“Ark: Survival Evolved” has been a popular survival game since its release in 2017, immersing players in a world of prehistoric creatures, advanced technology, and dynamic multiplayer experiences. Within this vast universe, one of the overlooked yet fascinating aspects is the in-game iconography and ARK: Survival Evolved (2017) Game Icons Banners. These elements don’t just serve as decorative features but are critical in representing tribes, personalizing gameplay, and creating an immersive environment. Exploring the world of Ark’s game icons and banners opens a window into how art and design contribute to the gameplay experience.
ARK: Survival Evolved (2017) Game Icons Banners
The game icons in Ark: Survival Evolved play a functional and aesthetic role, giving players essential information while adding a layer of visual engagement. From simple inventory icons to complex tribe insignias, each icon is designed with purpose and attention to detail. These designs blend the prehistoric elements of Ark with futuristic tech, creating a unique mix that represents the game’s core themes.
Types of Game Icons in Ark: Survival Evolved
Ark’s game icons can be classified into several categories, each with distinct purposes and visual styles. From health indicators to tribe logos, these icons streamline the player’s experience while adding depth to gameplay.
Health and Status Icons
One of the most common and critical icons in Ark are those representing player health and status. These symbols alert players to their immediate needs, including hunger, thirst, stamina, and health levels. Designed in a clear, minimalistic way, these icons reflect basic survival concepts without cluttering the user interface. For instance, the hunger icon uses a simple meat leg, while the thirst icon is a droplet of water, making them easy to recognize.
Tribe Icons and Logos
Tribes are an essential part of multiplayer gameplay in Ark. When players join a tribe, they often create or select a banner or logo that represents their group. These icons range from primitive tribal patterns to more elaborate designs featuring dinosaurs or weapons. The ability to customize these icons allows tribes to express their identity in the Ark world. Many tribes use these logos not only as visual markers but also as a way to establish dominance on the server.
Inventory and Crafting Icons
The inventory and crafting systems in Ark are extensive, requiring clear and intuitive icons for a smooth player experience. Each item, whether a raw resource like wood or fiber or a crafted object like a spear, has a unique icon. The design of these icons is minimal yet informative, often giving a hint about the material’s use or origin. This level of detail helps players quickly identify resources, weapons, and tools in a game where time is critical.
Banners in Ark: Survival Evolved
Banners play an equally significant role in Ark, acting as a symbol of tribe pride, personal achievements, and strategic advantages. Placing banners in the game world allows players to mark their territory, signal alliances, or even intimidate rivals. These banners can be found in various designs, each customizable to match a player’s or tribe’s style.
The Role of Banners in Tribal Warfare
In a game where tribal alliances and warfare are pivotal, banners serve as much more than decoration. They are markers of a tribe’s presence, allowing members and enemies alike to recognize territory. A well-placed banner can establish dominance over an area, signal fortifications, or warn off potential attackers. When players see a familiar banner on a stronghold, they know who they’re dealing with.
Customization and Design of Banners
The customization options for banners in Ark: Survival Evolved are vast. Players can choose different base colors, patterns, and even upload custom designs through mods. This allows for unique tribal representation and personal expression within the game. Whether it’s a simple symbol or an intricate, personalized design, these banners help create a dynamic and engaging in-game experience.
Banners as Decorative and Strategic Tools
While banners are primarily used for tribe identification and territory marking, they also serve decorative purposes in personal bases or community structures. Players often use banners to add aesthetic appeal to their builds, giving their homesteads a more lived-in or thematic feel. Additionally, banners can serve strategic purposes in PvP scenarios, where they are used to signal strongholds, alliances, or tactical locations.
Icon and Banner Evolution in Ark: Survival Evolved (2017)
Over time, Ark: Survival Evolved has seen changes and updates to its UI, which include improvements to the game icons and banners. As the game’s content expanded, so did the need for more varied and detailed icons. This evolution reflects the developers’ ongoing commitment to enhancing user experience and ensuring that the game’s visual elements keep pace with new content.
Modding Community’s Role in Icons and Banners
One of the most exciting aspects of Ark: Survival Evolved is its modding community, which has taken the game to new heights by creating custom icons and banners. These mods often add entirely new icon sets, inspired by everything from prehistoric art to modern-day pop culture. The customization potential that these mods provide enriches the gameplay experience, allowing players to add a personal touch to their survival world.
Modded Banners: Expanding Customization
Through mods, players have created an expansive variety of banners that go beyond what the base game offers. These custom banners can feature anything from intricate tribal designs to logos of famous franchises, adding humor, personal significance, or lore-based context to their survival adventures. These banners allow for a deeper connection between players and their in-game tribes, fostering more meaningful interactions.
How to Create Custom Banners and Icons in Ark
Players interested in creating their own banners or icons in Ark: Survival Evolved can do so with relative ease, especially with the help of external software and mods. There are step-by-step guides available for uploading custom designs, whether for a tribe’s emblem or a personalized banner to fly over a fortress. The freedom to create these assets adds to Ark’s rich tapestry of customization options, ensuring that no two tribes are ever truly the same.
The Significance of Iconography in Ark: Survival Evolved’s Community
The role of icons and banners goes beyond individual gameplay, as they have become a crucial part of the Ark community. Many players and tribes form long-lasting alliances, participate in server-wide events, and compete in PvP scenarios where recognizable banners and icons play a key part in strategy and communication.
FAQs
How do I customize tribe banners in Ark: Survival Evolved?
You can customize tribe banners by selecting different patterns and colors or by uploading custom designs using mods. There are several tutorials available online that guide players through the process.
What are the most commonly used tribe icons in Ark?
Tribe icons often feature prehistoric themes, such as dinosaurs, bones, or primitive weaponry. Some tribes also use modern symbols, depending on their in-game identity.
Can I create my own game icons in Ark: Survival Evolved?
Yes, with the help of modding tools, players can create and upload custom icons for use in inventory, tribe insignias, or other visual elements.
Why are banners important in Ark’s multiplayer mode?
Banners are crucial for identifying territories and alliances, marking strategic points, and signaling tribal dominance in multiplayer PvP environments.
Do icons in Ark change depending on the platform I’m playing on?
No, the icons remain consistent across all platforms, though mods available on PC allow for more customization options.
What is the best mod for creating custom banners in Ark?
Some popular mods for banner customization include the “Custom Paint Job” mod, which allows players to create and upload custom designs easily.
Conclusion
The game icons and banners in Ark: Survival Evolved are more than just artistic flourishes. They are essential tools for communication, strategy, and identity within the game. Whether you’re tracking your health and stamina through intuitive icons or rallying your tribe with a powerful banner, these elements are crucial to creating a cohesive and immersive gameplay experience. As the Ark community continues to grow and evolve, so too will the ways in which icons and banners play a role in shaping this unique and dynamic world.
