Video games, like any medium of popularity and note, have a rich and vibrant history that deserves to be preserved and admired. It should come as little surprise that for every facet of this rich history, people exist who make a concerted and determined effort to display it for both knowledge and appreciation.
One such person, has undertaken this task on a surprising, yet fascinating part of video games many would not have considered; user interface. Senior UI artist Edd Coates of developers Double Eleven, has curated a collection of video game history and nostalgia that is simply a marvel.
The Game UI Database is a collection of screenshots, interfaces, menus and more, already covering a staggering amount of games and media. As of this writing, there is over 12,000 screenshots to be found from a combined total of 339 games. The database is freely searchable, looking up a particular game to find specific menus as wanted or needed. Visitors to the database can even find a filter option available to the search bar that allows the user to look up specific design elements that have been implemented to the UI, covering a wide variety of creative visual effects that have been utilized in many games, over the years.
The Game UI Database remains a useful tool for video game developers, whether one is a veteran in the industry like Edd Coates himself or simply an aspiring beginner. Some incredible UI has been collected from truly special games, including Assassin's Creed, A Short Hike, Apex Legends and God of War, to name a few. Having all of this work and information on display is important and valuable to the video game industry as a whole.
What was less expected when looking through The Game UI Database was the feeling of nostalgia and reverence it creates. Looking through some of the best and oldest RPG inventories or cinematic title screens can be a wonderful experience for fans. It may also be a nostalgic trip for gamers to take a look at some familiar screens many have not seen in years.
Source: RockPaperShotgun; Game UI Database