Methodical approach to character design...

[Technocrat]

In keeping with the new philosophy I'm trying to use when making games, I've made use of a several-step process to design the basics of a character. Starting with a basic shape with the general colours of the areas, I then apply one layer of shading, then a slightly more detailed shading (i.e. darker), and details here and there like the zip and facial features.

[imgzoom]http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/NL.png[/imgzoom]

Would you say, so far, that this is producing acceptable results? I have a suspicion it's a little pillow-shadey on the front and back views, but I'm not a great judge of art by any stretch! At least it's an improvement over how she looked before...

[imgzoom]http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/latha3.png[/imgzoom]

[EchosofNezhyt]

Not digging the front view but the rest look pretty good.

The back view shading looks a tad bit odd.

[Anian]

I think the right way is the way you feel is more productive and if it's suits you then ok. The new look is more "realistic", kind of.

(I'm talking about the upper images for this next part)
For the sprite itself, just 2 things: I'd shorten everything except her legs (as in keep the overall height the same but change the ratios, head and neck are especially too long, unless that's the style you prefer). The other thing would be in the front view, her shoulder is leaning on the left but the weight seems to be on the right leg (since that one is straight), but it should be the shoulder lower on the the leg which holds the weight (opposite of how it is now) - just mirror the torso and arms or just the legs from the belly down and it should look better I think.

[Matagot]

I do like the top images better than the second images, that's my personal opinion.
There's a kind of softness to it that reminds me of the characters from Beneath a Steel Sky.
I will give this method a try as I'm trying to create some sprites.

[EchosofNezhyt]

I also think everything is a bit to dark. If shes not tan or darker then I'd say lighten it all up, if not then just her outfit.

[Technocrat]

She's extremely tan - she's Sri Lankan. I figured that'd be an unusual background for game protagonists!

I think that Beneath a Steel Sky is kind of the impression I'm going for. I've made some of the suggested tweaks (reversed the arms, jiggled the shading a bit, changed the head height, etc) but everything I've done to the neck has made her look more like a man, or a hunchback.

[imgzoom]http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o33/Nedraed/latha2-1.png[/imgzoom]

[Tabata]

How about a smaller neck then - about like this?

[imgzoom]http://s1.directupload.net/images/user/120716/2mkhlxxk.png[/imgzoom]

[Bernie]

I really like the result of this approach. In the front view, the face is hard to read. I think the eyes are set too high. Other than that, nice job. Are you going to have 8 dir walkcycles (because of the semi-sideview)?