Simpsons TV Room

[Brad Newsom]

Okay, I just finished sketching out the TV Room for the 'Simpsons Adventure' game.


Before I go onto tracing and cell shading, what do you think should be fixed or added. I know the couch needs to be redone mainly because the perspective of it is really unusual. Other than that, what do you think?

EDIT: Digitalized in illustrator. Still have line work and more detail to finish.

[LGM]

I think you should use such artistic talent for things that don't violate copyright and are original. I'd love to see something original from you.

[Ghost]

The warped perspective looks very good and interesting, though I can't image how you're going to make this a playable room- a character would have to be skewed, streched AND warped to move from one door to the other.

Apart from that, there's little to crit here. That's the Simpson's living room, yes? Very faithful to the original. Can't really crit anything. Or, better put: It looks very good, let us the the final version soon!

[Brad Newsom]

I think you should use such artistic talent for things that don't violate copyright and are original. I'd love to see something original from you.

I got an email back from them saying that its ok as long as its not a commercial product. If your still unsure, don't worry, this isn't the only project I'm working on. 

I say if someone can do a Dr Who game, I can do a Simpsons game. so HAH!

The warped perspective looks very good and interesting, though I can't image how you're going to make this a playable room- a character would have to be skewed, streched AND warped to move from one door to the other.

Apart from that, there's little to crit here. That's the Simpson's living room, yes? Very faithful to the original. Can't really crit anything. Or, better put: It looks very good, let us the the final version soon!

Its a challenge, but these type of rooms have been done before. Look at the games Toonstruck, Curse of Monkey Island, and Day of the Tentacle. All been done before, all completely doable. Thanks for the crit.

[SpacePirateCaine]

The one extremely warped perspective picture in Curse of Monkey Island (I assume you're referring to the lighthouse) limited its walkable area to a section of the picture that still followed - by and large - the established 'playable angle'. It appeared warped and distorted, but they compensated by having very limited movement. You'll probably find that a room with this level of distortion in its potentially walkable area will be very difficult to control scaling and make the character sprite fit. You have a few solutions to this problem, if you keep the room in this fashion. You could, as in the aforementioned games, limit the walkable area to only places where the sprite fits, only use it for cutscenes, or draw separate sprites for each individual part of the room so that the character fits.

The reason, I imagine, that Matt Groening kept the original living room design to a very simple one-point perspective most often when it's displayed in the cartoon is so that it would be easy to animate characters and reuse frames when absolutely necessary.

That said, the picture does look great as you've designed it. It remains very faithful to the original, and as an individual piece of art, it's marvelous. It just lacks a certain amount of functionality if you intend to implement it in an adventure game.

[Brad Newsom]

The one extremely warped perspective picture in Curse of Monkey Island (I assume you're referring to the lighthouse) limited its walkable area to a section of the picture that still followed - by and large - the established 'playable angle'. It appeared warped and distorted, but they compensated by having very limited movement. You'll probably find that a room with this level of distortion in its potentially walkable area will be very difficult to control scaling and make the character sprite fit. You have a few solutions to this problem, if you keep the room in this fashion. You could, as in the aforementioned games, limit the walkable area to only places where the sprite fits, only use it for cutscenes, or draw separate sprites for each individual part of the room so that the character fits.

The reason, I imagine, that Matt Groening kept the original living room design to a very simple one-point perspective most often when it's displayed in the cartoon is so that it would be easy to animate characters and reuse frames when absolutely necessary.

That said, the picture does look great as you've designed it. It remains very faithful to the original, and as an individual piece of art, it's marvelous. It just lacks a certain amount of functionality if you intend to implement it in an adventure game.

I'll keep that in mind. All in all, game development does a lot of trial and error. If style doesn't work out, i'll go back to the original simpsons style, which will be all too easy, but will get the job done.

[SirFuzaba]

Just wondering, I can see that you have two project going in at the same time, would it not be alot easier to work on one project at a time?

That said, the sketch looks pretty decent.

[UP]

Looks good - although in my opinion the painting should be straight, not askew. Other than that insignificant thing, looks like the subject.

[Brad Newsom]

Brought the final sketch over to illustrator and started coloring in the scene. There is still a lot of work to be done, but so far its looking good. Here is what I have done so far. It may look a little weird, but that will be fixed when I add in the line work.




