UPDATED: New Character Sprite - Critique please!

[Intense Degree]

If there is one area in game making in which I am even worse than all others it is art (as anyone who played my previous game will testify ).

However, whilst my backgrounds are getting a bit better my character art ... leaves something to be desired.

Here is my attempt so far at the main character sprite, which is very much a work in progress at the moment.



In short, i'm fairly pleased with the basic shape of the top half so far, but I just cannot seem to get anywhere with the whole legs/feet area. Any help/tips as to the basic shape of the lower half would be very much appreciated, as would any advice on finishing the top half!

[InCreator]

* I think hands could be a bit slimmer - he looks a sporty type (runner perhaps), but hands suggest rather different and bulky body type

* Feet look quite okay, but legs like he's hanging from a rope, not standing on the ground. Legs need bit more "on the ground" shape.

* Face looks quite gay stupid. Lose the lipstick-ish look from mouth, make lips more skin color, make eyes from 3 or 4 pixels in ONE row, not two

* Raise shoulders a bit and make them less round

* At least two times stronger contrast in shading would go a long way

That's most basic advice to improve this charater. If you want to go further -

* google a photo, and use it (trace, look at, learn, whatever) to give this character alive pose. Yes, "alive", because I cannot imagine living person having stance like this for any other reason than being hanged 3 seconds ago.

* Critics Lounge is not only for your sprites, seeing how others do it might be even more helpful than creating your own thread. Look how many stances!

You're actually pretty good at this, despite what you think.

[ThreeOhFour]

The first thing that caught my attention was the face (despite playing Colin Simpson Leaves Employment and being familiar with the style).

I agree with InC that your colours could really benefit from some adjusting, but as a quick point for you consider I tried an edit of his face to see if I could get it looking... not necessarily more 'realistic', but simply more believable.



I changed a fair bit, so feel free to ignore the edit, but I hope it at least gives you some ideas!

[Jim Reed]

Pillow shading: don't use it.

[Intense Degree]

Wow, thanks for the edits and advice!

Made a little bit more progress with the shading on top and the shape of the legs but still not there yet.



I've tried to take some of the advice on board.

Ben, your edit of the face is millions of times better than mine but I kind of like the geeky, less realistic look, your guy is too cool for poor old Colin! Still some very useful pointers there though.

InCreator, great tips about hands, shoulders face and shading which I've tried to implement. I still haven't got the legs/feet right but I'll keep trying. Also I know what you're saying about the pose and I will look into this, but at the moment i'm still trying to get my tiny brain round the pose i've got so far!

Jim, did my latest edit before seeing yours but I particularly like the feet and legs, back to the drawing board for me then...

Any further comments appreciated.

[Ryan Timothy B]

Don't forget to shade the character in a similar fashion to Jim's edit, with a consistent light source. 
With your pillow shading, it makes it look like he's holding a light close to his chest and that's why there is shading on top, left and right sides of the character. 

[Intense Degree]

I've given up on Colin a bit recently but have had a go at someone a bit more familiar...



x2


I'm fairly pleased so far as a start, but there is definitely room for improvement especially in the leg area.

I've tried to take on board previous advice on shading etc. but would welcome any further criticism/pointers/advice.

[Jim Reed]

Tweaked shading, neck and leg lenght

[Kweepa]

His face was a bit muddy, so I had a shot at cleaning it up a bit.
I reduced the colour count and sharpened the features some.
Done with a reference pic rescaled next to it.

[Intense Degree]

Hey thanks for the advice.

Jim, I've started to take your shading on board but I'm not quite sure about the chest. Hmmm will think on about that. Also you are definitely now my go to man on legs!

Steve, the nose is great here I will look into that. Also I tried the small patches of hair at the sides, which you are quite correct about of course, but I think I prefer without (probably my attempt rather than the concept!)

I'll be experimenting with the above suggestions, but in a bit of a creative(?) fit I started the rest of the crew.



x2


Currently similar issues with shading (which I am experimenting with) and height (Geordi is too big, Riker not big enough etc. which I will change) but what I really need help with is hair generally and composition of Data and Riker's faces.

I know it's a bit of a cheek asking for more advice/help when I haven't taken the last lot on board properly yet but any more guidance would be appreciated as these are obviously still works in progress.

[Jim Reed]

just an outline for the feet, yours kinda look like boots. =D

You're definitly improving, considering your first character.
Only thing poking me in the eye is that these characters have a bit smallish heads, considering their shoulder width, along with a narrow neck. Or is it just me?

Btw, the haircuts are spot on =)

[Intense Degree]

Yeah, you might be right about the heads being too small, I know many sprites go for abnormally big heads which I'm not so fond of, but these might well be too small.

Also, i've just noticed that Geordi looks like someone's jammed a Harmonica in his face! I probably need to redo the colours at least...

[Jakerpot]

Is his shoulder too large or his head too small?