Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: Pau on Sun 19/10/2003 01:45:26

Title: Character and walking cycle
Post by: Pau on Sun 19/10/2003 01:45:26
What do you think of this character and it's walking animation.
(Arms and tail movement are ok, but legs and head one is a bit strange.)

(http://usuarios.lycos.es/DrNotrix/images/walkgm.gif)

The borders have been sharpened in order to be possible to add them to AGS. This has been done by a Fireworks script I've creatred, I think it gives a good result but if you don't think the same give me your opinion at this point too. The original animation was this:
(http://usuarios.lycos.es/DrNotrix/images/walk.gif)

Thanks.
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: remixor on Sun 19/10/2003 02:51:55
I really like the character, but the walking animation needs some improvement I think.  He's only bending his legs at the knees very slightly, and it looks more like he's skiing or something rather than actally walking.  Try walking around yourself and looking down at your legs, then try to walk like he is in the animation and I think you'll see what I mean.  Good luck :)
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: Hollister Man on Sun 19/10/2003 19:23:59
Yep, he is on one of those parabolic walking machines.  :)  I would draw an imaginary "ground" line, and use that as a basis for where his feet should stop moving *down* and start moving *back*.  The drawing isn't half bad, though.  It looks like flash or Moho.  
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: Pau on Sun 19/10/2003 21:07:58
I've improved the walking devil.
(http://usuarios.lycos.es/DrNotrix/images/walkgm3.gif)
Thanks for both comments, now the knees are working, and the character is mode walking than riding a bicycle.

QuoteThe drawing isn't half bad, though. It looks like flash or Moho.
I'm using Moho (the main reason is it's bone animation sistem) and I think it has great capabilities and it could have excellent results (see the demos at their web). So the problem is not the tool, but the author (In this case me) skills.

But If you know an easier program for animations, let me know (I've found graphic editors and music editors lists at the forums but not the animator programs one).
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: Minimi on Mon 20/10/2003 19:32:14
Thanks Pau! I did a search on the website of Moho, because I never heard of the program. This is really something I was looking for, and after doing some tutorials, I decided to buy the program, and I just bought it online! Great program. Now I can finally make those neat animation movies, so I'll be busy with that program for the next couple of moments :P
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: Nacho on Mon 20/10/2003 22:32:55
Wow... I really like the revisited movement of the legs, the knees and feet. Now I miss the same in the arms, and maybe a little torso motion.
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: Proskrito on Tue 21/10/2003 09:32:32
yeah, the second one is much better, but, although i think you did a good job in his right leg, i think you could improve the knee bending in his left one. Now it seems to me like he is kicking something. Try to start bending the leg not so late, i mean, when you walk you bend the leg for bringing your foot in front of you, so it begins to bend when you lift the foot from the ground, and in your animation, the leg keeps straight until the foot is just beneath the body.
(my f*ckin english!  >:( ) i hope you could understand that.
look at this for reference:
http://www.bml.psy.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/Demos/BMLwalker.html
Also, you could try to remove the upper part of the arm outline, to make it look not so attached.
hope it helps.
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: DoorKnobHandle on Tue 21/10/2003 09:51:05
Great link!


Activate "Lines" to see the movement better!
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: remixor on Tue 21/10/2003 10:17:56
Pau: your new sprite is a definite improvement.  Good job.  Moho sounds pretty interesting; I'll have to check it out.

Quote from: Proskrito on Tue 21/10/2003 09:32:32http://www.bml.psy.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/Demos/BMLwalker.html

That's really cool, Pros.  I've never seen anything like that before.  Very useful.
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: Pau on Tue 21/10/2003 21:14:23
The link it's very usefull, I think it will help me to stop moving up and down in my room looking at my legs (my mother was starting to worry about that).

I'll remake the animation, using the BioMotion sample as a refference and applying your comments, thanks.

Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: Quintaros on Wed 22/10/2003 05:27:33
What I don't get is the scroll bar to decide the character's gender.
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: remixor on Wed 22/10/2003 05:41:53
It just makes the walk more "feminine" or "masculine"--there's no real reason a male or female should have to walk a certain way, but there are certain traits one associates with each.  Play with the slider, and it will make more sense.
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: Quintaros on Wed 22/10/2003 05:50:56
I was joking.  I guess its just not funny.
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: big brother on Wed 22/10/2003 16:03:32
Usually sex is associated with a two categories rather than a quantifiable scale. Though according to Psych, gender is more of a scale...
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: Quintaros on Wed 22/10/2003 18:42:32
Oh yeah.  I think I've had this discussion before.  As I recall it degenerated to semantics.  Let's just forget I posted at all and let thread get back on topic.  The linked walk-cycle generator is pretty useful.
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: jason on Wed 22/10/2003 20:49:47
Pau: the new animation is great, much better than your first attempt. Plus, the animation in his tail is a great touch and looks just right.

Quote from: Proskrito on Tue 21/10/2003 09:32:32
...
http://www.bml.psy.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/Demos/BMLwalker.html
...

Sweet link! In case any of you want to save a local copy of that tool, here's a link for you:
http://www.bml.psy.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/Demos/BMLwalker.swf (http://www.bml.psy.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/Demos/BMLwalker.swf)
Just right click and say Save Target as...
Title: Re:Character and walking cycle
Post by: Hueij on Wed 22/10/2003 21:14:46
Thanks for the link. It's going to be useful!

Great upgrade of the animation. I like it that you animated the tail, but maybe you should let it swing just a bit more, it looks like the first part (the part that is attached to his body) is a bit stiff. Let it flow a bit more.