own icons, or you can use ones that are already in the game. Here is how you can make your own icons:
- To create custom icons, you will need a program that lets you make pictures with a transparent background. Programs like Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, or Canva are good choices.
- Keep your icon simple and easy to see. Remember, it is usually small, so use bright colors that stand out.
- After designing, save your icon as a PNG file with a transparent background. This way, it will look good on different surfaces in the game.
- To use your icon in the game, place the PNG file in the right folder on your computer. Then, you can choose it in the game and put it on different items.
Banners in Ark are big pictures that you can hang up to show off your tribe or decorate your base. Unlike icons, banners are meant to be seen from far away, so they are usually bigger and more detailed.
Banners can be used for many things:
- A banner with your tribe’s symbol makes it easy for others to know who you are.
- Banners can make your base look unique and special.
- Putting banners around your base helps show that the area is yours.
- You can use banners to celebrate special events in the game, like taming a big dinosaur or winning a battle.
While icons are integral to gameplay, banners in ARK are more symbolic, representing factions, tribes, or achievements within the game. Banners have become a popular customization tool that players use to personalize their bases or signify their in-game achievements.
1. Tribal Banners
In multiplayer mode, ARK allows players to join or form tribes. These tribes can craft banners to display in their bases, marking their territory and identity.
Tribal banners are customizable, allowing players to use various colors, patterns, and symbols that reflect their tribe’s personality and goals. This adds a layer of depth to the game, as players can distinguish their tribe from others within the same server.
2. Event Banners
Throughout the year, ARK hosts a number of in-game events, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. During these events, players can unlock exclusive banners by participating in special challenges or missions.
These banners often feature event-themed symbols, such as pumpkins for Halloween or holiday ornaments for Christmas. Displaying these banners serves as a badge of honor, showing off the player’s participation in these limited-time events.
3. Base and Territory Marking
Players frequently use banners in ARK to mark their bases and territories. Players can create and hang banners at the entrance of their bases, giving their stronghold a unique and personalized look.
Customizing these banners with specific colors and patterns allows players to immerse themselves in the game further, creating a sense of ownership over their surroundings.
Making banners in Ark is similar to making icons, but with more room for creativity. Here is how you can make your own banners:
- Start by designing your banner using a program like Photoshop or GIMP. Since banners are big, you can add more details to them.
- When creating a banner, consider what your tribe stands for and try to convey that in your design.
- Save your banner as a PNG file with a transparent background. This makes sure it looks good in the game.
- Just like with icons, place the PNG file in the right folder. Then, you can use the banner in the game to decorate your base or mark important spots.
Here are some tips to help you make the best icons and banners:
- Simple designs are usually the best because they are easy to see and understand.
- Bright colors help your icons and banners stand out, even from far away.
- Before you decide on a design, test it in the game to see how it looks.
- If you are in a tribe, work with your tribe members to make sure everyone likes the designs.
- As your tribe grows or changes, update your icons and banners to reflect that.
Icons and banners are not just for decoration; they can also change how you play the game. Having a cool icon or banner can make your tribe look stronger and more organized. This might even make other players want to join your tribe or think twice before messing with you.
In multiplayer games, where there are lots of tribes, having a strong symbol can help your tribe stand out. It can also make it easier for your tribe members to find important places or items.
The visual elements of ARK: Survival Evolved, including its icons and banners, play a crucial role in enhancing the overall player experience. Here are a few ways in which these visual elements have positively influenced gameplay:
The detailed icons help players easily manage their inventory, ensuring that resources and crafted items are easily identifiable. This is particularly important in a game like ARK, where survival often depends on quick decision-making and resource management.
2. Enhanced Immersion
Customizable banners allow players to create a personalized experience within the game, especially in multiplayer modes. By displaying their tribal banners or event banners, players can immerse themselves further in the game world and take pride in their accomplishments.
3. Clear Communication
Icons in ARK help to communicate important information to players in a visually intuitive way. Whether it’s the status of a player’s health or the readiness of a dinosaur for taming, the icons ensure that players are constantly aware of their surroundings and conditions.
Conclusion
Icons and banners are an important part of Ark: Survival Evolved. They help you show off your tribe, mark your territory, and make the game more fun and personal. By taking the time to create your own icons and banners, you can make your game experience even better.
Whether you are playing alone or with a tribe, using icons and banners can help you leave your mark on the game. So, get creative, try out different designs, and see how your icons and banners can make your adventure in Ark even more exciting.
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