Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: Jimmybob on Sat 17/06/2006 12:16:33

Title: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sat 17/06/2006 12:16:33
This is my first attempt at an AGS game and I'm not very happy with my first room.

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/spaceroom1.GIF)

Can anyone give me advice on how to improve it?
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sat 17/06/2006 20:44:41
No really, I need desperate help!  ???
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: TheCheese33 on Sat 17/06/2006 21:05:43
No you don't. ;D
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Nebuk on Sat 17/06/2006 21:09:03
I think you should use whole area of that picture (320x200), no black margins. You should also add some details, so picture would look more fascinating.

What kind of room is this? Lobby of some research centre or what?
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Khris on Sat 17/06/2006 21:11:49
You should check out some perspective tutorials, too. This ain't a scrolling room, so the persp. is horribly wrong...
Just search google for "vanishing point"...
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Nikolas on Sat 17/06/2006 21:15:08
Hem, apart from the 'shelf' on the right which is kinda wrong (the left side), there isn't anything else to be wrong perspective wise I think. the two walls seem to be ok... since the roof is not showing it's fine... you get two lines which meet at one point. End of story...
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: pickelkiller8 on Sat 17/06/2006 21:17:00
Aye that would be good, also you should ask yourself what are you striving for? What is your idea of excelence? ???
AKA Who's backrounds do you really like and look up to?

Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Nebuk on Sat 17/06/2006 21:26:40
(http://marko.simppeli.org/ags/pakopiste.jpg)

In that picture you can see that you have used four vanishing points (red, blue, green, purple).

You should use only one of those, if you want your scene to look right ;)
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sat 17/06/2006 22:01:38
I'm kind of looking for a 7 days a skeptik or 5 days a stranger look.

Also, the black margins are for GUIs.
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: pickelkiller8 on Sat 17/06/2006 22:10:59
Well not a bad start. You should have some shadows and such. Also probably a bit more texture. (As in make it look more real like scuff marks etc.) I'll be happy to see future projects of yours.
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: TheCheese33 on Sat 17/06/2006 22:14:47
In that case, tone down the lights to make it dark and foreboding. Remember the scene near the bay area, the one with the flickering light in 7 Days a Skeptic? Perfect place to model upon.
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sat 17/06/2006 22:23:59
OK I've changed perspective, but how should I go about shading, textures etc...

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/room1v2.gif)

Also, I have took out the window, because I think the shine on it made it look like it was in space instead of a sci-fi research facility. I don't know how I should do a window though because if I draw sky etc.. it will look wrong.
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: pickelkiller8 on Sat 17/06/2006 22:33:54
What program are you using? If your using photoshop try sumdging darker and lighter shades, experiment a bit. (Good techinque doesn't come overnight. There also isn't a magic formula or else I would have already copyrighted it Lol) 
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sat 17/06/2006 22:48:33
Now I've added a light source which I like, what should I do next concidering texture etc...?

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/room1v4.gif)

What should I add, chairs, lights, tables etc...?
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: pickelkiller8 on Sat 17/06/2006 22:53:26
As I said experiment with smudging and stuff.
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sat 17/06/2006 22:57:39
The problem is... I don't have any paint programs which can do that.

( I know I shouldn't but I'm actually using MS PaintÃ,  :( )

What do you think should I darken the corners, I'm looking for a room that will please people who play the gameÃ,  :D.
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: pickelkiller8 on Sat 17/06/2006 23:00:53
Well i've never used MS paint myself. Umm can you change the opacity of your brush? that will help darken areas. Also some flashing coloured lights will add probably.
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sat 17/06/2006 23:03:34
Unfortunately no!
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sat 17/06/2006 23:22:32
Now I've changed the light and added some more objects and added a window, but I still think the room looks empty.

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/room1v5.gif)
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Privateer Puddin' on Sat 17/06/2006 23:28:14
Add stuff in then. What is the room? If it's a bedroom, add beds, if it's a communal area, add chairs, some kind of entertainment etc
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sat 17/06/2006 23:32:00
It's kind of a research facility's award/trophy room, when you start the game you have just been awarded the employee of month award. But I don't really know what I should add to a trophy room.
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Privateer Puddin' on Sat 17/06/2006 23:42:51
Trophies?
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sat 17/06/2006 23:53:28
If you look, there were already trophies on the shelf...
But what do you think of these objects?

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/room1v6.gif)
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sun 18/06/2006 00:08:56
I know it's asking a bit much but I'm also not the best person at drawing characters, I'll post the picture on a new topic tomorrow.

(PS, I'm still trying to improve this scene so keep posting)
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: pickelkiller8 on Sun 18/06/2006 01:53:56
I've seen some great improvements over the day! I think you'll do well in the near future. You could try adding a security camera that moves (using backround animation).
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: on Sun 18/06/2006 05:06:53
I've seen a lot of improvement from your first picture to the one you have now, I suggest adding a table to go with that chair and then adding items on the table to give more detail to the scene. If you have a table the other side of the room will look fine because it's fairly interesting already with the window and the grate and such. Also possibly add a clock?
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sun 18/06/2006 10:27:24
I have a question, if I had a clock, how could I make the time change on it?
( I could change it by animating it but it would go to fast)
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sun 18/06/2006 10:48:54
Thank you for all the helpÃ,  :D. Here is the finished scene... Any problems or suggestions are still welcome. Tell me what you think about this background.

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/room1v7.gif)
( I'll change the clock as you progress through the game)
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: on Mon 19/06/2006 02:48:33
Very nice Jimmybob! It looks great now, and as I thought, the table balanced out the rest of the room nicely and having an object on the table gave the room more depth. Something else you should consider is that rooms can be re-used! If you have a copy of the room with nothing in it, no trophies or anything you can add different things to it and doors in different places which saves a lot of time drawing backgrounds and usually looks just as good in buildings that would have similar rooms anyway. Good work :)
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Mon 19/06/2006 19:05:21
Thanks!Ã,  ;D
Here is another background by me ( I tried a different style )
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/boat.gif)
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: pickelkiller8 on Mon 19/06/2006 20:10:41
well I liked your other style better but lets see. In that island in the backround try adding some plant life or somthing.
Also the anchor. it would be in the water if the ship was in the port. Try making the lines bettween the boards darker.
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: on Wed 21/06/2006 14:16:41
YOU DID THAT FIRST ONE IN 'PAIN'T!? thats REALLY good, ms paint is awful!
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Wed 21/06/2006 16:23:59
To be honest, I find MS Paint easy for doing backgrounds like that!  ;)
I also did the second one on paints aswell!  :)
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: n3tgraph on Thu 22/06/2006 14:21:01
Well let's see,

first you post a picture which looks quite good, but is perspectively wrong,
after some hints you make a lovely background of a futuristic looking office.

And then you ruin everything with that last "kiddy" background!

Let's stick to the old style!!
I like it a lot! The only suggestion I have is to fill in more black space, I'm sure your GUI won't be that big.
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Jimmybob on Sat 24/06/2006 09:00:23
2 things:

a) I hate the second one too
b) I'm only 13
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: pickelkiller8 on Sat 24/06/2006 15:32:59
Oh don't take any notice of him, having a varitiy of stlyes is good. Let's see what you can do with this. Try the suggestions i made in an earlier post, remeber how your other one started? It has poteintal.
P.S. i'm only 14
Title: Re: Need Help On Backgrounds
Post by: Sam. on Sat 24/06/2006 16:55:44
OMG ASL.