I'll write an analysis for each one of them, but because of how basic they are, I'll make the analysis reasonably short and instead look at several icons to compensate.
Key things I'll be looking for are what conventions the different icons follow, what their pictures are, their art style, and what importance the pictures have in the actual game. This post will be on the analysis of the icons, and then in the next post I'll create a list of conventions for the icon, based on the analysis, which I'll then apply to the game. So let's get started -
Candy Crush Saga Icon -
The icon is composed of three sweets, an orange sweet, behind a chocolate candy, covered in small multicoloured candy bits, and then a red sweet in front. This complements the games name, reinforcing the fact that the game will be about sweets.The candy pieces take up the centre of the picture indicating that they're the main part of the icon, which once again shows that candy is the game's key feature. They overlap over the icon's border, which is a white and pink striped candy cane like frame, another indication of the game's sweet orientated style, and inside that is a simple sky blue background, which indicates daytime, which is associated with energy and brightness.
The art style is semi realistic, using very vibrant colours in the icon, indicating a colourful, friendly and fun game, and the candies and border are shaded to look 3-Dimensional, underlying strong graphical quality to give the game a 3D quality, even if it's 2D.
Angry Birds Icon -
The contents of the icon include the game's main character, a red ball shaped bird who, true to the games title, has a cartoony look of annoyance on his face. He stands out from the rest of the picture by the strong black outline around his body and the glow emanating from from behind him, indicating that he's the centre of attention in the shot.He's framed in the shot by clouds that form around the bottom and sides of the icon, and the blue background and yellow glow coming from behind the bird indicate that this is the sky, with the bird possibly travelling through it.
The art style of the icon is very basic, shying away from realistic shading and instead choosing to use block colours, which connotes the basic visual style of the game. The colours aren't dull, but they aren't especially vibrant or technicolour either, indicating a more realistic colouring style to accompany the cartoony graphics.
Solitaire Icon -
As a game that uses cards, the icon depicts this clearly, having four cards present on as the main focus of the image. Two of the cards are face down, representing the hidden cards that require turning over, and in front of them are a 2 of diamonds card and an ace of spades, a trademark card in the game, on top, top indicate the card stacking that makes up the game of solitaire. The Ace of spades overlaps the border, indicating that cards are what the game revolves around.The cards are shown against a green background, the same green reminiscent of the sort on gambling and poker tables, which indicates the connection that the cards have with casinos and gambling games. The whole icon is bordered by a silver metallic frame, a very standard and simple choice implying that the game is also a simplistic game.
The art style isn't overly basic, going into prominent detail on the backs of the face down cards, adding realistic shading on the front cards and the background, and a realistic metallic effect on the frame. This implies that the game has realistic graphics to accompany the simplistic gameplay. The glint down at the card's corner could symbolise the glamour and vintage that traditional card games have.
Cut the Rope Icon -
The icon is made up of three key pictures: A candy dangling from a rope, which is clearly outlined in black, with the candy also having a light yellow outline to further signify its importance. Below the candy is a little green monster, also outlined in solid black to signify its importance, sitting with its mouth wide open, seemingly waiting to eat the candy. In both cases the pictures go over the frame, symbolising their significance in the game.Above the rope is a cut line with scissors at one end, being the the clear indicator of what need s doing, as well as reinforcing the game's title. This is also outlined, but in the same colour as the icon's frame, and it also doesn't go over the frame, indicating that it is a key element, but also represents its lack of substance, being an instruction rather than an object, like the other two images.
This icon's art style is simplistic, with a pale but warm yellow background, indicating a relaxed and light style of gameplay, and a semi-transparent border in front of that, which frames the other elements of the icon. The colours on the other objects are solid colour, for the most part, with cartoony shading and lighting present on the different objects, once again indicating a light and non-serious gameplay style.
Temple Run Icon -
The icon for this game is made up of one single image. The picture is of a face crafted in solid gold and surrounded by a gold frame, which indicates that there is treasure involved in the game. The face's design looks very reminiscent of ancient aztec temple paintings and carvings of faces in the temple walls. This itself symbolises the atmosphere of the game, and is true to the game's title, being set in an ancient temple.The face's expression shows a sense of shock and surprise, evidenced by the wide eyes, the open mouth and the two hand like features placed up in front of the rest of the face. This indicates that there is something in the level that will provoke these reactions as you play, although the pictures comedic style indicates that it won't be anything terribly scary.
Visually the icon is somewhat impressive, incorporating detailed shading into the picture's shape, which indicates strong graphics within the game. By its style it isn't terribly realistic however, and the metallic effect of the gold is a cartoony one rather than a realistic one, which indicates that there will be elements of more cartoony graphics within the gameplay along with some realistic ones.
Flappy Bird Icon -
The main focus of the icon, true to its games title, is the bird, which occupies the centre of the image. It's shown clearly as the main part of the picture, by the lack of others, the black outline around its features, and the shadow present behind it.The background of the image, instead of being a single colour, is an environment, which can be seen as made of trees, followed by skyscrapers, followed by clouds, and then the sky. It is however difficult to see due to it having a semi-transparent green colour between it at the bird in the foreground, indicate that it only serves as a background and isn't important in the gameplay.
The art style is extremely retro in its design. Everything image present on the icon, excluding the shadow and the green colouring over the background, in drawn, coloured and shaded using block colour pixels, which indicate an immensely simplistic art style within the game, but still identifies what the objects are.
Candy Crush Icon
Angry Birds Icon
Solitaire Icon
Cut the Rope Icon
Temple Run Icon
Flappy Bird Icon
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