@SirFuzaba: I'm working on two projects mainly because it gets rid of my boredom. You see, when people get bored or have a mind block when working on there project, they usually leave work altogether to do something else. For me, when I am bored or have a mind block, I then go to work on the other project. This is the best way for myself to get more work done.

[Ghost]

For me, when I am bored or have a mind block, I then go to work on the other project. This is the best way for myself to get more work done.

Aye, and the benefit is that you can actually get at least one half more work done in the same time. Also, if you're a newcomer, it's as good a way to try different approaches as you'll get.

For some crits- I would make the colours less saturated. In your version they positively *scream* (at least on my monitor) and look a good deal too bright. Adding linework may play that down a little, but you should try a less saturated version too, just to play it safe.

Also, if the sofa and TV cast a shadow, shouldn't the other objects do so, too?

Apart from that, I must say I like the style and would very much like to see a character sprite now 

I got an email back from them saying that its ok as long as its not a commercial product.

I'm positively surprised, I'd have thought that "they'd" fight fangames. Then again, it's nice to allow a freelancer to use the Simpson Universe, and hell, you probably are working by Fair Use laws too. Will they "check" on you?- I once heard that LucasArts brought down some fangames will outright force. This is, by the way, not mocking, just interest.

[SirFuzaba]

@SirFuzaba: I'm working on two projects mainly because it gets rid of my boredom. You see, when people get bored or have a mind block when working on there project, they usually leave work altogether to do something else. For me, when I am bored or have a mind block, I then go to work on the other project. This is the best way for myself to get more work done.

Yes, I do see. So is the Jax stories going to be your main project, or the Simpsons adventure?

Anyway it is, good luck on these ambitious projects.

[radiowaves]

Right now the image seems to be floating somewhere, it isn't quite fulfilled somehow. I think the problem lies in odd 2 colour couch, which needs at least one more shade (shadow?) and some light spot on left handlebar. Second thing that bothers me are the black areas, you might want to add some transition in between, especially in door areas.

[TerranRich]

I'm sorry, but I can't get over the warped perspective. WHY is it warped like that? Is there a point to that? If I were playing a Simpsons adventure game, I'd want it to look like it does on the show.

I hope you're going to work on things like the couch's arms, which looks melded into the couch somehow. Not enough shading there.



Of course, Matt Groening uses outlines. You're using outlines...riiiight?

[Brad Newsom]

I'm sorry, but I can't get over the warped perspective. WHY is it warped like that? Is there a point to that? If I were playing a Simpsons adventure game, I'd want it to look like it does on the show.

I hope you're going to work on things like the couch's arms, which looks melded into the couch somehow. Not enough shading there.



Of course, Matt Groening uses outlines. You're using outlines...riiiight?

Did you forget that I still have linework to add?

[mouthuvmine]

The perspective kinda makes me feel like I'm looking into a tube tv set. Which is cool because that how I watch the simpsons...but it's weird without having a reason. But without playing the game I won't know how the perspective fits contextually. I think the image well laid out, and the artwork is very good. We'll just wait and see how it looks with the line work.

[Hudders]

The perspective kinda makes me feel like I'm looking into a tube tv set. Which is cool because that how I watch the simpsons...but it's weird without having a reason. But without playing the game I won't know how the perspective fits contextually. I think the image well laid out, and the artwork is very good. We'll just wait and see how it looks with the line work.

Makes me feel like I'm spying on them via a secretively placed CCTV camera.

[Brad Newsom]

The perspective kinda makes me feel like I'm looking into a tube tv set. Which is cool because that how I watch the simpsons...but it's weird without having a reason. But without playing the game I won't know how the perspective fits contextually. I think the image well laid out, and the artwork is very good. We'll just wait and see how it looks with the line work.

Makes me feel like I'm spying on them via a secretively placed CCTV camera.

Hmmm interesting. You know, to not waste this piece of background, I can use it for a cutscene in the game, which is viewed through a spy camera.

[Ghost]

It also looks as if been seen through the eyes of Santa's Little Helper, if I may stretch a point.

[TerranRich]

Did you forget that I still have linework to add?

I have a habit of missing certain details. Sorry!