Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: Sam. on Mon 07/06/2004 18:53:30

Title: New room 4 detective - animation help still needed
Post by: Sam. on Mon 07/06/2004 18:53:30
Edit: SEE LAST POST

I haven't posetd any art for a while because my style wa rubbish. I've followed a few tutorials and had some lessons at school and come up with this. It's supposed to be a detective. My problem is the feet, can anybody help me with this?
EDIT: MAde his legs shorter
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/detectiveman2.gif)
what do you guys think?
Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: DanClarke on Mon 07/06/2004 19:09:39
make his legs shorter, they're far too long.
Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Mon 07/06/2004 19:59:12
I'd say it's pretty good.

I really like the hair.

I might add some shading ...

Also, his feet look like he's hanging from something and they're just hangin' down.Ã,  You might want to work a little on them.Ã,  Something like this:
(http://www.twin-design.com/ags/help/zooty_help01.gif)

I think the one foot (that goes to the side) is too short,Ã,  but you see what I mean.

I would also recommend ditching some of the double pixels.

Hope that helps!
Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: pixelcat on Mon 07/06/2004 20:08:45
Looks good, I really like the style.

I started work on the feet and ended up changing some things.Ã,  Hopefully this edit will give you some ideas... got lazy and mirrored it, which is why the legs are apart. :P

-added ears/sideburns
-changed pockets/hands
-added a little shading in some parts

As for the feet, I think Darth's edit looks like a really good place to start.

*Removed edit.
Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: Sam. on Mon 07/06/2004 20:10:31
thanks verymuch for your help. i am doing the shoes after i have finished this post. What do you think of the style? would a game in this style be any good? more characters to come!
EDIT: Pixelcat - you replied so fast i missed you're edit! really nice! love the feet, can I borrow/steal your paintover?the shading is fantastic. will be using this in future!
Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: Vel on Mon 07/06/2004 21:14:15
I quite like your sprite, keep up the good work.
Is that for a game, by the way?
Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: Sam. on Mon 07/06/2004 21:42:05
yeah, i'm making a game called "the trial" i haven't really done enough to put in upcoming games though. ( don't judge too fast my character might be okay but my beegees ar shocking!)
would it be cheating to use pixelcats sprite? i can see no advanes i would want to make and i don't want to make it worse just for the hell of it
Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: Opo Terser on Mon 07/06/2004 22:05:16
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/untitledb_copy.gif)
yeah i thought the shape of the head needed some help mainly, i kinda rounded out the top/fixed the hair, and kinda reworked the face. I made the shoulders a little wider too.
Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: trylle on Mon 07/06/2004 22:29:40
his head does seem a bit big, and instead of using lines to indicate the coat ripple/flares(?), you could draw the shadows the ripples cast.

btw: this guy wanted me to tell you he wants his trenchcoat back ;)

(http://virtual.metapathy.com/remarkable.gif)
Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: loominous on Tue 08/06/2004 03:25:33
Some modifications:

(http://w1.872.telia.com/~u87210460/AGS/untitledb_mod1.gif)
Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: LordHart on Tue 08/06/2004 04:02:19
Give him a yellow hat and call him Dick! ::)
Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: Phemar on Tue 08/06/2004 05:48:19

Call him Dirk...Dirk Gently, as in Dirk Gentlys holistic detective agency...By Douglas Adams...I love that book...

Anyway...nice sprite BTW. IMO I would go with loomys edit...that looks cool...
Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: Rincewind on Tue 08/06/2004 14:09:08
Aye, Opo & Loominous already got there first... Ah well... Now that I made it, I might as well show you an edit I scribbled up...Ã, 
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/detec.gif)

- Re-shaped his head and hair a bit. Added shading, more details, etc.
- Edited the trenchcoat and removed those dark green-ish lines...
- Changed the position of his arms.
- Some other minor stuff...

It's no masterpiece, but hopefully it'll be of help... :)
I think you have a nice start otherwise - Did he buy that coat in New orleans, by any chance? ;)

Title: Re: Detective Sprite in new style
Post by: Sam. on Tue 08/06/2004 16:04:00
wow. thanks for all the help. I did kinda cheat on the cosat as i really struggle with clothes! but the face is all mine! i will post an update as soon as it is ready! you guys always out do me!
Edit: I have now mixed some of the styles and have a "finsihed" product.
Loominus, i really like your style but it does not really fit in to the rest of the game and i wouldn't be able to replicate it on my other characters. thanks for your help though, really great.
here he is on his own, i have called him "Dirk as a homage to the great one, Douglas Adams. Can anyone give him a surname that isn't gently or rhyme with it?
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/dirk.gif)
I have put hime in a room to see what you think of the style of my bgs. Does he fit?
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/hotelroom.jpg)
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: LGM on Tue 08/06/2004 17:50:26
He looks way too real to fit into that BG style.

