Artwork: south walkcycle issue, *UPDATE* 01/05/04

[powerhouse]

Yeah you'll want to try out 3D programs before you buy them.  You can get Simply 3D for $5 at Best Buy (in USA).  The trick is to export Wavefront OBJ files or at least DXF files.  Also Poser isn't free so you might find other programs more useful.

For instance, Flash is used for animation because you can set keyframes in an instant, and move according to a heirarchy so walking animations are easier.  In Flash draw a foot.  Make it an Object.  Draw a leg, make it an Object.  Attach leg to foot and make it an object.  Copy the result and flip it for two legs.  Also Flash has layers.

Plus Flash can be used for lots of other things so it's more 'worth it' if you want to start building a legitimate software library.  It's always great to be able to support the companies that make these great programs!

[MrColossal]

word of warning...

to sit down and teach yourself 3d will take years and years and frustration and anger and kill everyone

i think you're doing amazing work and that walk cycle is really nice

the time it will take you to learn all these new programs will, in my opinion, be better spent on working on your game the way you are now.

[evilspacefart]

amen, brother.

[jaz]

Hey, no, I´m not that naive to think I could achieve something worthy using 3D rendering myself. No! To make things clear: I´m not going to buy any "Maya for n00bs" handbooks and foolishly jump into world of 3D.

I´m pretty much aware of the fact that it took me some years to gain certain profficiency in 2D programs that are maybe easier to use.

What I was considering was an offer. If somebody is willing to help and produce animation cells in accordance with my design and keyframes, why turn it down without even thinking about it? . Of course a full credit for animation would be given to such person.

I´m just willing to try it and hell, why not? ´What can I loose? If it works, excellent. If not - Ok, I´m going to hand animate that like nothing has happened.

So, evilspacefart, I´m not another lost soul and far from being n00b that loves 2D one day and hails to 3D the other after watching Final Fantasy.

BTW, I´m 90% sure that I will have to stick with 2D hand anim.

jaz

[Paper Carnival]

I'd recommend Moho. It's vector based (like Flash) but much more easier and powerful when it comes to 2d animations, as this is an animating program. You can even have 2d bone animation, which makes animating characters a lot faster. It's also quite easy to "fake" 3d (for cutscenes probably). It's a bit hard to learn, but there are great tutorials with it which explain everything. In two or three days you'll know how to animate your character.

As for 3d, u could always make a character in a program and then render him as cell-shaded. I don't like 3d in adventure games, but I wouldn't mind at all (infact, I'd probably prefer it) if the game is cell-shaded.

EDIT: I already have made a right walking animation (though I'm still working on the south one) in Moho, so I can give it to u as you want. You can then completely change the character, then bind the points to the bones. Then, u'll have a complete animation without even animating . PM me if u are interested

[Eggie]

Lovely style.

[powerhouse]

Lovely style.

Eggie is right.  Your style will come through no matter what 'tool' you decide to go with to express your style.  So far your style in my opinion is, 1. Nice Airbrush, 2. Nice Lines 3. Nice Character

You can always improve gradient skills with Airbrushing, and you could clean up your lines a bit on the animation (I can see your eraser marks lol).  I used to practice airbrushing on anything I could find!  So there's plenty to do for now.  When you are ready for a new software program, dive in.  Then you can share files with other people and work off each others comments.

[jaz]

powerhouse,
as I have said in one of my previous posts, these are just sorta skethes of animations so yes, there are eraser marks and they are a bit smudgy since i took me a lot of time getting each frame right. Once I´ll be satisfied with movement, I wil redraw all the frames to make the character look more detailed. It´s like a pencil sketch waiting to be inked.

jaz