Background Blitz - Voting concluded

loominous · Thu 09/09/2010 13:06:50

Sughly · Fri 10/09/2010 04:47:26

Gah! Awesome idea, but I'm so slow that doing something with detail will take me forever

I'll hopefully get something in though...

Virgil · Fri 10/09/2010 22:24:16

Ooh, fun. Did you do that pic loominous?

loominous · Sun 12/09/2010 12:18:17

Quote from: Virgil on Fri 10/09/2010 22:24:16
Ooh, fun. Did you do that pic loominous?

I wish, but it's from Disney's Treasure Planet.

Chicky · Sun 12/09/2010 14:10:34

loominous tops Treasure Planet, lets be honest.

Pinback · Mon 13/09/2010 00:13:28

My airship harbour-

*320 x 240

*256 colours

*Cheesy lens flare

EDIT) Changed a few details that were annoying me.

EDIT) Replaced lens flare with sun

Sughly · Mon 13/09/2010 02:27:26

Just...wow, Pinback. I'm very, very impressed... it would be a veeeeery long shot of the scene, but still. Very nice...

Pinback · Mon 13/09/2010 02:50:18

Quote from: Sughly on Mon 13/09/2010 02:27:26
Just...wow, Pinback. I'm very, very impressed... it would be a veeeeery long shot of the scene, but still. Very nice...

Thanks man:) And yeah, a long walk to the harbour master's shack indeed!

loominous · Mon 13/09/2010 11:42:36

Looks great! With the risk of stepping out of line, would you consider making a lens flare free version? The image has such great potential, and what feels like photoshop trickery kinda sullies it, and clashes with the beautiful handcrafted feel of the rest. The gradient could be replaced by a cloudscape that achieves the same tones, and adds some additional depth and interest.

Just a thought.

Wonkyth · Mon 13/09/2010 13:12:37

Or you could change it to a night scene.
Lovely picture, Pinback, When do we get to see some games?

(unless of course you've already done that and I missed it

)

tzachs · Mon 13/09/2010 13:23:04

You missed it

Wonkyth · Mon 13/09/2010 13:24:29

Tankee.

Pinback · Mon 13/09/2010 16:58:08

Quote from: loominous on Mon 13/09/2010 11:42:36
Looks great! With the risk of stepping out of line, would you consider making a lens flare free version? The image has such great potential, and what feels like photoshop trickery kinda sullies it, and clashes with the beautiful handcrafted feel of the rest. The gradient could be replaced by a cloudscape that achieves the same tones, and adds some additional depth and interest.

Just a thought.

Thanks Loominous, I swapped out the lens flare on your advice- not sure why I put it in there in the first place really, I never use cheap lens flare effects. Not sure how well the sun works, the placement isn't great - I may do another version when i get time.

In answer to Wonkyth's question, I'm working on a game at the moment with a handful of other AGS'ers actually, although I'm putting of announcment until it's at a beta stage.

Dualnames · Mon 13/09/2010 17:16:59

I think I'm drooling. Can someone close my mouth for me? :o

Wonkyth · Tue 14/09/2010 13:49:22

As a kind of reassurance - if fans can reassure - the sun looks good, the colour is right and the placement adds to the twilight feel(curse that book, ruining my favourite words!).

Blue · Tue 14/09/2010 19:13:32

I'm thinking of entering, but I have a question for the host: The picture must be AGS compatible, but does that mean that it has to look like it is playable, with walkable areas?

Babar · Wed 15/09/2010 08:17:17

There are generally points given in the voting for usability, ease of comprehending exit points, etc, so I'd think that yeah, you'd usually be better off drawing a BG for normal gameplay, rather than a cutscene.

loominous · Wed 15/09/2010 14:19:05

Quote from: Blue on Tue 14/09/2010 19:13:32
The picture must be AGS compatible, but does that mean that it has to look like it is playable, with walkable areas?

Not quite sure what you mean, but if you want to make a first person game background, like Myst, then that's fine (makes the functionality category a bit confusing, but we'll work that out). But in any case, the background is supposed to be playable, in one way or another.

Matt Frith · Wed 15/09/2010 21:26:52

Hey hey. I liked the look of this topic so thought I would enter. It took me a few sketches to find an idea I liked but I eventually came up with this...

I made a little animation as well! Yay!

Hope you like it!

P.S. Pinback: I love it!

Sughly · Thu 16/09/2010 23:47:38

Holy crap... Tier that's amazing! Ok, not only am I too busy but I dare not pit myself against these two entries. Well done!

Derrick Freeland · Fri 17/09/2010 01:13:18

Tier:
That is effing sweet! Classic, and awesome.

abstauber · Sat 18/09/2010 19:56:59

Dawn at the docks

Yarrr, me first highres pic in ages!

cat · Sat 18/09/2010 20:32:07

Awesome backgrounds :o
I think we didn't have a BGBlitz with that amount of high quality entries in different styles for quite some time!

loominous · Sun 19/09/2010 12:57:44

Indeed, nice diverse entries. Voting will start in about 10 hours, anyone need a smaller extension to finish up?

Blue · Sun 19/09/2010 14:18:09

...Um... I admit these must be hard to steer indeed.
I have no idea if it still fits the theme or if I twisted it too much.

loominous · Mon 20/09/2010 00:52:06

Great idea there Blue, and fits well within the theme as far as I'm concerned.

So, time for voting. The voting will end tomorrow at the same time, unless less than three votes are in, so please place your vote asap!

