Background Blitz - the Roaring Twenties - We have a Winner!

[Misj']

The Roaring Twenties

"The Roaring Twenties characterizes the distinctive cultural edge of the 1920s, principally in American cities, but also in Berlin and Paris, for a period of sustained economic prosperity. The phrase emphasizes the period's social, artistic, and cultural dynamism. "Normalcy" returned to politics in the wake of World War I, jazz music blossomed, the flapper redefined modern womanhood, Art Deco peaked, and finally the Wall Street Crash of 1929 ended the era, as the Great Depression set in worldwide." -- Wikipedia



This Blitz we're going to put the Jazz in our drawings as we create a scene from the pre-Wall-Street-Crash-1920's.
You'll have two rules:
1. The scene must be indoors (but there's nothing wrong with windows)
2. It has to depict the upper-class
(3. AGS compatible would be nice I guess)

here and here is some research, and don't forget to search the internet for examples of 1920's fashion for males and females, architecture, and art deco. Because it will be on the exam

Have fun everyone!

EDIT: extended for 48 hours. Voting will start the 22th

[Eric]

Whoa! I'll be able to double dip with this one for the game I'm working on. Maybe. If I can figure out how to draw backgrounds in time!

Dibs on a spot!

EDIT: Hey, one question though -- when you say it has to depict the upper-class, do you mean it needs to be an upper-class establishment? Or does it actually have to contain upper class characters?

[Misj']

EDIT: Hey, one question though -- when you say it has to depict the upper-class, do you mean it needs to be an upper-class establishment? Or does it actually have to contain upper class characters?

Since this is a background blitz characters are optional 

[WHAM]

Whelp, He Watches takes place in a house built in the late 1920's and I've gathered a bunch of reference material already.
Looks like I'm participating then, possibly with a lovely little lounge, or perhaps an upper class bedroom. This will nicely double as a chance to make progress on the game itself, too!

[Misj']

If it slipped your mind to start on a 20's background...only a few more days to go

[Eric]

If it slipped your mind to start on a 20's background...only a few more days to go

I worked on mine for a long time last night. Not sure if it'll make it by the 20th, but I'll do my best!

[LTGiants2000]

I'm not an artist but I LOVE the era...I'll have fun watching these submissions. BTW, do you have to participate to be eligible to vote?

[Misj']

BTW, do you have to participate to be eligible to vote?

Nope. An AGS-forum login is all you need...

[LTGiants2000]

BTW, do you have to participate to be eligible to vote?

Nope. An AGS-forum login is all you need...

Awesome, thanks!

[WHAM]

Work is in progress, floors and walls are done, need to add furniture. Possibly, just for spice, I might also add a dapper gentleman, though he is purely optional.

[Eric]

Here's a panicky last-minute question: any rules on size/resolution? Just needs to be usable in AGS, right?

[Misj']

Here's a panicky last-minute question: any rules on size/resolution? Just needs to be usable in AGS, right?

no resolution rules...AGS compatibility is merely a choice.

[WHAM]

Cuttin' it close and I NEED SLEEP!
Will it be okay if I post on the 20th?

[Misj']

Cuttin' it close and I NEED SLEEP!
Will it be okay if I post on the 20th?

Considering how often I ask for an extension I really doubt I'm in the position of denying anyone else that request. So I'm extending this 48 hours: Voting will start the 22nd.

Sleep well

[Eric]

Oh god, thanks WHAM. I came here to post that, pretty much, verbatim. Thanks for extending, Misj'.

[Yoke 2.0]

Pardon me for not announcing my participation before, but I really didn't know I'd participate myself. I've been playing around with SketchUp and really just used the theme of the competition as an assignment for myself.   
Also I might have included some unintended anachronisms. I think it looks more like the fifties than the twenties but, yeah...

[WHAM]

Original background in 2x size:


Allow me to present to you: Lord Wilcox, a dapper gentleman who owns this rather nice game room. Looks like he's taken off his jacket in order to relax with a nice practice game of 9-ball.

[Eric]

>OPEN LIQUOR CABINET, GET DRUNK

Oh wait...wrong thread. Two great entries. Looks like I've got some stiff competition. I'm still going to need the extra day, as I've scrapped a corner of my background (got rid of mirrors) and am having to learn how to digitally paint bronze. But I got a good night's sleep, so hopefully I'll be able to get some work done when I get home this evening.

