Background C&C

[pixelcat]

It's been a while since i've posted 'cause I lost my old computer/work, but I got a new system and decided to get back into adventure games again.

This is something i've been working on for a while...i'll post in the production forum once I get enough work done, but for now i'd like some feedback on the style/character.




(EDIT...)

I made a few changes...


Also, I have a walkcycle... something seems off, I think it might be the legs... any help would be appreciated.



(END EDIT...)

[EDIT 2]

New walkcycle...



Linework, speed, etc. still being worked on, but I think it looks right now.

[END EDIT 2]

Looking at it now, I think it may be a little dark, but any other comments / crits are welcome.Ã,  Thanks in advance.

[fovmester]

I love it! It's got a crisp sharpness that many backgrounds lack! The leaves and stem of the tree look simply stunning! If there's anything to complain about then it's the mushroom: I think it's the colour of the stem I don't like. Try making it more the same colour as the head of the mushroom.

[Pet Terry]

pixelcat! Nice to have you back again.

This background is quite excellent. The shading is very well done, and lighting too. I don't even think it's too dark, not on my computer at least. To be honest, I can't find anything to criticize on. I'll be looking forward to see more of your work.

Btw. I don't know if you know, but we managed to finish The Hamlet. The link is in my signature.

[pixelcat]

Thanks for the feedback.

fovmester - I know what you mean about the stem... I made it reflect the light from the hanging lights, so it seems a bit off.  I'll try changing the light colour and a few other things, 'cause I think it looked better before.

Petteri - Thanks, good to be back.  Congrats on finishing the game, it looks great, you guys did a really good job on it.

[Jade]

For me is perfect....i like the style...very neat. I look forward to see this game finished. 

[What a loser.]

Looks like the KQ7 & SQ6 backgrounds, great work!

[pixelcat]

Thanks for the comments.   I posted a walkcycle I need help with... any suggestions would be appreciated.  I think there's a problem with the legs but I can't figure it out...

[Pet Terry]

Neat! Right now it kind of looks like he is just moving his legs back and forth on oil or something. Make him raise the legs a bit when taking a step forward.

[pixelcat]

Thanks for the advice... I think this looks better.



And this one, I removed some frames:



Comments?

[skw]

Nice, reminds me of "The Creatures" game.

[ovid]

seems that the feet bounce one frame after their extreme forward extension.  might be worth looking into...

friggin lovely background!  i dig the style.

of course, i'm looking forward to this 

[JeebusSez]

Maybe involve a vague waddle?

Otherwise, that thing is cute in a it'll-kill-you-in-your-sleep kindof way.

[What a loser.]

How do you get your bg's so crisp?

[pixelcat]

Thanks for the comments.

Xarkh - Don't think i've heard of it, i'll have to check it out.

ovid - I'll take a closer look at the frames, thanks for the info and the comments.

JeebusSez - Also something i'll have to look into... I was going to do a waddle originally, dunno why I didn't.

Alias -  May be the black outlines on everything... it's not something i've really done before.  The majority of my old work was isometric / top-down, so i'm sort of new to this perspective.

I'm working on a website with game info / etc., so i'll have more to show soon.

[SpacePirateCaine]

I'm going to go ahead and agree with JeebusSez on the possibility that a waddle could improve the walkcycle - it still looks good as it is, but with the way its body is shaped, it'd probably be 'easier' for it to walk about by throwing its weight around a little bit more.

I really dig the determined look it has in the newer walkcycle - like it really wants to be where it's going, in contrast with the wide-eyed, almost mortified look of the static/old walkcycle. This character has a whole lot of personality, and will probably be a lot of fun to guide about.

This all is a really great example of how black outlines are viable in backgrounds and sprites - people generally seem to prefer the 'darker shade of the existing colors' approach, but I'd go so far as to say I almost prefer it like this. I opened it up in GraphicsGale and played around with it a bit, altering the outlines, but I really do like the black better.

As far as the background - I'm both amazed at your skill, and ashamed of my own, looking at stuff of this quality. I can find little to change in this one, if anything. For aesthetics, I'd say that if you were up to the task, it would be mind-blowingly awesome to have that background animated - the giant leaves and lights swaying in the wind, light on the mushroom's stem changing slightly with the motion of the background. Of course that's not a criticism, so much as just a suggestion, if you've got a lot of time and energy to spare.

I am duly impressed. Lovely, lovely stuff. Next time, I'll try to find something more constructive to say.

[Babar]

About the background:

For some reason, the mushroom "sticks out" of the background, as if it were 3D, and the rest of the background is 2D. Maybe it is because of the difference in colour, or because the mushroom has the most "obvious" shading in the picture. It's just something that kept drawing my eyes. Perhaps that was your intention, but I think you over-achieved it.

Sorry I am being so vague....

[pixelcat]

Thanks again for the comments.

SpacePirateCaine - Thanks for the kind words.Ã,  You've given me some good ideas... I have a few animated backgrounds, but I agree that it would be cool seeing some wind blowing through this scene.Ã,  I never even thought of animating this one, so thanks for the suggestion.

Babar - You're right, I know what you mean... I think it's because the mushroom was the first thing I drew.Ã,  I used dithering for shadows with the mushroom, so the shading looks more natural and realistic i'd say.Ã,  I guess I got lazy with the rest because they're done in a totally different style.

[EDIT]

I think I fixed the walkcycle...Ã,  I need to fix the linework/speed/etc., but I think it looks right now.

NEW

OLD

[auhsor]

I really like the newer walkcycle. It looks as though he's striding along looking quite determined. Awesome head wobbl you got going there.  It could do with maybe a frame or two more, but I do like it as is.

[UP]

He looks very angry, and a bit in a hangover, at least from his eyes...

[What a loser.]

He looks very angry, and a bit in a hangover, at least from his eyes...

Same here. He looks cute in the other one.

I think you should make the mushroom less bright, thats the main reason it looks 3D compared to the rest of the bg.