Here are the categories, in code, for your voting convenience:

Code: ags

[b]Idea: [/b]
[b]Design: [/b]
[b]Functionality: [/b]
[b]Technique: [/b]

As well as all the entries:

Sughly · Mon 20/09/2010 01:53:35

Idea: Pinback I really loved everyone's take on it, but the slightly ramshackle space station in the clouds sold it for me.
Design: Tier tough one to call again
Functionality: Tier - that room is full of walkable areas with so much to interact with
Technique: Pinback - the competition was very tough, for this catagory specifically, but the technique here brings so much life and beauty to the pic - very much look forward to seeing a game in this painting style! (and by the way, Tier - yours was absolutely amazing too. Very tough to split them)

Sorry to Blue and abstauber - very good entries indeed! Had a very tough competition this time round...

Pinback · Mon 20/09/2010 11:49:30

Idea: Blue This BG is a fascinating take on the brief, nicely executed too.
Design: Tier Great design, excellent use of colour, shape and composition. A straightforward take on the brief that simply works. And works well.
Functionality: Abstauber Cool BG, and makes me want to rummage through the sacks!
Technique: Tier Awesome pixel technique.

Chicky · Mon 20/09/2010 13:48:36

Idea: Blue Original idea, no clear walkable areas though!
Design: Pinback Very interesting and strangely organic detail, lovely atmosphere.
Functionality: Tier Great background! Lots of tiny details to examine.
Technique: Blue Great quality to the rendering and the skyline is perfect!

Mad · Mon 20/09/2010 14:12:59

Idea: Blue - I like the twist on the topic.

Design: Tier - This BG looks like a probable space dock, has loads of depth, and I like the crisp, stringent colour scheme!

Functionality: Tier - A good camera angle with a huge walkable area, and there are so many possible, interesting hotspots.

Technique: Pinback - I just love the painted look of this, very atmospheric. Also, I am a sucker for pixelled, indexed BG...

cat · Mon 20/09/2010 14:17:09

Idea: Blue Most creative interpretation of the topic
Design: Tier Awesome pixelart with lots of detail
Functionality: Abstauber I see puzzles with lowering and lifting creates coming up!
Technique: Pinback Great combination of pixellated lines and smooth strokes

Atelier · Mon 20/09/2010 16:29:38

I - Blue
D - Tier
F - abstauber
T - Pinback

Alun · Mon 20/09/2010 19:16:52

Hm... okay, here go my votes:

Idea: Blue. A creative take on the theme.

Design: Pinback. Interesting angles and shading, and overall a well designed picture.

Functionality: Tier. This one and abstauber's are the two I can most see actually being a background in a game, and of the two Tier's gets the nod because it seems to have more potentially interactable areas.

Technique: Pinback. I'm not usually a fan of low-res pictures unless they're done very well, but, well, this was done very well.

Matt Frith · Mon 20/09/2010 20:11:15

Time for my votes!

Idea - Blue. Probably the most interesting interpretation of the theme.
Design - Pinback. Nice composition and I really like the airship!
Functionality - Abstauber. I can already imagine a few puzzles for this one!
Technique - Pinback. I rather like this style. It makes for a great atmosphere (also the clouds are lovely).

Snarky · Mon 20/09/2010 21:16:26

Man, I love all of these backgrounds! So much atmosphere, so well executed.

Idea: Blue
Design: Pinback
Functionality: abstauber
Technique: Blue

Although it's almost unfair to single any one piece out, I really like Blue's very strong, simple use of brushes, creating a sense of heightened realism with a small set of colors.

abstauber · Mon 20/09/2010 21:26:37

Idea: Pinback - I already loved the style of your MAGS game
Design: Tier - There's so much going on in your room. Definitely something I can't do.
Functionality: Tier - again, lot's of walkable areas, hotspots and an easy perspective for the chars to fit in.
Technique: Blue - Terrific water and sky and clouds. I also like the choice of colors.

loominous · Tue 21/09/2010 00:41:00

And the results are in:

Idea: Blue

Runner up: Pinback

Design: Tier

Close runner up: Pinback

Functionality: Tier

Close runner up: Abstauber

Technique: Pinback

Runner up: Blue

-

Most overall votes:

Tie between Pinback and Tier

With Blue as a very close (one vote) runner up.

-

Since Tier got the most votes in two categories, vs Pinback's one,
I hereby select him as the next host.

-

Abstauber's entry kinda fell through the cracks during the voting, but
deserves a special mention for its interesting original style and great atmosphere.

-

Great round everybody!

ThreeOhFour · Tue 21/09/2010 10:26:11

Just would like to say that I really liked all the entries for this competition - they were all impressive and it was fantastic to see completely different settings and styles used in each one!

Great work everyone

Anian · Tue 21/09/2010 10:29:52

Quote from: Ben304 on Tue 21/09/2010 10:26:11
Just would like to say that I really liked all the entries for this competition - they were all impressive and it was fantastic to see completely different settings and styles used in each one!

Great work everyone

Indeed, very classy edition of this competition, I'd play a game that had any of these backgrounds.

Ilyich · Tue 21/09/2010 17:32:44

Yes, awesomely awesome entries. Well done everyone!

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens · Thu 23/09/2010 07:02:31

Forgot about this but I wanted to especially point out how great Tier did with his background. Having seen his earlier work he's really come a long way in a short time and it shows in all the little details and color choice in the background. The others were nice as well!