Character Concept: Space Punk

[deadsuperhero]

Basically, I got bored today and decided I'd draw myself a sprite. Haven't done that in a while, so I figured I'd see what I could come up with. I'm actually very happy with how he's come along so far, so allow me to introduce Billy Piston.

Billy flunked out of the respected space academy he had gotten a scholarship for. Over time, Billy became very jaded with the universe around him. With a crappy minimum wage job hauling radioactive waste all over the solar system, Billy has degraded from the nice young kid he used to be. He's an angry, jaded, hardcore-loving, dope-smoking no-good punk. Billy would be a protagonist, on just another ordinary run to deposit some waste on Ganymede when he fell into a dark plot to save the very race he hated the most...humanity.

Anyways, any criticism on the sprite would be much appreciated.


NEWEST VERSION:



2X



OLD VERSION:


4x



Note: Those things on his boots are supposed to be spikes of some sort.

[Calin Leafshade]

my thoughts:



3X



My main gripe with it was the colour choice.. try shifting the hues a little for shadow and highlight.

[Captain Ricco]

my main problem with this is that he still looks like a regular punk, opposed to what a space punk could look completely different. Think outside of the box!

[Anian]

Heh, you know that's my problem, I can't start out a story and imagine a character from nothing, I usually start with one idea and then it kind of fizzes away beacause I don't a want "simple" story, but this sounds like good. So good job so far for a days work. 

my main problem with this is that he still looks like a regular punk, opposed to what a space punk could look completely different. Think outside of the box!

Yeah, kind of the same feeling. Plus even as a regular "punk", he looks "un-punkish", since he is in waste disposal, I guess his looks/clothes aren't that formal, so you might add on pockets like on millitary stlye pants. Maybe a chain hanging from the belt. Make the boots darker but with steel toes, think military boots.

Leave the tattoo on, it adds to the character.

Might consider going cyberpunk with him. Perhaps change that hair to something more extreme, posibly more addapted to life on a star ship (depending on if it's like an Enterprise big thing or like most waste disposal ships with a crowded space for the crew). Small hallways would make it difficult to pass through quickly. Maybe something similar to Chris Tuckers hairdo from Fifth element, maybe add some neon lights into it as details. Hightech protective/radiation sensory goggles as well perhaps, hanging around his neck, Riddick stlye...detail in general.

Also as a punk, you might design a radiation or protection suit but then cut it out a bit, show some wear and tear on it (but that also depends on the technology in you story). Perhaps wearing some hightech rubber gloves but rolled up sleeves - which would make it kind a low protetction, but he doesn't care, he's punk.  

In any case you might add a vest (like the pilots in fighter planes use), but the shirt underneath with torn out sleeves (so on his upper arm he has a strap for like a cigarette box but instead has futuristic (neon color) drug vials. In any case something to spruce up the silhouette and add character to your character.

[deadsuperhero]

Hey guys, thanks for all the input. Here's a second version. As you can see, he now has two views: one with goggles on, one with them hanging from his neck.



4x:



Changes I've made:
-Now has a pair of red goggles. (I don't know why I chose red, but I actually quite like how they turned out.)
-Fixed some of the shading on his chest.
-Added a chain.
-Added a t-shirt under his clothes.
-Changed color of his pants to contrast with his shirt.
-Added a small pocket on his shoulder for holding cigarettes, drug vials, what have you.
-You can see small spiked studs on his shoulders.

Somehow, due a lazy error (probably an overlay error when comparing it to Calin Leafshade's paintover), the bottom version has a thicker arm. I'm debating whether I should go with it or not, because the added bulk actually seems to fit.

[Badger]

Try fleshing out the 3D of the profile sprites, it's a really straight line for his gut/chest..even the goggles should protrude a little.

As for captain Ricco's comment, i agree. Stick a spacehelmet on him with holes for the spikes

I like it so far though..can think of lots of situations for the plot..

[Wonkyth]

Yes, he is a little flat...

Also: In my mind, spacepunks are cyborgs!

