Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: LRH on Wed 24/03/2010 05:15:46

Title: Office Building
Post by: LRH on Wed 24/03/2010 05:15:46
I was playing around with this. It's pretty basic, the outside of an office building in a downtown city type area.

(http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1931/room2attempt1.png)

I can't quite place it but I think something is a bit off (perhaps the perspective with the distant building?) but I'm not really sure how to go about altering it. Any suggestions?

It's supposed to be very gray and gloomy, by the way. :P
Title: Re: Office Building
Post by: Khris on Wed 24/03/2010 11:30:58
The perspective on the far left suggests that the front of the building has zero depth. Are those columns? If they are, they should protrude visibly at the bottom. Also move the big door in a bit. And the left wall is far too thin; this is the side wall of a big building so the window should be a few feet away from the corner.

You tried to make it look like glass with those lines, but it looks like somebody tried a new piece of chalk on concrete. Those lines don't come out of nowhere; they are supposed to be reflections. Use fewer, wider lines and don't make them end in the middle of the window.

Here are a few references:
http://www.georgelianmd.com/cms/Portals/0/Office%20Front%20Enterance.jpg (http://www.georgelianmd.com/cms/Portals/0/Office%20Front%20Enterance.jpg)
http://www.dhcs.co.uk/images/IOW-office-front_small.jpg (http://www.dhcs.co.uk/images/IOW-office-front_small.jpg)
http://www.c21property.info/images/websites/c/2/c21property.info/Office_Front.JPG (http://www.c21property.info/images/websites/c/2/c21property.info/Office_Front.JPG)
Title: Re: Office Building
Post by: Questionable on Wed 24/03/2010 13:12:11
Is that a sidewalk or an escalator? =P
Title: Re: Office Building
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Wed 24/03/2010 14:30:10
The problem (for me) is lack of details.  I did a really quick paint-over to add some depth/details

(http://www.twin-design.com/ags/help/domithan_help01.gif)
- add some sidewalk details (slabs)
- moved the door "up" to create depth
- shrank the window and surrounded it with some architecture
- altered the light/reflections on the glass
- altered the pillars
- added some "brick" lines

It's a very steep perspective but should be functional as a background.  I didn't pay much attention to a light source or shading.  Was just droppin' some details in there so when you put the final touches on your image you should give some more love to that than I did in my paint-over :)

Hope it helps in some way!
Title: Re: Office Building
Post by: LRH on Wed 24/03/2010 16:48:53
Thanks Khris and Darth!

The paint-over helped quite a bit, though I kind of made some things my own. Also,I didn't really want a brick building feel, so I went with adding a bit more to the whole column type theme...

Maybe this is a bit better than the original though?

(http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/1931/room2attempt1.png)
Title: Re: Office Building
Post by: Questionable on Wed 24/03/2010 17:14:35
I really like what you've Domithan! However, I think you should take a close look at Mandarbs sidewalk, I think it's a very effective iteration. Also, I prefer his columns more but I think that's kind-of a style preference... definitely look at his sidewalk, though.
Title: Re: Office Building
Post by: InCreator on Wed 24/03/2010 17:25:44
Unless it's a full-grayscale game, start using colour.

Gray is the most boring color in the world.
Title: Re: Office Building
Post by: LRH on Wed 24/03/2010 17:46:16
Quote from: InCreator on Wed 24/03/2010 17:25:44
Unless it's a full-grayscale game, start using colour.

Gray is the most boring color in the world.
It's a very rainy, dreary day...

I think gray suits it.
Title: Re: Office Building
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Wed 24/03/2010 18:05:32
Darth, surely the perspective of the door in your paint over is actually wrong since the right hand side of the door has passed the vanishing point on the x axis so that side of the door shouldnt be hidden by the wall.. or am I wrong?
Title: Re: Office Building
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Wed 24/03/2010 18:26:15
You're probably right!  I played real rough'n tumble with perspective and shading.  I did that paint-over in about 10 minutes ... just to give some suggestions.
Title: Re: Office Building
Post by: Calin Leafshade on Wed 24/03/2010 18:30:44
Its no excuse Darth! Everyone kill him for his incorrect use of perspective!

CHARGE!
Title: Re: Office Building
Post by: Questionable on Wed 24/03/2010 21:00:13
Quote from: Calin Leafshade on Wed 24/03/2010 18:30:44
Its no excuse Darth! Everyone kill him for his incorrect use of perspective!

CHARGE!

*CHARGES*


I have to disagree with InCreator, I think that Grey is a perfectly acceptable color and not boring in the least!
Title: Re: Office Building
Post by: Khris on Wed 24/03/2010 22:23:29
Here are some perspective lines:

(http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/1613/expldom.png)

If you want the left sidewalk to be more visible, move the VP to the left.