Well, after my comp was pushed of the desk and busted, I finally have a new computer and started to experiment with different styles of bgs. I can do this style pretty easily, but would it be sufficient enough for a game? C&C and paintover the hell out of it :P
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/OUSIDE.png)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/OUSIDE.png)
Mmm, with a Tall character-"realistic" type it seems to be greats bgs. This concretely maybe needs two or three details more, and maybe a retouch of illumination (I'm not sure if this illumination is the best to this bg, i'm not know to be more specific. (Maybe more Shadows in the shadows and more ligth in the ligth. Is night, no?
One thing I see bad, is the far view of the left, maybe to line-fuzzy and low detailed.
Looks great, reminds me of Adventures of Fatman (http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/adventures-of-fatman-toxic-revenge/screenshots). I think it's well composed and shaded (the light source seems to be behind the player's viewpoint?). I would add a bit of diagonal glare in the windows though, as they are now they look more like blackboards. Or perhaps show some dark gray silhouettes of what's inside?
Looking good!
I would make all vertical lines in the brick wall straight though to avoid wonkyness.
This style would certainly work so keep it up! A small thing. Those garden tiles should be underground for the most part. Otherwise you might trip over.
Simple, too dark, boring, functional.
Your background is very common style among AGS users, and I got good news - that group of users who actually do release a game every now and often. Mainly because goals are reasonable and everything is functional, yet quick and simple enough to draw.
I suggest adding a bit of detail to the building wall, like something on windows and some cracks and bricks, but there's nothing much more I could imagine there. Just add last touch to it and move on to next one. Your potential to make games with this style is high.
Only crit I could give is that door is fairly large. Do you imagine the size of character for room like this? Is it easy to draw? Would it look good?
Anyway, well done. You chose a working formula.
I think I'm done with this one...
I added a few details...
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/OUSIDEdetails.png)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/OUSIDEdetails.png)
thanks for all the support!
Nice work. I think the cracks in the tiles draw a bit too much attention. Try making them a bit lighter and with shading like those on the wall.
I think you need to straighten out some of the lines on the tiles and on the road as they look fuzzy and lazily done.
Looks dark and chilling, excactly the right mood for zombies ;)
Just two things:
- I think the tiles are still too high. Usually there is no height difference between tiles and the surrounding grass.
- The shading on the little box left of the door seems odd. The wall next to it has its shading to the right while the box has it to the left. (But I'm the first one to mention this, so maybe it's just me)
Edit with the aforementioned suggestions...
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/OUSIDEdetails2.png)
This is probably my last edit for now; gotta move on ;)
I think cleaning up the shadows would really help improve this! I know you gotta move on, but it would take but a few minutes and would, to my opinion, really help make this better!
The shadows are just inconsistent (with no visual light source to make them so). The little power outlet (to the left of the door) is casting a shadow towards the wall, but according to the shadowing of the wall that little power outlet should (possibly) be in shadow itself. If the green 'keypad' thing to the right of the door is the light source it's not clear enough (I mean it doesn't look like it's bright enough to cause such illumination). Not sure if any of that makes sense!
I am at work now and can't do an edit ... if I have time later tonight I'll throw something together to demonstrate what I mean!
I always get excited waiting for Darth Mandarb's paintovers ;D
anyway, I did a character based on one I drew a long time ago. I adapted him to fit the BG. A little Trilby-ish I know...
Damien Keyes:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/dkpost.png)(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/dkpost.png)
In the bg:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/OUSIDEwithdk.png)
I didn't spend as much time on this as I would have liked (and the shadows were done by eye with no lines for perspective or anything!) but it's late, and my eyes are aching to close!!
(http://www.twin-design.com/ags/help/suitor_help01.png)
I intentionally made the shadows darker than I normally would have just to show the different light source idea (a light post to the left of the screen)
I must apologize ... but for some reason I cannot find the PSD (and I did save it) for this ... so if you like it and/or want to use this edit you'll have to recreate it on your own (to get the layers I mean!) I don't know ... this just gives the light/shadows a more consistent feel (to me). Less "pillow" shading.
Hope it helps.
*Alar do an aplausse
Oh yeah, It's getting really fine! For me is nearby ready.
But the character seems a Little Thin. A little, but makes good look.
I really like it! I saw how you improved with the help of the others, and I really do like it!
possibly the last edit... :P
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/OUSIDEdetailsbetter.png)
thanks for all the help!
for the character you use in the sample, I prefer Darth Mandarb Bg. (the use of color is more cartonish, like the Character)
If the character was more realistic, I would prefer your last bg edit.
Nice touch with the hint of green on the door handle. I like it!
Not as sure about the dithering, but if you want to keep your colur count down I guess it is the only way to do it...
I agree with Alarconte, that Darth's background fits better with the character. But not in terms of style, only in terms of lighting. You could make him fit very well into your latest background by using region shading and/or tinting.
I think your other edit looked great... i.e. before dithering.
This one:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/OUSIDEwithdk.png)
It fits with your character better.
Maybe just simplify the shadows a bit to get rid of the rogue ones you were worried about, for example the object left of the door.
Some tests...
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/outsidetestchar.png)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/dkviews.png)
EDIT: Made the face thinner in down view and added nose
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc46/dntlookdown/dkviews2-1.png)
Nice one- this can be easily style of whole game. :)
Something that may or may not interest you, depending on whether or not you think you've spent too much time on this 1 BG:
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/noutlines1.gif)
No Outlines vs Outlines
Considering your character style, I thought you might find no outlines to look nicer.
I really like how this has come along. The characters pose in the front and back views is a little stiff and strange. I think rounding up the arms could losen him up a bit.
I prefer the new version of the character. The drawing is simpler and fits better with the simple style of the background. Yes, he looks a bit thin, but hey, some people are thin. Last year's model looks to me like he's holding his breath but this year's looks very natural.