Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: TheAmazingLardo on Tue 09/05/2006 13:58:26

Title: Scene Improvement
Post by: TheAmazingLardo on Tue 09/05/2006 13:58:26
First of all I'll give an explanation to this scene.
The main character is landing in a huge... tree with a parachute.
Now he's hanging on the parachute straps in the very top of this tree.
I chose a perspective a little top of the place,where the character is supposed to hang, looking down on him and the tree.
With this perspective I wanted to improve the dramatic effect of the scene ( in other words I wanted to make the tree to look bigger and higher :P ).
But I'm still not pleased.
Here the scene:
(http://img345.imageshack.us/img345/5793/treesceneerweiterung8tq.png)

And here how the character is supposed to hang in the tree:
(http://img345.imageshack.us/img345/366/treesceneerweiterungcopy8yb.png)

I would be happy about some advice. :)
Title: Re: Scene Improvement
Post by: Oneway on Tue 09/05/2006 14:17:58
I think the idea is good and the angle is well chosen.

It's just that the tree itself isn't that convincing.
The first thing i asked myself when i looked at the picture (only the big one) and then started reading your post was: "Which way is down?"

I couldn't make out which way i was looking..  Even without the guy hanging from the parachute it should be obvious what i'm looking at.

In my opinion, there should a central stem running upwards. And the idividual main branches should be more directly connected to the stem. Right now the branches go down for maybe 100's of feet before meeting at the stem, which isn't clearly visible and only suggested by the meetingpoint of the branches.

Different trees have different branch systems, but i haven't seen one that has branches this long. Check out some examples  (http://images.google.nl/images?q=tree+branches&hl=nl&btnG=Afbeeldingen+zoeken) of real branch systems.

After having assured this wasn't some psychadelic pot-smoker game, i really liked your style and choice of colors, so good luck in making this a killer background!

Title: Re: Scene Improvement
Post by: TheAmazingLardo on Tue 09/05/2006 14:39:51
 ;D
Thanks a lot.
I'm trying to get away from the psychadelic kind of drawing.
But to the picture:
My problem is that it's supposed to be an acacia.
And of course they are not that huge, but they don't have that main stem, but instead they have long branches to the sides.

The picture isn't realistic at this point.
Title: Re: Scene Improvement
Post by: Layabout on Tue 09/05/2006 14:55:03
It's a long way down... HOw is he supposed to get out of that bloody great big tree??
Title: Re: Scene Improvement
Post by: Scummbuddy on Tue 09/05/2006 15:20:19
That's why its a puzzle in an adventure game you silly twit!
------------
If it's multiple trees keeping him up, and also other trees around, then they shouldn't really be merging at the one point as they are.   Yes, the perspective lines should, but they almost all seem to be part of the same tree/root system.

And I would suggest not having that type of color of the two main trees. I know there are trees of that color, but I think it sort of hurts the immediate recognization of the scene.
Title: Re: Scene Improvement
Post by: TheAmazingLardo on Tue 09/05/2006 15:47:48
I think you've mistaken me.
It is one tree, but, if you look at an acacia, it doesn't have one main stem running up to the top.

But you've got a point with the colour.
I'm going to change this later on.
Title: Re: Scene Improvement
Post by: Tuomas on Tue 09/05/2006 21:16:23
This really freaked me out. I mean, I read it was a top view from a tree and then I looked at the picture and felt dizzy. That might have been because I'm a bit tired and have a fear of hights, but that truly convised me. LOVE IT.

Though the colour of the braches is a bit odd. Well, makes it look cool.
Title: Re: Scene Improvement
Post by: DonB on Wed 10/05/2006 09:29:03
I agree, it does look amazing, very high.. i like it.. good piece of art.. tho.. maybe you could make the colors a bit more.. less girlish.. just use a color filter or something with PhotoShop.
Title: Re: Scene Improvement
Post by: TheAmazingLardo on Wed 10/05/2006 11:38:15
well, ok.
Thanks for all the replies.
@Tuomas: your post really encouraged me, it's cool to know someone freaks out by looking at a picture from you.

After all it seems the colours are the main problem.
I'm gonna work on this today.
So thanks again.
Title: Re: Scene Improvement
Post by: TheAmazingLardo on Fri 12/05/2006 16:39:39
Ok, I changed the colours, and here it is:

(http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3220/treescene9ca.png)
Title: Re: Scene Improvement
Post by: MashPotato on Fri 12/05/2006 18:00:43
I like the new colours better, looks much more natural.  One quibble I have is that the main branch on the right seems to be a lot more jagged and wiggly than the branch on the left, and has a harsh outline (especially near the top and bottom) which doesn't match with the rest of the picture.

Nice background, and I am interested in seeing how a game would look in this style ^_^
Title: Re: Scene Improvement
Post by: Snarky on Fri 12/05/2006 23:09:19
The shading is inconsistent between the two main branches.

Other than that, it's pretty awesome.