作者：Ryan Wolniak

缩略图是游戏病毒性传播的重要层面。如果不喜欢游戏缩略图，玩家也就不会去点开游戏和玩游戏。

以下是游戏缩略图中常见的10种错误，你应该引起注意：

game thumbnails(from draknek.livejournal.com)

在缩略图中使用Flash输出图片。Flash确实有输出图片的选项，但是当你使用这种方法时，图片质量并不好。为缩略图输出图片的较好方法是使用屏幕截取然后将其导入到你最常用的图片编辑程序中，如GIMP和Photoshop等。

在缩略图中包含文字。人们会在缩略图旁边看到游戏名，所以将其放在缩略图中是对空间的浪费。你应该使用这个空间来展示游戏相关内容。

努力将整个屏幕装进缩略图中。如果你尝试这么做的话，游戏玩法将变得过小，甚至都看不清楚。你应该采取的做法是，用缩略图展示屏幕部分内容，重点表现游戏玩法设置。

没有将缩略图制成多种大小和格式。你永远无法确定站点所需的缩略图大小。即便站点称他们的程序可以调整图片的大小，缩略图的效果也比不上你根据所需的大小制作出来的缩略图。

使用阴暗的颜色。在其他鲜艳的颜色中，阴暗的颜色很容易被忽略。所以，你要使用鲜艳的颜色，这样才能够显得比较出众。

不使用Photoshop或GIMP的编辑工具。这些高级工具既然存在就必定有用处。使用这些工具来改善缩略图中的图片。

使用低对比颜色。如果缩略图较小时，这会使缩略图显得极为混乱。如果你想要让缩略图变得出众，就要避免出现这种情况。

缩略图内容过多。不可在缩略图中包含过多的内容。人们就会不知道要将注意力集中在何处。所以应尽量保持缩略图的简单化。

缩略图过于血腥。有些站点希望自己的游戏能够受到孩童的青睐。这样的缩略图会让他们直接打消将你的游戏添加到站点中的念头。所以，不可让缩略图过于血腥。

在使用之前不进行测试。在你开始使用制作完成的缩略图时，你应该进行测试。将其展示给好友或是家人，问问是否有某些东西能够吸引他们的注意力。如果他们觉得这个缩略图还有不足，那么就回到你的画板上将其润色。如果他们喜欢这个缩略图，那么就证明这个缩略图可用。

游戏邦注：本文发稿于2009年2月16日，所涉时间、事件和数据均以此为准。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，如需转载请联系：游戏邦）

Do you Make These 10 Mistakes in your Game Thumbnails?

Ryan Wolniak

Thumbnails are an important aspect of a game’s ability to spread virally. If nobody likes your thumbnail, they aren’t going to bother to click on it and play your game.

Here are 10 common mistakes people make in their game thumbnails, and what you should do instead:

Using flash to export the image for your thumbnail. Flash does have the option for exporting images, but when you use it, the quality tends to be grainy. A much better way to export the image for your thumbnail is to use a screen capture and import it into your favorite image editing program, like GIMP or Photoshop.

Including text in your thumbnail. People are going to see the title of your game next to the thumbnail anyways. Including it in the thumbnail is just a waste of space. Use that space to show what your game is about.

Trying to fit the whole screen into your thumbnail. If you try to do this, the gameplay will be too small to even see. Instead, just include a portion of the screen showing what the gameplay is like.

Not making your thumbnail in multiple sizes and formats. You never know what size a site will require. Even if they say that their program will resize it, it’s not going to look as good as if you make one specifically for that size.

Using dull colors. Dull colors are just going to be overlooked among hundreds of other possible choices. Instead, use bright colors that will stand out against the crowd.

Not taking advantage of Photoshop or GIMP’s editing tools. They have advanced tools for a reason. Use those tools to improve the graphics in the thumbnail.

Using low contrast colors. They will start to blend together at small sizes, which isn’t something you want when trying to make your thumbnail stand out.

Having a cluttered thumbnail. Don’t put too much into a thumbnail. People won’t know where to look or what is going in. Keep it simple.

Using too much blood and gore in the thumbnail. Some sites try to keep their games kid friendly. A thumbnail like that is going to make them skip right over adding your game to their site. So try to keep the thumbnail appropriate.

Not testing it before you start using it. Before you start using that thumbnail you’ve made, test it out. Show it to your friends or family and ask if it is something that would catch their attention. If they think it could use more work, then it’s back to the drawing board. If they like it, then you’ve made yourself a great thumbnail. Nice job! (Source: Freelance Flash Games)