First room of a first game

[monkey0506]

I agree with Darth. In-context it will be extremely obvious as to exactly what the building is.

About the only helpful suggestion I might have would be perhaps to try and differentiate the contents of each desktop a bit more. One thing that stood out to me was that the contents of each of these desks seemed very similar. There's not much variation from one desk to the next.

Understandably the desks should be kept tidy and in working order, just perhaps if there were a bit more...unique qualities between the desks...? Either way I really like this background. Great job.

[Snarky]

Specifically, I'd adjust the telephones so they're not all identical or flipped copies of each other, but rather viewed from slightly different angles. You could also add family photos to some of the desks.

[JimmyD]

It looks quite good, especially with the modified table. Kind of reminds me of Space Quest 3, in a way. Plus, it's quite evocative fo the time it's supposed to represent. If I had to say anything, I'd say perhaps make it a little darker? When I tihnk of 1950s detectives' offices like that, they always seem to be smoky.

[GarageGothic]

I really like the style, but as others have noted, perhaps it needs a few more details to identify it as an LAPD office. I think a notice board with crime scene photos, police sketches of suspects and perhaps some wanted posters would do a lot for the room. And, in case you widen the room a bit, there might be space for a window on the back wall to show a view of Los Angeles.

I keep thinking that should play a bit more with light sources (especially if you add a window), but it may not fit the Yahtzee-inspired style. The colors could also easily be more desaturated, but it all depends on which mood you're going for - I'm imagining a James Ellroy sort of story, so these suggestion may be way off.

[frission]

The colors could also easily be more desaturated, but it all depends on which mood you're going for - I'm imagining a James Ellroy sort of story, so these suggestion may be way off.

Haha -- are my interests so transparent? The whole thing is meant to be very Ellroy-esque in a very direct way (much of the plot is just copped from taking various elements from different Ellroy and changing them around a bit, mashing them together in unfamiliar ways).

I've been bowled over with ("real") work this last couple of weeks but next week I'll post the new version for comments. I'm expanding it horizontally quite a bit and playing with a few things, having quite a bit of fun with it, but it's only partially complete for the moment and I'm going to be out of town on official business for the rest of the week.

But these comments have been immensely helpful so far and have been good stimulus for my own thinking on the scene and graphical style of the game in general. So thank you all!

[frission]

OK, I'm back in action!

Here's my current version of the scene. It is expanded, colors are a bit desaturated (put a semi-transparent layer of gray over the whole thing), some more things on the desks and the walls, etc. Thoughts are appreciated!

[zabnat]

I don't really knwo if you can fit them in the picture reasonably, but policemen write reports and they usually use typewriters for that
But maybe these guys just have so beautiful handwriting that they write their reports by hand

[Oddysseus]

It's amazing how much a simple thing like desaturation can help a picture.

Looks very professional- honestly, I don't think anyone will be able to think of much to add or change.  I'd recommend moving on to another background. You're doing fine on your own.

Good luck with the game!

[frission]

OK, I think I'm about done with this.

A few last tweaks:





1. added some typewriters (I had been meaning to do this...)
2. extended it all the way across the frame on the left as well (that one pixel line wasn't really doing anything productive).

Note that in the actual game, the second hand of the clock will slowly rotate as time goes by. You know, for effect and all. Just for fun.

[Stupot]

Thats come along nicely frission.
One little nit-pick though.  The blue part of the US flag looks a bit wrong.  Partly because it's all one flat colour, and partly because theres no suggestion of the stars on it.

Can't wait to see this in action.

[Erwin_Br]

I love the new colors. And those typewriters really finish it off - great work!

Anyway, I hope you won't take this the wrong way, but the first thing I thought when seeing this picture was "Army". 

--Erwin

[vertigoaddict]

It's Fantastic!

(newspapers newspapers newspapers)

[frission]

Erwin -- Army is fine, close enough!

(newspapers newspapers newspapers)

I _tried_ to make newspapers but I just couldn't come up with something that looked plausibly like a newspaper at that resolution. I guess I could try again. But I think I'm done with that one for now. It was just too hard to put in the kind of "text plus a graphic" appearance that newspapers have when I only had a 8X12 pixel area to use for it.

[Dualnames]

The ba\ckground is perfect as it is already. I know details are important. But don't put too many details.