[Eric]

I'm sorry for still not having submitted, guys. My son's teething, and I think they should start every parenting manual with, "The week that your child cuts his first teeth is going to be the longest, loudest, most sleepless week of your life."

I'm going to submit whatever I have finished at the stroke of midnight tonight. It might not be polished, but I don't want to hold up the voting process any further. Thanks for your leniency in extending the deadline, Misj'.

[CaptainD]

I think they should start every parenting manual with, "The week that your child cuts his first teeth is going to be the longest, loudest, most sleepless week of your life."

I think that comes in the NHS handbook straight after "No-one's quite sure what causes Colic and it may be upsetting when your baby cries constantly for no apparent reason, but don't worry, it usually doesn't last more than a few weeks" - !!!  Man that sentence was upsetting. 

[Eric]

Oh man, don't even say the C-word. I literally just had a shiver run up my spine remembering (Though we did eventually figure out a cause -- horrible reflux caused by a milk protein allergy. Mom went dairy free, and things have gotten much better.).

I didn't get as much done tonight as I'd hoped for aforementioned reasons. This image still needs a good polishing, a pile of steamer trunks, some perspective correction, and five characters that I've hand-drawn but not scanned and colored. But I want to enter, so let's pretend it's not still a work-in-progress, shall we?



If you're at all on the fence about anything, vote for WHAM and Yoke! They had two less days for their entries!

[Misj']

Nice entries everyone. The time has come to start voting (voting is open to anyone).

We have the usual categories:
Idea: Was it an original/creative interpretation of the theme?
Atmosphere: Was an interesting world created? - Did the scene evoke a feeling?
Design: How well the individual elements are designed, from clouds to doorknobs.
Composition: How well the elements are combined to create a pleasing whole, and lead the viewer to the points of interest.
Functionality: How well it would work as a background, with clearly defined entries and walkable areas, as well as a good viewing angle (this also includes introductionary shots of an area as long as a player character can be present in the scene).
Technique: How well it's rendered (within the chosen style!), in no way meaning the more elaborate the better.

You may elaborate on your choices, but that's optional.
I won't vote unless we have a tie.

Scaled down versions of the entries:
Yoke 2.0

WHAM

Eric


Voting ends sometime the 25th (Dutch-time)

[WHAM]

Is it just me or were there unusually few entries this time around? Oh well, votes!

Idea: ERIC - I feel like going on a trip on the Hindenburg!   
Design:YOKE - Despite the fact that I generally dislike 3D backgrounds, there are a bunch of cool little details here
Composition: ERIC - The room is divided into two clear segments by the foreground object (pillar?) and has two clear points of interest, along with a background that allows mood setting and extra detail.
Functionality: ERIC - I can already see a dialogue puzzle, and possibly a "distract the clerk and sneak onto the elevator puzzle" forming in my mind!
Technique: YOKE: Style seems a bit more consistent than Eric's, so my vote goes here.

[Andail]

My votes go to Wham.

It's not out of laziness - I actually think he wins all categories.

[Yoke 2.0]

Idea: WHAM
Atmosphere: WHAM
Design: WHAM
Composition: Eric
Functionality: WHAM
Technique: Eric

If you ever finish that background, Eric, please show us (me)! Looks really promising although at the moment perhaps a bit empty...

[LTGiants2000]

Here are my votes, but honestly all three entrants are really, really well done in their own style.

Idea: Eric
Atmosphere: Yoke 2.0
Design: Eric
Composition: Eric
Functionality: WHAM
Technique: WHAM

[Eric]

Since my esteemed colleagues have already weighed in, I suppose I should as well!

Idea: WHAM. Who is this Lord Wilcox, and why's he got such a fancy liquor cabinet? I NEED TO KNOW.
Atmosphere: Yoke 2.0.  One of the folks on my dissertation committee is a writer for those Agatha Christie games, and I could see this working well there. How is a Victrola player somehow ominous? I dunno, but you pulled it off.
Design: WHAM. There's a nice cohesiveness to this game room that suggests the world beyond it. I like the subtle things, like the different racks, the placards beneath pictures, and the abandoned cards.
Composition: Yoke 2.0. Kudos for perspective and choosing a good angle, both horizontally and vertically, to view the scene from. This is something I struggled mightily with in my background (I have to draw perspective lines, and still fail to get it right).
Functionality: TIE. I think both of these would work well in game. They'd be two different kinds of games, but both would work well nonetheless.
Technique: WHAM. Having tried and failed at pixel art many times, I have nothing but respect for those who can create objects out of nothing but tiny, tiny squares.