But then again, he looks way too good aswell ;)
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Sam. on Tue 08/06/2004 18:15:21
thats my problem, i can do the characters )with help) but my bgs always are shoddy. I might have a go at a new style i've been practising though. how mmuch of a crime is it to re draw phots? if i say i have and don't claim too much credit. I want my game to look good but i can't d o bgs that well
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: poe on Tue 08/06/2004 18:24:57
In my opinion there are two possibilities:

1) put more details into the background (can be very frustrating somehow to do this with each room)

2) try to use less colors on your character and not so much details (especially concerning face, hair, shadows and lights)
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Sam. on Tue 08/06/2004 18:46:11
that makes sense about adding details but taking away from the character would ruin my style. i want the detailed style i would rather improve the bg than weaken tha char
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Isegrim on Tue 08/06/2004 18:59:25
I also think that the high realism and detail of the char demands an equally realistic BG...
For a start you could draw the walls and the rug in correct central perspective... (If you're not too sure about how to do it, there are tons of tutorials out there, I'm just too lazy now to dig up a link, sorry  ;D)

But the char sprite is totally awesome now!
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Opo Terser on Tue 08/06/2004 19:01:16
hey you used my head, way to go, loominus had a better head though, and i thought pixelcats body was great
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Phemar on Tue 08/06/2004 19:21:15

If you're gonna call him dirk, make him wear a silly yellow hat that he doffs everytime he meets someone...

Surname: Cjelli
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: on Tue 08/06/2004 20:10:42
Dirk Heiden. Heh. :p
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Sam. on Tue 08/06/2004 20:34:36
opo - i used your head becuase i can replicate the style. Your head is awesome i just needed to see hoqw it was done. I wouldn't have been able to replicate loominus' stye for all of my chars and it didn't really fit with the game. I want to have a serious style but not too hard to animate!
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Opo Terser on Tue 08/06/2004 20:36:36
yeah thanks, i tried to to stick with your style
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: InCreator on Tue 08/06/2004 20:36:38
What can I say? You're going to see hell before everything will work. But there's a little suggestion:
Before making entire game -

Pick a background, and draw at least 5 versions of it. From scratch. About third one comes pretty easily already.
Doing same thing over again improves your skill and style alot more than making 5 different bg-s for game and then noticing that first one looks like crap compared to fifth one.

Just take some time, and try to practise. The way you use colors is pretty good, but shading and perspective needs a bit more care.
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: pixelcat on Tue 08/06/2004 21:10:39
Few suggestions for the BG...  I think it's a good start, just needs a few changes to match the character style. 

- The thing that really sticks out is the black outlines... it would look a lot better if they were a darker wall colour.
- Perspective is a bit off, which was mentioned.
- The wall colour is close to the coat colour, which makes the character hard to see... might look better if the walls were dark.
- Needs some lighting.
- Might look better if it was a hardwood floor, and there was a window on the right as a light source.

InCreator had some good advice, no harm in practicing. :)
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Tue 08/06/2004 23:38:56
Just did a quick paint-over to show how using a vanishing point can tie it all together.

(http://www.twin-design.com/ags/help/zooty_help02.gif)

I didn't spend a lot of time detailing it, just the basic outline to show what I (and the others) are talking about.

Spend some time practicing, and you'll get the hang of it lickity-split.

Hope this helps!
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Moox on Wed 09/06/2004 05:32:54
Zooty, You have a great picture in your head for the background. What you need to do is make vertical lines strait, and change the wall color. Never make things the hide the character. Change the angle on the rug a little and get rid of the black outlines. Just keep practicing, you have potential
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: InCreator on Wed 09/06/2004 08:42:22
I like the way room looks like. So I couldn't resist and did color-it-yourself-edit on Darth's edit to see how much such room could be detailed.

