Introduction
ARK: Survival Evolved, released in 2017, is an immersive survival game that has captured the attention of millions of players worldwide. Set in a world filled with dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures, players must survive in a hostile environment by building shelters, taming creatures, and gathering resources.
In addition to the core gameplay, visual elements like game icons and banners play a significant role in enhancing the user experience. Icons guide players through menus and crafting, while banners add a level of personalization to tribes and player profiles. This article explores the role of game icons and banners in ARK: Survival Evolved, how they enhance gameplay, and provides a guide to customizing them.
What Are Game Icons in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Game icons in ARK: Survival Evolved are visual elements that represent different actions, items, and mechanics in the game. These icons help players navigate through complex menus, understand crafting requirements, and recognize items.
Examples of Game Icons:
- Weapon Icons: Represent various tools and weapons such as bows, spears, or rifles.
- Resource Icons: Show resources like wood, metal, or stone.
- Creature Icons: Identify different species of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals.
Game icons are designed to simplify the user interface and provide players with quick, recognizable visuals that streamline gameplay. By understanding these icons, players can enhance their efficiency when managing inventory, crafting, and building.
Popular Game Icons in ARK
| Icon Type | Icon Description | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon Icons | Bows, spears, guns, and other survival weapons. | Aid in choosing the right weapon for survival and combat. |
| Resource Icons | Wood, stone, metal, and fiber icons. | Help in identifying materials needed for crafting and building. |
| Creature Icons | Dinosaurs like T-Rex, Pteranodon, and Raptors. | Allow players to identify specific creatures in the wild. |
Importance of Game Banners in ARK: Survival Evolved
Banners in ARK: Survival Evolved allow players to personalize their gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes where players form tribes. These banners are customizable flags that represent tribes, players, or even specific servers.
Key Roles of Banners:
- Tribe Identification: In multiplayer, players can create or join tribes, and banners help in identifying tribes during raids or collaborations.
- Personalization: Banners give players the freedom to customize their game, displaying unique emblems or colors.
- Decoration: They serve as decorative elements in bases, giving a personal touch to shelters and fortresses.
Customizing banners adds a layer of creativity and can significantly enhance the social aspect of ARK, especially in PvP (Player vs. Player) environments.
Types of Game Banners
| Banner Type | Description | Use in Gameplay |
|---|---|---|
| Tribe Banners | Represent different tribes within multiplayer. | Used for tribe identification and coordination. |
| Player Banners | Customized flags for individual players. | Represent personal achievements or identity. |
| Server Banners | Set by server admins, often as rules or guidelines. | Used to display important information for players on specific servers. |
Customizing Game Icons and Banners in ARK: Survival Evolved
ARK allows players to customize both game icons and banners through various in-game options and mods. Customization is important for making gameplay more enjoyable and tailored to personal preferences.
Customizing Game Icons
To customize game icons, players can:
- Install Mods: The Steam Workshop offers a range of mods that change or add custom icons. These mods can enhance the visual experience and provide clarity when navigating menus.
- Interface Settings: Within the game settings, players can modify certain visual aspects of the icons, making them larger, more transparent, or colorful.
- Community Icon Packs: Some players and designers create custom icon packs that are shared within the community. These packs can replace the default icons with custom art.
Why Customize Icons?
- Enhanced Visibility: Larger or clearer icons can make navigating through the inventory or crafting menu easier.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Custom icons can match the player’s style or theme, making the game more personalized.
Customizing Banners
Customizing banners is an exciting way to add a personal touch to your gameplay. Here’s how to do it:
- In-Game Paint: ARK allows players to use paintbrushes to add colors to banners. You can create your unique designs directly in the game.
- Mods and Emblems: The community has created custom mods that allow more intricate designs. Some mods let you import emblems from external sources, creating highly detailed banners.
- Tribe Customization: Banners often reflect a tribe’s ethos. Many tribes create their flags based on themes like dinosaurs, survival, or territory.
Steps to Customize Banners:
- Access the Paint Menu in the game.
- Select a Canvas or Banner from your inventory.
- Use different colors, brush sizes, and stencils to design your banner.
- Once done, place the banner in a visible spot within your base.
How Game Icons and Banners Enhance ARK: Survival Evolved
Both game icons and banners play significant roles in enhancing the overall user experience in ARK: Survival Evolved. Here’s how:
1. Simplified Gameplay
Game icons make it easier for players to quickly identify items, creatures, and crafting materials. This reduces the time spent navigating menus and increases efficiency in the game.
2. Enhanced Customization
Banners offer a high level of personalization, making multiplayer games more engaging and unique. Players can express their creativity through tribe flags and personalized emblems.
3. Improved Tribe Coordination
In a game that involves team play and collaboration, tribe banners help improve communication and coordination. During large battles or raids, banners make it easier to identify friend from foe.
FAQs
1. How do I create custom banners in ARK: Survival Evolved?
You can create custom banners by using the in-game paintbrush tool. For more intricate designs, you can install mods that allow you to upload emblems or use custom patterns.
2. Can I change the game icons in ARK?
Yes, game icons can be modified using mods from the Steam Workshop. There are several community-created icon packs that you can download to enhance or replace the default icons.
3. Are there any restrictions on banner customization in multiplayer?
While customization is generally allowed, some servers may have specific rules regarding what can be displayed on banners, particularly in PvP environments. Always check the server’s guidelines before uploading any custom designs.
4. What’s the purpose of banners in ARK?
Banners serve as visual representations of tribes or players. They help in identifying allies or enemies in multiplayer modes and add a layer of personalization to the game.
5. How do I make icons larger or more visible in the game?
You can adjust the size or transparency of game icons by going into the interface settings within the game. Mods are also available to provide further customization options.
Conclusion
Game icons and banners may seem like small elements in a vast game like ARK: Survival Evolved, but they play a crucial role in streamlining gameplay, enhancing personalization, and improving multiplayer coordination. Whether you’re a solo player focusing on survival or a tribe leader managing a group of players, understanding and customizing these visual elements can significantly improve your ARK experience.
By using mods or in-game customization options, you can make ARK your own, with personalized banners flying high over your base and game icons that make survival just a little bit easier.