Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: Mikko on Thu 21/09/2006 09:51:42

Title: Clown closeup
Post by: Mikko on Thu 21/09/2006 09:51:42
Hi

Here is an image I have been working for title screen of Clown at the Circus.

3x: (http://koti.mbnet.fi/paajanen/ags/clown_closeup.gif)

Edit: One more
3x: (http://koti.mbnet.fi/paajanen/ags/clown_closeup2.gif)

My biggest problem at the moment is the hair, but point out any areas you think that could be improved.

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: MadReizka on Thu 21/09/2006 11:58:02
I think you should make the hair to be a bit more like a mohawk/irokeesiwtf. Making the bottom part bit curving to the oppisite direction that is facing now.
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: thewalrus on Thu 21/09/2006 17:04:09
     I don't see anything wrong with the clown face exactly how it is.... Maybe I'm just easy to please..... I dunno.

Thewalrus

Goo, goo, ga, joob!!!!!
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Mikko on Thu 21/09/2006 17:12:46
MadReizka: I think I understand what you mean, but since the character already exist in sprites, I can not change his hairstyle too much. :)
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Thu 21/09/2006 17:13:43
Here is a quick edit to give you a few ideas.

1.  Gave him a pompadour.
2.  Shaded his face more and shaped it to be more exaggerated.
3.  Made the eyes more expressive and alive.
4.  Made certain features (chin, ears) exaggerated to make him more comical.

(http://members.cox.net/progzmax/clown_closeup.gif)

(http://members.cox.net/progzmax/clown_closeup.gif)

You are off to a nice start with this.
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Mikko on Thu 21/09/2006 17:25:08
ProgZmax: I love it!  ;D

Back to the drawing board, you certainly gave me some ideas! The chin, the ears, the eyes and that brilliant shading, thank you.

Back in a minute.. :)
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: thewalrus on Thu 21/09/2006 17:42:37
    Damn, ProgZmax, you are just TOO damn talented......

Thewalrus

Goo, goo, ga, joob!!!!!
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Mikko on Thu 21/09/2006 19:28:50
Using ProgXmax's quality work as reference I came up with this:
3x (http://koti.mbnet.fi/paajanen/ags/clown_closeup4.gif)

The pompadour was great, but I think this kind of small "patch" fits better with the original sprite (which, sadly, you didn't see and that was my mistake :().

I'll continue the pixel pushing tomorrow, but there's definately been progress. :)

By the way, in-game character looks like this:
3x (http://koti.mbnet.fi/paajanen/ags/clown_closeup_reference.gif)
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: zabnat on Fri 22/09/2006 00:24:20
I think the hair grows from a bit odd places. I would move the red hair more to the top of the head. Also the green ones seem to grow from the back of his ears. I'd move those a bit up and back. If I see correctly the ingame character has the green hair more naturally positioned. Red is maybe at the limits.

maybe something like this?
(http://bantza.raah.fi/junk/clown_closeup.png)
Don't know if it's any better. Can't even see straight :)
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Mikko on Fri 22/09/2006 06:20:49
It looks good, I need to check on this later. :)

The idea is that it's not his own hair, but hairpiece or toupee (not sure how it is called) instead. But I understand what you mean.
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Buckethead on Fri 22/09/2006 13:02:13
the left hair piece needs to be bended with his head a little more. Right now it's tweaked a little to much.
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Mikko on Sat 23/09/2006 22:26:19
The clown has gone through quite minor changes, but here is the title screen the picture is in.

3x (http://koti.mbnet.fi/paajanen/ags/titlescreen.gif)

Any suggestions, or would this be okay? This is basically the first screen player gets to see, so ofcourse I'd like the first impression to be enjoyable (rest can be crap, isn't it so ;)).
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: ildu on Sun 24/09/2006 10:13:00
The text is difficult to read. You need some color trickery to help distinguish it from the background.
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Buckethead on Sun 24/09/2006 10:17:52
Quote from: ildu on Sun 24/09/2006 10:13:00
The text is difficult to read. You need some color trickery to help distinguish it from the background.

I think the text is OK to read but it might just be better if you change the color of the text.  :)
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Ubel on Sun 24/09/2006 12:31:37
Mikko, I think that title screen is awesome! I'd just make that shadow under the text a little less blurry. Otherwise, great stuff. :)
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Mikko on Sun 24/09/2006 18:10:48
3x (http://koti.mbnet.fi/paajanen/ags/titlescreen2.gif)

I made the background a tad darker. I think the text stands out more now.

For now I'm moving on to other parts of the project. Thank you all for your help. :)
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Buckethead on Sun 24/09/2006 18:58:16
lovely, good luck  :)
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: 2ma2 on Mon 25/09/2006 18:11:55
The text is still a bit hard to decipher, not due to the colors but rather the font itself. As the W's left part is almost completely covered by the O and the bottom parts of the "at the" is covered. The colors do their share of the problem aswell though, but it is improved by making the bg a darker hue.

Just for the record, this close-up is so scary it rejuvenated my fear of clowns. Perhaps not the intentions but this is truly a masque grotesque  :=
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Buckethead on Mon 25/09/2006 18:19:35
Quote from: 2ma2 on Mon 25/09/2006 18:11:55

Just for the record, this close-up is so scary it rejuvenated my fear of clowns.

I strongly recomment you not to watch Stephen King's IT then ^^
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Mikko on Mon 25/09/2006 18:44:34
2ma2: I will work on it. :)

BUT! He is supposed to be kind and sympathetic, not scary. Don't be afraid. ;)
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Buckethead on Mon 25/09/2006 18:59:17
I felt like doing this evil edit mhuhahahah!!  ;D

(http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/1802/evulza5.png)
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Mikko on Mon 25/09/2006 19:02:39
Superb!  ;D

Maybe I should make it optional to play with good/bad clown.. ;)
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: Buckethead on Mon 25/09/2006 19:10:38
Quote from: Mikko on Mon 25/09/2006 19:02:39
Superb!  ;D

Maybe I should make it optional to play with good/bad clown.. ;)

That would be cool :D I wonder how an evil clown should try to impress/enjoy a sweet little kid though  :P
Title: Re: Clown closeup
Post by: EagerMind on Tue 26/09/2006 06:23:52
Perhaps you could outline the title using the purple color from your buttons? That would clearly distinguish it from the background but keep your color scheme. You may still have to fool with the font a little to make it clearer.

Quote from: Buckethead on Mon 25/09/2006 18:59:17I felt like doing this evil edit mhuhahahah!!  ;D

Killer Klowns from Outer Space? Anyone? Anyone ...?  :)

Seriously though, he does seem have a little bit of a freaky vibe going. Maybe get rid of the red in his eyes and smooth the face out a little. It looks a bit too wrinkly to me, like he's got a rubber mask pulled over his face. I might even go so far as to remove the "butt chin" and make it more rounded.