(http://www.hot.ee/increatorgamez/zooty_help03.gif)

I like the layout of room. But still, I'd suggest to avoid large floor and ceiling areas, because they're harder to detail than walls.
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Sam. on Wed 09/06/2004 10:13:20
thanks a lot guys! this really helps. i might use the colour by numbers thingy if thats ok, any tips on wall papering? i though peeling wallpaper might add to the seedineess
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: [Cameron] on Wed 09/06/2004 10:22:14
Call him Dirk Head. Great drawing, i'll have a bash at a redo of you background as soon as i get psp back on. The computer shat itself for no reason i ken. And now i have broadband yay for me!
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Sam. on Wed 09/06/2004 10:24:12
LOL! good namee, unfortunatley it doesn't fit with my "serious" style game. Any more suggestions?
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: [Cameron] on Wed 09/06/2004 10:28:12
Dirk Urquhart. Dirk Whitechurch. Dirk Thornton. Dirk Brookman.
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: YOke on Wed 09/06/2004 10:40:01
I guess Dirk Diggler (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118749/) is out of the question?
I was thinking about something French-sounding (http://users.adelphia.net/~frenchcx/angname.htm), like:
Dirk Dumont
Dirk Dulong
Dirk Garneau
etc...

If you give him a French name he is able to have sweat stains on his shirt, and still keep his dignity...  8)
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: [Cameron] on Wed 09/06/2004 10:46:36
Dirk Sullivan. Make him irish.
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Sam. on Wed 09/06/2004 11:14:07
dirk thornton or sullivan maybe they're nice
here is the bg painted in now
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/aparymentss.jpg)
Title: Re: Detective Sprite modified and put in room
Post by: Sam. on Wed 09/06/2004 13:06:36
does anyone have a tutorial that could teach me to draw a sideways view of him?
Title: Re: Detective Sprite- new room, sideways view needed
Post by: strazer on Wed 09/06/2004 13:13:57
http://user.tninet.se/~vqb114l/ilb/tutorials/char2.htm
Title: Re: Detective Sprite- new room, sideways view needed
Post by: Alynn on Wed 09/06/2004 13:14:25
Actually in an odd way, I like the realistic char, shoddy bg thing... just something about it that interests me greatly...

But what do I know... my characters are mostly 20 pixels high and 18 across... but they sure are cute though :P
Title: Re: Detective Sprite- new room, sideways view needed
Post by: Phemar on Wed 09/06/2004 14:02:59

There's a glitch in the floor in the gradient where you edited out the character...Is it just me or does the red carpet look a little blurry?
Title: Re: Detective Sprite- new room, sideways view needed
Post by: Daz on Wed 09/06/2004 15:37:34
it is a nice bg but where is the lighting effects non of the stuff has a shadow and therefore no feeling to it, do that and it will be perfect i rekon
Title: Re: Detective Sprite- new room, sideways view needed
Post by: Sam. on Wed 09/06/2004 16:34:17
the carpte is blurry cos of jpeg conversion. i know i was lazy editing out my char!
i REALLY need help with this anim. it is the side walking view of my char. it looks really bad to me but i can't work out how to change it. i followed a tutorial but it still looks bad.
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/dirkwalk.gif)
Title: Re: Detective Sprite- new room, sideways view needed
Post by: Moox on Wed 09/06/2004 16:41:34
he moves the leg to far back, add the peep holes on the doors, that was a key feature I think
Title: Re: Detective Sprite- side animaiton help needed
Post by: Iwan on Wed 09/06/2004 20:50:50
Cool walk cycle. Just a few things though...

-In one of the frames his knee joint is far too low.
-Also i think he moves down too much
-Maybe you could try making the bottom of his coat smother
-Making the back leg darker or the front leg lighter could help distinguish wich leg is the front one and which is the back.

Hope this helps a bit,

Iwan

Title: Re: Detective Sprite- side animaiton help needed
Post by: sergiocornaga on Thu 10/06/2004 05:11:49
The side view looks nice, but the walk cycle is kinda messed up. The length of his legs changes dramatically in each frame, which needs to be fixed up. Also, in one of the frames the outline of his nose doubles up.
Title: Re: Detective Sprite- side animaiton help needed
Post by: Sam. on Thu 10/06/2004 16:19:01
AHHHHHHHH!!!! i hate animaiton. I really suck. really really. I presume the lack of replys means that no-one is gonna help me. never mind here is anothe bg for y'all to look at.(its a bit blurry cos of jpg conversion)
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/dirksroom.jpg)
does it fit with the style?
Title: Re: New room 4 detective - animation help still needed
Post by: pixelcat on Thu 10/06/2004 16:44:38
Looks pretty good...Ã,  perspective was a bit off, but much improved over your first background.Ã,  Also, i'd suggest avoiding the really dark/black outlines, they don't match the character (ie. the chair, camera).Ã,  Not a huge fan of the green, but it looks nice overall. :)

Few suggestions :

*Removed edit

*Maybe have a desk lamp mounted on the left wall, also?