Background blitz [ june 10 - july 1 ] extended

[ildu]

Edits make the thread appear updated (the new posts icon), but they don't raise the thread in the forum index, like bumps do. I don't think there's any way of doing that with edits, at least not for normal users.

[Andail]

Well, I sort of changed my mind, and would agree with Loomy here; including backgrounds made in the past wouldn't really serve the purpose of a creative competition.
It is after all about measuring what you can produce under a limited time and special conditions.
So I'm gonna have to veto Darth's contribution here! Although it's a stunning piece of art!

[Darth Mandarb]

Well, I sort of changed my mind, and would agree with Loomy here; including backgrounds made in the past wouldn't really serve the purpose of a creative competition.
It is after all about measuring what you can produce under a limited time and special conditions.
So I'm gonna have to veto Darth's contribution here! Although it's a stunning piece of art!

Totally agree and understand!  (and thanks for the kind words )

[Neil Dnuma]

I'm not at loominous' technical level, but thought I'd post anyway, since I had an idea for this.

Here's some work-in-progress too. Notice the near-perfection of the first sketch!

And finally:

I could have done more with this, but my hand hurts!

The statue is inspired by this painting by Leonardo. It has fallen off a truck.

[ildu]

Cool . I love the water-color style there. It's not the most diverse pic I've ever seen, but the colors, design and playful nature makes it very pleasant to look at. Reminds me of story book illustrations, where often the imperfections make it all the more memorable.

I hope we get some more entries, though. I most likely won't have time to do anything, but I'm gonna try and at least do something small.

[Neil Dnuma]

Thank you, Ildu Out of laziness I've had a tendency of skipping perspective/shading control lately, and things might end up pretty twisted and inconsistent, as in this pic. It often ends up more suited as a concept, communicating mood/situation... with the added naive charm, not unlike the story book style you mention! I remember staring at the fascinating errors in those old pics too

Yeah, why don't you enter too? Would love to see what you'd be thinking up for this!

[ildu]

Well, I just came up with an idea yesterday, and I've started sketching. I just don't know how much time I can spare for it this week, because of work and other stuff. I might post a sketch soon if I continue with it some.

[Nikolas]

idlu,

Please enter! I'm sure everyone would like to wait. Especially if you post scetches like Neil and Loom did! It would be awesmoe (and of course the thread will be saved )

Guys, it's a low turn out but extremely high quality contest this one! WELL DONE all of you!

[raddicks]

You guys set the bar so high I must admit I felt intimidated, but good competition only makes you try harder!

I am aware of some 'weird' lighting situations (ie: green saturated light against dusty path) this was a late change because I realised walking paths would be worn out and not green (I intended originally for the place to be somewhat viny and amazonian but it was waaaaaay to difficult getting the tree and everything else down!). It's not cleaned up, might make minor edits tomorrow. Need some shut eye -_-

EDIT: fixed it up, added vines... added a bike (Quantum Physics anyone ) will leave it as it is

[Neil Dnuma]

Need much more time, Ildu? I can wait longer (I wanna see your work), but for the sake of the activity, maybe we should try to end this within a few days.

[ildu]

Umm... yeah, the thing is... I haven't actually started yet :S. I started on the sketch of the first idea, but I got a better one, and I haven't started sketching that yet .

Still, I might be able to whip it up for a bit later. Zynd is actually coming back on the 15th, which I remember was the original extension deadline. We don't have to extend it that far, but with only 3 entries so far, we should probably extend it a little.

[Snarky]

Given the extension, it'd be a shame not to enter anything. I'm not done yet, but I thought I'd follow others' example and post the WIP:



Apologies for the in-jokeyness, I was inspired by the cheesy subtitle thread with all the "adventure games are so old-fashioned" slogans. I followed loominous' approach as best I could (I doubt anyone's interested in looking at my crappy sketches, though). Hopefully I'll be able to color it once I get that far.

Edit: I started coloring the image, but it's not coming out so well and the weekend is coming to an end, so I'll let this slightly more polished black and white version stand as my entry:



I think it works OK as a greyscale piece anyway. It has a black-and-white horror movie kind of feel.