[deadsuperhero]

Thanks everyone for the input so far! I think he's really coming along nicely. I really liked the pilot's vest idea, but I don't think it quite fits his character as a "waste disposal" type of worker. So for now, his uniform will stay, as it does truly resemble that of a garbage man.

However, I've tweaked him once more. I still can't quite figure out what to fix about the shading, so any advice there would be great.

However, I did tweak his coloring once again, and I think it gives him more character.



4x:



What changed this time?
-Added cybernetic arm
-Darkened five-o-clock shadow to make it more obvious.
-Recolored jewelry
-Added depth to goggles

Once I get the shading sorted out (Really, the only part that bothers me is the shading on his head), then I can put a space-suit version up and we can toss ideas around for that. Then he'll pretty much be done!

[Badger]

I still think he needs a bit more depth on the side-on sprites.

Look at his forward sprite at the belt, and what looks like a slightly protruding stomach(or tight belt)..i love it,
but it's not reflected in the side-on sprites.
Also, stick some knee caps in there, atm it's just a straight line.

Much better goggles and colouring than before

[Saberteeth]

The problem is not the shading, the problem is with the general shape of his body:



Arms tend to be longer than the torso and they would I feel he'd have bulkier arms with more muscle. I've also added gloves, as he's supposed to be some sort of trashmen, and the gloves suit him.

I think your color scheme is a bit dull, with washed out colors. A black jacket instead of a grey one with blue pants would look far better. There are other color combinations aswell though.

[deadsuperhero]

Okay, newest revision now.



4x:



-Added some side-bulk.
-Also added some grime/rust to the robotic arm. I figure if he's working for a galactic waste corporation, his medical will probably suck in comparison to if he had been a cadet. So, he got a secondhand arm.
-Also, a thought: perhaps he lost his arm to exposure to toxic waste? It may sound implausible, but in reality these things happen all the time to guys that work in factories with cyanide. Eventually you have to amputate fingers due to the levels of exposure.

Well, I kind of think that a dull palette would really help give a depressing feeling to the game. We're viewing things through the eyes of a deeply troubled character view an incredibly bleak view of things. For fun though, I upped the vibrancy. Ignore the palette next to him, I was originally putting it up for comparison but realized it was unnecessary.



Saberteeth, I appreciate the paintover. But it doesn't seem to fit the character in my mind.  He's too lanky, but he almost looks like a totally different character when you do it like that...if anything, I rather enjoy his proportions as he is...

Either way, I think he's about perfect now. I'm going to work on the space suit itself, and call it a day.

[Captain Ricco]

i likie what you have now

was playing around with some visual changes to make him look less like a classic punk, like the different mohawk, and i think the goggles on his forehead look cool too

[deadsuperhero]

i likie what you have now

was playing around with some visual changes to make him look less like a classic punk, like the different mohawk, and i think the goggles on his forehead look cool too

I believe you've just sold me on the hairdo. That is fantastic.

[Badger]

love the changes!! 

[Anian]

Hmm, he actually looks like a regular punk now...with a cyborg hand. The fact that he had a uniform from his corporation but he modified it was kind of more appealing, now he just looks like regular punks on the street.

[SinSin]

I keep being asked for a username ...me no like me go ....

[Akatosh]

"Thorough" "investigation" suggests it's an issue with something about DeadSuperHero's profile.

To be exact, it seems he has a link to http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/nolybanner1.png in his signature that's not showing up as it's intended to.

[Sam.]

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=40890.0

[deadsuperhero]

Just wanted to update this topic again. The character has yet again gone through a few re-vamps.

Here's a fun little poster of sorts I drew and colored. I think it better expresses the kind of character he is.

   

Changes:
-Different colors on outfit.
-Nametag now more visible.
-Robotic arm now goes up the length of the entire arm. No sleeves.
-Baby doll head used as belt buckle. (a recurring theme around 80's punk)
-Adjusted overall palette.
-Adjusted body shape.
-Now sports a goatee!



2X


Also, to clarify: his robotic arm has multiple functions, and can transform into different tools.

[Icey]

The skull on his belt shouldn't be too big cause it seems out of place seeing how the one in the picture is small. Plus it looks kinda weird being that big on a sprite of his size.