C&C for my main character: UPDATE

[Ghost]

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, 

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

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.

[Floskfinger]

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!

[Dambuilder]

Really looks good to me. Nicely detailed too.
I'd love to see her animated! 

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. ^^;)

[Ghost]

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...

[big brother]

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.

[Anarcho]

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.

[Pod]

What's wrong with PNG or GIF?
I cba downloading and opening pcx's!

[aussie]

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.

[vict0r]

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? check the "The Dread of the Dead" thread )

[Ghost]

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.

[vict0r]

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 but i dont have any real hurry so you can take your time:P
(p.s. i only need character sprites)
Thanks

[Ghost]

good then. send me a description of the characters you have in mind, I'll give it a try.

[vict0r]

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

Thanks alot in advance!

[LilBlueSmurf]

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

[Ghost]

I have spent some time on refining the sprites for Beverly, and this is
the result in all its gloryÃ,  .

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

[Ubel]

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