Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: evilspacefart on Thu 02/10/2003 07:29:49

Title: a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: evilspacefart on Thu 02/10/2003 07:29:49
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/dork.gif)

:-\ He is always getting picked on by mean people and now his only friend is dying from an epidemic ravaging the countryside.

Main character for a very small game (sidetracking from my main game for a bit) with a quest for a cure.

Is the theme too cliche? Does he look too dorky?

* EDIT *

I guess if he isn't dorky then he wouldn't be lonely. So he's dorky looking.
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: auhsor on Thu 02/10/2003 07:40:00
Looks awesome. Could do with a little more shading though.
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: WanderLady on Thu 02/10/2003 08:51:27
This is very good. Simple, playable. Looks strong for a little guy.

Whether the theme is cliche or not, it sounds like a good story and I hope you go through with it.

However, in this characters case, may I suggest changing the black outline and eradicating the double pixels. Also, the left arm doesn't seem to be as thick as the right one.

I'm sorry, I have a habit of this:
(http://www.freewebs.com/wanderlady/ESP.PNG)(http://www.freewebs.com/wanderlady/ESP2Black.PNG)
Did those things I stated, changed the shade and mouth color and added very little shading under the eyes. Blah...someone else could do it better but just to show....

I wish I had a broader vocabulary to give you a better word than awesome, but that's what it is.

EDIT: added black outline for comparison
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: auhsor on Thu 02/10/2003 09:25:04
Funny, cos i like the black border. At least on this pic.
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: TheYak on Thu 02/10/2003 21:04:02
Yep, I like the black border.  Normally, you wouldn't hear my whine about double-pixels but in this case, I think they would be better eliminated.  Since it's a smooth/blobby sort of character, the jagged lines break the flow of the outlining.  Since it's got some shading, I think it'd be a little better with a bit more of it.  The simple design and character in this avatar is excellent, you would have a lot of interesting animation options and added versatility.  

Looks quite a bit like the tree-spirits from Princess Mononoke...  ;)
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: evilspacefart on Fri 03/10/2003 02:15:47
nice fix, wanderlady! you got it right there with the arm being better proportioned. (you should do some spriting for people *hint hint*)

i agree with you guys on the shading and the black outlining. i'll do my best to fix the double pixels.
and yes, i realise he does look like a tree spirit.
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: Femme Stab Mode >:D on Fri 03/10/2003 05:02:12
Aww, that alien is cute ^-^, I would play any game that has this little character in it, even if it would burn cars or something to that effect. the black border is fine, I like it, and I think that the belly doesn't need to be rounded like wanderlady did, it makes him look a bit too .... fat.
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: TheYak on Fri 03/10/2003 18:19:44
No.. I would play any game with this character in it, ESPECIALLY if he burned cars and kicked nuns.   ;D
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: evilspacefart on Wed 08/10/2003 08:21:50
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/spacevillage.gif)

I don't know about the nuns, but he might burn a car or two.  ;)

Here's our buddy now with some shading.
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: loominous on Wed 08/10/2003 09:16:17
I think the first version had a lot more character than this last one; the eyes n posture in particular.

The new version makes him seem, imo, like an annoying, cranky child, ready to call his mom at any moment; as opposed to the first version which made a very sympathetic impression on me.
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: evilspacefart on Thu 09/10/2003 08:06:37
Hmmm... let's try making him less child-like...

(http://www.tentimesnothing.com/spacevillage2.gif)

Here he is, less cranky child looking, in addition to making him a bit shorter.
I have to agree with loominus, I feel more sympathetic towards the first one. Maybe he needs to be a little more shorter?
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: Gilbert on Thu 09/10/2003 11:20:07
Actually it still lacks the personality the original carried, IMO the original didn't need any modification (unless you mean the current one is just another frame, the original one is still included). Try paste the ORIGINAL alien into the current one side by the new one and you'll see. Several observations from me:

1. The feet of the new one are too long and thick
2. The head is not large enough  and not "broad" enough in the new one
3. You had shrinkened the eyes, but I like the original one's larger eyes more, the reason the middle version didn't look as good was not because of their size, but because they're too round in shape
4. I miss the 2 colour lines in the belly and his leg, they sure give him more defined shape and details, even more useful than the shadings you added (I don't mean you have to remove the shadings though)

That's just my personal opinion, hope you won't mind.
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: evilspacefart on Fri 10/10/2003 05:44:20
Is this better? (I was gonna shade him better, but got tired...)

(http://www.tentimesnothing.com/spacevillage.gif)

fixed the long feet
broader head
eyes a little larger but not shaped to round, mouth further down on the face
put the simple shadings back
of course, fixed the arm size
IMO still looks like a tree spirit, but thats not a bad thing  ;D
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: Gilbert on Fri 10/10/2003 08:35:15
Much better IMO, but I think the right leg of the original one had magical curve on it that makes it looked good.
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: Penguinx on Fri 10/10/2003 16:21:23
I really like the re-done left arm on the character vs. the left arm of the first version. The proportion may be a lot better on this new version, but it seems to lack some of the style of the first version. I think the second, darker shade of yellow you used in the first version would be good to use on the new version.

I think the character, as he is now, is probably the best combination of the look of the first version and the proportions of the second.
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: Dave Gilbert on Fri 10/10/2003 16:46:32
Gah... cute overload... must... fight... urge... to.. poke the belly!
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: loominous on Fri 10/10/2003 18:47:32
I like the new version better. But still, why not use the first one? As I see it it s still the best one. Some shading is all that it might need.
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: WanderLady on Fri 10/10/2003 19:11:02
Hi esf,

Your first rendition is definitely the best. Just looking at him conveys emotion. I hope I didn't discourage you by editing him. What your doing and what you've done is, by far, better than anything I could do. I just like to fiddle with Bg's and characters.

If you keep fixing it b/c it looks like a tree spirit, don't worry about that. Personally, I'd never heard of one, so it was new to me. If you used it as an example then give credit, but if not then it's yours.

I hope you continue on with this project. It does sound like a good one...well, except for the nun and burning car parts. I dig that background.


Peace
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: evilspacefart on Sun 12/10/2003 01:51:15
Thanks for comments.
Let's try one more time.

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/zugg.gif)

legs are bit more rounded, making him look more sturdy.
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: remixor on Mon 13/10/2003 04:12:19
I've got to admit, I still prefer your first one.  However, your last one is definitely second best.  This character RULES.  Make the game now!
Title: Re:a lonely insignificant alien
Post by: Gemmalah on Mon 13/10/2003 10:51:49
it is so cute, the first picture is adorable, can't make much sence of the rest, is it a he or a she? that may effect thr personality somewhat.