Old Background - useable or not?!

[Intense Degree]

This is an unfinished background from an old project I was working on a couple of years ago before 2 knackered hard drives coming along at the same time meant I lost almost all of the work I had done.



However, having recently discovered this background (and you can blame Ponch for motivating me to get stuck back in to game making!) the thought occurs that I could use it as the basis for a background in another game I am knee deep in planning. The trouble is that now I look at it, the composition and perspective seem no good, especially the pavement. Clearly, if this is the case I may as well start from scratch rather than try to amend and complete the current version.

However, I am really no artist and even the above took me absolutely ages, as I tried to use detail to cover up lack of ability!

The question therefore is, is the background easily fixable? The grassy/playground bit would need amending/replacing anyway for the new game, but the basic shape of the background would be useful if it can easily be fixed up.

As you can probably tell I don't really know what i'm talking about art-wise(!) so any advice or tips would be welcome.

[amateurhour]

I think it's a really good looking background.

My only real critique is the graffiti art on the half pipe, it's way too cluttered.

I'd put less actual graffiti on the half pipe and more on the wall. Graffiti usually doesn't cover an entire area unless it's an area that's been abandoned for a while. Typically artists in an area know each other and kind of respect space so things are placed a little further apart, and often times share color schemes to create one solid work of art.

Aside from that I like it and don't see why you can't reuse it.

[Darth Mandarb]

The main issue I have with the image is the perspective.  The bench follows a perspective that doesn't match the 1/2 pipe behind it so that jumps out as "wrong" when viewing the BG.  Also, because the bench (and 1/2 pipe) follow some perspective lines (albeit not the same ones! ) the sidewalk "texture" does not so it looks more like a flat wall that the bench is attached to.  I know it would be a pain to adapt that texture to a perspective (though not too difficult) another way to give the illusion of depth would be to use a gradient and fade the sidewalk as it moves away from the camera.  Last critique would be the color of the fence.  It's a saturated color and sort of blends in to the graffiti too much.

I think (the few issues I listed aside) it's a functional background for an adventure game though!

[Martyn]

Hello! Here is some kickstart help!

The cross is the center of perspective. It is horizon where all the tops and bottoms lines are coming together.

It was really hard to concentrate with all the bright colors!



Hope you continue with game ideas!
//Matyn

I forgot! Ignore the pattern in the sidewalk, skip that! it will becomes easier cleaner that way.

[MadReizka]

Agreed with above.
Also the CAS building on the right could use some texture.

[EchosofNezhyt]

Yeah it needs more contrast and its a bit to colorful.

[Intense Degree]

Thanks for the advice and especially the paintover. It's amazing how such seemingly simple things make all the difference!

I will have another crack at this and see where I get to.