Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: Interference on Tue 02/12/2003 09:20:37

Title: Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Interference on Tue 02/12/2003 09:20:37
Ok, I'm working on an as-yet-unannounced 640x480 adventure game. It's in the early-art-creation stage and I was recently working on the sprite for the main character:

(http://volcano.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Interference/pixel-art/Dave1.png)

I'm reasonably happy with it but I'm having trouble drawing hands, as you might see. Any tips  / examples people can give me on how I can make these look any better?

Also, of course, you're general observations on the style and any other flaws you've noticed are welcome.
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Cerulean on Tue 02/12/2003 11:41:22
Those hands are pretty decent. Make the index fingers just a pixel longer, and you're there.

More importantly, I think you should try making the legs longer. On a more cartoony sprite I wouldn't bother saying so, but this is so realistic and well-proportioned in all other aspects that you may as well finish the job. If, on the other hand, you really want to keep him hobbitized, then I think his neck shouldn't be so long.
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Haddas on Tue 02/12/2003 11:47:51
One thing that bothers me, is that he has no belt  :P. Now this doesn't usually make me click, but he looks fat when the shirt hangs down on his tummy. Is he supposed to be so? Do you have a siide wiev to compare to?
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Interference on Tue 02/12/2003 12:03:12
Quote from: Haddas on Tue 02/12/2003 11:47:51
One thing that bothers me, is that he has no belt  :P. Now this doesn't usually make me click, but he looks fat when the shirt hangs down on his tummy. Is he supposed to be so? Do you have a siide wiev to compare to?

Ah. No. He's not meant to be fat. I'll take that belt idea in mind. Gimme a day or two and I can come back with an updated version. I'll make the hands and legs a little longer too.
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Nacho on Tue 02/12/2003 12:22:10
I´m lazy for writing... One image values more than 1,000 words  ;D

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/interferenceedit.gif)

I hope it helps... O_O
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Interference on Tue 02/12/2003 14:12:16
Lance, that's bloody marvelous. Thanks. I'll post an update as soon as I can, just so you can see the changes.

Cheers everyone.
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Nine Toes on Tue 02/12/2003 15:04:03
Wow, that's really impressive... excellent job, Interference! :)

Quick thought:  Doctor Who VS The Who... who would win?  Nevermind... I'm just being a jackass. ;D
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Tue 02/12/2003 16:01:22
It's a great start!  I like what Farlander did with the hands.

The first thing that jumped right out at me was the pants.  They're ... flat.

I'm a big fan of subtle shading.  Just 1 level gives it much more life (you did a little of it) and is easy to animate (very important)

I did a quick paintover to show what I mean (I also altered the hands):
(http://www.twin-design.com/random/interference1.gif)

I added some detail to the pants (pulled the groin area up a little too) and added 1 level of dark and 1 level of light shading.  Feel free to use it if you want ;)

The only other thing I would have done different is the black outline.  I prefer to use darker shades of the color I'm outlining, but that's my style.  This is yours :)

A great start!

]).]v[.
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: big brother on Tue 02/12/2003 17:14:15
Is his name going to be Dave Stone? You might want to move away from a generic name...

I suggest "Adrian."

heh.
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Haddas on Tue 02/12/2003 18:24:17
If you want a good name, then I suggest you look up the thread:

"Most lollable name competition"

BTW: We never voted a winner! :o
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: stu on Wed 03/12/2003 13:04:46
for names, you might wanna check out;
http://kleimo.com/random/name.cfm

tis' pretty usuful  :)

edit: Haddas - your avatar comes up red-ex for me.. allow me to Flip a D for you..
(http://invis.free.anonymizer.com/http://www.geocities.com/haddas88/smokesmall.gif)

http://invis.free.anonymizer.com/http://www.geocities.com/haddas88/smokesmall.gif
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Interference on Thu 04/12/2003 11:30:27
(http://volcano.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Interference/pixel-art/dave_rev1.png)

Here's the revision, as promised. As you can see, the hands are now different, he's taller and he has a belt.

I also like what Darth Manarb did with the shading, although I've only just seen it since it was my don't-bother-going-into-uni day yesterday and my house doesn't have net access.

I'll start messing around with that this evening.

Yes, he's called David Stone and no, I'm unlikely to change it.

Thought actually went into the name, you see, and the idea is that we have an extraordinary man with an ordinary name (rather than the other way round). He's a private investigator and the main character in my point-'n'-click in progress.

The idea behind my work is to take seemingly generic characters and open up the level of depth, doing things with them that's quite unexpected. I'm inspired a little by a book I once read called "Blue Angel, by Paul Magrs (can't remember if I spelt that right..). At first glance the story looks as if it's ripping off characters from the original Star Trek TV series but further into the book these two dimensional characters gain a greater sense of depth as the situation they're in gets more and more out of their control.

And Dr. Jekyll? ~ MR. HYDE!, thanks for the admiration. It's stuff like that which motivates people to work. I'm going to do some work now.

Dr Who would whip the Who's ass any day. Dr Who has a robot dog, all the Who have is Boris the Spider.
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: jannar85 on Thu 04/12/2003 13:43:24
The new sprite is marvelous :)
Looking farward to the game! Keep it going!  :D
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Haddas on Thu 04/12/2003 14:57:08
Thanx Disco-Stu ;D
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Interference on Thu 04/12/2003 15:36:21
Quote from: jannar85 on Thu 04/12/2003 13:43:24
The new sprite is marvelous :)
Looking farward to the game! Keep it going!  :D

Thanks. Early stages yet, mind you. The proverbial ink the plot synopsys was written in is still wet.

I'm in the process of simultaneously scriptwriting and drawing / pixel-arting backgrounds and sprites. Much easier than making RPGs, mind you. More freedom for your art: no specific object sizes to stick to etc.
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: BerserkerTails on Fri 05/12/2003 01:53:20
<Daleck is roaming the streets>

Roger Daltrey: "Say chaps, isn't that a dialect?"
Pete Townshend: "That's a Daleck you dolt!"

<Daleck notices the Who>

Daleck: "EXTERMINATE!"
Keith Moon (Drinking scotch): "Already working on it!"
Roger Daltrey: "We're going to have to fight it!"
John Entwhistle: "I know just the thing to use!"

<John runs off>

Pete Townshend: "He's probably off to fetch BORRRRIS"
Roger Daltrey: "If I have to sing that damn song ONE MORE TIME..."

<John drives a dump truck back, and dumps the contents onto the Daleck, killing it.>

John Entwhistle: "I knew all these bloody CD re-issues of 'Tommy' would come in handy some day!"
Title: Re:Crit on a character sprite
Post by: Paper Carnival on Sat 06/12/2003 11:26:22
He looks pretty good!

There is something wrong about him, I dunno what exactly. Some parts of his body are either too long or two short. The revised sprite is a lot better.

He reminds me of Guybrush Threepwood