Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: on Wed 20/07/2005 21:51:17

Title: C&C for my main character: UPDATE
Post by: on Wed 20/07/2005 21:51:17
Hi, this is a working sketch of Beverly McLaughlan, the main character for my game Daemons In The Attic (there was a demo on the boards a while ago).
I also included her static frames in original size (for 320x240)Ã,  and double size to make them better visible on-screen.

Bev is to be a student who gets mixed up in a strange bet; the game's a ghost story set in the present.

Any feedback, constructive criticism, repaints and suggestions are welcome; I really wish to improve my art- as you see, I'm no mean performer on the pencil, but pixel art is rather new to me. It would also be nice to hear how she looks to you- that is, what kind of character do you think she is.

Thanks in advanceÃ,  ;)

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/bev2_for_cc.jpg)





Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Wed 20/07/2005 23:48:35
I don't see a need for a paintover here (your style is clean and seems to suit the concept sketch) other than for the right arm and shoulder in the angled perspective sprite.  I would do an edit but the jpg artifacting would make it useless.  A tip for the critics lounge is if you want edits, try saving your image in a clean format like gif or png.  Nice work.
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: Floskfinger on Thu 21/07/2005 00:19:55
you could change the side view of you character so that her head is facing to the left (intead of facing the player). But that's only how I'd do it . Otherwise I like your art!
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: Dambuilder on Thu 21/07/2005 01:30:06
Really looks good to me. Nicely detailed too.
I'd love to see her animated!  ;D

As for her character...
I'd suppose her to be the cheery, sassy type who can't keep out of trouble.
(She actually reminds me of Minnie-May from Gunsmith Cats, somehow. ^^;)
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: on Thu 21/07/2005 06:59:13
I'll remember the tip about the file format, I thought the artifacts wouldn't be too much, but you're right, they do show up...

Here's a "clean" image for her static poses...

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/bev_crisp.PCX)
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: big brother on Thu 21/07/2005 11:23:15
You should do something about the row of double pixels where her legs meet. Also try making a greater difference between the value of the outlining color and the value of the interior color.
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: Anarcho on Thu 21/07/2005 15:04:22
Those are some awesome sprites Ghost.  My only suggestion would be to use a little more shading around the edges of her legs and arms to make her a little less flat.  But then again, the sprite already looks great.
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: Pod on Thu 21/07/2005 18:48:31
What's wrong with PNG or GIF? :(
I cba downloading and opening pcx's!
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: aussie on Thu 21/07/2005 19:42:55
Daemons in the Attic!!! Now, that's a blast from the past.

Great to see that project wasn't dropped. The demo looked awesome. I still have in on my hard drive.

I love that Bev sprite. Just one small comment for the front view: as it is, it looks a tiny bit too symmetrical.

As opposed to boys, girls usually have a more stylish standing pose, that is, they usually lean to one of the sides. Her hand on her heap might also be a good effect.
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: vict0r on Thu 21/07/2005 21:41:14
Thats really nice! But i cant seem to open the second sprite you are showing :-\ But the sprites are in fact really really great! (you wouldn't be interested in making character sprites for my game? :P check the "The Dread of the Dead" thread :))
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: on Sat 23/07/2005 20:19:18
I checked your thread and must say that it seems a worthy challenge to create a good "zombie adventure" game. I suggest you do it in the Call Of Chutulluh (it's not really spelled that way, is it?).

unfortunately, as much as I'd like to say, yes, I'll do the graphics, I work on a very tight shedule and can't say if I can keep my promises... if you can live with an unreliable artist that's okay, and I'll happily give it a go, but I'd rather say... I might help out a bit.
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: vict0r on Sat 23/07/2005 20:35:29
Since i now have no character designer at all im more than happy to recieve some help :) (no mather how unreliable it is) I dont really know what chutulluh is so i dont know what to say :P but i dont have any real hurry so you can take your time:P
(p.s. i only need character sprites)
Thanks :)
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: on Sun 24/07/2005 10:58:31
good then. send me a description of the characters you have in mind, I'll give it a try.
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: vict0r on Sun 24/07/2005 23:56:54
Thanks a lot!
Right now i have only the discription of the main character. He is supposed to be an automechanic about 25 years old. Since he is an automechanic he could have some oil-stained clothes or something. Dont have any more discriptions right now so just knock yourself out really :P

Thanks alot in advance! :)
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: LilBlueSmurf on Mon 25/07/2005 03:00:00
I like it alot.  Very nice clean simple style. Thats being said...

- I would change the breast on the diagonal pose, maybe just shade it with the color you used on the front, it looks odd how it is.
- Along those same lines, darken the outline color on the pants, I think it looks a bit too flat. (same on undershirt possibly)
- The double pixel in the middle of the pants, although I don't think that it is bad how it is, you may get it to look better if you fiddle with it a bit.
- The full shade on the bottom of the backside t-shirt doesn't seem to fit, looks more like a shirt that fades to a darker color than a shadow to me.
- What about a button on the pocket on the diagonal?
- And last, on the front and back, possibly adding a pixel to the pockets so they look more like the flap on the middle, it might look odd though, don't know.

I attached a quick edit so you can see my ideas in case they are unclear, some other small stuff changed cause I was just playin around :)

(http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/4432/bevcrispover8qm.png) (http://imageshack.us)
Title: Re: C&C for my main character
Post by: on Wed 24/08/2005 01:29:23
I have spent some time on refining the sprites for Beverly, and this is
the result in all its gloryÃ,  :D.

I added a good deal of shading to make her look more solid (and less flat),
while I tried to maintain the comic look. Especially the shirt looks a good deal
better I think.
I added two more pockets to the trousers; they were in the sketch but not the sprite,
updated now and I think you can also see that they are pockets.
I didn't alter her stance, though; I agree that girls tend to have a more "stylish pose" but,
frankly, would a girl really stand up like a mannequin for the best part of a night? I'm
not too happy with the symmetrical look of the front view but find it very tricky to find a
pose that looks halfway natural and less mirrored. Help would definitely be welcome. I mean it!

One note on the tip to make her head face to the side in the left/right views; when Bev walks
she faces to the side, but standing still is a slightly tilted version of this side view. I included one frame from the walking ani- I'm working on it so it looks a wee bit shabby.

The first one shows Bev in a location, including the
game interface (the upper bar is your default system GUI, which pops up). Second link is her improved version.

I think this is as far as I can get it. Right on, throw some C&C on me!

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/dita_teaser1.pcx

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/dita_bev2k.pcx
Title: Re: C&C for my main character: UPDATE
Post by: Ubel on Wed 24/08/2005 13:20:45
(http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/4829/eyesuggestion2lv.gif)

I really think the eyes should be more like this in the side view. Nice sprite anyway! :)