I hemmed and haw'd over each of my choices. Excellent work, the both of you!

[LTGiants2000]

Just in case ya'll didn't notice, the voice acting thread is up for voting too and we could use a few more. Thanks!

[WHAM]

Idea: WHAM. Who is this Lord Wilcox, and why's he got such a fancy liquor cabinet? I NEED TO KNOW.

Ah, Eric, I think you need to play He Watches when it comes out.

[LTGiants2000]

Idea: WHAM. Who is this Lord Wilcox, and why's he got such a fancy liquor cabinet? I NEED TO KNOW.

Ah, Eric, I think you need to play He Watches when it comes out.

Yea, isn't this around the time of prohibition?? Shouldn't it be a liquor cabinet disguised as a bookcase or something?

[WHAM]

I wasn't aware there was a prohibition in effect in England/Scotland in the twenties... Didn't find anything about it with a quick googling either, so I think I'm safe.

[LTGiants2000]

I wasn't aware there was a prohibition in effect in England/Scotland in the twenties... Didn't find anything about it with a quick googling either, so I think I'm safe.

Yea, I was going off of the description of the thread "principally in American cities, but also in Berlin and Paris". I thought to myself he could certainly be in Europe too. Either way, he wouldn't be the first person to openly disregard the "laws" of the time anyway.

[WHAM]

Disregarding the law is especially easy if you happen to be filthy rich and live in a mansion in the middle of nowhere.

[Yoke 2.0]

I also have alcohol visible in my bg. I bet Eric would have added that in later as well?

[LTGiants2000]

I also have alcohol visible in my bg. I bet Eric would have added that in later as well?

Had to have a stash ready JUST IN CASE the stock market crashed....that and a double barrel.

[Eric]

I also have alcohol visible in my bg. I bet Eric would have added that in later as well?

I have alcohol visible in my foreground! Well, maybe it's a glass of sweet ice tea. Depends on who's asking.

EDIT: Or...maybe it's a bucket of sweet ice tea. Should have made that lemon wedge larger!

[LTGiants2000]

I also have alcohol visible in my bg. I bet Eric would have added that in later as well?

I have alcohol visible in my foreground! Well, maybe it's a glass of sweet ice tea. Depends on who's asking.

EDIT: Or...maybe it's a bucket of sweet ice tea. Should have made that lemon wedge larger!

First thing I thought was Whiskey so....I guess ya'll hit the time period on the head!

[amateurhour]

Just noticed this was open voting, and the entries were really good, so I thought I would vote.


Idea: ERIC As far as realism goes and attention to the theme, I thought this one was the best
Atmosphere: WHAM  It looks very relaxing, but also a place where a stressful event could occur, I just see that room having multiple uses
Design: Yoke 2.0 The attention to detail in this room was definitely the best. I love that rug!
Composition: ERIC Everything in that room looks like an item worth investigating
Functionality: WHAM I feel like this would be the easiest room to navigate in a traditional adventure game, but Yoke's room is a CLOSE second place
Technique: YOKE 2.0 I've got to say that as far as technique goes, this room is the best in it's field. Lighting, texture, etc. are all really well done.

Really good work on everyone's part!

[Eric]

Entering the final day of voting and I think WHAM's about to run away with it!

[LTGiants2000]

Entering the final day of voting and I think WHAM's about to run away with it!

Maybe we'll get some last minute voters. Thanks for going over to the Voice Acting thread and voting Eric!

[Misj']

It's the 25th somewhere in the Netherlands, so it's time to end the vote and declare a winner:

and the winner is Wham! - let me be the first to congratulate you, and take it away for the next Blitz :-)

[WHAM]

Huzzah! My first win in the BG Blitz!  Am I cool now?
I'll take this evening to think up a good theme and will post the new thread tomorrow when I wake up (I won't say morning, though).

[LTGiants2000]

Huzzah! My first win in the BG Blitz!  Am I cool now?
I'll take this evening to think up a good theme and will post the new thread tomorrow when I wake up (I won't say morning, though).

Congrats!!

[Eric]

Way to go, WHAM, and congrats also Yoke on a strong showing. I hope to see both of these backgrounds in-game soon!

[Yoke 2.0]

Congratulations WHAM!
@Eric: I hope I'll get the chance to see more of your artwork soon too.