Background Blitz: Winter (Dec 2 - Dec 16, 2011) Winner announced!

Ilyich · Fri 02/12/2011 20:00:08

This time you have to create a background with the general theme of winter.

As usual, the background has to be usable in a game and AGS-compatible.

Voting starts on December 17. Good luck!

Monsieur OUXX · Fri 02/12/2011 21:32:39

I vote for Ilyich. His background is powerful, simple, and brilliant.
'nuff said

Ilyich · Sat 03/12/2011 13:12:07

Yeah, I completely agree, I'm totally awesome!

Although, no matter how awesome I may or may no be, I probably should've mentioned the fact that the winter picture in the first post was not drawn by me, but by a man whose art is indeed powerful, simple and brilliant, namely - Craig Thompson - a wonderful comic book author. The frame comes from his splendid graphic novel "Blankets".

Secret Fawful · Sun 04/12/2011 02:53:48

Went for something resembling a matte painting from an old black and white movie.

cat · Sun 04/12/2011 08:01:28

Quote from: Ilyich on Sat 03/12/2011 13:12:07
The frame comes from his splendid graphic novel "Blankets".

You made me place an order

DrewCCU · Sun 04/12/2011 08:52:03

Since my last background wasn't that successful, I thought I'd try a different style:

Dualnames · Sun 04/12/2011 11:34:54

Secret Fawful that's great, I really LOVE LOVE LOVE your background!

Ilyich · Sun 04/12/2011 17:44:14

Looking good so far!

Secret Fawful, nice! Very atmospheric. I like how the mountains and the skies look a bit like a theatrical set behind the very realistic cabin - it gives the background a slightly gothic, creepy feeling. Along with the black-and-whiteness of it, of course.

DrewCCU - great clean lines and soft colours! It's really nice, but a bit too empty at the moment. I suggest you add something to the far background and to the foreground to make it even better.

cat, hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!

DrewCCU · Sun 04/12/2011 18:47:42

Quote from: Ilyich on Sun 04/12/2011 17:44:14
Looking good so far!

Secret Fawful, nice! Very atmospheric. I like how the mountains and the skies look a bit like a theatrical set behind the very realistic cabin - it gives the background a slightly gothic, creepy feeling. Along with the black-and-whiteness of it, of course.

DrewCCU - great clean lines and soft colours! It's really nice, but a bit too empty at the moment. I suggest you add something to the far background and to the foreground to make it even better.

cat, hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!

What if this is how the scene looks? WHy does there have to be something more? ... the game calls for an empty barren wasteland with nothing more than a tree, an igloo, and a river. What if this is exactly how I wanted this scene to look?

Mozart once said â€œI pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.â€

People would critique his work and say it should be this way and it should be that way but Mozart would say something like: Who are you to tell me what my work should sound like? It is exactly as it is suppose to sound ... not one note more, not one note less.

With that being said, I think it probably does need something else ...

Coda Frost · Sun 04/12/2011 20:59:40

Hi. I'm new around here, and a complete newbie to drawing as well.
Just learning a few things, but thought I would join in on the fun!

nihilyst · Sun 04/12/2011 23:18:04

After quite some time, I finally decided to enter again. So here's mine.

2x

Ilyich · Mon 05/12/2011 09:10:33

Wow, 4 entries and 1 sold copy of "Blankets" in 3 days!

Great! Keep those entries coming, people!

Coda Frost, that's pretty good for a newbie, and quite disturbing, which i assume is what you were aiming for.

nihilyst, love it! Wonderful use of the retro palette and perfectly captured feeling of a chilly morning on the outskirts of the city!

DrewCCU, I'm not saying you have to add something, it's definitely up to you, just offering some subjective friendly advice.

nihilyst · Mon 05/12/2011 13:19:58

Quote from: Ilyich on Mon 05/12/2011 09:10:33
... and 1 sold copy of "Blankets" in 3 days!

Make that two

DrewCCU · Mon 05/12/2011 15:02:54

Quote from: Ilyich on Mon 05/12/2011 09:10:33
DrewCCU, I'm not saying you have to add something, it's definitely up to you, just offering some subjective friendly advice.

I know, I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't in the best of moods when I wrote that.

Armageddon · Tue 06/12/2011 03:16:51

Well this didn't turn out well.

Darkdan · Tue 06/12/2011 14:07:50

My first try...

Babar · Tue 06/12/2011 15:05:11

Hahahah....wow, Darkdan, despite being a very different style from it, that background instantly reminded me of the snowy areas of King's Quest V. Now I'm trying to imagine King's Quest V in that style

King's Quest V in the Mountain Area

(maybe that image could give some others inspiration as well...)

Anian · Tue 06/12/2011 21:57:08

This is a work in progress, modeling and uvmapping is done still needs texturing and lighting...and snow, but I got some work to do so I'll probably finish it tomorrow night.

EDIT: I am nearly finished with this
EDIT numero duo:

I wouldn't say it's finished, but I'm fed up and the deadline has come.

Ilyich · Fri 09/12/2011 21:01:05

Okay, so, 7 entries in a week? Wow! I dare you to maintain the same rate for the second week of the blitz!

Armageddon - it may not be the best background ever, but I sure love the bizarre pink house with the green door! I wish people painted their actual houses this way - the world would've been a better place for it.

Darkdan, that's very nice! Great clean vector art with good use of repeating shapes. And it makes me want to play Skyrim some more.

anian, can't wait to see this finished, I'm sure it will look great!

Babar, ooh, that's beautiful! I think I should give King's Quest V another try.

Secret Fawful · Fri 09/12/2011 21:05:44

Wow, there are some insanely great entries here. I'm surprised to see no Christmas-y stuff, though.

Daniel Thomas · Tue 13/12/2011 17:34:13

Santa's factory.

