World War One P&C (Mature Audiences - Graphic Violence)

[Kumpel]

First: Blondbraid, thanks for pointing me onto this nice detail. I totally missed that sweet skin game
About your complaint: I guess it's pretty accurate that a girly looking women in 1914-1918 didn't wear trousers, but a night gown or some women's underwear (this can't be a mini skirt, because it has not been invented at that time afaik ) and over it that long leather coat. And as you guys said, Pinback seems to have been inspired by Sucker Punch at some point, in which Zack Snyder has shown us perfectly, that women warriors can indeed kick ass and wear very short skirts at the same time.

Obligatory hymn of a praise for Pinback: These sketches, concept arts and animations are just pure AWESOMENESS. I so wanna play a game of this kind!

[Mandle]

She has a very clever strategy is all...

She waits for the soldiers to look down and then kicks them right in the Kaisers!

[Pinback]

And that just proves you're a man!
Must admit I didn't even look down past her waist...

I'm not seeing what (I guess) you're seeing...It just looks like she is wearing a miniskirt to me...

I feel a bit like the little kid in the end of "the emperors new clothes"...

It's just that all the other characters look dressed for pretty serious warfare and wears clothes that reflects the WWI theme really well,
but this girl wears some kind of frilly mini-skirt and stockings, which isn't practical combat-gear, nor anything that looks like something women would wear during  WW1.

I just think it's a shame because everything else looks so creative and original, and the the top half of her looked really well dressed and ready for trench warfare, but the bottom half looks like a gritty reboot of Pippi Longstocking...

Thanks so much for all the comments everyone! Really helps keep me going hehe.

Actually, the girl (LeFevre) originally had bare legs under the trenchcoat - it didn't look right though so I dug up this old reference for "The Illusion Stocking" from the 30's (this game - working title Trenchmouth, is set during a protracted alternate WW1 where the war is still raging well into the mid 30's).

What is reading as a miniskirt to y'all is supposed to be period appropriate laced undergarments - I should fix that the lace really doesn't read well I know.

As to whether any of this costume is practical for her character in game... You may just have to buy a copy to find out!

[Pinback]

First: Blondbraid, thanks for pointing me onto this nice detail. I totally missed that sweet skin game
About your complaint: I guess it's pretty accurate that a girly looking women in 1914-1918 didn't wear trousers, but a night gown or some women's underwear (this can't be a mini skirt, because it has not been invented at that time afaik ) and over it that long leather coat. And as you guys said, Pinback seems to have been inspired by Sucker Punch at some point, in which Zack Snyder has shown us perfectly, that women warriors can indeed kick ass and wear very short skirts at the same time.

Obligatory hymn of a praise for Pinback: These sketches, concept arts and animations are just pure AWESOMENESS. I so wanna play a game of this kind!

No, not inspired by Sucker Punch (more maybe Tank Girl if anything?) - I don't believe I've seen sucker punch but I can definitely see the similarities.

[Pinback]

And here's a salty looking German soldier because um... Yo!

[Blondbraid]

What is reading as a miniskirt to y'all is supposed to be period appropriate laced undergarments - I should fix that the lace really doesn't read well I know.
As to whether any of this costume is practical for her character in game... You may just have to buy a copy to find out!

Well, the stockings and undergarments do look appropriate for the time period, but women of that era did wear bloomers and a skirt/pants on top of them when outside.
I still can't see how being on a battlefield with exposed underwear could possibly be practical.

Maybe I'm just a bit jaded after seeing so many countless numbers of female video-game characters having pointlessly exposed skin as a cheap way to attract players at the expense of giving them costumes that would actually fit the story and setting.
I do hope there is a good reason for this design in the game...

Actually, the girl (LeFevre) originally had bare legs under the trenchcoat - it didn't look right though so I dug up this old reference for "The Illusion Stocking" from the 30's (this game - working title Trenchmouth, is set during a protracted alternate WW1 where the war is still raging well into the mid 30's).

Dazzle camouflage?


Anyways, I do love the rest of the images, and I really like how the colors are bleak without feeling lifeless. And the german soldier in the last pic looks great!
Just wondering, did you use this photo from the Christmas truce for reference?

Talk about making history come alive!

[Mandle]

Wow...that's quite the likeness alright...

I just wanted to say that maybe it would be a good idea to change the character's face quite a bit if you are using images of actual people as the base...

Even if the photo itself is public domain, I don't think that means that free usage of images of the actual people in the photo (especially if you are using that person's image out of context) is also allowed...

While the person in the photo is long dead by now, their family might still make legal headaches for you if they recognize their war-hero great-great-grandfather being used as a different character in your game.

It might seem unlikely that anyone who knows or cares would ever even find out, but one of our members here in our little community could find the connection. Never underestimate the power of the entire internet, and its collective will to be vindictive for no particular reason. Somebody could find it, and contact the family of the guy in the photo just to cause you trouble.

With the image of the character as recognizable as it currently is, I believe they would have a legal case against you. But if you change the proportions of the face a tad, then I think it would just fall under an "inspired by" kinda label and you would be fine.

I'm no expert of course. Maybe somebody with a bit more hard knowledge could weigh in here?

I just want to play your game one day and don't want it to get delayed or anything because of (unlikely, but possible) legal hassles...

