Background is annoying me.

[markbilly]

This background has been annoying me for a while now. I'm fairly happy with the bits inside the windows, but really don't know what to do to make the corridor aspect more appealing. The colours are also horrible, and I can't find the right combination...

Generally just frustrated. Advice, ideas and paintovers all equally welcome.



It is a background used for a cutscene. It is supposed to be a medical area of a facility. The cutscene works by following a character down the corridor (scrolling) to reveal the end window and then a conversation between the two characters is seen.

Thanks in advance!

x2

[Mr Flibble]

I'd add some lights to the corridor to make it really clear that it IS a corridor. This would also add some visual interest, solving your other problem. As for the colours, I think they're fine.

It also took me a while to notice the doors are doors, so maybe a bit of detail picked out of those by the lights?

[markbilly]

Oh crumbs, I forgot to colour the doors before uploading. Excuse me! :S

EDIT: I've fixed the doors.

I'll have a go at some lighting next.

[Andorxor]

More details in the corridor would make it more interesting.

[Jakerpot]

make the walls rusty, the doors more detailed, PUT SOME DETAILS ON IT! choose what kind of materials are the walls, doors and others (wood, metal etc...) the walls could have some screws and another details that would make it more interesting.

[markbilly]

Thanks for the critique everyone!

@Andorxor: I like the little screens, that's a great idea. I'm just working of the lights at the moment, then I'll add some screens that are consistent with the computer behind the window.

@Jakerpot: Rust wouldn't really fit. I see what you are saying though about texture. I'm adding some light sources and with this some shadow. This should achieve the texture, hopefully.

[Takyon]

what's your game about mark billy? that blue figure looks like an alien of some kind

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

For lighting, I'd go with something that maintains the ominous mood you have going, so I made an edit with a blue fluorescent light fixture and some very basic highlights.



You may or may not want more lights in the hall, but I think a simple application of lighting helps establish the mood.  I also altered the doors somewhat to make them more obvious.  I hope this helps!

[cat]

What about some emergency exit lights? They would fit in such a corridor and are not too bright.

[markbilly]

what's your game about mark billy? that blue figure looks like an alien of some kind

It's not alien, it's human. Just floating in the cylinder (a bit like a bacta tank from Star Wars). I hope this conveys well actually, the purple might be a bit much. Maybe I should reduce the purple tint on the character?

ProgZ: I like your edit lots, actually. I've just finished doing some lights all down the corridor, but it doesn't maintain the mood as well as yours does. Love the door signs too!

Here's the edit:



x2



What do people think? Does ProgZ's edit work better?

[Takyon]

Yeah maybe less purple, what's your game about looks interesting?

I personally prefer your second edit.

[markbilly]

It's been in and out of production for a while, I've just sorted the story and the direction I want to take it in terms of art. I posted about it here:

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=35801.0

I don't really want to give anything away yet. When a good amount more is done i.e. enough for a demo I'll release some info in the GiP board.

It's a sci fi story, set in a unspecified future, basically.

Thanks for the interest, anyway. I'm working on adapting ProgZ idea to fit my style, then I'll post both because I'm not too sure about my second edit myself...

EDIT: Here they both are. With edited character colours too...

[Takyon]

Look really good I'm looking forward to a demo. I'd help in anyway possible but I myself am learning to script etc and getting the hang of AGS for my game.

Your game looks very interesting though, I'm actually playing BASS at the moment and really like it I'd be eager to play your game also .

Will there be voice acting in the final version?

I like both the designs but I personally think your 2nd edit makes it look more like a corridor.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I'm glad you like the doors, but I'm sure you can come up with more creative designs than what I did .  Also, I quite like how you approached the lighting, though I think realistically that having lights shining up at a person would be distracting.

[markbilly]

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm going with the adapted ProgZ edit (if he doesn't mind?). I'll be changing the doors a bit, too...

The other one was nice, but the lights were too obtrusive in the scene. ProgZ idea was a lot more subtle.

Thanks again!

[InCreator]

Maybe you'd want to use more dramatic lights here?

Like going from here

more towards here


Maybe not so heavily and contrasty, but still?

What I did: In photoshop - duplicated image layer, cranked contrast and and brightness up, gaussian blur 5,7px, set layer mode to overlay at 100%(or was it hard light? can't remember, either one works a bit differently) and with a soft eraser, erased areas around lights ot make some artificial glow.

It's a bit extreme (and too dark, just to show difference better), but still, looks far more mysterious and interesting. Gray is most dull color of them all, and I usually try to avoid it or use high contrast lights to drag viewer away from it. Now if those door numbers would also be brighter orange, like glowing in darkness on my image, it would look really atmospheric.

Of course, many here disagree with blurry edit and prefer cleaner, safe-saturated looks of the original.

[rbaleksandar]

Dunno how it's by you, but this blur-effect hurts my eyes.

[markbilly]

I've darkened/constasted up the corridor bit, because I know what you mean. I'm not a fan of the blur on yours though. It looks very atmospheric but I doesn't suit the style I'm pixelling in...

[Jakerpot]

InCreator, i think his style don't fit with your edit.
I think the 2 and the 3 windows are very similar, the tubes there are looking like they was copied and pasteed and then just inverted horizontally, maybe put the cables in a diferent order will do the trick?

Here is my edit, hope you like it:

[rbaleksandar]

What's the difference between this (made by markbilly):

and yours:


Except of one cable in the middle room.

PS: I like this version with the light coming from the floor more.
btw Would be nice to add some lights above the doors - red and green. Red shows that the door is locked, green - that it's unlocked. Something like that (you'll do it better ):