And just for the hell of it (and even though I said I wouldn't), here are some of the intermediary steps:



1. Two of the initial sketches (I made about four) as well as a visual reminder list of things to (possibly) put in. How many AGS game references can you spot in the final version?
2. First rough version. I tried to use all those techniques that our experts keep talking about (golden ratio, negative space, fore-, mid- and background objects, diagonals, things overlapping, point of focus, etc.). I'm reasonably happy with it. Criticism is very much appreciated.

[Daniel Thomas]

ok, now im home again.. If anyone need any extensions etc tell me, otherwise ill start the voting in 24h.

[i k a r i]

Snarky you should brighten up your BG because the left part is just darkness in some monitors, like in mine.

I've pasted the image in photoshop to see if there was something else... And there is. I think is a really cool image.

Awesome BGs everyone.

I hope you don't get mad Snarky, just fooling around with this 

[Hudders]

Snarky you should brighten up your BG because the left part is just darkness in some monitors, like in mine.

In which case, you could argue, that it's your monitor that needs adjusting.

I do like your edit though.

I think if it were to be used in a game, the character would have to have a special sprite just for this room, (where they are lit from behind), to make it all tie-in nicely.

[i k a r i]

Snarky you should brighten up your BG because the left part is just darkness in some monitors, like in mine.

In which case, you could argue, that it's your monitor that needs adjusting.

Yes I could, but it happened also in my work  . Is not COMPLETE darkness, I can see a couple of white lines, but that's it. Maybe both monitors need adjusting? 

[Snarky]

I've tried it on four different screens, and it's too bright on three of them and about right on the last one. Maybe it's your eyes.  You're not using CRT monitors, are you?

I would prefer not to make it any lighter, because it's really meant to be quite dark and difficult to make out. If people want to see what's hiding there, they can always have a look at your edit. (Thanks, by the way!) There are still a number of things I'd like to fix about the image (check out the critics lounge thread), but it's really time to start the voting.

[loominous]

Sorry about the delay, I asked zyndikate to hold off the voting until I got home so I could upload the latest version.

Unfortunately I'm still stuck at work, but here's a mockup version I made yesterday, which is the most recent version that I have access to at the moment.



If you strip away the test character and interface it's very close to the latest version.

I'm gonna be home very late (if at all), so if you want to get the voting going, I'd have to use this one as my entry.

(Those hanging thingies on the right is supposed to be some sort of photographs or something, and would be animated, hence their deviant appearance.)

Edit: There are still quite some issues that I would like to deal with, and refinements to be made, which might seem odd due to the exceptionally generous deadline, but as my biggest talent is that of procrastination, I haven't really touched it more than a couple of times.

[Daniel Thomas]

Ok, lets get the votings started!
Ill leave the voting open for about 24h

Voting categories:

Idea - The underlying idea to the background. Doesn't
necessarily have to coincide perfectly with the theme of the
week, just strike you as interesting/amusing/inspiring; a place
you'd really enjoy visiting within a game.

Atmosphere - How well the image manages to evoke a certain feeling or mood.

Design - How well the elements in the image are designed,
such as landscapes, buildings, decorations, clouds, doorknobs,
etc.

Composition - How well the elements in the image work
together/are positioned in relation to each other.

Functionality - How well it would work when adding sprites, i
ncluding appropriate walking distances, a good angle for
character sprites, clever walkway solutions, easily understood
exits, etc.

Technique - How well the ideas are executed in form of
rendering.

Anyone is welcome to vote, and it would be
great if all participants could provide their own.
You don't have to vote in all categories, and
if you provide multiple names in a category,
then please be clear about which one is your pick.

[Pling!]

Idea - Unless the antique element of raddicks' entry are the eyes it is looked at through my vote goes to Snarky

Atmosphere - smirking at the family that has an epiphany while spending its holidays in italy (or any other God-fearing mediterranean country), this enlightened vote goes to Neil

Design - Loominous, you made me fall in love with a mailbox

Composition - this Blitz taught me a lot of it, so this vote duly goes to my favourite composition-teacher Loominous

Functionality - Loominous - clearly defined exits and walkable area

And one last vote for the Loominous-technique