Criticism on my graveyard

Mouth for war · Sun 22/10/2006 15:05:22

H!
This is a graveyard I've been making..It's not really done yet but...what do you think about it so far?
http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/gyard.JPG

Elric · Sun 22/10/2006 15:35:27

Good background, just a few comments to help.

- The perspective is a bit off in some of the objects. I.E. The "Beware of the dead" sign is clearly below the horizon line, therefore we should be able to see the top and not the bottom part. The "gate" is also off, with a vanishing point bellow the horizon. Same goes to the stand which is above the horizon, so we should be able to see the roof from below not from the top.

- You don't have a clear light source, as there is a general shading towards the left ( which means that the sun is located somewhere in the right ) along with cast shadows from the gravestones pointing to the right ( which means the sun is located to the left )

- I suppose the stand is the focal point. If that's the case, I would move the headstone from the foreground of the stand. The tree takes care of the "fits in the background and not on top of it" problem, and so it's unnecessary to block it further with the tombstone.

- You should always use Brighter and more saturated colours in the surfaces hit by light, and save the desaturated, lower value ones for the shaded parts. This should apply in both the house and the trees, etc.

Keep up the good work

Ali · Sun 22/10/2006 15:37:51

It looks unusually entertaining for a graveyard,. but that's fine by me!

The composition might work better if it wasn't for the dead-area of sky in the top left. You could liven it up by adding a cloud, but I would make the tree on the left much taller. It could look much nicer if it reached nearer the top of the screen, framing the image. As it is, it's a very small and dumpy tree when compared with the tombstones.

He-Man · Sun 22/10/2006 18:50:28

I think you should add some more grass or some shadows. The field in the middle is very empty. So is the sky as Ali already said.
Other than that it is a really cool background. I like your style!

Kweepa · Sun 22/10/2006 20:29:54

Good to see you drawing more elements yourself, rather than scanning from comics.
Compared to your other BGs, the horizon is too high giving a large (vertically) floor space which doesn't generally suit adventure games well.
Other than that, the layout of the various elements needs work.
I've drawn in red where elements come close to touching or touch. This makes the BG look like a collection of objects rather than a cohesive piece.

You should try to overlap things more. Search for "overlap" in this forum by Big Brother for more info.
Oh, and it's "LucasArts" not "LucasArt".

lemmy101 · Mon 23/10/2006 00:44:19

I think it's cool. Nice and clean

I don't think the lack of a light source is a problem at all myself and would be tempted just to remove them (gravestone shadows etc), nice cartoon style I love the way you've done the grass. Looks sweet, keep it up!

cReative · Mon 23/10/2006 05:35:56

This is meant to be constructive feedback.

1. Its too bright (and cheery?) for a graveyard
2. The greens look flat
3. More detail in the tree branches and leaves.
4. The archway is too small vertically (for example relative to the size fo the door on the building)
5. The arm looks like its just laying there.
6. The side of the Sierra grave marker looks off.
7. Inconsistent shadows (the two graves on the right have well-defined shadows while other objects do not).

Mouth for war · Mon 23/10/2006 17:33:53

Thanks for all feedback guys

monkey0506 · Mon 23/10/2006 17:41:42

It makes me think "The Simpsons" every time I see this.

Mouth for war · Mon 23/10/2006 17:52:19

Quote from: monkey_05_06 on Mon 23/10/2006 17:41:42
It makes me think "The Simpsons" every time I see this.

If that's the case it's great...since i really love the Simpsons hehe...