Armageddon · Wed 14/12/2011 08:02:13

We have our winner!

Ilyich · Thu 15/12/2011 21:43:13

zyndikate, oh, my... I always expect something awesome when I see your nickname in the Background Blitz threads, but somehow you manage to leave me pleasantly surprised every time.

Great job!

anian, lovely!

Last day to submit your entries, people! If you are working on something and need a little more time - just let me know and I'll be happy to give you an extension.

oraxon · Thu 15/12/2011 23:17:13

Great to see the big turnout! Cool pix, everyone.

Snowflake gears in the white queen's winter palace.
Inspired by Macy's department store window displays.

Ilyich · Sat 17/12/2011 06:53:36

oraxon, that's great! I really like it, it has some lovely hand-made feel to it , and very stylish at the same time.

A-aand it's time to vote! It's going to be tough - with 9 great and very different entries, but that's your problem now, isn't it?

Here are the traditional 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.

Code: ags

Code:
[b]Idea[/b] -
[b]Atmosphere[/b] -
[b]Design[/b] -
[b]Composition[/b] -
[b]Functionality[/b] -
[b]Technique[/b] -

The voting will end on Monday, at about this time. Good luck and may the best background win!

Armageddon · Sat 17/12/2011 06:56:54

Idea - oraxon
Atmosphere - zyndikate
Design - nihilyst
Composition - Darkdan
Functionality - nihilyst
Technique - zyndikate

Anian · Sat 17/12/2011 11:36:08

Idea - oraxon
Atmosphere - zyndikate
Design - DrewCCU
Composition - oraxon
Functionality - nihilyst
Technique - Darkdan

Babar · Sat 17/12/2011 11:41:35

Idea - oraxon
Atmosphere - nihilyst
Design - Darkdan
Composition - zyndikate
Functionality - Darkdan
Technique - nihilyst

Tabata · Sat 17/12/2011 11:50:10

Boah â€" why are there so much wonderful entries? :o
The different styles doesn't make it easier to decide *grmbl*

(took me about half an hour of admire the bg's for a decision)
There are defintely too much participants being brilliant in their style

Idea - oraxon
Atmosphere - Secret Fawful
(nearly impossible - all the scenes are interesting and evoke a feeling, from curious over creepy to lonely ..., so I choose the one with the strongest pure winterfeeling)
Design - anian
Composition - zyndikate
Functionality - nihilyst
Technique - Darkdan

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens · Sun 18/12/2011 08:04:56

Idea: oraxon. Until I saw his entry I was having real trouble coming up with a solid choice. The snowflake gears were a cool idea.
Atmosphere: Fawful. Does he still have fury? I think so! Looks like a cold place to be.
Design: Zyndicate. Very solid work here, everything in the image draws you toward the looming workshop (even the tips of the trees).
Composition: Zyndicate. It does everything it sets out to do.
Functionality:anian. It was a toss up between anian and oraxon on this one, but anian's choice of perspective allows the player more to do and interact with.
Technique: Zyndicate. Some interesting use of color, though it almost makes everything look spooky and forbidding. It's certainly a different approach to the topic.

cat · Sun 18/12/2011 09:41:00

Wow, this is really hard to decide. So many great entries!

Idea - oraxon
Atmosphere - Coda Frost. What I did like best here was not the foreground, but the smooth, long shadows in the background
Design - Darkdan
Composition - nihilyst
Functionality - A close one between nihilyst and anian but I'll go with anian here
Technique - nihilyst

Darkdan · Sun 18/12/2011 13:44:09

Idea - oraxon
Atmosphere - Secret Fawful
Design - oraxon
Composition - zyndikate
Functionality - anian
Technique - nihilyst

Coda Frost · Sun 18/12/2011 19:58:54

Cat, thanks for the vote! As a complete newb, I am happy to see that I received any votes at all!

GREAT entries, everyone!

Idea - Oraxon
Atmosphere - Fawful
Design - Nihilyst
Composition - Zyndikate
Functionality - Anian
Technique - Zyndikate

Daniel Thomas · Mon 19/12/2011 13:51:40

Idea - Oraxon
Atmosphere - anian
Design - darkdan
Composition - nihilyst
Functionality - nihilyst
Technique - nihilyst

Ilyich · Mon 19/12/2011 15:02:51

Okay, let's wrap this up! First - my votes:
Idea - oraxon - I really like your semi-abstract approach - you walk the thin line between very obvious and highly original, and always with exciting results.
Atmosphere - nihilyst - it has a really strong and tangible winter atmosphere and it feels very familiar to me personally.
Design - zyndikate - there's quite a lot of nice, interesting choices here and much more designing than in any other entry.
Composition - zyndikate - it directs the eye very well and creates a visually pleasing, harmonious whole.
Functionality - nihilyst - if I were to choose which of the backgrounds should be turned into a game it would definitely be this one.
Technique - zyndikate - no comments.

And the final results are:
3rd place: oraxon: ************
2nd place: zyndikate: **************
1st place: nihilyst: ***************

And so, nihilyst is our winner! Congratulations! You get a golden snowflake (that's right, not ridiculous at all

)!

zyndikate wins a silver snowflake, which at least looks a bit like a real snowflake, but is barely visible on the forums' lighter background!

oraxon gets a tinfoil snowflake, which may sound more like an insult than a trophy, but in fact is much better than no snowflake at all!

Every other participant gets a paper snowflake!

Big thanks to everyone who participated, hope you had fun! Take it away, nihilyst!

nihilyst · Tue 20/12/2011 22:39:29

Geez, now I feel bad that I didn't vote in time, seeing that almost all participants voted. If so, zyndikate would have won for sure.

But thanks anyhow. I'll start a new round tomorrow.