I briefly tested the mod, and I like the idea, but the graphics of the chests distract me because they're so flat and different from the game's theme. Any plans to improve the way chests look? Also, I appreciate the write-up that goes with the mod. Very helpful. I am looking forward to using this when it is finished.

Haha yeah the graphics are currently rough. This issue will track progress: https://github.com/year6b7a/item-network-factorio-mod/issues/3.

For now the mod is still under active development and I'm prioritizing features over visuals but will improve the artwork before releasing 1.0.0.

Understood. Everything I see so far tells me it will be worth the wait. Thanks again!

Haha yeah the graphics are currently rough. This issue will track progress: https://github.com/year6b7a/item-network-factorio-mod/issues/3.

For now the mod is still under active development and I'm prioritizing features over visuals but will improve the artwork before releasing 1.0.0.

You could use the AAI Loader textures for the loaders (it has a graphics only mode) and one of the standard chests (maybe recoloured) as a start.

Thanks, but I am afraid that I have no idea how to do that. That would require editing the mod files, right?

I just realised that the loaders are just basic loaders. You really could just add a depenedency on AAI Loaders and just have the mod use them instead.

Recoloring standard chests sounds like a good start. I initially started with that but switched to custom graphics both so I could learn the API and so it would force me to do real graphics when the mod is ready. If someone opens a PR I won't say no, but otherwise I'll figure out how to make real graphics. I have some interesting ideas for what the chests can look like but need some time to learn Blender and make them look good.

I'm hesitant to add AAI loaders as a dependency. While they do look amazing, the license is really restrictive and I don't want to rely on a project that I can't edit. That being said there is nothing special about network loaders and nothing stopping users from using AAI loaders instead.

Network Tanks will definitely need a new icon, so if I'm making one then I might as well make all 3.