[David Ostman]

Yeah, Mandle is right. Even if the photograph is in public domain it just means the ownership of the photograph itself has expired. The likeness however is a different matter, and the family of the soldier in the photo could indeed have something to say if it's being used in a commercial product, especially if it somehow is an emotionally sensitive matter because of the war, etc. Because the likeness is copied pretty much 1:1 in its entirety from a famous photograph I really wouldn't put it in a commercial game, just to be on the safe side..

[Pinback]

Yeah, Mandle is right. Even if the photograph is in public domain it just means the ownership of the photograph itself has expired. The likeness however is a different matter, and the family of the soldier in the photo could indeed have something to say if it's being used in a commercial product, especially if it somehow is an emotionally sensitive matter because of the war, etc. Because the likeness is copied pretty much 1:1 in its entirety from a famous photograph I really wouldn't put it in a commercial game, just to be on the safe side..

Ever played Arcanum, guys?

[Pinback]

All art is recycled.

Half this forum is deadset copies of old games.

Shrug.

[Pinback]

Pretty sure I'll get this thread locked at this point, this was supposed to be about showing off my work a bit and getting serious critique/feedback not answering questions about copyright laws and underpants.

I had some new pixel art prepared but instead of posting that I felt the need to spend ten minutes 'shopping the Arcanum thing. Now I've lost interest in this thread entirely.

[cat]

It's just that all the other characters look dressed for pretty serious warfare and wears clothes that reflects the WWI theme really well,
but this girl wears some kind of frilly mini-skirt and stockings, which isn't practical combat-gear, nor anything that looks like something women would wear during  WW1.

Same here. I was really disappointed when I scrolled to that picture.

I had some new pixel art prepared but instead of posting that I felt the need to spend ten minutes 'shopping the Arcanum thing. Now I've lost interest in this thread entirely.

Yeah, whatever. If you can't be bothered posting, I certainly won't go into begging mode to still show it (although some here probably will do as you intended).

[Pinback]

It's just that all the other characters look dressed for pretty serious warfare and wears clothes that reflects the WWI theme really well,
but this girl wears some kind of frilly mini-skirt and stockings, which isn't practical combat-gear, nor anything that looks like something women would wear during  WW1.

Same here. I was really disappointed when I scrolled to that picture.

I had some new pixel art prepared but instead of posting that I felt the need to spend ten minutes 'shopping the Arcanum thing. Now I've lost interest in this thread entirely.

Yeah, whatever. If you can't be bothered posting, I certainly won't go into begging mode to still show it (although some here probably will do as you intended).

Never asked for you to beg, comment or otherwise and no I cannot be bothered posting if all people like you have to say is "wow great except for the underpants".

[Pinback]

Hey thanks to everyone for the support etc though - the bs just started to tip way too far here. I'll just crawl back under my rock and work lol.

[Pinback]

Okay okay sorry for getting snarky - got into a fight a couple days ago and my lips really hurt from infection... & I had plans that involved my lips tonight, damnit! It's driving me nuts.

Those of you that objected to the leggy LeFevre costume, what do you think of this one?

[Blondbraid]

Okay okay sorry for getting snarky - got into a fight a couple days ago and my lips really hurt from infection... & I had plans that involved my lips tonight, damnit! It's driving me nuts.

Those of you that objected to the leggy LeFevre costume, what do you think of this one?

I'm sorry if you feel I derailed the discussion, and I certainly didn't have any idea that posting that photo of the soldier would lead to a long discussion about public domain...

I think your last picture looks awesome!
The girl definitively looks like a badass mechanic, and I love the dynamic between her and the character beside her.
Is she planning on doing a few adjustments with her wrench?

The little airplanes in the distance are a nice touch too.

[kconan]

  Everything looks awesome Pinback, I can't stop staring at the gun that the guy in the futuristic pickelhaube helmet is holding.

[Mandle]

OH MY GOD!!!

That new character look for the girl is just so sturdy and cool that I can't even...

And that one graphic could launch a thousand kickstarters...

The game is looking beautiful beyond what my eyes can take in...

OVER THE TOP!!!

[Pinback]

@Blondbraid Ah no worries - I should have just steered it back instead of getting all crotchety haha - yours was a legit point to make.
At this point I'm really just letting my ideas steer the ship a bit - I think the mechanic girl may be an NPC that yes,
built and/or maintains that slipshod german mechanoid with the machine gun... Hmm maybe I should post the graffiti mural I did of that robot...

@Kconan Hehe thanks man!

@Mandle Cheers haha - I think those two are definitely going in - to some extent at least. They're a bit more... Upbeat (or at least the concept lacks some of the bleak humor I want to instill into the game) than I'd
like at this point in development but yeah, I'm going to translate them to pixels soon and we'll see where we stand.

As for Kickstarter, meh I dunno. I was really gung ho about the idea a while back - but at this point I'm wondering if the administration, public networking & organization time required (all stuff I suck out loud at) are worth it.

[Blondbraid]

I think this image is a huge improvement and that look on her face is so expressive,
it tells a lot about her and the robot while also making me curious to find out more about them!
The robot looks really cool, I especially like that it looks like a retro-futuristic pickelhaube while at the same time reminding of a medieval knight's helmet,
and her red hair and the blue glow make a nice contrast to one another.

I truly hope this will one day be a finished game, since both the art and concept looks so intriguing!