Mercenary

Sim · Thu 30/03/2006 06:24:58

Hi All,

I've been working on some characters designed for 320x200 game screens and would like some feedback.

This one is supposed to be a sci-fi mercenary type character.Ã,Â Any comments/suggestions would be appreciated.

seaduck · Thu 30/03/2006 06:34:01

Hi,

I think he looks fantastic! His face really looks like a mercenary's - it's almost monkey-like, I love it.Ã,Â

I see only a few minor problems:
- the few missing pixels of the arms' outlines (I don't even mind the head's not outlined, that seems ok)
- his pants look a little baggy
- the folds of his shirt around his waits look a little strange

Also you might want to add some little (sci-fi-like) detail(s), perhaps a utility belt.

Anyway awesome work, you could put him into a wonderful game right away!!

monkey0506 · Thu 30/03/2006 06:40:15

Just a couple things I've noticed:

His eyes are very blue. Perhaps use a darker shade to make them not stand out so much.
His shirt seems to taper down quite a bit. I'm not sure if this is by design, but it just seems like perhaps it shouldn't stretch that far down.
His arms don't seem to vary much in size. Perhaps they should taper down more (i.e., giving him at least some muscle structure ).
You appear to have outlined his nose with a rather dark color. I would suggest using a more flesh-like tone, just a darker shade than the surrounding areas.
Now that seaduck points them out (posting before me...BAH!) I think perhaps the left (his right) leg needs some work. It seems to taper in where perhaps it should taper out. (I'm using the word taper a lot. Why am I doing that?) Anyway, I think the "baggy" style looks nice.

Other than these "few" things (lol) I think it looks quite nice actually.

Sam. · Thu 30/03/2006 10:16:01

just had a go at the face, its not a huge difference, and not that good, but it might give you the idea.

Mad · Thu 30/03/2006 14:15:06

besides the evident changes I just pushed a few pixels in his face to make his features clearer and to give him some ears of sorts. I also made his fists and boots bigger and reduced the colours:

11 colours

some changes may be for better or worse, but I hope it helps!

2x

and 9 colours

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens · Thu 30/03/2006 18:16:28

I did a paintover (and yes, this IS a paintover) to give you some ideas, but I got really interested in the space merc guy and went a little overboard. Here's what I did:

1. Redrew the pose so the left arm looked more natural
2. Added a few shades and increased the contrast so the character stands out
3. Added highlights to the armor to make it shiny
4. Gave him additional armor (kneepads, an elbow pad) and added a communicator type thing on his back. Also added a holster since he's GOT to have a weapon if he's a merc
5. Redrew the face to make his features clearer.

I hope this helps you, and PLEASE don't think I did this to deprecate your work in any way. You've done a fine job, and as I said, I got a bit carried away with it. Also, did you happen to use Ben Throttle as a reference by any chance? Nice work!

biothlebop · Thu 30/03/2006 18:27:39

Beginning to look real good. It has gotten much grittier and ProgZmax entry resembles a happy Ben somehow. I still like the 80's colored clothes on the first one. It would make for an awesome game, a mercenary in a Miami Vice style setting.

big brother · Thu 30/03/2006 18:37:22

Yak, didn't see that Progz already edited it. Oh well, here's my take anyways.

This too is a paintover.
11 colors plus 1 for the background.

2x zoom

(original for reference)

Saberteeth · Thu 30/03/2006 18:40:10

Big Brother, that's some great stuff here!

I'd just like to comment that the badge and beard look a little low_res and not colorful like the rest of the character. But that's like looking for a hair in an egg, right?

big brother · Thu 30/03/2006 18:48:45

Resolution doesn't affect the numerical color values.

Hair in an egg?! wtf?

Sim · Fri 31/03/2006 02:35:21

Wow!Ã,Â Thanks for all the input.Ã,Â Those paint-overs have given me a bit to think about.Ã,Â Yes ProgZmax - Ben Throttle did influence the character somewhat.Ã,Â I imagined the merc. character would be similar in appearance (big and unshaven).

Saberteeth · Fri 31/03/2006 16:05:21

Quote from: big brother on Thu 30/03/2006 18:48:45
Hair in an egg?! wtf?

Em, nevermind :

Sam. · Fri 31/03/2006 17:23:01

Because you sometimes find hair in eggs, but not very often, so, looking for one would be dumb?

Mr Flibble · Fri 31/03/2006 17:25:26

The egg:hair ratio varies from egg to egg, depending on species, and of course whether the egg is fertilised.

Khris · Fri 31/03/2006 21:54:09

Eggs in hair is said to occur more often, though.

I guess it's a badly translated proverb, in germany they say "find a hair in every soup".

Sam. · Fri 31/03/2006 21:58:33

An in england we say "Every Hair has a soupy Lining", isn't a culturally diverse world fun?

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens · Sat 01/04/2006 02:06:41

Hijacking threads will NOT be tolerated! STREICH VERBOTEN! Back on topic, please ^_^